Japan Trip May 2025 - Notes
Requirements
- Passport
- Visa
- PH Departure Online Card thru etravel
- PH Customs Declaration thru etravel
- JP Arrival Online Card thru Japan Web
- JP Customs Declaration thru Japan Web
Not required but highly recommended
- π‘οΈ Travel Insurance β Especially helpful if you get sick due to the cold weather
- π Wi-Fi/Internet β For navigation, communication, and convenience
- π Small Bag/Carry β Public trash cans are limited; youβll likely carry your own trash for a while
Other Reminders
- π Most city tours will be on train and foot.
- π Taxis are expensive in Japan, about 2-4x more than in Singapore.
- π Most city attractions are train-accessible.
- π Comfortable shoes are a must, as the city tours involve a lot of walking.
Accomodation Details
Due to the unavailability of hotels that can accommodate a group of 9 people on the chosen dates, we have opted to book an Airbnb (e.g. Apartment).
Please note the following distinctions between staying at a hotel versus an Airbnb:
- ποΈ No daily housekeeping or bed-making services
- π³ No breakfast
- π’ No front desk
- π‘ More home-like. Has home appliances like rice-cooker, stove, washing machine, etc.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Yanaka, Taito UI Home |
| Host/Company Contact | Pending |
| Address | 3-chΕme-6-8 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo Prefecture 110-0001, Japan |
| Stay Start Date | 14 May 2025 |
| Stay End Date | 22 May 2025 |
Standard Check-in Time: 4:00 PM onwards We arrived at 15 May 2025. As requested, we also booked 14 May 2025, so we can immediately head towards the accommodation without waiting for 4PM.
Trip Details
If you have any specific places or activities in mind, feel free to let me know β Iβll see if we can fit them in.
City Tours will consist most of the following based on probability to visit. There is no Tokyo City, per se. Tokyo is a prefecture composed of several cities.
| Most likely visit | Might visit | Least likely visit |
|---|---|---|
| Shibuya | Akihabara | Nerima |
| Shinjuku | Ikebukuro | Nakano |
| Asakusa | Okubo | KichijΕji |
| Ueno | Ningyocho | |
| Yanaka | ||
| Marunouchi | ||
| Minato | ||
| Odaiba |
Day Trips will mostly consist of the following. These are the most popular day trips so they have the most options to be DIY or with a private charter or through joiner tour.
However, unlike the City Tour, we can only have 2-3 day trips outside Tokyo, with the rest spent on city tours.
If you want to check out how they are located relative to Tokyo, please check this Tokyo Daytrip Map.
| Most likely visit | Might visit | Least likely visit |
|---|---|---|
| Fuji | Chichibu | Kashima |
| Kamakura | Kawagoe | Atami |
| Enoshima | Nikko World Heritage | Nikko Nikugawa |
| Yokohama | Utsunomiya | Mito |
| Sawara | Sakura | |
| Narita |
Flight Details
Cebu Pacific has made some changes, so not all flight details are the same as before. All outbound flights are scheduled for May 14, 2025 (domestic leg) and May 15, 2025 (international leg). All inbound flights are on May 22, 2025.
The outbound Cebu to Narita (NRT) international flight remains unchanged.
For the return flights, most will be going from Narita to Manila to Davao, while a few are routed through Cebu instead (Narita β Cebu β Davao).
Please check the updated flight itinerary for verification.
| Passenger Name | Booking Code | Outbound Flight | Inbound Fligt | Download PDF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosario Traje | TMUGSN | DVO β NRT via CEB | NRT β DVO via MNL | TMUGSN |
| Rene Traje | HFHJQS | DVO β NRT via CEB | NRT β DVO via MNL | HFHJQS |
| Saren Vee Gulaja | GDHBGI | DVO β NRT via CEB | NRT β DVO via MNL | To be updated |
| Nelma Aranton | UISVUZ | DVO β NRT via CEB | NRT β DVO via MNL | UISVUZ |
| Vilma Silawan | WLYKJD | DVO β NRT via CEB | NRT β DVO via MNL | To be updated |
| Rebenrio Traje | AM5L4X | DVO β NRT via CEB | NRT β DVO via MNL | To be updated |
| ======== | ======= | =========== | ========= | ======== |
| Melanie Mahilum | HW6VYH | DVO β NRT via CEB | NRT β DVO via CEB | HW6VYH |
| Soren Traje | CP23XE | DVO β NRT via CEB | NRT β DVO via CEB | CP23XE |
| Axle | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending |
Cost Estimates
| Category | Estimated Cost (per person) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| π½οΈ Daily Food Budget | Php 700 β Php 2,000 per day | Budget range for meals |
| π Within City Transpo | Php 300 β Php 500 per day | Covers trains, subways, and local buses |
| βοΈ Airport to Tokyo Transpo | Php 1,600 β Php 4,000 per RT | Varies by mode: bus, train, or private transfer |
| π Day Trip Transpo | Php 1000 β Php 5,000 per RT | For trips 1β2 hours outside Tokyo |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
π¦οΈ What's the weather like in May?
Based on the forecast, Tokyo will have a high of 26Β°C and a low of 14Β°C. Essentially, slightly colder than Baguio weather.
π΅ How to exchange/withdraw Yen?
It's best to withdraw yen from local ATMs in Japan for the best exchange rates. You can withdraw yen in Japan using PH Debit Cards such as GoTyme Card, Maya Card, Gcash Card, etc.
However, carrying USD for emergencies is also a good idea. or exchange a small amount of Yen in PH and the rest of the yen in Japan.
π§³π Will we visit Kyoto and Osaka?
No. Kyoto and Osaka are about 500km from Tokyo. Though the bullet train takes 2.5 hours, the round trip cost is almost as much as the flight
𧳠Can I bring one large luggage + medium luggage?
No. The flight ticket allows only one checked-in luggage. You can either bring a large or medium luggage for check-in, plus one small luggage/bag for carry-on.
πΈ Will we see cherry blossoms during May?
Cherry blossoms are not in season by May. However, we can visit flower parks like Hitsujiyama Park in Chichibu or Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki for a beautiful flower experience, as a day trip. Depends on the schedule/weather.