New Delhi, May 26 -- With international travel by Indians on the rise, Japan has become one of the most popular destinations thanks to its bullet trains, cultural heritage, efficient public transport, anime culture and stunning landscapes. But travelling to Japan has also increasingly developed a reputation for being financially taxing, especially for someone trying to plan a trip on a budget.

So, I took some help from OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini and asked both chatbots whether someone earning Rs.10 lakh per annum could realistically plan a seven-day solo backpacking trip to Japan within a Rs.1.3 lakh budget.

The answers from both AI chatbots were surprisingly detailed and far less glamorous than one would have hoped.

"I want ...