Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
I've been to Japan last November - December of 2015 and I wanted to share how I ended up getting accommodation with airbnb.
It's basically a house/apartments/rooms of the locals that are being rented to tourist. I've seen about it when I was browsing some threads about hotels in japan because most of the hotels are fully booked that time and I already have my visa and plane ticket so I really need to push thru my date of arrival in the land of the rising sun. hehe!
At first I was uncertain because I didn't know what airbnb is and I will be traveling alone so safety is the first thing to think off. Luckily, my parents know about it and it's quite popular nowadays in Europe and Asia, I believe around America too.
Actually my mumma recently tried it when she and her colleague went to Czech Republic so this makes me think that it's okay to use. I search with the price range they gave me and let me tell you that there's A LOT of nice and pretty apartments but like hotels they are either fully booked, super pricey or not so near the places i wanted to visit. So after days of searching and figuring where, I finally see the one that suits my price range and wantings. yasss! :D
Let me present to you my accommodation for almost a week in Osaka, Japan (near daikokucho station)
Obviously, this is my first time to use airbnb and I am quite satisfied because it's safe & easy to use and most of the host are nice enough to answer everything you'll ask. It's like a new adventure for me and it could be yours too.
Let me present to you my accommodation for almost a week in Osaka, Japan (near daikokucho station)
*drumroll*
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| Entrance door |
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| Kitchen |
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| Hallway (left door is for toilet & right door is the bathroom and laundry) |
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| Toilet |
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| laundry / washroom |
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| Bathtub (idk why it look small in this picture haha!) |
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| Bedroom |
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| Bed |
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| Balcony (day view) |
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| Balcony (night view) |
You'll just search for your preferred date and location. You can also adjust the price range so it's easier for you to see the house/apartments/rooms that you'll want. Basically after that you'll just message the host and wait for the response and you're done.
Why not give it a try using Airbnb? You'll have $20 discount on your first trip using AIRBNB if you sign up using the link i provide. (it's safe don't worry) It's just a referral thing. :)
btw, there is a cleaning and airbnb service fee added to the total price of your house/apartment/room and i think it depends on how many days you will be staying.
For example:
it's $58 per night
x 5 days
= $288
+ $26 cleaning fee
+ $47 service fee includes VAT
= $361 for a 5 nights stay
For those of you who'll be going to Osaka, i'll recommend the apartment where I stayed because:
1. it's near daikokucho station, which is also near Shinsaibashi and Namba.
2. its easy to find for first timers like me and if you are arriving at night.
3. there is a 2 convenient stores and 1 to go restaurant nearby.
4. the host will provide a pocket wifi that you can carry around when going out. Some host doesn't have free pocket wifi but have internet in the house.
5. The building is equipped with cameras even inside the lift and you need to have your key for you to get inside the building. so yeah! SAFE.
6. Everything basic you need is provided unlike hotels that you need to pay extra for laundry or whatever lol!
7. The host is nice and will answer immediately if you have any questions.
hope this helps! : )
Since lots of people are asking how to get a Japanese Tourist Visa here in the Philippines, including me before I got mine (yey!) so I think it's nice to share my experience with you guys. I've been to Japan last Nov - Dec this year (2015) and it is ahhhhmazing! :D
As you would know, Japan Embassy in Philippines doesn’t accept Tourist Visa applications via walk-in. You will need an accredited agency to process the visa for you. Also, visa application price differs from each agency and what kind of visa you are applying for. In my case, I went to Reli Tours to process my visa and the price range is about Php 950 - 2,500.
For more details about the accredited agencies and their locations, click here.
APPLYING AS A TOURIST WITHOUT GUARANTOR
- Philippine passport - Must have at least 6 months remaining validity, a signature, and at least 2 blank pages.
- Visa application form - you can get it in your chosen accredited agency or you can download it here HERE. Don’t leave anything blank. Just put N/A if not applicable. The travel agency advise me as well when they review my application form.
- Visa Photo - 45mm by 45mm or 2x2 inches with white background and paste it neatly on your application form.
- NSO Birth Certificate - issued within the last year. If you're Birth cert. is "late registration" just provide a copy of your baptismal or/and form137 or/and school year book.
- NSO marriage certificate - Obviously, this only applies to married applicants. Single applicants like me can ignore this.
- Schedule of Stay - they also call it the TAIZAI NITTEIHYO. Just put the dates, where you are going and the name and address of where you are staying.
- Bank Certificate - this is to prove that you can support your expenses while in japan. Just request it on your bank and it will just take a few minutes to process and cost 100 pesos. btw, my bank is BDO.
- Letter of Explanation - This is optional. I wrote one because I don't have a job yet when I apply and I explain that my trip is a gift from my parents. Also, if you have any supporting documents that is not listed above just say it here and provide it.
FYI:
All the papers you provide must be original and the embassy will not give back the documents.
Just go your preferred agency, give the requirements (make sure everything is okay before leaving the house), they will check it if your documents are complete and after that you'll pay and get the receipt. After 4 days, I received a text message from the agency that my passport is available to pick up so I went there the next day feeling excited and nervous. I didn't ask first if my visa was approve. I just gave the my receipt, the guy there look for my passport and then he look inside it and make me sign a paper with list of names for passport releasing purposes and he just check a box. I didn't look what box he was checking because I'm so nervous and excited about the result.
So I got my passport, leave the agency and then I went to the nearest coffee shop and take a peak inside and voila! my most awaited visa. I was ecstatic that moment and I'm smiling like an idiot all by myself. hahaha!
Anyways, I hope that this helps you somehow and Best of luck!
Just leave a comment below if you have questions and I'll answer it if I can. Ciao!
