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The Cost of Travel in Japan: My 2024 Budget Breakdown

It took me six years to get to Japan.

I didn’t think I could afford it.

Every time I seriously looked into visiting, I would wince at the high cost of the train passes, read about how the hotels were super-expensive, and then fly to Vietnam instead. Or Taiwan. Or even Australia. Japan was simply too expensive for a budget traveller, so I decided to save it for when I was rich.

With that not happening any time soon, I decided to blow my money anyway, because I wanted to go and the gushing blog posts from travel writer friends had convinced me it would be worth the splurge.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered that it really wasn’t that expensive.

I arrived in Japan fully expecting it to be the priciest country I’ve ever been to, but I discovered it’s more on a par with Western Europe or North America, and cheaper than Australia. It was way more affordable than Namibia , where my daily expenses came to $132, and way, way, way more affordable than the Democratic Republic of the Congo , where I averaged, um, $550 a day.

Anyway! This is about the cost of travel in Japan rather than my poor financial decisions, so let’s get started!

My 16-Day Japan Itinerary

Here’s a brief rundown of where I visited over my 16 days in the country — I think I managed to put together the perfect itinerary for first-time travellers to Japan .

Tokyo: 4 nights Hakone: 1 night Yudanaka: 1 night Kanazawa: 2 nights Takayama: 1 night Kyoto: 3 nights Hiroshima: 1 night Osaka: 3 nights

What’s Included in this Post

This budget breakdown covers how much I spent on accommodation, transportation, activities, food, and whichever miscellaneous items popped up while I was in country.

I’ve not included my flights into and out of Japan because this is going to vary significantly based on where you’ll be arriving from. In case you’re interested, though, I paid $320 for a return flight from Rome to Tokyo, which I scored through browsing my favourite site for flight bargains, Secret Flying .

The amounts in this guide are listed in Japanese Yen and U.S. dollars, simply because the vast majority of my readers are from the U.S. And finally, these are the three rules I always abide by on this site:

I do not accept sponsored trips, so everything listed in this post is something I personally paid for with my own money
I travel anonymously to ensure my experiences accurately reflect what yours will be. I don’t want special treatment!
Every single word of this article was written by me, based on all of my own experiences. I strictly do not use AI to compose my guides.

Okay — let’s get started with my expenses.

The Cheapest Accommodation Options in Japan

Like practically every country in the world, prices in Japan have increased post-pandemic.

In 2024, you’ll be paying a little more for everything than you would have done a few years ago — in fact, prices almost doubled between my first trip in 2017 and today! — however costs are still on a par with most Western countries. Travel in Japan shouldn’t be too devastating to your travel budget.

I’ll start on the lower end of the spectrum. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, it’s possible to avoid paying for accommodation entirely.

Couchsurfing exists in Japan and allows you to stay with a local for free , usually sleeping on their sofa and enjoying a local’s insight into life in their country. Yeah, it’s not the most comfortable of living situations, but if your budget’s tight, it’s worth sending out a few requests to hosts to see if anything comes of it. You can browse through the 300,000+ Japanese hosts on the Couchsurfing site — just be sure to read the references of anybody you choose to stay with.

Housesitting is a more upmarket option, aimed at mid-range and luxury travellers. Housesitting involves taking care of somebody’s house for free while they’re away, often (but not always) looking after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees, as you can’t pick and choose dates and destinations, so you’ll need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year. If you do have that freedom, though, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while. Trusted Housesitters is the main site for getting started with housesitting, as they have the highest number of listings.

Finally, when it comes to free accommodation, you could take a look at WorldPackers in Japan , where you’ll be able to volunteer for locals in exchange for food and board. There are some seriously cool options available on the site right now, from helping harvest honey for a bee farm in the countryside to lending a hand in the garden of a Buddhist temple. Readers of this site get a $10 discount for WorldPackers with the promo code neverendingfootsteps .

If you’re not looking to travel for free and just want a clean and comfortable room to sleep in, there are plenty of great budget options, too.

And then we have hostels . In Japan, you’ll come across hostels all over the country, finding them on tiny islands, large cities, and even within the national parks. They’re one of your best options for saving money.

Hostels in Japan are on a par with the rest of major cities in East Asia, and you can expect to spend $25 a night for a dorm bed for a well-reviewed hostel, with the price increasing slightly to around $45 a night for the absolute best of the best.

When it comes to private rooms in hostels, you’ll be looking at $50 a night for a clean, basic room in a good location, so if you’re travelling with friends or with your partner, you may find it cheaper to grab some privacy over settling for two beds in a dorm room. $90 a night will get you an exceptionally well-reviewed private room in a hostel.

I use HostelWorld to find the cheapest hostels, as they tend to have the greatest number of listings at the lowest prices.

And then there are hotels, which I’m going to jump into next.

The Cost of Accommodation in Japan

There are so many different types of accommodation in Japan! I attempted to experience as many as possible while I was in the country.

I stayed in a capsule hotel, prioritised hunting down a ryokan, slept on a tatami mat floor, stayed in family-run guesthouses, and checked out some pretty cool hostels. While I did attempt to save money by staying in some cheaper places, I was also happy to splurge on extremely well-rated rooms, too.

As always with these budget breakdowns, I like to share the prices of where I personally stayed, along with a description of the property and whether I’d recommend choosing it, too — hopefully this helps make your trip planning easier!

I visited Japan with my partner, Dave, and we travelled on a mid-range budget; searching out good value accommodation that was highly-rated and in a central location. We prioritised locally-run properties that weren’t too flashy or fancy; for us, a cosy vibe, unique furnishings, and welcoming staff are far more important than the generic decor of a hotel chain.

(Oh and just a quick note: hotels do charge different prices across a range of dates, depending on how busy a certain travel period is going to be. Because of this, it’s hard to be super accurate in the costs that I list. To get to the quoted prices below, though, I looked at the rates across the next six months and took the average: it could be slightly cheaper or more expensive, depending on when you’re visiting.)

Tokyo: $135 a night Odds are, you’re probably going to kick off your Japan adventures in Tokyo, and if so, it only makes sense to really throw yourself into the local experience. That’s why we decided to stay at this lovely onsen-ryokan in Shinjuku. (Whenever readers ask me which neighbourhood to choose in Tokyo, I always recommend Shinjuku or Shibuya.) The reason why I loved this specific property, though, is because it’s a ryokan (traditional Japanese Inn) that also has an onsen (hot pool). It’s a great way to jump immediately into all things Japanese.

And it was wonderful; my favourite hotel in the country. The rooms were small and cosy and felt super-traditional and calming. The views over Tokyo at night from the window were incredible. And the rooftop onsen? With free popsicles afterwards? So good. It’s located in a quieter neighbourhood, but still only a 10-minute walk to the subway. I really recommend this one!

Hakone: $80 a night In Hakone, we opted for a private room in a lovely guesthouse , with a tatami mat floor to sleep on and a private onsen on-site. The photo of the tatami mat room above is of our room here. It ended up being another one of our favourite stays in Japan! The staff were lovely and there was a restaurant/bar that served up fantastic pizzas. It had a cosy and chilled-out atmosphere, with great food and wine, and lots of blankets to snuggle up with as we ate. It was also worth staying here just to experience the private onsen — we got to go in as a couple!

Yudanaka: $105 per night In Yudanaka, we opted for a stay in a wonderful little ryokan ; this one was even more traditional than the one in Tokyo! Often, ryokans can be super-expensive in Japan — as much as $500 a night for the experience — so I was thrilled to have stumbled across a more budget option in Yudanaka. It was run by an adorable Japanese couple and their house came with a private onsen, return transport to see the snow monkeys , and one of the most extravagant meals of my life. A kaiseki is a multi-course (like, 20 courses) meal that will see you eating roughly a week’s worth of food in a single night, sampling fresh, local-to-the-region Japanese cuisine. It was phenomenal, and I loved having no idea what anything was. It even included homemade plum wine, which was so good! I highly recommend the experience (although strongly advise you not to add breakfast to your booking — we were still so full that we couldn’t eat any of it!)

Kanazawa: $65 per night Kanazawa is home to some seriously cool accommodation! We had a hard time choosing where to stay because every property looked so cosy and inviting. In the end, we settled on this minimalist, modern set-up — it was great value for money relative to most other places we stayed in Japan, especially when you consider it’s only been open a year. It’s in a great location, right outside Omicho Market, where you’ll sample the best sushi of your life. Also within walking distance is Kanazawa Castle and Kenroku-en Garden, so you’re really staying in the heart of it all. I recommend signing up for the traditional Japanese breakfast, as you’ll likely not have had anything else like it before! There’s also an onsen and laundry facilities (always appreciated mid-trip!), and the staff were so sweet and kind.

Takayama: $76 per night In Takayama, we stayed in a small, locally-run guesthouse in the centre of town. It felt like particularly good value for Japan, as it was one of the few places we stayed that you could describe as spacious! It even had a kitchen and washing machine. The beds were comfortable and the hotel was within walking distance of everywhere, including the train station. It was quiet, the staff were lovely, and overall, it made for a comfortable stay!

Kyoto: $84 a night In Kyoto, we stayed in a cosy hotel in the heart of town — we loved this place so much in 2017 that when we returned to Japan this year, we knew we’d have to stay there again! The property was in a fantastic location for exploring Kyoto and the bathrooms were nicer than anywhere else we stayed. It’s one of the top-rated guesthouses in the city — while also being one of the cheapest — so when you take that into consideration, I’m convinced you won’t find anywhere better to stay in Kyoto.

Hiroshima: $40 per bed In Hiroshima, we opted for a capsule-style hostel because I didn’t want to leave the country without trying one — you can see a photo of the “capsule” at the top of this section. Fortunately, we found ourselves in a room with only two other people staying there, so our capsule room with 20-odd beds was light on snorers. The owner of this place was ridiculously lovely and it was within walking distance of all of the monuments and activities. Really great bathrooms, a fun common area, and a cheap price: surprisingly, I would have stayed another night!

Osaka: $108 a night I rounded off my time in Japan with a little bit of a treat, opting for this four-star hotel that offered a ton of freebies. It’s all about the onsen here — it’s open all day and is simply beautiful. After you’ve finished your daily bathe, there’s free ice cream to eat, free comics to read, massage chairs to relax in, and even free ramen to slurp on. Yes, really! It was in a great location for Osaka — just a couple of blocks from the nearest metro station. The decor was calming and traditional; the perfect way to say goodbye to Japan.

In total, I spent an average of $97 per day on accommodation over my 16 days in Japan.

The Cost of Transportation in Japan

Okay, so let’s talk about transportation now. And specifically transportation post-2024.

It used to be the case that practically every visitor to Japan would invest in a JR pass (a train pass that grants you unlimited rides over a certain time period). After all, the best way to explore this country is by train, and by buying said rail pass, you’d be saving a significant amount of money on your trip — especially if you were taking a similar route to my one. A JR Pass pre-October 2023 would have saved me a whopping $175 over buying individual train tickets.

Seems like a no brainer, right?

In October 2023, the Japan Rail Pass skyrocketed in price. No exaggeration here: prices increased by an incredible 70% .

What a baffling decision.

What that means is that it’s not such a clear-cut decision anymore. The Japan Rail Pass still holds some benefits: If you’re a first-time visitor to Japan and don’t feel too confident about buying multiple single-journey train tickets, the pass will make it a lot easier: you just show it at any station and get on a train. You won’t need to worry about any extra charges and will have the flexibility to take train-based day trips whenever you want.

For most travellers, however, the value proposition is simply no longer there. For example, my recent 16-day itinerary (Tokyo – Hakone – Tokyo – Nagano – Kanazawa – Takayama – Kyoto – Nara – Kyoto – Hiroshima – Osaka) cost me 50,000 Yen ( $350 ) with single tickets. However, a 14 day rail pass is priced at 80,000 Yen ( $530 )!

Alas, the Japan Rail Pass is no longer something I recommend — unless you’re going to be taking enormous, lengthy rail journeys (like across the whole country) in a short period of time. Alternatively, if you do want that added sense of security and ease by not having to juggle a dozen train ticket bookings, you may find the extra price worth it.

So with all that being said: you’re most likely going to be using the JR West website to book your single train tickets online. This covers the entirety of Japan that’s west of Tokyo (all of the places I visited were west) and allows you to book your train tickets all in one place — and then you can reserve a seat on said train one month before its departure date. Honestly, it’s pretty easy to use, book, and reserve — and being able to do it all online means you can get everything sorted before you step foot in the country.

Let’s take a look at the some of the prices that a typical train journey in Japan costs — in this case I’ll use my itinerary mentioned above to plot out the costs:

Tokyo – Hakone: 2,500 Yen ( $17 ) Hakone – Tokyo: 2,500 Yen ( $17 ) Tokyo – Nagano: 7,500 Yen ( $50 ) Nagano – Kanazawa: 8,500 Yen ( $57 ) Kanazawa – Takayama: 5,000 Yen ( $33 ) Takayama – Kyoto: 9,000 Yen ( $60 ) Kyoto – Nara: 700 Yen ( $5 ) Nara – Kyoto: 700 Yen ( $5 ) Kyoto – Hiroshima: 10,500 Yen ( $70 ) Hiroshima – Osaka: 10,000 Yen ( $67 )

So if you were to replicate my Japan route exactly, you would end up spending $381 on rail tickets. It sounds like a lot of money but I do want to stress that the trains in Japan are some of the best in the world. They’re spotless, comfortable, modern, and lightning-fast. You will feel like you’re travelling in luxury.

