I'm planning to go Jpn  by end of this coming March. Since im traveling alone anyone can recommend backpacker hostel in Tokyo and Kyoto?

i tried jalan.net, and those listed hotels seems more expensive than what i got from booking.com...there're some hotels still charging only 5% tax instead of 15%.

got cheap tickets promo during cherry blossom season? that's like japan most peak tourist season of all, no?

Please inform me as well for cheap air tix, i'm also preparing for cherry blossom trip for next year.

I visited there alone last year, and it was awesome. I was able to met 1 of the lyn forum member traveling there as well.

Not always visit japan last year lol!

Anyway, i'm planning to take my parents to Japan there for a visit next year, so when the times comes, will be visiting this thread often and asking u sifus for help, especially the tour guide thing.

i picked a few, compared to their own web booking, still showing booking.com is cheaper. but those hotels i'm looking at were already budget hotels by nature, but with private bathroom attached instead of sharing. speaking of offer for early booking, seems like agoda is doing promotions at the moment.
i went to try out the english, cannot understand wall of japanese texts... in fact, booking.com and agoda seems to show a lot more hotels, and seems like agoda is doing huge discount for many hotels at the moment.

regarding pay later and free cancellation (before certain date), booking.com also the same, just give credit card number and that's it. i used booking.com during my last visit at march and i only pay full payment upon check in. i even use my debit card and it went through during online booking lol...
i think shouldn't be cheap, my visit during march was like RM3k for 2 ppl flying AA (MAS was RM4k+) as i booked the flight like end of last year.

but definitely no where near as expensive as year end during x'mas and new year.

Planning to stay near Tsukiji Market so that don't need to hire a taxi. Any recommendation? Saw one member mentioned APA hotel but it's out of my budget. Anything less than RM300 for a room for 2?

Thanks for the information.  If my plan is to visit around Kansai area only (likely to go around Osaka, Kyoto and Nara), is it advisable to stay in one hotel in Osaka only? To travel around the areas mentioned, what would be the best transport mode?  Train or Bus? If it is train, can I or should I book now online? Roughly what would be the cost as we are on tight budget.

Osaka expensive. U should stay in Kyoto cheaper. Can buy 1-day bus pass in Kyoto at the bus terminal outside Kyoto station

One pax, economy. Flying to Haneda and leaving from Narita (I would have preferred to fly from Haneda as well but the cheap tickets don't really give you a choice)

If you leave on Wed/Thur the tickets can be as low as RM1400.

AAX is also around RM2500-RM3000 return.

This is just a short trip (5 days) so not planning on seeing that much. I've also been to Tokyo quite a few times before, so won't be spending much time in Tokyo itself.

Definitely seeing:
Nikko and Kamakura

Maybe seeing:
Hakone +Fuji-Q Highland + Fuji Five Lakes

please remember to share some pics...

You've seen most of the major sites, why not try Nagano region? Matsumoto, Takayama, Shirakawago and Kamikochi are all very interesting and worth seeing.

Then u should go far north until Hokkaido or far south until Kyushu

If you're travelling around Nagano, then renting a car is quite affordable assuming you are travelling with other people.

Nissan Latio cost around 7000JPY per day. Pick up from Nagano.

Hope u arrive at the correct timing for sakura next year. This year it came early

Tokyo and Kansai area generally has the same weather and therefore has the same blooming time. This year I arrived in Osaka 6th April and the petals were already starting to fall.

Consider cheap if got 4 people.

Bus from Matsumoto to Takayama already 2500 yen 1 way. Oh, and train is much slower than car in Nagano region because of all the mountains, no direct routes a lot of the time.

Hi, I'll staying in Shijuku and plan to visit Hakone..I see frm the map and its quite far...How long to take to travel to Hakone by JR? I think i need to spent whole day there including return to my hotel..

http://www.motonago.com/en/top.html
Stayed at Gion during my stay in 2011 -abt RM600 each pax, a butler tatami bed+bbf+kaiseki dinner. A butler will be assigned to you upon check-in. Experience the japanese bath in a truly traditional environment, if you like their culture Kyoto is the best choice! .
In Osaka, a homestay is more suitable, you can rent a room around Nijo station, normally occupied/own by a young couple who speaks English, so sharing information is easy.

i booked this ryokan for my osaka stay

http://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Hotel_Review...ki.html#REVIEWS

havent tried it yet though but it looks really nice and cheap

Hi bro, thanks for your reply.

Where to buy Hakone Free Pass ? How much does it cost?

Btw, I'm going on beginning Dec..does it open on winter ?