Daegu Over Seoul, Rural Guesthouses Over Okinawa…! “Pro Travel Secrets” and Insider Tips You Won’t Want to Miss—Even With a Weak Yen

Beat the Weak Yen & Rising Prices! The Secrets to “Pro-Level Travel”  

This summer, many people likely gave up on “travel” due to the weak yen and high prices. According to data released by major travel agencies and others, this summer marked the first time since the end of the COVID-19 crisis that both overseas and domestic travel declined.

While the number of people saying, “I can’t afford to travel,” is on the rise, the wealthy are flying business class to Europe and the U.S. and staying at luxury hotels to enjoy elegant getaways.While some view this growing polarization among travelers as a sign that travel is becoming a “privilege of the wealthy,” travel enthusiasts are still racking their brains to find destinations and itineraries that offer great value for money, and they continue to travel both domestically and abroad.

A professional travel journalist who travels at his own expense several times a year shares his secrets.

The “Skip the Capital” Technique for Keeping Travel Costs Down  

At first glance, the current situation surrounding overseas travel is grim. Airline fuel surcharges have hit record highs, driving up ticket prices, and due to the weak yen, hotel and dining costs have skyrocketed not only in Europe, the U.S., and Australia but even in major Asian cities.

Although passport application fees were reduced as of July 1, ’26, the International Tourism Passenger Tax (departure tax) tripled at the same time, and it’s been called a “bad tax” that increases the burden on frequent international travelers.

The tried-and-true way to keep overseas travel costs down is to choose “countries or regions with low prices,” but deliberately “skipping the capital” is also an effective strategy. In South Korea, for example, aim for Busan or Daegu instead of Seoul; in Thailand, Chiang Mai instead of Bangkok; and in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang instead of Hanoi.While direct flights from Japan to regional destinations may be infrequent and fares may be slightly higher, you can offset these costs by using local transportation.

For example, in Daegu, South Korea, there are several direct express buses per day from Gimhae International Airport in Busan; the one-way trip takes about 70 minutes and costs 11,100 won (about 1,200 yen).Since the bus arrives at Dongdaegu Bus Terminal—Daegu’s largest terminal—it’s convenient for onward travel. Busan Airport also has Japanese-language signage, so even first-time visitors can feel at ease.

I stayed at the familiar “Toyoko Inn” in Daegu. A single room with breakfast costs just over 6,000 yen per night. While a room at the Toyoko Inn in Seoul costs around 7,500 yen, what’s even more noteworthy than the price is how easy it is to make a reservation.Since the Toyoko Inn in Seoul is extremely competitive and hard to book, the benefits of staying in a regional city—where you can secure a room reliably and affordably—are immeasurable. Additionally, there are many express buses from Incheon Airport to various regional destinations across South Korea, so traveling directly to Daegu is also an option.

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As a technique for keeping travel costs down, an “alternative route” is gaining popularity among travel enthusiasts: taking a flight from Tokyo (Haneda) or Osaka (Kansai) that departs late at night and arrives in Seoul (Incheon) early in the morning, and then traveling on to a third country from there.

It’s now common knowledge that international flights booked via Seoul are significantly cheaper than those departing from or arriving in Japan. Incheon Airport offers many flights to cities not served by Japanese airlines, greatly expanding your options.

For flights to the U.S. mainland, traveling via Honolulu is another option. Hawaiian Airlines has merged with Alaska Airlines, which serves over 100 cities across the U.S., and joined the “oneworld” alliance—the same alliance as Japan Airlines (JAL)—significantly expanding its route network.

Since flights between Honolulu and cities across the U.S. are treated as domestic flights, in-flight service in Economy Class is limited to beverages, but you can pre-order paid in-flight meals. You can also enjoy Hawaii by taking advantage of transit layovers or stopovers during your connection.

Incidentally, another benefit worth noting is that when booking Alaska Airlines Group award tickets using JAL miles or similar programs, fuel surcharges are generally waived, and you’ll only be charged applicable taxes.

Searching for Hidden Gem Accommodations to Avoid the Inbound Tourists  

The sharp rise in domestic travel accommodation costs is largely due to the rapid increase in foreign tourists visiting Japan (inbound tourists). In urban areas such as Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Sapporo, it’s not uncommon for even a single room at a business hotel to cost “15,000 yen or more per night” on weekends and during peak seasons.

However, prices aren’t high everywhere in Japan. Places that are “hard for inbound tourists to reach”—such as those accessible only by car or served only by local bus routes—are still quite affordable.

Conversely, areas near airports with daily international flights require special attention, as they are easily accessible to inbound tourists. For example, Okinawa (Naha) receives many international flights from Asia, but inbound tourists tend to concentrate in resorts such as Naha City, Tomigusuku City, and Onna Village—all of which are easily accessible from the airport. If you avoid these areas, you may be able to find affordable lodging.

Staying at a rural “minshuku” (guesthouse) is another good strategy. When I visited Wakkanai in Hokkaido, I was surprised to see the area around Wakkanai Station overflowing with international tourists, but at the minshuku I found beyond Cape Nosappu—which I reached by rental car—the only guests were regulars: businesspeople on road trips.

It was incredibly affordable—about 7,000 yen per night with two meals and a hot spring—and since there’s a bus stop nearby, it’s not impossible to get there from the station. There’s also the joy of rediscovering that authentic travel experience unique to the minshuku I stayed at as a child.

Hunting for the Lowest Fares! Using LCCs and AI  

Low-cost carriers (LCCs), often cited as the ultimate trick for saving on travel expenses, operate differently from major airlines. It’s recommended to try them out at least once on routes or at times when the impact of any issues would be minimal. Once you’ve used them, you’ll quickly understand how to use them wisely.

For example, Singapore Airlines’ LCC, “Scoot,” has been launching flights to regional cities in Indonesia and Malaysia one after another in recent years, making it possible to travel from Tokyo or Osaka to these regional cities via Singapore with just one layover.

Its hub, Changi Airport, features a large shopping complex and offers excellent access to major tourist attractions, so you can fully enjoy even long layovers. Among the many LCCs, it is highly reliable as part of the Singapore Airlines Group. It’s also important to choose your LCC wisely.

While “deliberately straying from standard destinations and travel styles” can lead to savings, it’s essential to thoroughly research local safety conditions and the safety of local transportation options.Skyscanner, a staple among global travel apps, continues to roll out convenient tools such as “Explore with AI,” which lets you chat with AI to find the best travel destinations; “Flight Tracker,” which provides real-time updates on flight delays and other information; and “DROPS,” which helps you find limited-time discounted airfares.

Even for domestic travel, where language barriers and safety concerns are virtually nonexistent, it can be fun to deliberately turn popular destinations for inbound tourists on their head and “pioneer” places they’re unlikely to visit.