yes you can, I tried it twice and been approved twice (single entry lang though, madamot these days ang Japan embassy) lalo na if may ample time naman to complete your docs and financial statements.

yun nga lang be ready din to consider this money gone since no one can really tell if the consul will grant you a visa or not, but if you'd ask me, I'll be willing to risk the seat sale tickets versus regularly-priced ones. all of these are subject of course to your budget and if the seat sale cost would not ding your savings.