Super Cheap Japan
Page 21
Hike and save!
Walk to the left behind the cable car station, and you will see an English sign pointing to the walking route up the mountain. Later on some signs are just in Japanese (look for 登山道 and follow the red arrows). Just before you enter the forest, you will see a “Gun hunting prohibited” sign with another sign on the right side, with arrows pointing left and “0.8km” written. Turn left and start your mountain hike up!
Small donation required just before summit. Ropeway: One-way adults 500 yen, children 250 yen. Return ticket: Adults 900 yen, children 450 yen (From 8:30am-5pm to 7pm, check at tourist information center in Himeji station before departing) • From Himeji station bus stop no.10, get the bus to Mount Shosha (30 mins, 270 yen) • Google Maps
Budget food
Miyuki Street (みゆき通り)
While there are some convenience stores and a few restaurants on the main road up to the castle, the main street to head for food is definitely Miyuki Street (Miyuki Dori). From the east exit, it’s the street with the blue and yellow Matsumoto Kiyoshi pharmacy (look for the Japanese characters). Here are a few highlights, if walking from Himeji station:
Iyoseimen (伊予製麺) - Basic Japanese sets, but specializing in soba. Sets from 500 yen • 5th block on right • Google Maps
Kimura Taiyaki (木村家のたいやき) - Taiyaki (fish shaped sponge cake with fillings). Taiyaki from 150 yen • 7th block on right • Google Maps
Negidako Genten (元天ねぎ蛸) - Takoyaki (octopus balls) takeout joint. Takoyaki plate from 600 yen • 8th block on left • Google Maps
Cheap supermarkets (スーパー)
Pantry & Lucky is a supermarket in the station (10am-9pm), while a larger supermarket called MaxValu is in the Terasso shopping mall (マックスバリュテラッソ), a short walk down the road on right side from the east exit (7am-midnight). There is also a Bon Marche supermarket (8am-9pm) next to the Daiso 100 yen store mentioned below. Prices are cheaper for the ones outside the station.
Water bottle refill spots
Some water fountains are available around the castle complex.
Shopping
100 yen shops
Daiso (ダイソー) - Opposite exit 2 of Sanyo Himeji station, next to the main JR station. 10am-9pm
Seria (セリア) - Inside Terasso shopping mall (same as MaxValu supermarket). 10am-9pm
Pharmacy (ドラッグ ストア)
Matsumoto Kiyoshi (マツモトキヨシ) has a pharmacy across from Himeji station, east exit.
Recommended cheap accommodation
Himeji 588 Guesthouse
A friendly guesthouse with a large communal eating area, and walking distance from the castle. Dorms from 2700 • Google Maps • http://himeji588.com/eng/
Kaikatsu (快活CLUB姫路駅前店)
Free ice cream, drinks and a variety of seats and booths at this net cafe, plus a women-only area. Showers are charged extra. 8 hour night pack (8時間ナイト) 1543 yen • Second block on right, on main road from Himeji station east exit • Google Maps
How to get there and away
By rail
If you have a Japan Rail Pass, from Kyoto (45 mins), Shin-Osaka (30 mins) or Tokyo station (3 hours), take the Shinkansen to Himeji station. Otherwise take a rapid train. From Osaka station, take a JR Special Rapid to Himeji station (1,490 yen, 1 hour). From Kyoto station, first take the JR Special Rapid Service to Osaka station first, then the above train (2,270 yen, 90 mins to Himeji). Recommended rail passes: Japan Rail Pass, Kansai Area Passes, Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass, Kansai Thru Pass
By bus
Shinkibus provides services from Osaka and Kyoto stations (from around 2000 yen), available from the bus terminals at these train stations, but trains are much easier and often cheaper. From further afield places such as Tokyo, getting an overnight bus with Willer Express or JR Bus is much cheaper than a train. Prices from Tokyo start from around 4000 yen. Recommended bus pass: Japan Bus Pass
Tourist information (観光案内所)
Inside Himeji station (9am-7pm).
Okayama (岡山)
Korakuen Garden, Okayama
Large city in Chugoku, known across the country for Korakuen Garden, a superb example of Japanese gardening. It’s worth stopping off here for a morning or an afternoon if traveling between Hiroshima and Kyoto.