If you’re not down to spend hundreds of dollars on trains, then the buses are going to be your best option. They’re cheaper, slower, less comfortable, often run overnight, and are complicated to book. The best sites I’ve found for booking long-distance buses is Willer Express and Japan Bus Online — but even they don’t run buses for several of the routes I took on my trip.

I thought it would be a good idea to share the cost of buses for the trip I took, so that you can compare them to the train and see how much money you could save.

Tokyo – Hakone: 2,250 Yen ( $15 ) Hakone – Tokyo: 1,800 Yen ( $12 ) Tokyo – Nagano: 2,200 Yen ( $15 ) Nagano – Kanazawa: No bus for this route Kanazawa – Takayama: 3,300 Yen ( $22 ) Takayama – Kyoto: 3,800 Yen ( $25 ) Kyoto – Nara: No bus for this route Nara – Kyoto: No bus for this route Kyoto – Hiroshima: 4,300 Yen ( $29 ) Hiroshima – Osaka: 4,000 Yen ( $27 )

As you can, see prices are generally around half what they are for the trains. You’d be looking at paying $212 in total for taking the bus, with three trains replacing the routes where I couldn’t find any existing buses.

We’ve covered the main ways to get in between the destinations, so now it’s time to take a look at how much you could spend on transportation within the cities.

Fortunately, this was where I found Japan to be really affordable. I love to explore cities on foot and I found many of the places I visited to be surprisingly walkable. In total, I spent $6 on the metro in Tokyo, $7 on the metro in Osaka, and $2 on the metro in Kyoto! Everywhere else, I just walked.

A reasonably big expense was our Hakone Free Pass (spoiler: not free), although this was more of a combined transportation and activity cost. At a cost of 6,100 Yen, or $41 , It provides you with unlimited transport around Hakone (where you’ll find Mount Fuji), and discounted entrance to all the attractions in town. If you’re going to Hakone, this will save you money because it covers everything you’ll definitely do there.

The Cost of Food in Japan

If you love Japanese food but have yet to travel to its homeland, you have such a treat in store for you. The food in this country is phenomenal; packed full of flavour and surprisingly inexpensive. It’s true: eating out is the easiest way for you to cut costs in Japan.

In fact, the vast majority of my meals in this country came to less than ¥1000 ($6.50) .

I’ll start first by breaking down the typical costs that you can expect to spend on the most well-known of Japanese dishes. Then, I’ll cover what you’ll be likely to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with the costs associated with each of these meals. Finally, I’ll round out the section off by sharing some of my favourite food experiences in the country and describe which options are worth a splurge and which ones you can happily skip.

You can’t think of Japan without picturing sushi, so that feels like the most logical place to start. If you eat fish, this is going to be such a revelation for you! The sushi and sashimi in Japan is better than any I’ve had in the world and it was here that I finally understood how raw fish could ever be described as buttery.

To combine your sushi/sashimi-eating with a cultural experience, head to Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo or Omicho Market in Kanazawa. For a bowl filled with a selection of sashimi, like in my photo above, you’ll pay between ¥1,800 and ¥4,000 , depending on the size and quality of the fish. That’s the equivalent of $12-$25 .

Slurping on a steaming bowl of ramen is my personal definition of a true travel joy, so I opted for this cheap and cheerful dish most evenings as a way to save money. Note: the ramen in Japan is incredible , so don’t interpret my frugality as a hardship. Once you’ve tried the ramen here, I’d be surprised if you didn’t immediately start planning a return visit.

One of my favourite aspects of ordering ramen in Japan is how you’re given the option to customise the dish to your own tastes. It’s not uncommon to be handed a small slip of paper where you’ll get to mark down all of your preferences. Do you want your broth to be rich or light? Your noodles to be firm or soft? Added spiciness or none at all? Extra spring onion? A hard- or soft-boiled egg? Most options come out to ¥1000 ($6.50) for a bowl of pork ramen.

Speaking of cheap and delicious food options, I highly recommend sampling a couple of versions of okonomiyaki while you’re in town. This savoury pancake dish is so delicious, extremely filling, and inexpensive at just ¥1000 ($6.50) – ¥1500 ($10) . The cities of Osaka and Hiroshima each offer up their very own version of okonomiyaki and strong opinions are held by many over which is best! If you’ll be heading to both destinations, make sure you try one of each and let me know which is your favourite.

A dish that I tried for the first time while I was in Japan was Japanese curry and what a wonderful experience that turned out to be! In comparison to Indian curries, I found the Japanese version to be richer, sweeter, and less creamy, with plenty of umami vibes. Once more, you can expect to pay ¥1000 ($6.50) for a plate of katsu (pork cutlet) curry.

One of the most delightful aspects of my Japanese eating experiences was sampling all of the different snacks in the country.

Street snacks like takoyaki were ¥500 ($4.50) . We splurged on our kaiseki experience at our guesthouse in Yudanaka and paid ¥4000 ($36) for our food extravaganza. It’s a budget option compared to many other kaisekis, which can easily come to $100 for the experience, but still our most expensive meal. Another splurge was on sushi in Kanazawa, which I paid ¥2000 ($18) for.

Whether you’re on a budget or ready to splurge, it’s essentially impossible to eat badly in Japan. If you’re on a really tight budget, you can even get surprisingly decent food from 7-Eleven !

My total cost of food in Japan averaged out to $23.20 per day.

The Cost of Activities and Entrance Fees in Japan

Activities and entrance fees in Japan were very reasonably priced, and I never found myself outraged over the cost of anything. You’ll typically pay less than $5 to enter most temples, museums, and gardens.

Here’s how I spread my cash around:

Entrance fee for the hedgehog cafe in Tokyo: $13/1400¥ Entrance to the Snow Monkey Park : $7/800¥ Entrance to Kenroku-en gardens in Kanazawa: $3/310¥ Entry to the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto: $3/300¥ Entry to Ryoan-ji zen garden in Kyoto: $5/500¥ Ticket for the Hiroshima Peace Memorial: $2/200¥

My total cost of activities in Japan averaged out to $2 a day.

Miscellaneous Expenses in Japan

A local SIM card: $14

I mentioned above that I was able to buy a local SIM card when I purchased my rail pass. If you aren’t going to be using a rail pass in Japan, I recommend taking a look at Airalo instead. Airalo is a company that sells local e-SIM cards for travellers. What that means is that you can buy a virtual SIM card online before you arrive in Japan, and then as soon as you land in the country, can switch on your data and start using it.

It’s worked flawlessly for me and I’ll never go back to physical SIM cards. It’s just so easy! You’ll pay $6 for 1 GB of data or $14 for 3 GB for Japan and can also top-up through the Airalo app.

If you’re going down the Airalo route, just make sure your phone is e-SIM compatible first (all recent iPhones and many Androids are).

Insight Guides guidebook to Japan: $10

My sister bought me this guidebook as a gift before I left for Japan and at first I was like, Insight Guides? Meh. I wish she’d got me the Lonely Planet instead. Then when I opened it up and started reading, I swiftly discovered that Insight Guides are my new favourite guidebook company. It was so, so useful!

What I love about Insight is that their books focus heavily on the history and culture of Japan, with big, beautiful pictures, tons of information about local customs, food, and how to travel responsibly and respectfully. I recommend picking up a copy before your trip to Japan, but not taking it to the country with you — they’re big and heavy, so this is one for inspiration, planning, and education.

Luggage storage at Snow Monkey Park near Yudanaka: ¥500 ($4.50)

We had our backpacks with us when we visited the snow monkeys, so utilised the on-site storage facility while we hiked up the mountain in the snow. You can also hire snow shoes and winter gear if you’re unprepared for the climb, but I was fine in my totally impractical sneakers.

Travel insurance for 16 days in Japan: $60

If you’ve read any other posts on Never Ending Footsteps, you’ll know that I’m a great believer in travelling with travel insurance. I’ve seen far too many Go Fund Me campaigns from destitute backpackers that are unexpectedly stranded in a foreign country after a scooter accident/being attacked/breaking a leg with no way of getting home or paying for their healthcare. These costs can quickly land you with a six-figure bill to pay at the end of it.

In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.

Travel insurance will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died and you need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.

I use SafetyWing as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to the Japan. Firstly, they’re one of the few companies out there who will actually cover you if you contract COVID-19. On top of that, they provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. If you’re on a long-term trip, you can pay monthly instead of up-front, and can cancel at any time. Finally, they’re more affordable than the competition, and have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated.

With SafetyWing, you’ll pay $1.50 a day for travel insurance.

How I Track My Expenses While I Travel

Every time I share my expenses, you guys always want to know how on earth I manage to keep track of so many details from my travels!

Because Never Ending Footsteps is my company, the vast majority of my travel expenses are business expenses. I therefore studiously record everything I spend everywhere I go. I take photos of every receipt I receive and use Xero accounting software to record these expenses. In cases where I can’t get a receipt, I’ll take a photo of the price list and my ticket or food, or something as evidence.

Once a week, I then sit down and spend an hour or so uploading my receipts to Xero and making note of every penny I spent in each country I visit. It makes writing these posts super easy!

How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Japan?

It’s time to tally up all of my expenses to see my total travel costs!

Accommodation: $97 per day Transportation: $27 per day Food: $23 per day Activities/Entrance Fees: $2 per day Miscellaneous: $2 per day

Average amount spent in Japan: $151 a day!

I don’t know about you, but given Japan’s pricey reputation, I’m fairly impressed with the amount I spent in the country, especially as I included quite a few splurges in there.

How about you? How expensive were you expecting a trip to Japan to be?

Related Articles on Japan 🇯🇵 What’s it Like to Travel in Japan? 🏯 How to Spend Two Weeks in Japan: An Itinerary for First-Time Visitors 🍣 15 Weird and Wonderful Things to Eat in Japan 🎌 23 Incredible Things to Do in Osaka, Japan 🗼 21 Spectacular Things to Do in Tokyo, Japan 😎 Hipster Harajuku: The Coolest Neighbourhood in Tokyo 🦔 Should You Go to a Hedgehog Cafe? My Experience in Japan 🐒 Why Seeing the Snow Monkeys in Japan Sucked

Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is a published author and travel expert who founded Never Ending Footsteps in 2011. She has spent over 12 years travelling the world, sharing in-depth advice from more than 100 countries across six continents. Lauren's travel advice has been featured in publications like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan, and her work is read by 200,000 readers each month. Her travel memoir can be found in bookstores across the planet.

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107 comments.

Wow! that’s amazing. I especially got fascinated seeing the capsule hotel…must have been a unique experience.

It was surprisingly cosy! I would totally stay in one again.

Thank you so much for your information. We will go to Japan in October 2023 for 1 month. Have paid fully for 16 days. Using your guides to budget the remaining 2 weeks. Thanks again.

This is great! Do you think it would be much more expensive in summer or any of the peak holiday seasons? I’m going over July this year and wondering if the prices change much with the seasons.

Wow! That’s quite an eye-opener! I’ve wanted to visit Japan for years, and this has certainly nudged me a little closer, as I assumed it was expensive too. The costs seem much better than I found in Amsterdam this spring! (my boyfriend still gets a thousand-yard stare when I mention how much we paid for drinks in one bar.)

Yay! Yeah, it really did feel about the same price as Western Europe, if not cheaper. The transportation is more expensive, but the food was cheaper in Japan.

This is super awesome! I, too, was under the impression that Japan was a super expensive place to visit! Good to know that you can save so much on accommodation and activities! Are you going to be posting about food in Japan? My knowledge of what to eat there is very minimal…

Yes! I published a guide to my favourite things to eat in the country last week: https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/best-food-japan/

Ditto for here in New Zealand Lauren. All said it would be expensive. But we house sat – rent-free – and saw that food and travel are on par or cheaper than New Jersey. We also saw that virtually all things are cheaper than folks said. Methinks many labeling Japan and NZ as expensive as can be are used to paying $1 for lunch in Chiang Mai LOL. Budget folks see all Western lands as expensive. Granted I am from NJ; living by NYC makes for a high cost of living. But not bad at all, living in these lands.

Yeah, definitely true. I know that when I wrote off Japan as being too expensive, it was in the early days of my travels, when I could only afford to live in Southeast Asia!

Loving the posts about Japan so far. Do you have many more articles planned? I’ve a trip booked in November and this has been the most useful of the blogs so far for help in planning – thank you. Although I’ve had to cut the hedgehog cafe off my plans after reading your article as I hadn’t quite considered the ethics enough!

Yes! So many. I’ll probably post another half a dozen or more over the next few weeks :-)

I always assumed Japan to be very expensive. Thanks to your blog I don’t anymore. Cheers!

