Best travel deals and hotel discounts in Tokyo and Japan

The JR Tokyo Wide Pass gives you unlimited rides on shinkansen and limited-express trains for three days in the Kanto region, which includes Nikko, Mt Fuji and Izu.

JR Hokkaido will also be offering a discounted seven-day transport pass for a limited time. The Hokkaido and Higashi Nihon Pass (¥11,330, children ¥5,660) allows you an unlimited number of rides on any local JR Hokkaido line, local JR East line (except for shinkansen, but including Bus Rapid Transit), Aoimori Tetsudo line, Iwate Ginga Tetsudo line and Hokutetsu line trains for seven whole days. Do note that the pass doesn’t include travel on the Hokkaido Shinkansen between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate Hokuto stations – for that trip, you’ll need to purchase a separate limited express ticket.

One of the most enjoyable ways to see the country, Japan’s train and shinkansen passes offer significant savings as well. However, they are mostly available only to foreign travellers who enter Japan under a tourist visa, much to the envy of foreign residents living in the country.

Good news, though, as this is about to change. Starting April 1, JR East will make its two of its most popular passes – Tohoku area pass and the Nagano, Niigata area pass – available to anyone with a foreign passport regardless of visa type.

Looking to make use of all the domestic travel deals? JR East has you covered with the extremely good value unlimited Weekend Pass. For ¥8,800 (¥2,600 for children), you get unlimited rides on JR East lines on a consecutive Saturday and Sunday.

The JR East trains covered include local lines and even shinkansen. However, there's a surcharge for the latter. Do note that the Tokaido shinkansen, which connects Tokyo to Kyoto and Shin-Osaka, is unfortunately excluded from the promotion. Nevertheless, there's still lots to discover as you can use this pass to travel to Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka and more.

There are currently plenty of staycation plans and hotel deals around, making weekend getaways that much more attractive and affordable. However, a new service called The Worke is giving out bigger discounts if you’re looking for something more long term. The virtual concierge offers long-term accommodation plans ranging from six days to a whole year, which you can use as a workcation stay, an extended holiday or an Airbnb-style second home.  

The hotels found on the website are scattered across Japan, ranging from  Tokyo to Kyoto and Hokkaido to Aomori. Unlike cramped budget hotels with little to see and do, many of the featured accommodations are on the luxurious side with five star listings like the Hyatt Regency Kyoto, among others...

The campaign gives up to 50 percent in discounts to domestic travellers: 35 percent on travel expenses and starting September 1, an additional 15 percent in vouchers to be used at the destination.

Starting October 1, travel to and from Tokyo will be included in the campaign. 

These luxury campgrounds in neighbouring Chiba and Saitama prove you don’t have to travel far to get back to nature

These luxury campgrounds in neighbouring Chiba and Saitama prove you don’t have to travel far to get back to nature

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