This week, we continue on our economical trips around Japan. We will stay at excellent inns, while opting for packages without meals included. This way, the money saved can be spent on deluxe meals outside the inns.

Before heading to a superb ryokan at Kawana in Ito city, first make your way to Mt. Komuro. It is about three minutes by bus from the station. Visit a camellia garden here and be dazzled by the beautiful flowers in bloom. There are about 4,000 camellia trees, with 1,000 different kinds of camellia here. Go to a superb viewing spot in the area from where you can see Mt. Fuji. After this, head to the famous inn at the foot of the mountain. The prestigious Hanaono An inn was opened three years ago and has five detached guest rooms. While your luggage is being taken to your room, you will be served a cup of kelp tea and seasonal homemade sweets as a welcome treat. For female guests, there is even a yukata rental service. Meanwhile, you can indulge in a foot spa at the lobby, while enjoying the great view of the Kawana golf course. On a clear day, you can even see Boso in Chiba. The inn boasts three types of hot spring baths – open-air baths at the top and bottom, and a bath house made of Japanese cypress. If you choose the package with meals, it costs 48,000 yen (S$722) per person, and includes dinner and breakfast full of Izu’s delicacies. However it’s half price if you stay without the meals. But fret not, all guests are allowed to use the different baths.

At night, head to a spa town in Ito. Before dinner, you may want to visit the Showa 30's village, which features many nostalgic games. Try your hand at smart ball games, shooting games, water balloon fishing or even ping pong. After this, go to a popular restaurant at the corner of the spa town. A small restaurant with only a counter, Matsuzushi is run by a skilful 74-year-old chef. The chef purchases fresh local seafood from the Ito fish port. You can try the "Chef's Choice" of sushi items, which features filefish marinated in gut, fresh broad-mantle squid, locally-fished mackerel and alfonsino. Each sushi costs 350 yen (S$ 5.30). Try a unique sushi roll, where boiled wasabi leaves from Yugashima - instead of seaweed - are used to wrap the sushi. It comes with grated wasabi. After this delightful sushi meal, explore the spa town before taking the last bus – which is at 9.50pm - to the inn in Kawana. The next morning, wake up early to enjoy a refreshing cypress bath. Next, from Kawana Station, take a resort train heading to Izukyu Shimoda. Enjoy the view of the sea and Oshima island as the train makes its way to the last stop, Shimoda. For breakfast, visit a well-known restaurant called Purumie, located in the station building. The restaurant opens at 8am and serves delicious alfonsino – a Shimoda speciality - with a generous serving of rice. Next, go to Tsumekizaki park to admire beautiful daffodils. About three million daffodils are in full bloom here. To see more beautiful flowers, take a bus to the aloe promenade, where 30,000 gorgeous aloes are planted by the sea. It is a beautiful way to end your trip of Izu.

For the next adventure, take a bullet train from Tokyo to Shiniwakuni Station in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi. Iwakuni is an historic castle town that has even been mentioned in the Manyoshu collection of Japanese poems. Start your trip by taking a bus to the scenic Kintaikyo Bridge, a popular tourist spot in the city. Enjoy the beautiful view of the mountains during the bus ride. The bridge, which is made of wood, was built 336 years ago by the third feudal lord of Iwakuni. It was rebuilt after being destroyed by a typhoon. After this, head to the ropeway station. Along the way, you will see a sign which says "white snake viewing spot". White snakes, a protected species, are on display here. The residents of Iwakuni see a white snake as a messenger of God, and it is believed that touching a white snake will bring you good luck. After this “lucky encounter”, take a ropeway to Iwakuni Castle, 200 metres above the sea. The Kikkawa family used to reside in the castle, and it was rebuilt in 1962. Go to the castle tower, which boasts a fantastic view of the river, Kintaikyo Bridge and Seto Inland Sea. For a lunch of regional delicacies with a nostalgic and traditional taste, head to a restaurant located by the Kintaikyo Bridge. The speciality menu, costing 1260 yen (S$19), features Iwakuni sushi, seasonal wild plants, sweetened shredded snapper, mushrooms, udon and tempura.

