1

Live in Poland so don't mind the cold (so much).

When are you going to Japan?

2

in a month! :)

3

When exactly?

Anyway: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2253538 and http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2249161

4

a month-so arrive on Jan 17-fly out on Jan 31. Thanks.

5

Seishun 18 tickets aren't valid after 10th January, so you are out of luck.
While 28,300 yen seems a lot of money, 7-day JR Pass will probably turn out a good buy as it covers the whole country. Since you are only going one way Kansai to Tokyo, have long side trips, like to Hiroshima, Takayama and Kanazawa. You must get your exchange order for the pass before arriving in Japan. Activate the pass for the middle 7 days, after sightseeing in Kyoto/Nara and before doing the same in Tokyo. Otherwise Willer Express offers some good bus deals.
Book your accommodation. While last-minute rooms are likely to be available, best deals go first and only rack rates are offered when you leave it late.Try a cheap ryokan in Kyoto - a unique experience.

6

Basically, use www.couchsurfing.org for accommodation.
Use overnight buses, or daytime buses to move between major cities especially between say Kyoto and Tokyo.

Some other useful budget travel tips here:-
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2028.html

You can't go up Mt Fuji in the middle of winter.
You could take a bus and visit Kawaguchiko which has some cheaper hostels like K's House Kawaguchiko
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6906.html
http://www.kshouse.jp/fuji-e/index.html

Although a bit more expensive you could go from Kyoto to Takayama to Tokyo and spend a few days in Takayama and the surrounds, possibly including Shirakawago although this may not be overly cheap or within budget for you.

So many other options but it really depends on your interests. On a budget I might be inclined to just spend 6 days in Kyoto (/Osaka/Nara), 6 days in Tokyo and then a night or two elsewhere.

7

Exactly how much do you each have to spend during those two weeks?

8

that's very good question Glenski. I really don't wanna spend more than 40 euro each per person per day as I earn in a currency that is much weaker than the euro. I've done a bit of research and heard this is possible. What do you think?

9

that's very good question Glenski. I really don't wanna spend more than 40 euro each per person per day as I earn in a currency that is much weaker than the euro. I've done a bit of research and heard this is possible. What do you think?

10

at internet rate 40 euro is ¥4400.

excluding accommodation, you could live on ¥4000/person/day. With accommodation, it would be extremely difficult. Not impossible, but not very enjoyable.

11

Very tight indeed ,-)

I'd be inclined to agree with acc.....or even spend one week in Kyoto and one in Tokyo (overnight bus between).

That will save you a lot on transportation costs....you can find cheap(ish) hostels in those two cities.....there is plenty of good and economical food...and you can spend more time doing free activities and just wandering,rather than looking for 'sights' all the time.

12

You could spend a week WWoofing and have more money to spend for the rest of your trip.
http://www.wwoofjapan.com/main/index.php?lang=en

13

That will be very tight. I think most of my advice above will still apply. If you don't couchsurf you may be able to get away with some really cheap hostels or maybe some manga kissa (internet cafes) but you will basically have very little left over for sightseeing or even local transport. A one day bus pass in Kyoto is 500 yen. Many shrines/temples also have entrance fees in the 300-1000 yen range.

One other option which might be a bit unusual is to cycle and camp. Might require a bit more preparation but on a really tight budget it may stretch your yen further. Although doing this mid-winter doesn't sound too fun to me!
http://www.japancycling.org/v2/
http://www.japancycling.org/v2/cguide/part5/ (Although maybe the ferry is not possible so you will need another route)

Some of the cycling people seem to have a bit of a support network including places to stay but it may be hard to organise at such short notice.

Was just about to mention wwoofing too, so I'd look at it as Tokyo_girl suggests

I would have been inclined to go for a shorter length of time to increase your per-day budget but I assume changing flight dates is not possible on such a "cheap fare".

14

I agree with the above posters. 4,400 yen per day is very hard to do AND enjoy yourself (for most people).

Check prices of hostels. http://www.hostels.com/japan
If you are lucky, you will find one that will eat only half of your daily allotment. Food will pretty much consume the rest. So, kiss goodbye any entrance fees (shrines, museums) and transportation.

You MIGHT live on 2,000 yen per day for food, but check what is available and compare against what you want to do in a foreign exotic land where you came to enjoy yourself and especially to "enjoy sampling different cuisines".
McDonalds for breakfast can be 300-600 yen. Convenience stores have yogurt, onigiri, juice, fruit, pastries, which may run about the same price as McD's, but do you want to eat that every morning? Any coffee shop that is open will charge that much for any set of coffee and donut. Make our own coffee in your room (don't know if hostels have water heaters; hotels usually do, and business hotels will include breakfast with the room cost of about 5,000 yen/night).

Lunch is what you make of it. More convenience food (box lunches for 450-700 yen, heated or not). More onigiri and pastries, fruit, yogurt, rolls and sandwich fixings, etc. More McDonalds. Noodle shops are omnipresent and will charge about the same as a box lunch. Restaurants will charge 800-1200 yen for a set meal.

Evening meal is usually the big one for most people, IMO. Figure at least 1000-2000 yen, depending on your "food fascist" nature.

Other people's advice (not all that I agree with, despite their eye-catching names):
http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/9-ways-to-eat-cheap-in-japan/
http://tanutech.com/japan/jcheapfd.html
http://travel.cnn.com/tokyo/eat/best-japan/japans-superb-cheap-eats-208644
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+39675
http://www.lewrockwell.com/rogers/rogers163.html
http://www.amazon.com/Eating-Cheap-Japan-Nagasawa/dp/407971548X