Rail on the cheap
In Japan for only a limited time, J.K. is desperate to travel and see as much as possible. But there's a problem. "Cash is pretty limited. Are there any money-saving ways of traveling by train in Japan?"
The deal most familiar to Japanese is the seishun 18 kippu, or "youth 18 ticket" (available to travelers of all ages, despite the name). If you have the time, this is probably the best travel deal in the country. For ¥11,500 you can travel anywhere on the JR route as long as you stick to "regular" trains. For example, while it takes three hours to travel by shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka, it will probably take eight hours using the seishun 18 kippu. For details, see www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/seishun18.html.
Another cash-saver is the Full Moon Pass. This is for couples whose combined age totals at least 88. Such a pass — usable in "green" or first-class carriages only — costs ¥80,500 for five days, ¥99,900 for seven days and ¥124,400 for 12 days.