VideoboysaysCube posted...
Is there any trick to not paying a fortune for a flight? From my very brief research, that alone seems like it'll be more than half the cost of the entire trip
No real trick or secret unfortunately (if you find one, tell me). Set a bunch of google flight trackers and you'll be able to get yourself down to at least a small fortune rather than a large fortune. But you're absolutely right, the flight alone cost me more than nine nights at a decently nice but basic hotel (think like a mid-tier Mariott). Granted, I did splurge for Premium Select on Delta, but that was only an additional $400. Flight was still around $1,200 for basic seats. And with how weak the yen is right now (or even in normal conversions), everything is insanely cheap too. 6000 yen (around $40) covered the subway for the entire trip.
If you can get the flight, everything else will feel like pennies.