Discount pass
Pick up a Combined Ticket for the garden and castle when visiting them, for 560 yen, saving 140 yen. Enough to buy a strange Japanese drink at one of the vending machines nearby!
Things to do
Korakuen Garden (岡山後楽園)
One of the three most celebrated traditional Japanese gardens in the country, this 300-year-old site has beautifully manicured lawns with hills and interwinding lanes, tea houses, plus Japanese ponds, tea plantations and lakes. What sets it apart from most Japanese gardens is the grand, wide lawns and the Enyo-tei House, the former living quarters of the lords who used to own the land back in the 17th century. 400 yen • 7:30am-6pm (Mar 20 - Sept), 8am-5pm (Oct - Mar 19) • 5 mins walk from Shiroshita tram stop • Google Maps
Okayama Castle (岡山城)
This six-storey reconstructed black castle shows off many fascinating relics, but it is not the most visually stunning castle in Japan, so quite skippable if you are visiting others. Having said that, it is still officially considered one of the top 100 in Japan. Visitors can dress up for free as feudal lords or princesses inside, so it’s a fun, cheap alternative to other castles. Adults 300 yen, children 120 yen • 9am-5:30pm (closed Dec 29-31) • 5 mins walk from Shiroshita tram stop • Google Maps
Yumeji Art Museum
Popular museum featuring the works of Okayama poet and artist Yumeji Takehisa from the early 1900s. Takehisa was known for creating the “Bijin-ga” style, a way of portraying women using S-shaped lines to show off their beauty. Adults 700 yen, children 400 yen • 9am-5pm (closed Mondays, New Year holidays) • Just over the river from Korakuen Garden • Google Maps • http://yumeji-art-museum.com/
Okayama Orient Museum (岡山市立オリエント美術館)
Modeled after the Pantheon in Greece, this museum displays more than 3000 pieces of oriental art. Good spot if you have some time left, but far from essential. 300 yen • 9am-5pm (closed Mondays) • Next to Shiroshita tram stop • Google Maps
Walk it and save!
Although there is a tram network in Okayama, the main sites are only half an hour or so on foot from the main station. Just head out the east exit, and down the main, wide road heading away from the station. Tram rides are only 100 yen to the main spots, if you prefer to catch a ride.
Budget food
Budget restaurants
Hakata Ikkosha (博多一幸舎) - Hakata style tonkotsu (pork based) ramen. Ramen from 790 yen • Inside Okayama station • 11am-11pm
Yoshinoya (吉野家) - Gyudon and curry. Bowls from 330 yen • 2nd block up main road from east exit, on right side • 24h
Matsuya (松屋) - Rice bowls and curry. Gyudon bowls from 290 yen • 3rd block up main road from east exit, on right side • 24h
Sukiya (すき家) - Gyudon and curry. Bowls from 360 yen • Inside Okayama station • 24h
Yayoi Iken (やよい軒) - Japanese sets. Meals from 680 yen • Inside Okayama station • 7am-11pm
Cheap supermarkets (スーパー)
Yours Supermarket (ユアーズ) is located on the east side of Okayama station (7am-10pm). There is also one in Aeon Mall, south of the station at exits 6 and 7 (7am-10pm). The nearest one to the garden is Fresh Marche (フレッシュ・マルシェ), located south of Shiroshita tram stop (9am-8pm).
Shopping
Daiso (ダイソー) – 100 yen shop, located in the Aeon shopping mall to the south of Okayama station (exits 6 +7). 10am-9pm
Pharmacy (ドラッグ ストア)
There are two Matsumoto Kiyoshi pharmacies (マツモトキヨシ) in Okayama
station (8:30am-10pm).