This is all very useful info! I’m impressed with your budgeting skills. Awesome, Thanks for sharing this!

Ha! Thank you :-) It comes naturally (finally) after seven years of doing this.

Great article. I’m planning a visit for early 2025 to go with my grandson … was the budget breakdown for one person or a couple … because you mentioned going with your partner?

The accommodation prices are the total cost of the room (rather than just my share), while the transportation, food, and activities are all my share of the costs.

Fantastic article. Love your budget posts because you never leave anything out.

I try not to! Thanks so much :-)

Beautiful photos, Japan look amazing and thank you for sharing your budget tips as well. :)

No problem! :-)

Thank you so much for this! I’m going to Japan in September and I’ve been worrying about my budget. This has definitely put my mind at rest!

Yay! Happy to hear that :-)

I’m so happy that you have posted so much lately, you’re my favourite travel blog and I check this page a lot more often now that the pace of the posts has increased :)

Thank you! :-) I’m aiming to stick to a three-times-a-week posting schedule now that I have a base and more time to dedicate to writing.

This is so much cheaper than I expected. Do you have any idea about prices for solo travellers though? Would I have to pay for a double room most of the time (apart from dorm beds of course)?

No, lots of hotels and guesthouses have single rooms, so you wouldn’t need to pay out for two people very often, if at all.

Thanks, that’s good to know!

Very useful breakdown that would be very helpful for first-timers to Japan.

Just to share, one of my own major expenditure in JP is … vending machine contribution! I simply can’t resist them and can end up buying seven times a day. “P

Yes! I couldn’t believe how many vending machines there were in the country, as well as the variety of things you could buy from them.

Hello! This is a very timely article for me to read as I’m actually going to visit Japan for a week on September. I really love Japan’s culture and their people. There are a lot of places that I want to visit and a lot of things I want to do but I am on a strict budget. Hopefully, your article would be able to help me fix my budgeting for my trip to Japan.

I hope so! I really didn’t find it horrendously expensive, so I think you’ll be surprised by how much you can do there for free.

I love your budget posts because they give me such a good idea of how much I can expect to spend in places around the world. Are you thinking of doing them for everywhere you visit?

That’s my plan! I’m slowly working my way through my records and adding more and more to the site.

Hey, thanks so much! :-)

I’ve planed to visit Japan next year, Thank you for sharing your budget, I’ll try to not exceed 100$/day, following your information on this post.

Have a fantastic trip, Ingrid! :-)

Which month you visited Japan? I am thinking for Cherry blossom (April 2019) and everything is coming up too expensive. Are those above for cherry blossom season you visited?

Ah yeah, unfortunately, the cherry blossom season is the most expensive time of year to visit Japan. I was there in December, so prices will be higher than the ones mentioned in this post. I’ll add that detail to my post now!

I was under the impression that Japan was a super expensive place to visit! Good to know that you can save so much on accommodation and activities! This article includes all the places you can visit in Japan and their expenses. It is very educative and it can be improved by providing expenses in INR. Thank you for posting this useful information.

Thank you! I usually just price these articles in the local currency and USD, which is where the vast majority of my readers are located. If I started including currencies for everyone, the post would quickly get ridiculous :-)

Seems a dumb question, but I’m assuming all the values are in USD, is it correct?

Yep! I write at the start of the post: “The amounts in this guide are listed in Japanese Yen and U.S. dollars, simply because the vast majority of my readers are from the U.S.”

That is a very good breakdown cost analysis there. i am planning to go to japan as well with my wife. and planning to stay for 10 days only. 4 in tokyo 3 in kyoto and 3 in osaka. i like to idea of 100 aud / day it’s a good target to keep but i guess the expense on buying cloths and souvenir would be uncontrollable though i heard things in japanese is not that dear if you know where to shop and avoid tourist trap. i didn’t see you mention buying internet data in advance ? or i missed it somewhere. i guess the expense for a couple will be double up. but i guess 3000 aud for 2 people is unavoidable.

amazing detailed guide

You’re welcome!

I’m so glad I found your website! I love the detail and photos. I just booked a trip to Japan with my boyfriend for this upcoming October, and your site will be very helpful. Question: do most hostels and accommodations that you experienced have you sleeping solo? I’m wondering if I should expect to sleep in a separate area than my partner for most of the trip…

Hi Lauren, Thanks for such a detailed description of your time in Japan! I’m going to Japan October this year with my wife and my major concern is how you managed to book sleeping pods for you and your boyfriend as almost all accommodations are either “male only” or “female only” from the options I’ve seen so far. Did you have to get separate beds for those nights?

Yeah, the capsule hotel-style accommodation is all single beds. You can see in my photo in this post that there’s not much room for anybody else!

My wife and I are heading to Japan in mid May and I plan to use your itinerary.

Would it be possible for you to write something about the travel logistics if you can remember them – ie to get from Tokyo to Mt Fuji we booked the following train, leaving at…from the following platform which took X hours and arrived at Mt Fuji at. We then bought our day pass from….and ……..

This would be really helpful to me and other independent travellers – from where did you buy your JR pass and how did you book your individual train rides?

Cheers Paul

Oh, man. That would take me hours and hours to put together and I’m sure times and platforms change so it would be impossible for me to keep the information up-to-date and accurate.

I recommend downloading the mobile app Hyperdia — you can plan your train travel out using that. Just enter in your destinations and it will tell you which train to take and from which platform. Super easy to use! :-)

The site I used to buy the JR Pass is this one . I booked the other train tickets in person at the stations when I arrived — there weren’t many that weren’t covered by the rail pass. Just the small regional ones to get to and from Yudanaka, I think.

Hello Lauren, I love the details in your blog. Your expenses were for 1 or 2 people?

I cover that at the start of the blog post: “And finally, these are the expenses I paid while travelling with my boyfriend. That means that accommodation prices (with the exception of the dorm bed in Hiroshima) have been halved to indicate my share.”

Great super helpful article. THANK YOU!

Hi Lauren, Thanks so much for this article, it is so helpful!!! on which dates did you fly to japan? what dates are you recommending on?

I spent the first two weeks of December in Japan. I’d recommend looking at May or September as the best months to travel there.

Hi Lauren I’d love your advice. I’m traveling with my 22yr old daughter to celebrate her graduation and my birthday. I booked the first two nights a hotel in Tokyo and then figured we would VRBO or Airbnb but after reading your post it looks like things have changed. I love the idea of the capsule hotels and the standard tatami mat rooms look enchanting. So how do I search for either? We’d like to experience both for the trip. oh by the way, I’m a traveler too, let me know where in the world are you now. Perhaps we can meet up and collaborate, I do video production, just got back from Colorado and am going to Cancun in June.looking forward to hearing back from you, Peace and Love always, “L” oh let’s connect on IG

Just book them through Booking.com — no need to go to any specific site. I’m in Bristol, in the UK. I actually don’t have an Instagram account — it wasn’t doing good things for my mental health, so I deleted it :-)

G’day Lauren,

Loved your detailed description of your travels through Japan. However; I’m not so brave as you travelling around on my own, especially with the language problem. I am a single traveler from Bangalore, India and would love to spend 7-8 days in Japan, with my journey starting and ending in Tokyo, reasonably priced hotels or local hostels, but preferably single accommodation, if possible. (willing to pay extra).

I love train travel and Japan is one of the best places to do that..your take on that would be appreciated. If you feel, I meet your requirements, would love to get an itinerary and costing for my 7-8 day stay in Japan.

Hello! I am really curious on how you got a 14 days pass JR for only 420$, from where I am from (Canada) it is 567!

If you click the link in the post, you can buy it through there. It’s currently listed for 414 USD.

$95/day seems cheaper than what I had expected – is that a tight budget? What can you do more with $150/day? I’d prefer to spend that extra on living in nice hotels + do more activities. Does that seem possible with $150/day?

No, not really. It was a mid-range budget and all of the hotels we stayed in were nice — I made zero effort to stick to a tight budget.

Hope you’re well. I’m wondering if you still advise from not booking Airbnb for Tokyo? Thanks.

Until moments ago, I had always assumed Japan to be too expensive to even consider. Never thought the cost of activities and entrance fees would be so cheap. This is an encouraging article, thanks, Lauren!

Really remarkable post, Lauren. Extremely thorough and helpful. I’m looking to plan a trip to Japan soon and stumbled across your blog. As you clearly hoped from city-to-city, (this may be a silly question) what did you do with your luggage on a day-to-day basis?

Thanks for any insight.

Oh, just left it in my hotels. If I spent less than a full day somewhere, it was visited as a day trip, so I didn’t take my luggage with me. And then whenever I arrived somewhere, I’d time my arrival with the check-in time of the hotel, drop my bags first, then head out exploring.

great article! As I have said in the past you always put out great stuff that’s very valuable information.

I just came across your website when searching for trips for Japan for my son. I have to say I am really so happy and want to thank you so much for the information. My eldest son has been taking Japan as a language course for the last 3 years and was looking forward to trying to get into the high school Japan trip in end of july beginning of August 2020. He also wanted to go to TUJ(Temple University Japan).

However, because of the olympics the high school Japan trip has been canceled for 2020. Unfortunately, he will be a senior next year so the 2021 high school program will not be available for him. Plus going to olympics are so expensive. If you can give me any advice, I would greatly appreciate. Thank you so much in advance for your time!!!

What advice do you need? About what?

Hi Lauren, I really liked you post and I think is really helpful. When exactly did you go in Japan? We have to change our plans for next February (previous planned for Philippines but to risky for my wife pregnancy) and we consider to go in Japan instead. So, do you think it is good idea travelling in Japan in February? Thank you and advance.

I went during the first half of December. As long as you keep in mind that it’ll be pretty cold (5-10 celsius), I think it’s a great time of year, as it won’t be as crowded as peak season.

is it favorable to use credit card or cash is much preferred? thanks

Hi. Thank you for the information! I am so inspired to go to Japan now. My mom who was from Japan, always told me it’s too expensive to go back and visit. I am now 56 and it has been my lifelong dream to go. My husband and I will go with backpacks like we did when we were younger and before having kids. Is October a good time to go? I read September can be humid. I want to follow your itinerary for the most part. My mom lived in Kanazawa. My heart is full right now and my eyes are misty. Thank you for making my dream a little bit closer.

Hey Lauren!

Thank you so much for the information. I actually got invited on a delegation to go to Japan this evening and am trying to get the average cost to travel in the country. Obviously, your trip was on a very impressive budget. I have two questions, 1. Based on the $95/day over the course of your 16-day trip, would it be right to say that (flight included) you only paid ~$1,600 for your entire trip? 2. Would you say for a trip including cultural experiences, transportation and stays in nice hotels for a week, a grand total of $3,700 is reasonable?

In advance, I appreciate your advice on this!

Hi Lauren, Are you able to name all the accomodations you stayed with? I would like to visit Japan next year on a very tight budget. Thanks.

Yes, they’re already linked in the post along with the reviews of them under the accommodation section.

Hi Lauren. I’m debating spending 5 nights in Osaka and doing day trips to kyoto, nara and himeji castle. (I have hotel points where i can stay at osaka). Based on your experience – is that ok? or is better to stay 2 nights in Osaka and 3 nights in kyoto. There is a lot of different opinions online, thought id ask you if you think i’d be missing out on anything if staying in osaka. The one plus is i can save some money if using points and also staying in 1 location for 5 nights vs packing and moving to another location. Thanks so much for your posts!

Hey i found this really helpful but I’ve been planning to visit japan for a while and have hopes of going after i graduate high school. With some research i found that the JR pass isn’t needed if you’re just staying in one city. How much do you think i would spend on transportation for 2 weeks in Tokyo? Will it come out to more than what you spent or less?

Definitely less! You can walk to a lot of places, but otherwise the metro won’t cost much at all — a dollar or two per trip.

Would you be able to give recommendations for food places in Kyoto that are affordable.

Hi Lauren. Came across your site on a Google search for budget travel. It convinced e that a trip to Japan is affordable. Never have done international travel and would like your advice on a couple of things. 1. What is the best way to pack? Do I have to just use a back pack? 2. Can I use a credit card or should cash be used? 3. Can I get cell phone coverage in Japan.

Thanks, you site is great!

1) I prefer to travel with a backpack, but you’ll do okay with a suitcase, too. I personally find backpacks easier for navigating train stations, as you don’t have to drag it up and down stairs, etc. It doesn’t really matter either way, though. Depending on how long you’ll be staying there, I usually pack for a week no matter how long my trip is, then do laundry once a week.

2) Japan is mostly cash-based, so plan for lots of trips to the ATM. I didn’t find many places that accepted cards, although I also wasn’t looking very hard either.

3) Yep, you can pick up a local SIM card at the airport when you arrive. I bought mine through the rail pass company I link to in this blog post, but you can also just buy one when you arrive. Super easy to do and they’ll get it set up for you in the shop, too.

