Think Japan is Expensive? Here Are 5 Things M’sians Can Do There For Just Under RM99!

Japan, the land of the rising sun is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and it seems most of you are planning a visit too, seeing how it is one of Malaysia’s most searched travel destinations! The gorgeous country, especially its capital Tokyo, can be quite expensive though but worry not, as there are a lot of amazing activities you can do there which won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

We’ve compiled some of these awesome activities just for you and by the end of this article, your wanderlust levels will definitely be off the charts!

1. Visit the historical Naritasan Shinshoji shrine in Narita

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Source: julijacapulleti

Of course, no trip to Japan is complete without a visit to some of their historical and zen-filled shrines. One of the most gorgeous and underrated temples in the country has got to be Naritasan Shinshoji shrine which is just a 15 minute walk from Narita airport.

What to expect: 

• Constructed in the year 940, this ancient temple was founded by Kobo Daishi of the Shingon Sect; one of the most important figures in Japan’s religious history.
• It was built around a sacred statue of the Buddist Fudo Myoo Deity carved by Kobo Daishi himself.
• There are a series of temple buildings around the grounds of Naritasan including a three-storied pagoda designed in Tahoto style.
• There is also a park which incorporates a unique fusion of traditional Japanese and European elements!
• Another unique thing about the shrine is the 1-kilometre-long street with stores stretching from the railway to the temple called Omotesando for you to explore and shop!

Price: Free!

Getting there: From Narita airport, just take a 15-minutes walk across the Omotesando to get to the shrine.

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Source: Soranews

2. Enjoy a free ‘Wasen’ ride, a Japanese traditional boat in Yokojikkengawa Shinsui Park

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Source: matcha-jp

Did you know that Tokyo used to be a river city, with the main transportation used being boats? Experience a glimpse of history by going on a river cruise across Yokojikkengawa Canal via a traditional Japanese boat called ‘Wasen’

What to expect: 

• ‘Wasen’, or “traditional wooden boat” in Japanese is a rare sight nowadays in the island nation but there’s a local community called Wasen Tomo no Kai that would bring stunning authentic Wasens to Yokojikkengawa Shinsui Park every week.
• Furthermore, there would be offering the public to ride on these beautiful boats across the Yokojikkengawa Canal for absolutely free!
• These boats can weigh up to 400kg with a capacity of around 7 passengers which is more than enough for your travelling group.
• Just register at the reception desk at the entrance of Shinsui Park and get ready for a river cruise that’ll live long in your memory!

Price: Free!

Getting there: Yokojikkengwa Shinsui Park is only a 15-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Toyocha station on Tozai Line.

Source: matcha-jp

Source: matcha-jp

3. Visit Yume Bokujo, a captivating dairy farm in Narita

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Founded in 1887 by Akiba-san, the farm used to be based in Koto-ku, Tokyo but it has moved a few times and finally settled at this current location in Narita since 1976.

What to expect:

• Spanning close to 30,000 square metres, this dairy farm offers amazing activities for families and solo travellers alike.
• These activities include guided horse and pony riding, miniature golf and archery, taking a plastic sledge ride down a hillslope and more!
• Learn how to make your own ice-cream, jam, bread, caramel candy and more dairy-based products!
• Marvel at the many beautiful flowers around during warmer weathers with Cherry blossoms and sakura flowers abound during springtime.
• Fancy staying the night? There’s also a campground where you can rent everything from a tent to a barbeque grill!

Price: Entrance fee is RM55 per person.

Getting there: From Narita Airport, take the JR Narita Line towards Choshi and get off at Namegawa Station. There’ll be a free shuttle bus that will take you to the dairy farm from there.

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4. Take the ropeway to the top of Akechidaira Plateau in Nikko

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Source: Tobu Railways

Located at the peak of Nikko Daini Irohazaka Route, you can take a ropeway to an observation deck to enjoy a mesmerizing view of the Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji and Mt. Nantaisan.

What to expect: 

• This is a popular observation spot especially during autumn as you can see the gorgeous fall colours spread across the landscape!
• There are highlights for the other seasons as well such as the Rhododendron flowers in spring, deep greens in summer and beautiful snow with blue sky in winter.
• Besides that, you can also visit the nearby Chuzenji lake and its breathtaking view amongst the mountains of Nikko. The lake is located at the foot of Mount Nantai, a sacred volcano which its eruption 20,000 years ago is what created this mesmerizing lake.
• There, you can take a calming cruise across the lake through sightseeing spots like Shobugahama and Chuzenji Temple for just RM50!

Price: RM27 for a return ticket through the ropeway. The cruise over Chuzenji lake is RM50.

Getting there: Nikko is located some 3 hours from Tokyo but is easily accessible via public transport. Take the Tobu express to Nikko for under RM150 or you can take a bus directly from Narita airport for around RM170!

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5. Take the traditional Rickshaw ride in Asakusa, Tokyo

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Enjoy riding this traditional Japanese rickshaw around Asakusa, a historic district within Tokyo that houses many ancient temples and shrines.

What to expect:

• These little black, 2-wheeled vehicles with bright red-blankets can be found all around the old district of Asakusa.
• Get to see the historic part of Tokyo like never before such as the lantern of Kaminarimon gate, the rustic charms of the old downtown streets and the intriguing quiet geisha town.
• The rickshaw itself is actually invented by the Japanese in the 19th century, the word rickshaw is derived from the Japanese ‘Rikisha’ which means ‘vehicle-powered by human’.
• Currently, Asakusa is the only place where these rickshaws are allowed to operate in Tokyo!

Price: A 15-minutes rickshaw ride would cost around RM80 each for two persons.

Getting there: From Tokyo station, take the JR Yamanote Line to Kanda Station and transfer to the Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa for a combined journey of just 12 minutes. Fare-wise, it’s only RM12.50!

Source: wanderingsaikia

Source: Viator

These places and activities look amazing weh! Very affordable and some even free of charge! Itching for a holiday in Japan already? If yes, then we have amazing news for you!

AirAsia just announced they’re opening a new direct route from Malaysia to Tokyo via Narita International Airport!

Landing in Narita gives you a lot more options to whichever destinations you’re going in Japan with better accessibility transportation-wise from Narita International Airport!

Furthermore, with this new route, Malaysians now have more options and flexibility when travelling to the land of the rising sun as you can choose to either:

• Land in Narita and arrive in the morning at 8.15am, or
• Land in Haneda and arrive during night time at 10.30pm!

Wah, so convenient! Well, as if you need any more reason to go on a Japanese adventure, get this:

With the launch of this new route, AirAsia is also doing an exclusive promotion for flights to Narita starting from just RM449 BIG members that pay with BigPay!

More deets below:

• Booking Period: 26 Aug 2019 – 1 Sep 2019
• Travel Period: 20 Nov 2019 – 28 Mar 2020

Awesome! Find out more regarding the new Narita route and other awesome promotions by AirAsia here. Happy travelling!