Is Japan backpacker friendly?

[ryuhei69]

Planning to go there next year alone, so I was wondering if it's backpacker-friendly. Will I have difficulty getting into trains, or going into crowded eateries?

 

[Maciamo]

Regarding accommodation, there are plenty of backpacker places in Tokyo (especially from 1 week) and Kyoto . It's quite easy to board trains with a backpack, as there is no step between the platform and train, and most of the big stations have escalators (at least the way up) and/or lifts. As for restaurants, there are plenty of cheap chains to match a backpacker's budget, and they are easily accessible (even with a backpack, although I've never done it).

Hope that helps.

 

[Kara_Nari]

If you havent backpacked before.... buy the smallest backpack you can find! I took an enlarged schoolbag with me through SE Asia and even that annoyed me to no end, but I was happy that I wasnt my friend with her whole life in her monstrosity of a pack.
Most places have lockers where you can keep your pack anyway, or there is usually someone kind enough to hold it for you. Have fun on your trip!

 

[Maciamo]

You could also take a backpack with wheels. I was one of the few to have one when I travelled around SE Asia.

 

[Kara_Nari]

Ahh the wheels, they are great, my japanese friend had one of them, worked well in my favour, I got to wheel his backpack and he carried mine hahaha. Also more convenient if planning on catching subways etc, otherwise you get squashed and liable to fall over backwards (not so sure if this would happen in Japan though, Koreans just dont know how to wait).
Yeah I think wheels would work best in Japan.
Off topic, but when we were backpacking through Cambodia there was a group of american girls and one of them had all her expensive suitcases, like perhaps she had thought 'There is no way I am taking a BACKPACK' but she was having the worst time, there are so many holes everywhere, it was wet season and the majority of bridges and plank walkways have boards missing... wouldnt dream of trying to navigate that situation.
Back on topic: Are the japanese transport cards for both Buses, and trains? Also can you pay road tolls on them too?

 

[Maciamo]

Back on topic: Are the japanese transport cards for both Buses, and trains?

Not at all. In fact, each train comapny (about 20 around Tokyo) uses different tickets, and there are even two metro companies with different prices and tickets. They have what they call "passnet" (prepaid card of 1000, 3000 or 5000 yen) which works on most lines (not Japan Railway), but you still get charged twice every time you change company. They don't work on buses, where only cash is accepted. Anyway, there are very few buses in Tokyo, they are slow, pass only ever 20-30min and are quite expensive.

In London a single underground ticket might be over twice the price of Tokyo, but once we buy a weekly or monthly ticket it works on all transports (underground, buses, light railway, boats, etc.). Same in Berlin. Not sure about other cities.

 

[ryuhei69]

I'm planning to leave my major luggage in a hotel, and go sightseeing with all my camera equipment and just a jacket in the backpack. Should I be packing any other stuff in there, or can I get by with these? I'm just planning to explore Tokyo, nothing rural this time.

 

[Mike Cash]

I see no reason why you shouldn't get by quite nicely like that.

 

[Kara_Nari]

In London a single underground ticket might be over twice the price of Tokyo, but once we buy a weekly or monthly ticket it works on all transports (underground, buses, light railway, boats, etc.). Same in Berlin. Not sure about other cities.

Great thanks for that! Yeah Korea is the same, (Well in Seoul and Busan) where you can buy a card, and put however much money you like on it and away you go... doesnt expire and you can use it for Buses, Subway and Toll gates. Generally if you need to transfer from bus to train or visa versa it will charge you but you need to swipe your card again and it will refund/add accordingly.

 

[SharkLover]

would they happen to have a McDoland's

jk

big backpacks are annoying....