Love your posts! have been browsing but when I stumbled upon your page found it really helpful! Planning for Japan and Singapore so finding both blogs is perfect timing :) We are still not sure if the JRpass will help us- when we did calculation for the main routes we are going it resulted not worth it, however then not sure if we will require any additional rails/trains in between these. Tokyo>Hakone>Kyoto> Osaka without returning back… your input will be appreciated :) P.S. Feel free to visit the island of Malta, my home country

Wooow !! This is amazing , My wife and I have been planning to visit japan and we always had a misconception that Japan is expensive to visit .. This is a great blog .. So the overall cost including your flight tickets and local travel in japan would cost around 2500 $ per person ?

This was so incredibly helpful! Normally I don’t find myself reading entire articles but yours was so informational and in depth. Thank you so much for helping me get an idea of how much I would roughly spend!

Ah, no problem! Thanks for reading, and I’m glad you found it useful :-)

I super love this article Lauren! I thoroughly enjoyed it. When all is well and my country allows us to travel again, this is going to be on my top 3 places to visit (the 1st 2 will be diving spots as I’m a freediver). I made sure to bookmark this page for reference. Again, thank you for writing this. One question though, when you say $ do you mean USD?

Yep, USD! “The amounts in this guide are listed in Japanese Yen and U.S. dollars, simply because the vast majority of my readers are from the U.S.”

How much did you spend on transportation in Tokyo? I mean if you hadn’t had the JR Pass? How much did you save in Tokyo by having the pass?

Oh, I didn’t activate the pass when I was in Tokyo — I activated it on the day I left — so that was my total expenses without using it.

Hi Lauren! I just read your post. My boyfriend and I are backpackers and we are planning our next trip to Japan. I wanted to ask you when did you go there? (what time of the year). Because we can only take time off during winter time (dec-jan) and I don’t know if that’s a good time of year to go. We are from Denver and snow doesn’t bother us but we also want to enjoy it.

Thanks in advance! Love your blog

I was there in December! There’s fewer crowds then, which makes it a great time to go! As an added bonus you get to enjoy all of the cosy onsens in the snow :-)

Even in these unprecedented times, I feel as if I have already traveled to Japan! I loved every minute of the information you gave me. This place is definitely next on my list, of course! It can be months or a year from now.

It appears you’re still getting traffic in the comments here (excellent) so I thought I would ask a broad question. Wife and I are thinking to take our 6 and 9 year old to Japan for about 11 days. Any destinations you might leave off your itinerary given a bit less time and traveling with kids?

Fantastic! I’ve never seen any article about travelling to japan so specific and detailed before!! It sure will help me prepare for my own first&solo trip! thank you so much

Great post, but the prices are wildly outdated now. Your $30/night hotels in 2018 are going for around $220/night in 2023. Insane!

Hi CS, what time of year are you looking to visit? I’ve had a quick check and every hotel I link to still displays roughly the correct prices (a couple were out by about $10-20 a night, but nothing like $190!). If you’re looking at going in May, for example, Hakone Tent prices their rooms at $176 a night, but then offers rooms at a price of $73 a night a month later in June, so the time of year can affect the pricing. I’ll make a note to mention this in a future update to the post.

I visited in the low season, in December, so the prices I paid were lower than they might be at a more popular time of year.

This is amazing on every level. Thank you! only issue is prices for accomodations double during sakura season so what can I do

Thank you Lauren, for this insightful and complete post.

Out of curiosity, do you know what was the average USD/YEN exchange rate when this trip took place?

Kind Regards,

I update the prices in this article every two months so the exchange rate used in the post is recent

How recent was your travel to Japan and what exact dates were you there? I’m planning to take my family of 4 there in 2025 and would like to schedule it during cherry blossom season. I heard prices usually go up during this time so I was wondering if your trip happened during peak or off-peak season.

I was there in December. Prices do increase a lot during cherry blossom season, unfortunately — that’s the most expensive time to visit.

very good post for budget travellers. thanks for sharing.

Oh my gosh! These posts are amazing!! My husband and I are planning our honeymoon in Japan for October 2024 and this is a huge help as it’s our first time going (a dream trip forever!!). I was wondering if you could reshare the name of the Kyoto accom? The link just leads to the general booking.com page (I’m sorry in advance if this is just an issue on my end!)

How to save money on dining and groceries?

Dining out all the time can quickly get expensive. We always try and book accommodation where we have access to a kitchen - either our own little kitchenette or the kitchen of our host. That way, we can store food in the fridge and make our own meals. We usually have breakfast and one other meal at our accommodation, and one meal when we're out and about.

Restaurants (even in tourist hotspots) often have special lunch offers (for example, a three-course meal for EUR10). Portion sizes in many parts of the world are usually quite substantial, so we often share a three-course meal. The same applies if you go out for dinner: Order a starter or salad and a main, and that's usually enough for two people. An added benefit: there is less food waste.

As for groceries: every country has more expensive and cheaper supermarkets. Ask your host what the cheaper options are (for example, Aldi or Lidl in many European countries) and avoid convenience stores as much as possible.

Experiencing the local cuisine is one of the reasons why WE travel… Paul and I tend to only eat out once a day (sometimes only once a week), usually at lunchtime. This allows us to try local dishes while taking advantage of awesome lunch deals. It also means we don’t have to roam around unknown parts of town every night in search of a restaurant.

A Japanese apartment kitchen is not big but allows you to prepare your own meals (and save on dining out)

Our transport costs over the three months we explored Japan averaged at JPY1,569 (just under USD12) per person per day .

Given Japan is an island country, we ended up taking two internal flights: The flight from Sapporo, Hokkaido to Nara, Okinawa cost us JPY16,580 each (with Peach Aviation ); while the flight from Nara, Okinawa to Hiroshima on Honshu cost JPY14,460 per person (with ANA ). In both cases unfortunately, we had to check in our travel packs as the strict carry-on limit was seven kilograms.

As we were keen to see the country and had more time to explore Japan than most foreign tourists, we always considered taking slower (and thus cheaper) train options over the Shinkansen. That said, we did want to ride the Shinkansen (and in some cases, there was just no feasible alternative). In the end, we took the bullet train three times: Our Hiroshima to Himeji trip cost JPY8,040 per person ; the Kanazawa to Nagano journey JPY8,590 each and the train ride from Odawara to Tokyo JPY3,280 per person .

The Shinkansen was always markedly more expensive than slower train options. As an example, the distance from Hiroshima to Himeji was 239 kilometres, with a per kilometre cost of JPY33.64 on the Shinkansen, whereas the (slower) Rapid Express train from Himeji to Kyoto – a distance of 127 kilometres – cost JPY2,310 per person or JPY18.19 per kilometre. So if you have time, take the slow train and save money.

And speaking of travelling slowly: If you’re in the Hakone area, make sure to ride the Hakone Tozan Train [ Google Maps location ] between Gora and Odawara. The scenery is stunning, and the train does a number of switchbacks as it journeys down the mountain (or up if you do the trip in reverse) – a very unique experience.

Take the Hakone Tozan Railway for its unique switchbacks down (and up) the mountains | Photo on Wikimedia Commons

Japan boasts an efficient transportation system. But, as we found out, transportation costs add up quickly, especially if you’re travelling a lot around the country.

The Japan-wide JR Rail Pass is a cost-effective option for visitors who plan to move around a lot during their stay. It’s available for 7, 14 and 21 day periods and valid on consecutive days within the chosen timeframe. The pass allows unlimited travel on JR-operated services, including JR trains – even the Shinkansen (just NOT the Nozomi and Mizuho) – and JR-operated city buses. Seat reservations are included with the JR Rail Pass but need to be obtained (free of charge) prior to travel.

The Japan-wide JR Rail Pass can only be purchased by foreigners outside of Japan and must be exchanged for the actual pass upon arrival.

Although the JR ( Japan Rail) Pass is a popular option for foreign tourists visiting Japan , it’s not the only way to save, and it may not even be worthwhile pending your itinerary. To determine if the Rail Pass is worthwhile, use an online route calculator to compare the costs of individual ticket purchases against the price of the pass.

Trains in Japan are (almost) always on time | Photo by Armin Forster on Pixabay

Trains in Japan are (almost) always on time, making train travel easy and convenient | Photo by Armin Forster on Pixabay

If the Japan-wide JR Rail Pass is of no use to you, one (or several) of the many Regional Rail Passes might be worthwhile. A big difference to the Japan -wide Rail Pass: you can buy these passes while already in Japan (though they are slightly more expensive than if you bought them from overseas). Worthwhile options to check out include:

JR East: the JR Tokyo Wide Pass
JR West: the Kintetsu Rail Pass, JR West Kansai Area Pass, JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass or the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass
JR Central: the JR Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass or JR Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Pass.

Even without any of the rail passes, there are still ways to save on train travel in Japan :

Shinkansen – Buy a non-reserved seat ticket (where available): This also offers greater flexibility as you’re not bound to a specific train. Which carriages are non-reserved varies from train to train (most often it’s carriages 1-3 or 1-5). Arrive at the platform early to check out where the non-reserved carriages are located and position yourself/queue at the door marker of one of those carriages to increase your chances of getting a seat as you board.
Alternatives – Opt for Limited Express trains: You may need to change trains along the way, but the trains in Japan are usually on time, and changing trains in Japan is not really stressful, especially if you travel light. Unless you’re travelling during rush hour, Limited Express trains are often less crowded than the Shinkansen, which also means you can save the seat reservation cost (where possible).

Extra tip: In many areas in Japan , you can use an IC card to tap on/off rather than having to purchase individual paper tickets for each journey. This saves time and makes train travel more convenient.

In Japan , you will come across the term IC card a lot (IC stands for Integrated Circuit ). IC cards are essentially plastic cards that can be topped up and the amount stored on the card is used for transportation - simply by tapping on/off at the card reader - and more and more at convenience stores and other places.

Each region issues their own version of the IC card, for example

If you enter via Tokyo Narita or Haneda Airports, you would buy the Suica Card or PASMO card.
If you enter via Osaka Kansai Airport, you will find the ICOCA card for sale.

Fortunately, 10 of the most common IC cards (including the two above) can be used across regions (and likely more will be added over time). Some regions (including Nagano and Okinawa prefectures) only allow their own IC card (at this stage) or cash.

Also, note:

Cards (including any stored funds) will expire after 10 years of non-use, which means you can reuse the card if you return to Japan within that timeframe.
You can return it (and get a refund of the money on the card plus the deposit you paid for the card itself) - as long as it's in the region you bought it.
You can load the IC card onto your smartphone - via Apple Pay or Google Pay - but you won't be able to get a refund of your deposit or any funds stored when you leave the country.

Buses can be a good alternative to trains (especially for medium to long-distance travel and on competitive routes). Do note though that while train timetables are (mostly) reliable, buses can be stuck in traffic just like any other road transport (and delays of 30 minutes and more are not unusual).

One way to save on transport costs in Japan is by purchasing a Willer Express Bus Pass . This pass allows you to travel for 3, 5 or 7 days within a period specified by you.

Advantages: The days of travel do not need to be consecutive, giving you flexibility in your itinerary. Willer Express has a number of night buses which can save on accommodation costs. Additionally, you can easily book your seats in advance online through the user-friendly Willer Express website.
Disadvantages: The pass can only be used on Willer Express buses and only on the least comfortable 4 seats per row bus types.

Travellers to Japan may also be able to save on transport costs by using intercity bus services like those provided by Willer Express | Photo on Wikimedia Commons

Even without a bus pass, you can save money when travelling by bus in Japan :

Avoid backtracking and travel point to point instead – For example, stop in Shirakawa-go on the way from Takayama to Kanazawa (or vice versa) rather than visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site on a day trip – this also reduces carbon emissions.
Make use of specials – Just ask at the local tourist office at your destination or check the websites of the bus companies operating at your destination, for example Alpico and Nohi Bus in the Japanese Alps. Do make sure though they are worthwhile by comparing individual fares (via Google Maps ) against the special fare.

We always buy travel insurance – because medical expenses overseas can add up quickly and because our carry-on backpacks are pretty much everything we own.

Whenever we buy travel insurance, we make sure we thoroughly read the fine print. It’s tedious, we know. But if you’re planning certain activities (for example, hiring a motorbike or hiking above 3000 metres), it’s crucial to know whether your insurance pays if the worst happens. Otherwise, you may have paid all that insurance premium and are still left to foot a (potentially) massive bill.

For this trip, we used Cover-More. For our three months in Japan , our joint Cover-More Travel Insurance Single Trip International Comprehensive+ Policy cost us AUD1,519/USD1,022 (or just under AUD9/USD6 per person per day) . Although we didn’t need to submit a claim and therefore don’t have first-hand experience of their claims process,we won’t be buying another policy from Cover-More again,

To our surprise, cash is still King in Japan , thus ATM withdrawals are a regular occurence. To avoid unnecessary ATM withdrawal fees we always research before our trips to figure out which overseas bank/s offer/s the best exchange rate and charge/s the lowest fees for ATM withdrawals.

