This Spring Looks Like a Good Time for Americans to Visit TDR

[Roger55]

It is really starting to look like this spring will be a great time for Americans to visit TDR.

The exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Japan Yen is approaching a 3 year high.

JPY=X - Stock Quote for US Dollar / Japanese Yen FX Spot Rate - JPY=X Stock price - real time stock quote for US Dollar / Japanese Yen FX Spot Rate

November 2011 the USD hit a low of ~76JPY to the USD. The current rate has been rapidly increasing since last fall and now is about to break the 90JPY to USD threshold.

This difference may seem like just a small amount, but if you look at the following example you will see how the savings to Americans visiting Japan can be significant.

Let's look at an example of a hotel room at a moderate rate of 20,000 JPY per night.

At an exchange rate of 76 JPY, the equivalent USD would be ~$263.

At an exchange rate of 90 JPY, the same room would be ~$222.

That's a reduction of $41 per night. Multiply the savings times the number of nights and you can see how the differance can be significant. Just a five night stay would save you nearly the price of one night!

Now apply the same logic to meals, shopping, park tickets, transportation in Japan, etc. and you can see how a difference of only 14JPY to the USD can really start to add up. I'm hoping the exchange rate continues to go up even more in the next few months.

At Tokyo DisneySEA, Mickey and Duffy's Spring Voyage starts on March 18th. And TDR's 30th anniversary celebration - "The Happiness Year" starts April 15th so there will be a lot going on at TDR.

And for those of you who have always wanted to see the famous cherry blossoms (sakura) in the Tokyo area, they are usually blooming towards the end of March and slightly into April. There have been numerous discussions on this board about when is a good time to visit Japan. I think almost unanimously you will find that spring is one of the best times of the year to go.

Since I constantly watch the USD/JPY exchange rate, I just thought I'd bring this to everyone's attention in case they have been contemplating a trip to Japan and TDR. Based on how the exchange rate plays out, this might be a good time to make that trip!

Of course like everything else, things could change rapidly. I'm hoping that the positive trend in the exchange rate continues or at least holds. It is something everyone should keep an eye on for themselves.

[Grimezy]

Looking good for us Aussies as well, with our dollar buying 94 JPY.

[TravisMT81]

I just noticed this the other day when I was budgeting for our April trip. This is such a relief after out last trip.

[TimmyTimmyTimmy]

I could never afford going to Japan if I payed 20000y for a room. I travel the world and I´m used to 5 stars. But when I go to Tokyo with Ryokans for 6000y and I get to feel like I am in Japan.

[DuffyGuardian]

It does look like a great time to visit.

[jedimaster7313]

I've been wanting to visit in the spring for a while now- I just may try to do it this time now.

[Aotphks]

Fabulous news!! It would make our family trip to see Tokyo Disneyland's 30th anniversary celebration more affordable.

[Fukai]

I'll be there in the spring! First day of the 30th event! The price was so good that I paid for my room at the Hilton in advance for both April and October and saved lots of money over last year.

[indianajack]

The rate is getting better but I'm still holding out for 100 yen to a dollar.

[Fukai]

When my father used to travel to Japan on business decades ago, a dollar bought 250 yen!

[ChrisFL]

Very nice, I love 100 to 1 because its sooo easy to calculate how much you're spending!

[Roger55]

The exchange rate closed this week even higher at 93 Yen/USD.

Re-examining the 20,000 Yen/night hotel cost example from above shows the room rate to now be $215/night, down from the $263/night from a years ago.

A typical nice meal of 1,200 Yen is now around $13 instead of the $16 it would have cost you one year ago.

I'm really looking forward to going to Japan as soon as possible.

[TravisMT81]

I am hoping it either stays here or goes higher. This is liking gambling lol!

[Roger55]

So how many of you took my advice and booked a trip to Japan this spring?

Looks like the JPY/USD is about to break the 100 yen mark in the next few days!

JPY/USD Currency Exchange Rate

The last time the USD was this high against the JPY was back in early 2009.

So referring back to my original example of a 20,000 yen room at one time being $263, that same priced room can now be had for $200.

Hope some of you will be taking advantage of this wonderful time to go to Japan. I'm so excited I'm going twice!

[Roger55]

The rate is getting better but I'm still holding out for 100 yen to a dollar.

Looks like your holdout is over! LoL!