The first time we set foot in Japan, we knew it was a place we would keep coming back to. Not only is it clean, safe, and oh so beautiful -most of the Japanese people are also friendly & helpful! <3

Last 2017, we were given a 15-day visa to Osaka. Too short a time if you ask me. I fervently hoped that the next time we apply, we would be given a lengthier one. Voila! God answered our prayers and we were given 5 years multiple entry this time around, woohoo!

We took the opportunity to travel to Tokyo this 2019 & spend Christmas there. Thankfully, Ate‘s holiday schedule was open & she didn’t have duty for several days. We flew via Ana Air & as usual, preferred to travel economy to save for shopping money & just got bulkhead seats instead. Remember? Kap doesn’t like being confined to small spaces, kaya kahit papaano maluwag-luwag yung espasyo namin going & coming.

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Being new to Tokyo, we weren’t familiar with the streets so the airbnb that Ate got, although nice, spacious, and comfy, had a bit of a walk from the station -around 15 mins. Every night, we would huff, and we would puff in the cold to get to our temporary home. 😛

Our host was Eren Kurihara (eren-j02859vs2fy0doo5@host.airbnb.com) & the 3-bedroom/3-storey house at 2 Chome-14-4 Ebisu Kurihara Eren House, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 150-0013, Japan for 11 days was priced at ₱160,687.32 It had a kitchen & more importantly, a washer & dryer for our thermals so I was happy!

Kap & I occupied the ground floor because obvs, matanda na kami at hindi na kayang umakyat ng hagdan. Babyson was supposed to occupy the room with the bunkbed beside ours, but opted to sleep on the couch on the 2nd floor instead kasi ma-telebabad sya. Natakot na mag-spy ako at makinig sa usapan nila ng lovey-dovey nya -as if! ;)) Meanwhile, the 2 girls got the bedroom on the 3rd floor. Sakto for a family of 5.

Ate got us an airport transfer from Klook. A roomy Alphard picked us up together with our 7-pc luggage, so it was a HUGE comfort & relief. Imagine having to lug those around searching for the train & ultimately our apartment, zomg. Price for one way was 12k php. We got roundtrip pikit-mata.

We also availed of 2 units of 4G Wifi with unlimited data for 11 days that set us back 7.5k php, but what can we do? WiFi is very important in getting around, AND for instagramming purposes hahahahaha! 😉

Next to the apartment, we found transportation the costliest. Sobrang mahal pala ang train sa Tokyo huhu. Every night after an adventure-filled day, we would top up para ready na uli kinabukasan. Kap would shell out around 10k php/day just for our transpo, oh my golly wow! Etong mga bata pa naman, lahat ng kasuluk-sulukan, gustong suyurin. Kaya naman panay ang ikot namin.

To make up for the costly train fare, the kids would look for affordably-priced restos to eat in. Pero wag ka, yung “affordable” sa Tokyo, dinudugo pa din si Kap, lolz. We also stocked up on little snacks here & there from MEGA Don Quijote & 7/11 at Family Mart.

So far, our budget in case you are planning on taking your first trip to Tokyo as well (in Php):

• Flight – 100k
• Accommodation – 160k
• Insurance coverage 2.5M/person (New Canaan) – 10k
• Airport Transfers – 24k
• Wifi – 7.5k
• Transpo (train & bus) – 100k
• Food – 100k
• Entrances – 35k (Disney Sea 18k | Team Lab Borderless 7.5k | Team Lab Planets 7.5k)
• Shopping – wag na nating pagusapan! @_@

Btw, before we called it a day, we made a short self-we stop at the famous Hachiko Statue right at the Shibuya Crossing, and had dinner at a yummy & unbelievably cheap yakiniku place called Yakiniku Like. You might also wanna try it when you find yourself in Shinjuku. :-*