In the case of Japan , we had done all our research. We knew our Bankwest Debit Card charged no foreign transaction fees, and that 7Bank ATMs charged no ATM withdrawal fees. What we didn’t know was that you had to press “Credit” when trying to withdraw with the debit card overseas (Bankwest only told us about that small fact when queried afterwards). After our debit card was declined multiple times, we ran out of time and had to use our credit card. While we had topped up the card with some money beforehand (to avoid nasty cash advance fees), the credit card provider still charged us AUD4 (or JPY382) for the ATM withdrawal. You live and learn.

Unless you’re planning to hike the Kumano Kodo or Nakasendo , you are likely not going to need luggage transfer service. We ended up using luggage transfer twice (both times with Yamato Transport):

on our final day on the Kumano Kodo , paying JPY2,500 for the same-day transfer of one travel pack from Koguchi to Nachikatsuura; and
during our Nakasendo hike , paying JPY1,620 for the standard transfer of one travel pack from Osaka to Matsumoto.

We also used luggage storage facilities on occasion to store our travel packs for a few hours or excess luggage during our Kumano Kodo hike for a whole week. Those storage costs added up to JPY3,640 in total ( an average of JPY607 per storage use ).

If you need to store excess baggage in Osaka, we recommend Daikoku Locker . Alternatively, you can try Radical Storage who have agencies all over Japan .

When you explore a country for three months, you will likely need a hair cut (in that country). I had mine at a barber in Osaka about half-way through our trip for JPY2,200 (a bit over USD16) .

We both also took the opportunity to get a 90 and 60 minute massage, respectively, just before the Nagano Marathon at Relaxation Salon Lovina [ Official website , Google Maps location ] for a total cost of JPY13,200 (or JPY6,600/around USD49 per massage ). It was well worth it, and we both would recommend it to anyone visiting Nagano.

Withdrawing cash overseas can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be. We can show you how to avoid unnecessary fees and make your travel budget stretch further.

How do you determine which card is best for your overseas trip? Using the right one can save bank fees and make your travel budget stretch further.

Ever been caught out by the bad FX rates and exorbitant commissions charged by FX bureaus? These tips allow you to minimise these charges in future . We also recommend XE Money Transfer to keep more of your money when you complete a transfer.

When visiting a Shinto shrine, it is traditional and appropriate to make a donation. It doesn’t have to be a lot, especially when you are throwing loose change into the large container before you bow your head and clap your hands. All our donations added up to JPY1,511 .

I wrote this Japan Travel Costs article based on our own unique experience. If you have been to Japan recently as well and you have something to add to the costs for exploring Japan , please feel free to contact me.

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Is Japan Expensive? My EXACT Japan Trip Cost Breakdown Revealed

I spent an unforgettable month in Japan during the cherry blossom season in April 2023. This was my fifth trip to Japan in the last decade, however, most of those previous trips were snow trips, with not as much time spent exploring the cities.

As the first stop on our big 5-month world adventure, my husband and I made it a mission to track everything we spent in Japan over 4 weeks. While most people may have a perception that Japan is an expensive country to visit, I think the cost of travel to Japan is not as expensive as you might think.

In this article I reveal our exact Japan trip cost, breaking it down by categories along with tips for how to plan your own Japan travel budget and ways you can save money.

Let’s get into the numbers!

Table of Contents

How Much is a Trip to Japan? Summary Japan Trip Cost Breakdown

Crunching the numbers, in short, my month-long trip to Japan in April 2023 cost around ¥850,000 total for two adults.

At today’s exchange rates, that’s just shy of AUD $8.5k total or AUD $315 per day for two people.

However, at the time of writing this article in May 2024, the Yen is at a record decade high relative to the Australian dollar. Unfortunately for me, my trip actually cost me closer to AUD $10k total at the time.

I think this is my sign to book another trip?!

The majority of my readers are based in Australia, so I’ll refer to the Australian dollar as my primary currency, but for reference here are the equivalent costs (for two people) at today’s exchange rates:

AUD $315 per day
USD $210 per day
EUR €195 per day

Let’s break that down by category:

Note that I have excluded the costs of flights for two reasons.

We flew one way from Australia to Japan and then flew from Japan to Europe so the costs aren’t a good benchmark for a return trip.
Flight prices are very dependent on the time of year, and location you are flying from. Generally speaking, expect flight prices to be the highest during the cherry blossom season (March-April) and over the Christmas period.

Traditionally, I’ve been able to get return flights around the $800 – 1,200 from Perth, Western Australia for previous trips.

I’ve also excluded the cost of our travel insurance, as we had purchased a 5-month policy from Covermore (my go-to travel insurance provider in Australia) to cover our entire trip.

Accommodation

Accommodation will likely be your biggest expense for your trip to Japan.

Hotels are fairly expensive for the size of the rooms. I’ve stayed in many cheap Japanese business hotels which were clean and comfortable, but basically were just slightly larger than a shoebox!

Accommodation accounted for about 40% of our budget for our 4-week trip at an average cost of $120 per night for the two of us. We stayed in a mixture of hostels (private rooms), guesthouses, boutique hotels, and business hotels and had one splurge night at a ryokan (which cost $600 for one night!).

Clean and comfortable budget accommodation in Japan

To save on accommodation , we often stay at guesthouses or private rooms in hostels that come with shared bathroom facilities as they tend to be spotlessly clean in Japan.

Some of my favourite budget accommodation from our recent trip included:

Kimi Ryokan Guesthouse in Tokyo (I’ve stayed here 3 times now!)
Hotel Sobial Namba in Osaka
Hotel Pacific in Kanazawa
Hostel Michikusa-ya in Kawaguchiko (which came with a view of Mt Fuji!)

The most expensive accommodation (in terms of value for money) I’ve found is Kyoto – and that was staying in TINY rooms, albeit in convenient locations.

To save money on accommodation in Japan, consider staying at business hotel chains .

You’ll find these across the country. They offer good value accommodation if you’re looking for a clean, comfortable and affordable place to sleep at night, but also have extra facilities like coin-operated laundry machines and even provide pyjamas at some of them!

Common chains to look out for include APA Hotel, Daiwa Roynet Hotel, Dormy Inn, Tokyo Inn and my new favourite, Via Inn. We stayed at three different Via Inn properties on my last trip alone! (Two in Osaka, and one in Tokyo).

I use booking.com to book all my accommodation in Japan, filtering for properties with a rating score of over 8.0 and making sure to find accommodation that is close to a subway station (in cities like Osaka and Tokyo).

I haven’t stayed in a capsule hotel in Japan, simply because I’ve always been travelling with my husband who is 196 cm tall and doesn’t fit in them! But they look like a fun and unique way to save on accommodation, especially if you’re travelling solo.

Tip: When booking accommodation in Japan, it’s common to find that many properties only take bookings from 6 months out. So if you’re searching quite far in advance, you may not see any availability.

Food & Drink

Food and drink were the next biggest expense of our trip. however, I don’t think eating out in Japan is expensive – for what you pay the food is of high quality. The reason for our “high” spend in this category is that when I travel Japan, I do NOT hold back on eating and drinking.

Now I’m not paying hundreds of dollars for fancy dinners, but I do eat a lot, and eat very well. It’s one of my favourite things about Japan. From fresh sashimi, melt in your mouth wagyu beef to rich bowls of ramen – the food in Japan is next level.

We averaged $109 per day for two people or 35% of our budget on eating and drinking. This might be higher than the normal traveller, given our tastes and the fact that eating out in Japan is as much an activity for us as visiting a castle or temple.

However, there were also many nights when after getting over 20,000 steps in, or after our MASSIVE day at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, we couldn’t bring ourselves to head out for a proper dinner.

This is where the amazing Japanese Konbini comes in – we love grabbing a cheap and cheerful dinner from the nearest 7/11 or Lawsons, which you can heat and take back to your nearby hotel.

As self-proclaimed coffee snobs, we also tend to treat ourselves to at least one or two single-origin filter coffees in Japan per day. I’m almost embarrassed to say it, but on our most recent trip, we spent nearly $50 on a VERY special coffee at Glitch in Osaka.

We’re also avid sake lovers, and went all-in on the sake tastings and visiting quite a few sake bars. Some personal favourites that I’ve shared in my Osaka itinerary and Tokyo itinerary were Sake Bar Shiki in Osaka and Yata Yata in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Comparing our spend on alcohol vs coffee, I can confirm we spent more on coffee than alcoholic drinks… Which I think says enough about us – ha!

Your next biggest expense is likely to be transport, which cost us $43 per day and made up 14% of our total spend.

This was made up of a combination of using the subway within cities like Tokyo and Osaka, long-distance Shinkansen train rides between cities, the airport train from Narita and highway buses between towns like Kanazawa and Takayama .

You’ll be heavily reliant on the efficient public transport system in Japan, but it isn’t necessarily cheap.

If you’ve read my Things to Know Before Visiting Japan guide, you’ll know I don’t recommend getting a JR Pass anymore after a significant price rise in October 2023.

Simply buy individual tickets for the Shinkansen. You can do this:

In person at the station on the day (or a few days beforehand) using the ticket machines (in English) or at the ticket office; or
on the SmartEx app (certain routes only); or
purchasing in advance online through Klook (although prices may be slightly higher than buying them in person, but you are paying for the convenience)

Activities and Attractions

Next up are activities and attractions, which averaged out at $14 per day for the two of us, or 5% of our budget which I think is fairly low,

Our big ticket item was our tickets to Universal Studios Japan, but other than that most of our other ticket costs were in the $10 – $20 range.

This included entrance fees to the many castles, temples and gardens we visited, as well as our tickets to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival and Shibuya Sky.

There are lots of free things to do in Japan and many ways to fill your days that don’t cost the earth.

Whether it’s wandering the buzzing electric town of Akihabara in Tokyo or hiking under the thousand torii gates at Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, there’s lots of fun activities you can do at zero or low cost in Japan.

Ahh, shopping in Japan. It’s probably a good thing Japan was the first stop on our 5-month world adventure, which meant we couldn’t physically buy too much otherwise we’d spend the next 4 months lugging it around in our backpacks!

Even then, we had to mail a small package home of some of our favourite Japanese souvenirs that we picked up on this trip (which included this beautiful sake set that we picked up at a sake brewery in Fuji Five Lakes!).

The shopping is awesome in Japan, full stop.

Whether it’s colourful anime figurines, unusual flavours of Kit Kats, Japanese skincare or vintage clothes, I’d recommend making sure you leave some room for the inevitable purchases you will make during your time in Japan.

We spent $12 per day (averaged over a month though, keep in mind), which was 4% of our total spend.

For me, staying connected in Japan is essential.

I rely on Google Maps religiously to get around and to find the best restaurants and places to eat on the go. On this trip, this was our first time trying eSIMS (we’d previously used pocket WiFi and physical tourist SIMs), and I’m now an eSIM convert.

It’s a no-brainer to use eSIMs if you have an unlocked phone, as you can have internet access from the minute you step out of the plane and don’t have to fiddle around with changing physical SIM cards in your phone.

I used AirAlo and it was a seamless process to set up the eSIM for first-time use, and then to recharge it once I used all my data up very quickly (ha). I now use AirAlo for all my trips, but my husband used Ubigi in Japan and had no issues with them either.

You can check out AirAlo Japan plans here for comparison.

Between us, we spent $3 a day on data (just 1% of our spending).

Miscellaneous

This consists of small things like baggage storage at train station lockers, coin-operated laundry and luggage forwarding services between cities (another great hack when travelling in Japan).

This averaged out to $3 a day .

Wrapping things up, the last expense on our 4-week trip to Japan was a rental car in Kawaguchiko .

This was my first time renting a car in Japan, and I have never needed a rental before nor do I think it’s strictly necessary for you, even if you’re visiting Kawaguchiko.

However, as we had planned to go to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival and a few other sites out of town, we decided it was easier to hire a car than to catch infrequent buses.

Car rentals are fairly expensive – we paid $250 for a 3-day hire.

So, Is Japan Expensive?

In summary, I don’t think Japan is expensive to visit – I would consider it on par with a holiday in Australia or places in Europe like Italy or Germany.

In fact, as an Australian, I would consider a week in Tokyo to be much cheaper than a week in London or Paris.

Accommodation and dining will likely be your biggest expenses, and these are things that are fairly easy to manage and find good-value alternatives if you are travelling on a strict budget.

As a 30-something married couple, we don’t do the typical shared dorm room hostel thing these days. We still managed to find great, clean, comfortable and cheap lodging in guesthouses, private hostel rooms and business hotels for $80 – 90 a night, even in cities like Tokyo and Osaka during peak tourist season in April.

There are also so many free and low-cost activities in Japan that balance out against bigger ticket attractions like the incredible theme parks.

How Much Does a Trip to Japan Cost for 2 Weeks

Whilst we spent a month in Japan, most travellers will spend around 2 weeks in Japan. For this length of trip, I would budget $4 – 5k for a couple of mid-range travellers looking to spend 2 weeks in Japan (excluding flights and travel insurance).

Here’s the average cost of a trip to Japan for a typical mid-range traveller:

Accommodation: $100 – 200 per day
Food & Drinks: $70 – 120 per day
Transport : $20 – 40 per day
Activities & Attractions: $10 – 40 per day
Total: $200 – $400 per day

Don’t forget to budget for the inevitable shopping you’ll do too!

