JAKARTA - Seeing cherry blossoms bloom in Japan feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Many Indonesians make Japan a dream destination, whether for food, shopping, or just enjoying the atmosphere of a neat and modern city.
But behind all that, the cost of a vacation to Japan is not small. Without proper planning, the wallet can be drained faster than the return schedule.
During the Jenius Japan Tour Media Gathering at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Jakarta on March 13, 2026, Febri Rusli, Head of Digital Banking Product & Innovation at SMBC Indonesia shared a number of tips to make traveling to Japan remain economical without reducing the excitement.
1. Determine a Realistic Duration
Many people impose a busy travel plan in 4-5 days. In fact, too short a time actually makes spending swell because everything feels rushed. According to Febri Rusli, the ideal duration is very important.
"If you go to Japan, ideally don't be too tight. At least five days, but honestly, five days and four nights still feel very crowded. If you have ten days, it's the most enjoyable because you can be more relaxed and really enjoy the journey," said Febri Rusli.
He added, in the rhythm of a 10-day holiday, it is more relaxed and spending can be more controlled because it is not instantly centralized.
"If ten days it has started to relax. It has started to miss nasi padang," he joked.
2. Prepare a Budget and Special Savings
Holidays are synonymous with big spending. Without special savings, people often take funds from other posts which eventually disrupt financial conditions after returning home.
"The holiday does cost a lot. So it has to be saved properly and planned from the beginning," explained Febri.
He emphasized the importance of planning before departure, not after the ticket was bought.
"If you want to go on vacation, there are actually four cycles that need to be thought about. First, prepare the money. Second, buy tickets and all the necessities before leaving. Third, set spending while there. Finally, after returning, managing how the financial impact. So everything must be planned from the beginning," he explained.
3. Use Credit Cards Wisely
There are still many who consider credit cards to be synonymous with debt. In fact, if used properly, it can actually help.
"Credit cards are not bad cards. It's not debt, but a transaction tool. Don't make it a debt," said Febri.
He suggested taking advantage of 0% or low interest promos when needed.
"If there is 0% why not use it? For example, tickets are cheaper now, than later they will go up a million, paying a little interest may make more sense," he concluded.
The key is to remain disciplined in paying so as not to become a burden.
4. Set Foreign Currency from the Start
A common mistake travelers make is exchanging money on the fly at less-than-friendly rates. Now, yen purchases can be made well before departure and used directly while in Japan.
"Having a foreign currency account is important. Now there is even no admin fee, so we can buy yen from far away and be more calm when we leave," explained Febri.
If the balance runs out while in Japan, there's no need to panic.
"If you are in Japan again and the yen balance feels less, just buy it again. Don't worry about the clock, because even though Japan is two hours behind Indonesia, access can still be 24 hours a day," he said.
5. Take advantage of Attraction and Shopping Promotions
Unnoticed expenses often come from attraction tickets and souvenir shopping. Even though there are many promos that can be used. Some popular attractions such as teamLab Planets Tokyo and Umeda Sky Building are often a favorite of tourists. For shopping gadgets and souvenirs, Indonesian tourists also often visit Bic Camera or Don Quijote.
"Usually Indonesians when they go to Japan must buy gadgets and souvenirs. There are many funny things," added Febri.
Utilizing the promo period can make shopping more economical without reducing the shopping list.
6. Japan is the favorite of Indonesians
Based on the 2025 internal study presented by Febri, Japan is a favorite destination across generations.
"Traveling is an average of one to two times a year and Japan is one of the favorite destinations," he said.
Interestingly, the yen is also the most frequently owned foreign currency after the US dollar.
"In the foreign currency portfolio, the Japanese currency is the top besides the US dollar. But if the yen is usually for entertainment, traveling," he explained.
This means that the interest in Japan is indeed high. It remains to be seen how to manage expenses so that they remain healthy. In the end, saving does not mean suppressing all expenses. Saving means knowing when to pay in full, when to pay in installments, when to buy now, and when to wait for promotions.
"We believe the best moments often come without waiting for us to be really ready. But with a calmer financial planning, people can focus on enjoying the journey," concluded Febri Rusli.
To support the trip to Japan, Jenius from SMBC Indonesia presents the Jenius Japan Tour program with Klook in the Klook Online Travel Fest on March 6-8, 2026 with various attractive offers for activities in Japan.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
