The Japanese government had just intervened to rein in the yen with a hyper-growth disorder. That was something to calm down the nerves frayed from witnessing the yen approaching the roof since we confirmed our holiday.Good time to buy JR pass!
I sprang into action, because I had little information regarding where to buy and all... had been sitting on it! Thanks to M, I learned that JTB sold in yen (and then I heard that the exchange rate was pegged to USD and not SGD) while others are tour agencies which fixed a price in SGD for the whole week. NTA offered home delivery, but it was not keeping up with the rate. Otherwise, the service would be rather attractive. In this case, buying from JTB would be wiser.
If we could pay in yen, we could save a sum from the JPY -> USD -> SGD conversion. Called up JTB to enquire... and of course that was just a pipe dream. Haha they also not stupid lah.
The rate held on into the weekend. Our 7-day ordinary JR pass cost S$448 for Y28,300, meaning a rate of 1.5830. Not bad already.
Next, coldwear shopping at Uniqlo, Daiso and Coldwear. Helps the tropical sotong from freezing, not exaggerating at all!
Tried to change money, but seems like moneychangers don't stock much yen. Good lor, help to prevent locals from going on shopping sprees. Eventually we succeeded, before the yen went on a rocket ride again.
Now to hope the rate doesn't improve until after we return... just to make ourselves feel better hehe.
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