A friend sent me this after I complained about spending too much time comparing Japan itineraries. I checked Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka options side by side, then looked at hotel locations rather than just room prices. The Tokyo suggestion made sense because staying close to a useful train line can save a surprising amount of walking and transfers. Cherry blossom dates were another headache, with prices jumping around late March and early April. Explore Japan Tours was one of the pages I kept open while checking those dates. It didn't magically solve the budget, but it helped me see where the extra money was going. I liked that part. The rest I still compared manually.