Hi to all the people who have experienced traveling to Japan, I want to ask a few questions...:

1. For a first timer going to Japan, is it advisable to go by myself as in not part of a tour? I'd love to have freedom in visiting places but are there places where you can only visit when you're a part of the tour? Since I can probably only afford one trip to Japan in my life I want to make the most of it, I want to see everything that makes Japan well... Japan : sakura flowers, ryokans and onsen, temples, Mt. Fuji, Akiba, Harajuku and especially the Ghibli Museum. Plan to visit next year during spring.

2. Is it not advisable to travel to a few areas? Because I want to visit Tokyo and Kyoto or Osaka and I heard it's very costly.

3. How early should I start booking tickets? Should I book accomodation rooms before leaving Msia or can I do it on the spot in Japan (I'm aware sakura viewing season is peak season)?

4. How much money minimum should I have in order to travel to Japan (everything from flight expenses to accomodation and food)? I'm trying to set a target to reach.

Thanks in advance! ><

Ah I don't intend to hike the mountain, just to go see it. I don't think I'd have enough time to spare, at most maybe a week?

I was thinking as a first timer it would be better to go tour yes, but there might be places I want to go to that tours might not cover (like the Ghibli museum and Harajuku and Akiba shopping maybe?). How long does it take to travel between Tokyo and Osaka or Kyoto?

Well since I'm there in Japan, why not give the shinkansen a try? How expensive is it?