If you’re heading to the slopes during ski season, expect to pay more as accommodation prices will be higher in the snow and lift tickets are fairly expensive.

Final Thoughts – Cost to Travel Japan

That wraps up this detailed analysis of our EXACT Japan trip cost (can you tell I used to be a data analyst in my former corporate life ?!).

I find it really interesting to look back and see all the costs broken down, and I hope this has been helpful to give you an idea of how much to budget for your own trip.

Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions, and don’t forget to check out my other Japan travel guides to help you plan your trip. Happy adventuring!

Japan Itineraries:

A Fun 7 Day Tokyo Itinerary: Complete 1 Week in Tokyo Guide
The Perfect 3 Day Kyoto Itinerary: How to Avoid the Crowds
An Exciting 4 Days in Osaka Itinerary for First-Timers
Exploring Fuji Five Lakes: 3 Days in Kawaguchiko Guide
Takayama Itinerary: 2 Days Discovering Traditional Japan
A Perfect 4 Weeks in Japan Itinerary: Ultimate Travel Guide

More Japan Guides:

How to Plan a Trip to Japan: Ultimate Japan Travel Guide
15 Things to Know Before Visiting Japan for the First Time
30 Unmissable Experiences for Your Japan Bucket List
Koyasan Temple Stay: Essential Travel Guide & Tips
Guide to Visiting the Fuji Shibazakura Festival in 2024
10 Best Tokyo Cherry Blossom Spots for Incredible Photos
Cool Stuff to Buy in Japan: 20 Souvenirs Actually Worth Buying
How to Easily Visit the Chureito Pagoda from Tokyo
10 Most Mesmerising Views of Mt Fuji from Kawaguchiko

TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES My tried and tested recommendations to make your next trip easier

🛡️ Travel Insurance: For my fellow Aussies, I use CoverMore for domestic and overseas travel insurance and they've been great to deal with. Travel with peace of mind knowing you're covered for unexpected events, ensuring a worry-free journey.

🌐 Stay Connected: After trying an eSim for the first time when travelling Japan & Europe for over 4 months in 2023, I'm officially converted! Thanks to Airalo , gone are the days of needing to physically swap plastic sim cards every time you enter a new country. Stay connected wherever you go by easily and affordably purchasing an eSim for all your travel destinations.

🚗 Easy Car Rental : Enjoy hassle-free car rentals on DiscoverCars with a wide range of options, competitive prices, and excellent customer service. I often find it's cheaper than booking direct, and I can compare a large range of suppliers to make sure I'm getting the best price.

💱 Access Local Currency: I've been using Wise in my business and on my travels to save on currency exchange and it's been a game changer! Wise provide a transparent and cost-effective way to access and manage local currency, with minimal fees and the best exchange rates compared to the traditional travel cards which sneakily charge extra fees and usually give you a poor exchange rate. Find out more here .

🏨 Accommodation: I book all my accommodation through booking.com . Discover their vast selection of accommodations worldwide, with great deals and flexible booking options. Plus, if you join their Genius Loyalty program, you get special benefits and discounts on selected stays.

🌟 Attractions & Tours: GetYourGuide is my preferred platform as they make it super easy to compare different tours, book experiences and get the best prices for tours across the world. I've downloaded their mobile app to have all my bookings in one place to easily pull up details when I've got multiple tours booked.

📸If you're wondering what I've used to capture the photos in this article, you can see what's in my camera bag here .

☕ Finally, if you found this free guide useful, you can buy me a coffee to say thanks :)

Just a quick note to let you know this post may contain affiliate links . At no extra cost to you, I receive a small commission on purchases made through these links. By doing so, you are supporting this blog and allowing me to continue providing you with free high-quality travel guides. Thank you!

Is Japan Expensive To Travel To?

Japan ranks as one of the most expensive destinations in Asia. While it can be visited with a lower budget, Japan has pricey accommodations in major cities, the Japan Rail Pass is not cheap, and fees for attractions can add up.

Along with Singapore and Hong Kong, Japan is often considered a luxury destination in Asia.

However, with advanced planning and the willingness to forego certain experiences, Japan can be visited on a small budget .

💰 Trip Daily Budget for Destinations in Asia

For comparison, I visited these countries in Asia within a year of visiting Japan, and here’s how much I spent per day at each one:

*My Cambodia daily budget is high because I splurged on accommodation.

See all my daily budgets .

How Much Is a Trip to Japan?

This section covers estimated trip costs depending on your travel style. I share my actual travel expenses further below.

🎒 Budget Traveler – Japan Trip Cost

Budget travelers can expect to spend approximately $60 per day or $840 for two weeks of travel in Japan, excluding flights.

Here’s what a budget traveler’s cost breakdown can look like:

To travel on a budget to Japan, below are some things you’ll need to do.

Accommodation Budgeting Tips

Stay in a dorm-style hostel for about $30 a night in big cities like Tokyo. You can find hostels for closer to $15 a night in more remote areas.
If you want more privacy, consider staying at a capsule hotel, where you can rent an enclosed bed for less than $40 a night.
The average cost of a private room in a budget hotel can also be cheap, but only if you stay on the outskirts of central areas . Otherwise, budget hotels are priced like mid-range hotels in central places of major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

A small room with a bed, small table and narrow walkway.

Avoid traveling during Japan’s high season, which is the cherry blossom season in the spring (March to May). Traveling during the low season, which is summer or winter, will get you the best deals on accommodation .

See what traveling to Japan is like in December .

Transportation Budgeting Tips

Japan’s public transportation, a complex and vast network of trains, makes traveling convenient and cheap.

If you know you’ll be taking the train a lot, consider buying a day pass, which can be as cheap as $4 per person in Tokyo.
If you’re traveling long distances around Japan, consider getting the Japan Rail Pass , which gives you unlimited rides for a set time and includes access to high-speed bullet trains.

The JR Pass is expensive , so you should know your rough Japan itinerary before purchasing it. That way, you can evaluate whether it’s worth it.

Food Budgeting Tips

You can eat cheaply in Japan and find meals for $5, even in big tourist cities.

A great way to save money on food is to shop at convenience stores like Family Mart, 7-Eleven, and Lawson. These stores provide decent meals for less than $5 . I had a latte and onigiri (rice ball) for breakfast several times at convenience stores, which cost only $2 per meal.

If you buy a refrigerated meal, like gyudon, ramen, or pasta, they will warm it up for you and provide utensils .

A store aisle selling sandwiches and snacks wrapped in seaweed.

Fast food places that typically have automatic ordering machines also provide hearty meals for $5 or less. In Kyoto, I had an udon bowl for $3; in Tokyo, I ate at a ramen restaurant for $7.

A woman pushing buttons on a screen with food selections on it.

Markets, like the popular Nishiki Market in Kyoto and the Kuromon Ichiba Market in Osaka, are cheap places to try a wide variety of good food for less than $12 , as each stall sells $1 to $3 snack-bite food.

Black fish next to thinly-sliced white raw fish.

Conveyor belt sushi restaurants are a good deal if you’re craving seafood . I ate at one in Shinjuku, a central location in Tokyo, for $13.

A conveyer belt wrapped around a big dining table with sushi dishes on the belt.

Entertainment Budgeting Tips

While many of Japan’s main attractions require an entrance fee, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the country without spending much money . Some of my best days in Japan didn’t require me to pay for any attractions.

Many famous temples have a small entrance fee, but there is an abundance of other less well-known temples around Japan that are free .

A pathway surrounded by trees leading to a small temple.

Similarly, gardens and some bigger parks will also have entrance fees, but many urban parks have free access.

💰 Mid-Range Budget Traveler – Japan Trip Cost

A mid-range budget traveler like myself can expect to spend approximately $120 per day or $1,680 for two weeks of travel in Japan, excluding flights. I break down my trip expenses by travel category below.

About My Japan Trip

To give context to the expenses below, here’s what you need to know about my trip:

Tokyo : 6 days
Kyoto : 2 days
Osaka : 1 day
Mount Fuji hike : 2 days
Shimanami Kaido cycle : 2 days
☀️ High season – I visited Japan in September, the beginning of the high season. Japan has two high seasons: one in the spring and one in the fall.

See the upsides and downsides of visiting Japan in September .

✌️ Group travel – I traveled with one other person, so we were able to split some costs, such as housing.
💰 Mid-range budget – I consider myself a mid-range budget traveler, and these expenses reflect that. I don’t aim to travel on a budget, but I’m thoughtful about how and where I spend.
🍀 Self-funded – My trips are self-funded, so I paid for everything listed below. None of my excursions or experiences are sponsored.
💵 US dollars – All costs listed in this post are per person and in US dollars, which have been converted from Japan’s local currency, the Japanese yen.

The exchange rate was $1 USD = 142 JPY at the time of writing.

A woman standing on a bridge with a lush mountain background.

Japan Trip’s Total Cost: $2,829

My two-week trip to Japan cost a total of $2,829 , including flights.

See the highlights of my trip in this Japan itinerary .

💰 Cost Breakdown for Japan

Here’s a quick overview of my expenses by travel category:

🗓️ Daily Budget in Japan: $145

My Japan trip cost $145 per day , excluding my round-trip flights from and to the United States.

A mid-range budget traveler can expect to spend $120 per day in Japan. This generally means staying at accommodations that cost about $70 per night, eating a mix of food from convenience stores and restaurants, and visiting several of Japan’s big cities.

✈️ Flight Cost to Japan: $796

My round-trip flight from the West Coast of the United States to Haneda Airport in Tokyo was $796 .

A round-trip flight between the US and Japan that costs under $700 is considered cheap; international flights typically cost over $900.

🏠 Accommodation Cost in Japan: $807

My average cost of accommodation in Japan was $58 per day . I was able to split accommodations with one other person at all times.

Here are the accommodations I stayed at and how much I paid for each:

Budgeting Tips for Accommodations in Japan

Here are my budgeting tips and things to note regarding accommodations in Japan:

Accommodations are pricey – While accommodations in Japan can be affordable in non-central areas, expect to pay $70 for mid-range hotel rooms in central areas of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Luxury hotels in those major cities will be as high as $900, but I recommend staying in a ryokan if you have a larger accommodation budget.
Be prepared to shell out for a ryokan – Ryokans, which are traditional Japanese inns, are typically more expensive than mid-range hotels; a decent one starts at around $150.

Ryokans are usually attached to onsens and serve kaiseki, a multi-course Japanese meal, for breakfast, dinner, or both. Despite their higher costs, they’re considered a unique experience that’s worth a one- or two-night stay.

Two Japanese-styled beds on wooden floors.

Don’t pack toiletries (optional) – Many hotels in Japan will provide toiletries, pajamas, and breakfast sets as part of their accommodation costs. All the hotels I stayed at (with Mt. Fuji hut being the exception) provided toothbrushes, toothpaste, face lotion, etc.

A rack with boxes filled with toiletries like toothbrush and face soap.

🍣 Food Cost in Japan: $489

My average cost of food in Japan was $35 per day .

Food costs in Japan vary widely ; you can eat on a budget or extravagantly. For either budget, try eating at local spots for the best authentic eats.

Here’s a hack for finding local eats in Japan .

Cheapest Meals in Japan

Here are the most affordable meals I ate during my trip:

If you’re on a budget, you can eat Japanese food for $3 to $10 at convenience stores (Family Mart, 7-Eleven, and Lawson), street food markets, and fast food restaurants where you sometimes order at a machine resembling a vending machine.

Most Expensive Meals in Japan

Here are the most expensive meals I ate during my trip:

A circular grill with marbled meat next to an open kitchen.

You’ll notice that fresh fruits in Japan can be very expensive (e.g., over $15 for a handful of grapes) because fruits hold more significance in Japanese culture. But if you go to local supermarkets, you can buy them for reasonable prices.

🚆 Transportation Cost in Japan: $374

My average cost of transportation in Japan was $26 per day .

Here are the transportation methods I took and how much I paid for each:

A woman biking on a modern-looking bridge.

When figuring out transportation, know that many of Japan’s train stations have coin-operated luggage storage that is cheap and convenient. It typically costs less than $5 for 24-hour storage . As the name implies, they are sometimes cash-only and need exact change. Train station attendants can give you change for larger bills.

A set of lockers with the sign that says COIN-LOCKERS.

Budgeting Tips for Trains in Japan

The best way to travel around Japan is by train. Here are my budgeting tips and things to note regarding trains there:

Consider getting the JR Pass – JR, the same group that operates all the bullet trains (called Shinkansen ), serves many of Japan’s trains. A bullet train ride can be expensive (around $100 from Tokyo to Kyoto), so you should determine whether getting a JR Pass , which gives you unlimited rides for a set time, is more economical. I got the 7-day JR Pass for my Japan itinerary because it was cheaper than buying individual rides.