Recommended cheap accommodation
Most people tend to continue on after Okayama, or stay in Kurashiki, which has a host of cheap hostels. But there are a few good options if it’s more convenient to stay here:
Sauna and Capsule Hotel Hollywood
Right outside the station, this cheap capsule hotel (men only) does the job. Clean, quiet and English signs to help those not familiar with capsule hotels or Japanese spas. Capsules from 2700 yen • Google Maps
Comic Buster (コミックバスター)
Net and comic cafe chain. Free drinks bar available, plus there are cheap meals for a few bucks. Showers 300 yen. Night packs (ナイトパック): 6 hours (6時間ナイトパック) 1630 yen, 10 hours (10時間ナイトパック) 2140 yen • One block down the main road from the east exit, on right side • Google Maps
How to get there and away
By rail
If you have a rail pass, take the Shinkansen, otherwise prices are crazily high for such a journey. The Shinkansen takes 4 hours from Tokyo, 1 hour from Osaka and 70 minutes from Kyoto. Recommended rail passes: Japan Rail Pass, Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass, Kansai WIDE Area Pass
By bus
Okayama is on major bus routes, such as from Tokyo (10 hours, 5000 yen) or Osaka (from 3500 yen, 3 hours) with Japan Bus Lines or JR Bus. Recommended bus pass: Japan Bus Pass
Tourist information (観光案内所)
Inside Okayama station (9am-6pm, closed New Year holidays).
Kurashiki (倉敷)
Possibly Japan’s most picturesque merchant town, which lines a lovely canal, dating back to the Edo period. The town was taken over by the Shogun leaders 300 years ago and converted into a trade center for the rulers. It still retains the charm of these early years, with almost all the buildings in the historic area begging for a picture to be taken. The area has some interesting museums, cafes and restaurants to experience, most of which are housed in tastefully converted merchant buildings.
Walk it and save!
Walk to the canal area, which has all the below tourist spots. It’s only 10 minutes or so on foot from the station. If you don’t want to spend lots of money on museums, it’s perfectly possible to spend a day walking around the area. Be sure to head off down some of the less trodden traditional streets that go off from the main canal or shopping streets and take a stroll.
Things to do
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
All the below spots are well signposted, with plenty of tourist-friendly street maps to help you out. But as mentioned, the best way to experience this town, especially for budget travelers, is just to walk around and pick up a few interesting Japanese snacks as you go around.
Kurushiki Museum of Folkcraft (倉敷民藝館)
Three Edo-period rice granaries, dating from the late Edo period (1603–1868), have been converted into this museum about folkcraft in Japan. Around 4000 folkcraft objects are on display, including ceramics, rugs, bamboo items and other textiles. 700 yen • 9am-5pm (Mar - Nov), 9am-4:15 (Dec - Feb) (closed Monday and Dec 29 - Jan 1) • Google Maps
Japanese Rural Toy Museum (日本郷土玩具館)
Edo period house now open to the public, with more than 5000 old-school and rural toys from all over the Japan, from as far back as the Edo period. Very kitsch museum, so worth a visit if you want to try something a little different. 400 yen • 9am-5pm • Google Maps
Ivy Square (アイビースクエア)
Built in the center of a former cotton mill, this square is full of hip cafes and restaurants. There is a small memorial museum and a few interesting souvenir shops. FREE • 24h • Google Maps
Archaeological Museum (倉敷考古館)
This former storehouse exhibits more than 1400 relics unearthed in the surrounding Chugoku region, plus some from south America. Housed in a whitewashed storehouse, the exhibits range from prehistoric stone implements to ancient bronze bells. 400 yen • 9am-5pm (March - Nov), 9am-4:15pm (Dec - Feb) (closed Monday and Tuesday apart from national holidays, and Dec 29 - Jan 2) • Google Maps
Honmachi-Higashimachi Street (本町踊り、東町踊り)
A quiet, nostalgic street full of old tradesmen's homes. These were mainly constructed in the Meiji era (17th to 20th centuries) and are now shops, mini museums and inns. 3 min walk from Ivy Square • Google Maps
Volunteer guides and tours
Kurashiki Goodwill Guides - GWG_kurashiki@kurashiki-v.net
Tours around the Kurashiki Bikan area, available in English, Korean and Chinese. The tours take visitors to the highlights of this small town. Advance booking required.
Budget food
Inside Ario Kurashiki shopping mall (outside the north exit) there is a Ringer Hut (リンガーハット) for fish based ramen from 630 yen, Katsu Don (かつ丼) for rice bowls from 490 yen, plus other reasonably priced food court stalls. There are few budget chain restaurants here if you want to eat out, so best to go the mall if you don’t come across something more to your liking.
Cheap supermarkets (スーパー)
Tenmaya Supermarket (天満屋) is located on the lower level of Ario Kurashiki shopping mall (9am-9pm).
