GOASIAPLUS September 2018

TRAVEL
4 5
6
1 Itsukushima Shrine,
Hiroshima 2 Akira
in Shirakawa 3 The
gleaming Osaka Castle
4 Steps to Kyoto
Shrine 5 Tsutenkaku
Tower in Osaka 6 A
city view of Ehime,
Shikoku
main attractions, Akira advises to best keep it to just
half the itinerary. “Sightseeing is okay but spend
more time doing hands-on activities. There is plenty
to do in Japan from knife-making in Nagoya to
liquor ware painting, fruit picking and crabbing by
the coast.”
Backpacking in Japan can save a lot of time and
money. For instance, the precise timing in train
departure allows you to optimize your time and
make the most out of it. “Japanese counts time
down to the second. So, every train is extremely
punctual.” If it is 8:37pm, it will depart at 8:37pm.
He adds that “Japan is a safe country especially
for backpackers because we only carry our basic
necessities. If you misplace your item, you can still
find it at the same place a week later”.
According to Akira, the most cost-effective place
to backpack in Japan is Osaka as it is surrounded by
other nearby cities like Kyoto, Kobe and Nara. The
public transport and railway lines make travelling a
cinch and you can even find a cheap night stay below
¥800. Besides, food in Japan is not as expensive as
you would think. Low-budget and filling meals in
convenience stores are as cheap as ¥200 and that can
be found everywhere you go in the country.
He also shares it is possible to backpack across
the entirety of Japan in a month. “Spend a week in
every region. From Hokkaido, travel to Tohoku then
to central Japan and all the way down to Kyushu.” And
the tip is to subscribe to Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass).
JR Pass can be costly at initial purchase but it is
still the cheapest to commute in a long run. Since
time and money are always a battle in travels, you can
ride Japan’s shinkansen (bullet train) using JR Pass
and save time travelling from one place to another. It
is advisable to purchase the JR Pass before going to
Japan and travellers can get it at Japan Travel Bureau
outlets nationwide.
September is an optimal time to backpack in
Japan. It is summer until the end of September which
means you can pack light without heavy articles like
jackets and winter clothing. If you are still wary about
making your first backpack travel, do check out
www.jtbmalaysia.com for a guided backpacking trip.
Everything is doable. You only need to carry less
to achieve more.
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