Take advantage of day passes – Some local transportation, like Tokyo’s local trains, offers a cheap day pass that is usually cost-efficient if you take the train more than three times within 24 hours.
IC cards can make things more convenient – You’ll notice that many places in Japan, including public transportation, convenience stores, restaurants, and vending machines, will accept IC cards like PASMO and Suica. An IC card is a rechargeable travel card that you can get to make navigating Japan easier.

⛩️ Entertainment Cost in Japan: $155

My average cost of entertainment in Japan was $11 per day . My entertainment costs are on the lower end because I did many free things and took advantage of the country’s beautiful nature, which is usually low-cost.

A typical mid-range traveler in Japan will likely spend closer to at least $30 a day on entertainment.

Costs of Activities and Attractions in Japan

Here are all the activities and attractions I paid for and how much each cost:

Japan is a beautiful country where many people like to take photos. Before snapping a photo of a local, ask them for permission , as doing so without consent is considered disrespectful. Learn more about proper Japanese etiquette .

Free Things To Do in Japan

Japan is known for its natural beauty, so there are many free outdoor activities and attractions available.

Here are the attractions and activities I did in Japan that were free:

Fushimi Inari Taisha – This famous shrine complex in Kyoto has no entrance fee.

A view of red shrines overlooking a city.

Mount Fuji hiking – Mt. Fuji has four trails, and starting in 2024, you only need to pay for the Yoshida Trail, the most popular one. When I did the Subashiri trail, I just had the option to donate a small amount.

A woman next to a Shinto shrine above the clouds.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building – Shibuya Sky is a popular sunset observation deck in Tokyo, but you can save $15 by going to the deck on the 45th floor of the government building instead.
Parks – Tokyo has tranquil and beautiful urban parks, including Yoyogi Park and Shinjuku Central Park.

A lush garden with a small pond and Chinese-style building.

Smaller temples – Many of Kyoto’s smaller and less well-known temples in the Arashiyama district and Philosopher’s Path are free.
Bustling districts – You can spend hours walking around and window shopping in districts like Tokyo’s Akihabara and Osaka’s Dotonbori.

A set of lit-up buildings with anime girls on it.

Cost Breakdown by Destination in Japan

Below are my trip expense breakdowns for Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka . These three major cities are often featured in first-timers’ travel itineraries.

I also spent time in the following places:

I stayed at Gotemba , a nearby city of Mount Fuji, to hike up the iconic volcano . I spent $139 over two days while doing the hike.
As part of the Shimanami Kaido two-day cycling activity , I stayed on Ikuchi Island and Imabari City. I spent $223 cycling the route.

🍱 Tokyo Trip’s Total Cost: $97

During my six-day trip to Tokyo, I averaged $99 in daily travel expenses.

In Tokyo, I stayed at two hotels in the Shinjuku and Nihonbashi areas to be close to major train stations. I paid to visit the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden , watch an Olympics Qualifiers volleyball game at Yoyogi Stadium, and sing karaoke with some locals.

A full sports stadium with a volleyball court at the center.

Tokyo is the most expensive city in Japan to live in, but it’s not the most expensive city to visit . With a plethora of restaurants and sights to see, you can explore Tokyo on your own for free or hire a local guide to optimize your time there.

⛩️ Kyoto Trip’s Total Cost: $616

During my two-day trip to Kyoto, I averaged $308 in daily travel expenses.

Kyoto is where I splurged more on accommodation as I stayed at a ryokan and a nicer hotel near the Kyoto train station. I also spent more on dining, as my two most expensive Japanese meals were here.

A red temple peeking out of a lush forest of green trees.

Kyoto is known for its well-preserved historical sites. It boasts over 1,600 temples, and all the major or popular ones have a small entrance fee (usually around $5). The city also has many free temples , like the ones found on the Philosopher’s Path or in the Arashiyama district.

🐙 Osaka Trip’s Total Cost: $50

I did a day trip to Osaka from Kyoto. During my short trip, I visited the Kuromon Ichiba Market , walked around the popular and bustling Dotonbori area, and visited the Osaka Aquarium , which I found to be unique and well-designed.

A busy, commercial street next to a canal at night.

Osaka is called “Japan’s Kitchen” and a foodie’s paradise. It’s well-known for its street food, nightlife, and numerous Michelin-starred places, so expect to spend a bit on dining . If you like some guidance, plenty of English-speaking guides offer street food tours .

Do You Need Cash in Japan?

Although Japan has a good credit card infrastructure, a significant part of its economy is based on cash transactions . This is especially true once you wander outside its major cities, so make sure to bring some cash.

Below are tips on bringing and using cash in Japan.

💴 1. Withdraw cash in Japanese yen.

Japan’s currency is the Japanese yen (JPY), and the US dollar is not widely accepted.

ATMs are readily available in many central areas of Japan, but you might have trouble finding them elsewhere. For example, during my ryokan stay, I had trouble finding an ATM on the outskirts of Japan.

A hand holding a couple of Japanese yen bills next to an ATM.

💵 2. Carry about $40 worth of cash per day in Japan.

On a typical day, a mid-range budget traveler in Japan will need at least $40 in cash to cover food, transportation, and attractions. A daily cash expense breakdown can look like this:

$15 at restaurants and cafes
$10 on shopping
$5 on attractions
$5 on taking the trains
$5 on miscellaneous spending like vending machines, coin-lockers, etc.

Japan’s trains have a fixed price based on the distance traveled, so you must calculate the price every time you ride and buy a disposable ticket. However, you can buy a PASMO card to avoid calculating the price every time and minimize the amount of cash you need to carry.

A machine in Japanese that has several slots and takes cash.

On my Japan trip, I spent a total of roughly $200 (about $15 per day) in cash. Here’s a breakdown of how I used my cash:

I keep my cash in my crossbody bag , but if you want extra protection against pickpocketing , carry it in a hidden money belt instead.

🏧 3. Many places in Japan are cash-only.

While credit cards are commonly used in Japan, I still had to use cash more than 30 times during my two-week trip. Here are some of the places that were cash-only in Japan:

Markets – Kyoto’s Nishiki Market and Osaka’s Kuromon Ichiba Market are both cash-only.
Restaurants – This includes places in major cities and smaller towns. I had to use cash in restaurants specializing in tofu, fluffy pancakes, ramen, and conveyor belt sushi.
Cafes and bakeries – This includes a popular matcha place in Kyoto and an ice cream stand in Onomichi.
Smaller shops – Shops tend to be cash-only in less accessible areas (e.g., at the top of the Fushimi Inari in Kyoto).
Train stations kiosks – None of the kiosks took my Chase travel credit card, so I used cash for all my train rides.
Coin-operated lockers – As the name implies, these lockers only accept coins.
Smaller temples – Some less well-known temples in Kyoto had small entrance fees.
Vending machines – Most vending machines in Japan are cash-only.

A woman standing in front of a set of vending machines selling bottled drinks.

💰 4. Tipping is not customary in Japan.

Japan does not have a tipping culture, and you’ll find that locals will refuse tips even if you offer or insist. This is because they feel you’re already sufficiently paying for their service.

I offered a tip out of habit twice while in Japan, and my tips were refused both times.

See other essential travel tips for Japan before visiting.

Japan Trip Planner 2024

To make your travel preparation easier, download the trip planner below. It has destination-specific travel information, itinerary, map, and packing list.

My trip planners are built on Notion, which I use for all my travel planning. I genuinely love this tool and creating an account is free .

Three Notion template screenshots are shown: travel information, itinerary, and map + packing list templates.

Thoughts? Questions? Leave a comment below .

Japan Travel Guides

🇯🇵 Planning a Trip to Japan: 11 Practical Things To Know
⛩️ 10 Epic Days in Japan: A Unique & Active Itinerary
🌋 Hiking Mt. Fuji: Firsthand Review & Tips
🚲 Cycling the Shimanami Kaido: Firsthand Review & Tips
⛩️ Fushimi Inari Taisha: Firsthand Review & Tips
🙅🏻‍♀️ Etiquette in Japan: 13 Things Tourists Should Not Do
☀️ Visiting Japan in September: Tips & What To Know
❄️ Visiting Japan in December: Tips & What To Know

🧋 Support Lukiih

Lists by Lukiih is a humble website that I fund with my own savings. If you find my tips helpful, I appreciate you saying thanks with a bubble tea !

Japan Travel Expenses: How Much Does a Trip to Japan Cost?

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Your trust is really important to us: This post contains so-called affiliate links. Every time you buy or book something using these links, we receive a small commission. There’s no hidden surcharge or any other downside. That way, you can support us with our work. Thank you so much, Jenny & Basti

Japan is considered a very expensive travel destination. In this post we are going to reveal how much money we spent traveling in Japan and how you can save money. We will give you a detailed breakdown of our travel expenses.

Table of Contents

Japan: Cash withdrawals and currency

Expenses in japan: how much does japan cost, our travel expenses in japan, tipping in japan, tips for saving money in japan, our conclusion: how much does a trip to japan cost.

Due to the expectedly high costs, we were afraid of going to Japan for a long time, but at some point the desire was just too strong.

Luckily for you, we can now tell you exactly how expensive a trip to Japan really is.

In this post we have written down in detail all our travel costs in Japan and what you have to expect for your trip.

Info: We spent 3.5 weeks in Japan during the cherry blossom season and took care of the hotel search at a very late stage in our planning. During this season the hotel prices in Japan are even more expensive than usual.

Read all our posts about Japan

But before we get to the actual figures of our expenses, let’s start with the basics: Money in Japan.

In Japan you pay with yen. The exchange rate is a bit complicated, but after a while you get used to it:

100 Yen = 0.83 euros or 1 euro = 120 Yen

In Japan you still pay with cash relatively often, so we withdrew cash regularly. ATMs are not always easy to find, but there is always one somewhere.

Our tip: Turn on the location information on your mobile phone and enter “ATM” in Google Maps and let it lead you to the nearest bank machine.

However, not all ATMs work with foreign bank cards. If an ATM has nothing at all written on it in English, you probably won’t get any cash from it.

With our credit cards, the DKB Visa and the Santander 1Plus Visa, we can withdraw money worldwide for free, including Japan. It may be best to check with your bank prior to your trip, to find out what costs may be incurred in Japan.

Some ATM operators charge an additional fee of 210 yen (1.75 euro) for a withdrawal. No fees are charged at the ATMs of the Japanese Post (JP) and the Seven Bank (part of the supermarket chain 7/11).

Even though Japan is considered an expensive travel destination with good reason, it is not so expensive in all aspects. We compared the prices for different things with the prices in Germany and will show you what is more expensive in Japan, what is cheaper and what costs exactly as much as in Germany.

This is less expensive in Japan than in Germany

Sushi: Eating sushi in Japan is not only significantly tastier, but also cheaper than in Germany. At a conveyor belt Sushi you get a plate with two Nigiri starting from 108 Yen (0,90 euro).

For less than 10 euros you can eat plenty of sushi there. Of course there is also much more expensive sushi, but the quality of the sushi that you get for your money is much better in Japan than in Germany.

Public transport: Public transport in cities is generally cheaper than in Germany. In the big cities, a ride on the subway costs the equivalent of 1.50 euro to 2.00 euros. In German cities you can get a short-distance ticket for that, if you are lucky.

Public toilets: Maybe that doesn’t really make a difference in the travel budget, but it is still very pleasant. Not only are there public toilets everywhere in Japan, they are also mostly clean and always free of charge.

This is more expensive in Japan than in Germany

Hotels: Unfortunately, a not insignificant point concerning travel expenses are the prices for accommodation. Especially the costs for hotels in Tokyo , Osaka and Kyoto are significantly higher than in Germany.

A simple mid-range room, which often only measures around 10 square metres, costs between 120 and 160 euros per night. Beds in hostels start at 30 euros per night.

In our Japan hotel tips post we have listed all our hotels and give you general tips for hotel bookings in Japan.

Beer: Beer is relatively expensive in restaurants and bars in Japan. The prices for a small beer (about 0.35 liters) vary between 350 and 1,000 Yen (3-8 euros). The price level for wine and cocktails is not as high.

Western food: If you feel like a pizza or a burger during your trip to Japan, you have to dig deeper into your pocket than in Germany. Prices from 15 euros upwards are not uncommon here.

Room at the 17th floor of the Intercontinental Tokyo Bay Hotel

This costs as much in Japan as in Germany.

Train: Traveling by train in Japan is fast and comfortable, but unfortunately about as expensive as in Germany. A trip from Tokyo to Hiroshima (800 km) costs the equivalent of 155 euros, which is about the same as a trip with the ICE from Hamburg to Munich (800 km, 145 euros).

Electronics: Of course, in the homeland of the big camera manufacturers, we also looked to see if there were any bargains.

Unfortunately there were none. Cameras, lenses and other electronics cost about as much as in Germany.

Even if it might be a little bit cheaper, we would advise you not to buy a camera or other electronic equipment in Japan, because in warranty cases it becomes difficult if the things were bought abroad.

Now, as promised, you get to look behind the scenes. We listed exactly how much money we spent on our trip to Japan.

Our costs for overnight stays in Japan

As already mentioned, the price level for accommodation in Japan is high. Even though we only slept in average mid-range hotels (2-3 star standard), this was the biggest part of our expenses.