100 yen shops
Can Do (キャンドゥ) - 2 locations in Kurashiki, one in the South Station shopping mall attached to Kurashiki station (10am-9pm) and another in Ario Kurashiki shopping mall (9am-9pm).
Recommended cheap accommodation
Kurashiki no Guesthouse Kakure-Yado Yuji-inn
Friendly new guesthouse with helpful staff, a large living room to meet new people and share travel ideas and traditional Japanese rooms. Free tea and coffee. Dorm beds from 3500 • Google Maps • http://yuji-inn.com/
Kurashiki Youth Hostel
Little bit of a walk from the action, but this well run hostel has some of the best prices in town and the official YHA stamp. Dorm beds from 3024 yen • Google Maps • http://www.jyh.or.jp/e/i.php?jyhno=6307
How to get there and away
By rail
From Okayama station, take a JR Sanyo line train to Kurashiki station (15 mins, 320 yen). Recommended rail passes: Japan Rail Pass, Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass, Kansai WIDE Area Pass
By bus
Kurashiki is on most bus routes, such as from Tokyo (10 hours, 6000-8000 yen) or Osaka (from 3500 yen, 3-4 hours) with Willer Bus, Japan Bus Lines or JR Bus. Recommended bus pass: Japan Bus Pass
Tourist information (観光案内所)
One is inside the station (9am-6pm Oct - March, 9am-7pm Apr - Sep) and another in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter (9am-6pm).
Bitchu-Takahashi (備中高梁)
A real surprise, this has to be one of the most fascinating castles towns we have ever visited. While Bitchu-Takahashi is a small town not on most tourist maps, it has a scattering of fascinating and traditional relics and architecture, plus a beautiful castle hidden on top of a small mountain. Part of the charm of the town is that it really isn't too well geared up for tourists. While it has a tourist information office for help, we only saw one other tiny group of foreign travelers. The rest were a few elderly Japanese travelers challenging the walk up to the castle. Worth a day trip if you are heading to/from Hiroshima or Okayama on the Japan Rail Pass.
Discount pass: Combination Ticket
It’s highly recommended to buy the combination ticket for 900 yen. It provides access to all the local tourist spots in the area, including the ones listed below. You’ll save a few bucks on the main tourist spots, plus it includes some nice shrines and museums that you may otherwise skip because of entry costs. It also includes a handy map. Available at the tourist information center.
Things to do
Walk it and save!
Bitchu-Takahashi is all done on foot, so is great for budget travelers. English signs around town show where to go, and there are lots of sights, such as the shrines and museums included in the combination ticket, along the way to ke
ep you entertained.
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle (備中松山城)
Officially one of Japan’s top 100 castles, once you get up there you will be amazed to see how quiet it is. There were never more than a dozen people when we were there. Built in 1250, it’s classed as an Important Cultural Property of Japan and located at the top of a mountain 430 meters up. There is also a temple complex a little further on from the castle, and some great views over the mountains. Our favorite castle in Japan, mainly due to how authentic and unspoiled it is. Time required: 3 hours return, Difficulty: Easy in town, medium going up mountain • 300 yen • 9am-6pm • Google Maps
Takahashi Old Town
Take a stroll around the old town with your Combination Ticket. You really need to get the combination ticket to enjoy it all in a day, otherwise you will be spending a bit too much for some of the rather small tourist spots here. If you are really short on money or time though, you could just go straight up to the castle.
Raikyu-ji Temple (頼久寺)
Zen temple with a history that goes back several centuries. The temple is surrounded by a lovingly crafted garden, with helpful staff ready to help answer any questions. Adults 300 yen, children 200 yen • 9am-5pm • Google Maps
Takahashi Museum of History
A quaint old museum, which seems to be set in some old school building. Full of all kinds of antiques and odd pieces from the past few centuries in Japan. A nice mix, from 1970s electronics to old wooden carts. A good spot to escape from the tourist trail and see something a little different. 300 yen • 9am-5pm • Google Maps
Budget food
It’s a small town here, so probably best to head to a convenience store. There is a Lawson convenience store outside the west exit of the station, just to the right, plus a 7-Eleven further up the road. Both have a large selection of takeout meals.
Cheap supermarkets (スーパー)