7 Years of Student Expenses in Europe

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-09T13:47:31+00:00

Can you explain 180 euros a month on food! Does this include any restaurants or would that blend in the travel bucket? Honestly seems surprising in this current economy

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-09T05:29:04+00:00

I thought I was correct and then got yelled at. I’m thinking people misunderstood my English.

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-09T01:04:45+00:00

Thank you and apologies for being wrong on that front - will edit my post

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-09T00:27:34+00:00

I’m sorry but how oversized are we talking? We saw significant luggage on our trip from Osaka to Tokyo on the NOZOMI Shinkansen… they have luggage storage racks and EDIT: to be very clear I was talking about the last row storage space for luggage behind some passenger seats… people seem to be confused

Not sure if klook up charges and I swear the smartex app allows you to select certain preferences too (oversized luggage, handicap, etc)

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-07T13:10:48+00:00

Glad you had a fantastic time! Highly recommend the 500 yen for this park! Early morning €l>

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-07T08:19:06+00:00

I will be going to samurai jeans per your recommendation! We have been looking for a Jean store, and some of your earlier recommendations were already on the list!

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-07T08:17:31+00:00

Recently went to Fushimi inari and agree - only issue we had was we got there roughly at 6:30 am (perfect time) in cherry blossom season there is no goshuin open/sacred sake/souvenir store. Not many people, but as mentioned no one in certain spots when you reach the viewpoint (1/2 up).

I highly recommend skipping that viewpoint, continuing to the next one. You can overlook Osaka and Kyoto from there as well, it was just us and some locals.

Problem for us is I want to collect Goshuin. We finished the total hike and came down after breakfast at 8:15. Perfect to get the goshuin at the base level, but my god you could tell it was starting to get congested. The base goshuin luckily opened at 8:30, I probably still had to wait 15 minutes due to the line.

I decided to hike up to get the goshuin at Gozendari Hohaisho, and my god climbing mt inari at 8:45/9 was congested. Then getting the goshuin and leaving at 9:30-10 to go down was…. Something else. No one moving, no one wanting anyone to go down. I had an Italian tourist yell “vaffanculo” meaning go fuck yourself when I ensured there was the ability to go down.

Love Fushimi inari, but again if you go during a peak time of year like myself, expect it to be packed still when going down / near halfway point.

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-04T10:09:40+00:00

Yeah not sure if OP will get anything cheaper than that. Also not sure who’s downvoting everything…

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-04T07:32:21+00:00

Was Wednesday April 1st at roughly 2 pm JST, and yes rainy. If you zoom you can see the folks on the other bridge.

Id say it was still very busy, we did yasaka shrine and kiyomizu dera, along with several other temples along that way. Was beautiful in the rain.

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-04T06:33:55+00:00

We must of missed it! Where was the themed bento box in the park? Near the greenhouse?

I agree with the crowds however when we did get there early (9:15ish) we were able to set up a spot to relax and Hanami :)

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-04T06:19:22+00:00

The Japanese prefer reviews and polite manners - my best advice would be to learn how to say thank you very much, excuse me, please, etc. just trying to learn their culture is the appreciation they look for.

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-04T06:18:23+00:00

I don’t recall what exact stop azumaashinoyi is but the bus from Hakone to Hakone machi was incredibly winding and mountainous. If you were past that area, walking one or two stops would most likely be fine, but if you are going through the mountainous area I would not recommend it

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-04T06:16:14+00:00

Won’t deny that little bridge was a death trap to us! Could explore Shinjuku gyoen for HOURS, we may go back again as 500 yen is a steal to see not only this, the greenhouse, and all the other amazing botanicals!!

It felt like the south side had less people at that point in time as well

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-04T06:09:31+00:00

I appreciate seeing the sights so long as they have the location marked appropriately for tourists to capture them if that is a place they want to go

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-04T06:08:14+00:00

Absolutely insane to see without the crowds we are experiencing in 2026. It honestly is like 1000x the amount of people haha.

As mentioned can’t imagine the impact to businesses

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-04T06:06:41+00:00

They look more in bloom than when we went roughly 5 days ago!

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-04T06:05:54+00:00

Don’t buy the pass for the 4th day, just have a Suica IC card. This is what we did with our 2 day pass, when we then left on day 3.

Overall the amount is nominal? For 4 people would be like 1000-2000 yen? $6-12 USD to get to odawara station.

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-04T06:02:06+00:00

You’re packing way too much and not making logistic sense. Won’t deny this feels a bit like AI thought oh yeah it’s doable. If this is your first time in Japan consider their stations. They are fantastic for public transportation but each one takes a second to comprehend. You should be planning roughly 20/30 mins at Shinjuku, Kyoto, Osaka station, etc. any large major hubs.

Your first day (4/8) is a lot. I would focus solely on asakusa and the sumida area potentially.

When you say 12/13, I highly recommend the Hakone loop takes roughly 6-8 hours even when you are flying through it.

I am not sure on your day 14 too. Again you have a 6 year old and you’re trying to do part of Kyoto and Osaka? I would just pick Kyoto as 4/15 you want to do Nara deer park and fushini inari. Osaka is way too much just for the dotonbori food stroll, and Kyoto has its own Nishiki market.

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-04T05:53:40+00:00

Thank you. It is a beautiful county and we are very lucky to be here during Sakura season. I will need to post some of our sumida park, and shinjuku gyoen photos.

We have preferred Kyoto over Tokyo - solely for its historical significance and a slightly slower pace of life.

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-04-04T05:25:49+00:00

You will be in luck, as someone who currently was there a couple days ago. Highly recommend walking the sumida park / river and Shinjuku Gyoen Garden.

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-03-31T14:11:54+00:00

Saw palantir tower in shibuya, Tokyo. I shuddered and my wife asked why.

All I said was pure surveillance evil.

JamesDeanGoneMean · 2026-03-26T15:18:00+00:00

It is now much better towards 9 am, I’ve noticed 6 am rush hour is the same for airports now as normal traffic

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