Next, head to an excellent inn which is located in Yuda Spa - also known as the “white fox spa”. Legend has it that Yuda Spa was discovered by a white fox. It is a spa paradise that springs out 2,000 tonnes of hot water. Stay the night at Nishino Miyabi Tokiwa, a well-known inn with 73 years of history. It offers a splendid view of the mountains. If you opt for the package which includes breakfast and dinner, it costs 26250 yen (S$395) per person. However, you only pay 10500 yen (S$158) per person if you choose not to include meals. There are also cheaper rooms available, which cost 7350 yen (S$110). But no matter which package you opt for, you are given free access to the inn’s various bath facilities. There are 10 baths in the inn, and the “spa of beauty” - as it is called - is believed to make the skin smoother due to the high-quality hot spring.

For dinner, head to the town to try out Yamaguchi’s famous tiger fugu (globefish). The annual haul of globefish at the Haedomari port in Shimonoseki is 3,100 tonnes, and 80% of the seasonal globefish in Japan is brought here. Go to a popular restaurant called Suzuyoshi, which serves good globefish. There are several courses available, starting from 6000 yen (S$90). The 7300 yen (S$109) seven-course set includes jellied fish, sake with globefish fin, lightly-boiled globefish skin, deep fried globefish, lightly-grilled soft roe, and a hot pot with thick fish-flavoured soup. After this luxurious meal, head back to the inn to enjoy a show performed by the landlady. The one-hour show, which starts at 8.45pm, is a popular feature of the inn and is free for customers. The landlady has been performing the show for 45 years and it is a highlight of Yuda Spa. The multi-skilled landlady will thrill you with her water performance and illusion show.

Next morning, for breakfast, go to Shimonoseki, a town by the Kanmon Straits. Visit the Karato market, which sells a variety of food items. For example you can buy snow crabs for 2000 yen (S$30). There are several restaurants here too, and you can go to the popular Yoshi market restaurant for breakfast. Try the fresh urchin set or seafood rice bowl set – costing 1200 yen (S$18). After this deluxe breakfast, end your trip on a high note by taking a sightseeing flight, which costs 5500 yen (S$82) per person. Enjoy the magnificent view of the town, north Kyushu with its nostalgic streets and houses, and even Ganryu island.

The next economical trip takes us to Ise. Travel from Tokyo to Nagoya and transfer to Kintetsu Express heading to Ise city. Ise city is located southeast of Mie near Ise Shrine. So take a 15-minute bus ride to the Inner Shrine of Ise to start your adventure on an auspicious note. People in the Edo era wished to visit Ise once in their lives, and many travelled with great difficulty to this place, since the transport system was not as developed then. The shrine is dedicated to Amaterasu-Omikami, the supreme Shinto deity. Purify your body and soul in the cold waters of Isuzu river before going to Goshogu. It is said that Amaterasu-Omikami was enshrined here 2000 years ago. After visiting the shrine, explore the town in front of the shrine. You can buy some delicious sugar-glazed wild chestnuts to munch on as you stroll around the town. Soon you will reach Okage street, which is named after Okage Mairi in the Edo era. Several nostalgic shops line the street. One shop, for example, sells a variety of tin and Ise toys. Another rare shop specialises in the beckoning figure of a cat, and displays nearly 1000 types which have been collected from all over Japan. You can watch a free concert of a Shinon drum group at the Yagura square, and even try your hand at playing the Japanese drums.

Next, visit Nemunosato by the Ago Bay, which is a spacious resort spanning 3 million tsubos. Here, you can go sunset cruising on board a deluxe saloon cruiser with sofas. Let the beautiful sunset, surrounded by the beautiful mountains, take your breadth away. Ise is famous for its lobsters; Hamajima is an Ise lobster town by Kumanonada and Ago Bay, and it boasts an annual catch of about five tonnes. After the gorgeous sunset, head to a restaurant for a luxurious lobster dinner. Drop by the Isofune restaurant and order the full-course Ise lobster meal. The restaurant is well known for its fresh live seafood. The starter consists of Ise lobster sashimi which you can eat without any soy sauce. Other items in the course include grilled Ise lobster, Odorityaki; lobster stew; and rice cooked in a pot together with a whole lobster. This deluxe lobster menu costs 9900 yen (S$149) and comprises eight dishes, including side dishes.

The next morning, start your day by taking a refreshing walk to Wataka's Park. From here, you can get a magnificent view of Matoya Bay. After checking out of your inn, for breakfast, opt for a morning BBQ on board a boat. You can feast on a delicious seafood BBQ breakfast while touring the beautiful Matoya Bay. Items include turban shells, short-neck clams, scallops, squid, the famous miso hot pot of the Matoya Bay, steamed oysters and sake.