This is what we paid:

Tokyo: Super Hotel Lohas Akasaka 11 m² – 141 euros/night Osaka: Hotel Cordia 18 m² – 147,50 euros/night Kyoto: Hotel Washington 9 m² – 144 euros/night Hiroshima: Hotel Washington 18 m² – 75 euros/night Miyajima: Oyado Tsukiusagi 20 m² – 113 euros/night

Regarding the prices we have to add that we were in Japan during the cherry blossom season, one of the two main travel seasons.

In the period from the end of March to the middle of April, of the Golden Week at the beginning of May, as well as in autumn, the prices for accommodation are the highest in Japan.

Average cost per day: 135 euros Total cost for 3 weeks: 2,845 euros (for two)

More info: In our post about our hotels in Japan , you’ll find more information and practical tips for your hotel booking.

Our expenses for food and beverages in Japan

Breakfast is usually not included in the hotels, but must be booked additionally.

As in the simple hotels, the breakfast is usually oriented to the Japanese taste and is also not quite cheap, we usually ate out for breakfast.

We also went out for lunch and dinner. We never ate in very expensive restaurants, but often had sushi (10 euros per person), ramen or udon soup (5-9 euros per person).

We also didn’t drink much alcohol, from time to time we had a beer or a glass of wine for dinner.

Average cost per day: 56,50 euros Total cost for 3 weeks: 1,300 euros (for two)

Costs of transportation in Japan

The transportation costs, to get from A to B, made up a relatively large portion of our Japan travel expenses.

For the train journeys between the cities we had the Japan Rail (JR) Pass for 21 days, which cost 490 euros per person. You can order the pass online here .

Find our detailed experience report here: Japan Rail Pass experiences .

For subway and bus tickets as well as private regional trains, which were not included in the JR Pass, we spent a total of 262 euros.

Costs for the Japan Rail Pass: 980 euros Further transportation costs: 262 euros Total costs for 3 weeks: 1,242 euros (for two)

Entrance Fees in Japan

Many temples and sight-seeing attractions in Japan cost admission. This is usually only a few euros, but in three weeks it can easily add up to a rather high amount.

The entrance fee for temples is usually between 200 to 600 Yen (1,50 to 5 euros). More expensive are viewpoints, as for example in Tokyo and Osaka. Here the prices range from 600 yen (5 euros) to 3,000 yen (25 euros).

Especially the visit of the Robot Restaurant in Tokyo was expensive (65 euros per person). Such special things are always quite pricey in Japan. This is also true, for example, for a visit to a sumo wrestling match or a sumo training center (approx. 100 euros). But we didn’t do that.

Total entrance fees on our trip: 375 euros (for two)

Costs for flights to Japan

Of course, the costs at the destination are not the only thing, you have to come to Japan first. The prices for flights from Germany are not particularly expensive, but also not excessively cheap.

As so often, the best prices are offered by the Arab airlines. But it is also worth taking a look at European airlines such as Finnair. They are often just a little more expensive, but usually faster.

We paid 806 euros per person for our flight with Emirates from Hamburg via Dubai to Tokyo and back. With a bit of luck, this could also be a little bit cheaper, but a total of 800 euros is a realistic price for a flight to Japan.

We recommend the flight search engine Skyscanner when searching for the optimal flight.

Costs per person: 806 euros Total costs: 1,612 euros

Summary of our Japan travel expenses

And here is an overview of everything:

Accommodation: 2,845 euros Food and beverages: 1,300 euros Transportation: 1,242 euros Admission: 375 euros Flights: 1,612 euros

In total, we paid just under 7,400 euros for our entire trip to Japan, including the flight, that is 3,700 euros per person. The costs at the destination were about 275 euros for two persons per day.

Tipping is absolutely not common in Japan. No tips are expected in restaurants, bars or taxi rides. Nobody will understand if you want to give a tip, so you better not. Otherwise it could actually be taken as an insult.

Apparently only in very expensive hotels it is common to tip the room service or a suitcase carrier. But we can’t confirm that.

We didn’t pinch pennies on our journey. Of course it could have been a bit cheaper here or there, but we didn’t fling away the money either.

You can also travel to Japan cheaper and we would like to give you a few tips on how to do that:

Tip 1: Overnight stay in a Manga Café

That sounds funny, but it’s actually not so bad.

There are often so-called Manga Kissas in Japan where you can rent a room to play computer games.

There is usually a shower and a very comfortable armchair or couch and you can also rent these rooms overnight.

This is definitely cheaper than a hotel in some places.

Tip 2: Get food from supermarkets

The three most popular supermarket chains in Japan are Family Mart, Lawson and 7/11. All three have a good selection of ready-made meals, sushi boxes and Onigiri, which are for example also eaten by many Japanese at lunch break.

The quality of the food is not that bad and it is much cheaper than in a restaurant. By the way, in all supermarkets you can get quite good coffee for the equivalent of 1,00 to 1,50 euro.

Tip 3: Travel in the low season

Most tourists come to Japan in spring and autumn. Then the weather is generally better and in spring you can see the famous cherry blossoms and in autumn many bright colors.

Overnight stays outside the main season are of course much cheaper. But you have to be prepared for hot, rainy summers or uncomfortable winter weather.

Japan is definitely not a cheap travel destination. Compared to many other Asian countries, such as Thailand , Myanmar or Sri Lanka , Japan is extremely expensive.

However, compared to European destinations it is not that much more expensive. Japan is certainly not the first choice for budget backpackers, but it is definitely an option for everyone else.

Do you have any tips on saving money in Japan? How much did you spend on your trip to Japan? We are looking forward to your experiences and your comments.

Travel, culture, and stories from Japan.

The japan vacation budget calculator.

I love researching the best places to go when I go on holiday, especially when it’s in Japan. I love planning, and I love knowing I’ve got the money to do it all. But I can absolutely see that for some people, calculating all of the potential costs associated with a vacation to Japan seems like their worst nightmare.

Well, now you don’t have to! I’ve built a Japan vacation budget calculator to do all the hard work for you. Either compare your holiday’s actual spending to your initial budget or plan everything out beforehand and find out how much money you’ll have left to spend on fun things!

Halfway down this page, you’ll find that calculator and I hope it’ll change the way you plan your trips to Japan!

Table of Contents

Why You Need a Budget in Japan (5 Reasons)

Before you use the Japan trip cost calculator, let’s run through a few reasons why you actually need a budget in Japan (Even if that yen is burning a hole in your pocket!) and why I made it in the first place.

If you’re dreaming of savoring sushi in Tokyo, meditating in serene temples, or getting lost in the vibrant streets of Kyoto, then Japan is calling your name. As a seasoned adventurer and as someone who lives here, I can vouch for the incredible experiences that await you in the Land of the Rising Sun .

However, there’s one essential tool that’ll make your Japan trip even more unforgettable and stress-free: a budget! Actually sitting down and making a budget sounds a bit boring to me, so instead I made something that does it all for you!

Here are just a few reasons why having a budget will make your trip to Japan just that little bit better.

1. Making the Most of Your Yen

Let’s face it – Japan isn’t the cheapest destination on the map. While it offers an array of experiences that are worth every penny, you want to make sure your hard-earned money goes where it matters most – creating memories, not going down the drain.

By having a budget, you’re putting yourself in the driver’s seat of your spending. You’ll know exactly how much you can allocate to flights, accommodations, food, activities, and shopping. This way, you can focus on the things you’re truly passionate about, whether it’s riding Japan’s last sleeper train or skiing on Mount Fuji , without worrying about overspending.

2. Avoiding Post-Trip Regrets

So you’ve had this incredible time in Japan and have all these fantastic memories, and then you return from your magical Japan adventure, only to be greeted by an alarming credit card bill. Ouch!

That’s the last thing you want after having such an awesome trip.

Budgeting in advance helps you avoid those post-trip regrets and the unpleasant surprise of a depleted bank account. By planning your expenses, you’ll have a clear idea of your financial boundaries throughout the trip, ensuring you don’t overspend and end up with a mountain of debt when you return home.

3. Unleashing Your Adventurous Spirit

Here’s a little secret – budgets aren’t about killing spontaneity; they’re about empowering it! Once you’ve used the Japan trip cost calculator and you know how much you can spend on various aspects of your vacation, you can embrace your adventurous spirit fully (and buy all the Pokemon cards in Tokyo that you want ;)).

Imagine being able to say “yes” to that thrilling helicopter ride over Hiroshima or indulging in a Michelin-starred dining experience without guilt. With a budget as your trusty guide, you’ll feel liberated to explore Japan in all its glory, knowing you’ve got your finances under control.

4. Discovering Hidden Gems and Local Experiences

One of the most incredible aspects of traveling is uncovering hidden gems and immersing yourself in local culture. Japan has this in bucketloads!

The beauty of budgeting is that it encourages you to seek out these authentic experiences that often cost little to no money at all.

From strolling through quaint alleyways to stumbling upon a traditional festival, Japan has a plethora of magical moments waiting for you. The latter of which has happened to me in Kyoto before!

A budget helps you prioritize these local adventures, making your trip more meaningful and unforgettable.

5. Creating Lifelong Financial Habits

Last but not least, budgeting isn’t just a travel skill; it’s a life skill that you’ll carry with you long after your Japan journey. Maybe it’s not entirely relevant to your trip, but learning how to manage your money effectively, set financial goals, and stay accountable are invaluable habits for your future endeavors, whether they involve travel or not.

With a budget in hand, we’ll make the most of every yen, embrace our adventurous spirits, and craft memories that’ll last a lifetime.

How can you set a budget for Japan as easily as possible? By using the Japan trip cost calculator underneath!

How to use the Japan vacation calculator

So! It’s time to get to the fun part, the Japan Travel Cost Calculator – your ultimate tool for planning an unforgettable trip to Japan!

Follow these simple steps to gain valuable insights into your travel expenses. And no need to worry if you’ve already been, you can use it as a retrospective calculator to see how your initial budget matches your actual spend.

If you haven’t been yet, it’s a great way to get your head around some of the finances. A lot goes into planning a holiday, especially somewhere like Japan.

It’s all too easy to spend way more than you thought!

This calculator will show you how close you stuck (or will stick) to your initial budget, and let you know the actual cost of your holiday to Japan vs your original budget.

Select Your Currency and Exchange Rate: Begin by choosing your preferred currency from the dropdown menu. Enter the current exchange rate to Japanese Yen (JPY) or the rate you exchanged your currency for yen. All subsequent inputs will be in your chosen currency, making it easy for you to manage your budget comfortably.
Input Your Ideal Overall Budget: Enter your ideal overall budget for the entire trip. Don’t worry if it’s not exact; you can always fine-tune it later after the calculations have been made.
Estimated Flight Costs: Add the expected flight costs per person. This will give you a clear picture of the flight expenses, ensuring you stay well within your budget.
Consider Hotel Costs: Include the cost of hotels per night for all travelers. Ensuring comfortable accommodation within your budget is crucial. Plus, Japan can be overwhelming and there’s nothing like coming back to a nice relaxing room!
Calculate Daily Transport and Food Costs: Estimate the expected daily transport and food costs per person. Even a rough estimate will do if you haven’t finalized your itinerary yet. $20-$30 per person should easily cover you for an average day’s traveling.
Ensure You’re Covered with Travel Insurance: Don’t forget to add the total cost of travel insurance. Having comprehensive travel insurance ensures peace of mind throughout your trip and really isn’t worth skimping on.
Account for Miscellaneous Costs: Miscellaneous costs can be diverse, ranging from airport parking to pre-booked trips and other expenditures. Make sure to include these costs to have a complete overview of your budget, and be as thorough as you can.
Specify the Number of Travelers and Trip Duration: Enter the number of travelers joining you on this adventure and the number of days you’ll be exploring Japan.
Hit Calculate and Uncover Your Insights: With all inputs in place, click the “Calculate” button, and let the magic unfold. Discover valuable insights into your trip costs, including the total estimated expense, a detailed cost breakdown, and any budget left over for extra exploration!

Let’s talk a little bit about those insights and how to understand what they mean.

Your Trip Cost

Upon entering your travel expenses and clicking the “Calculate” button, the Japan trip cost calculator instantly provides you with a comprehensive overview of your estimated total trip cost. The magic happens as the calculator considers essential elements like flight expenses, hotel costs, daily transportation, food, travel insurance, and miscellaneous expenses.

The total trip cost is displayed in your selected currency, such as USD, GBP, or EUR, and simultaneously converted to the Japanese Yen (JPY) for your convenience. This yen conversion allows you to have a clear understanding of the local currency, enabling seamless financial planning while in Japan.

In the case where the total cost exceeds your initial budget, the calculator promptly notifies you, prompting an opportunity for reevaluation and adjustments to align your expenses with your planned budget effectively.

Conversely, if the total cost falls within your budget, you’ll be reassured that your financial planning is on point. This reassurance provides peace of mind and empowers you to embark on your Japan vacation confidently.

Cost Breakdown

The Japan Vacation Budget Calculator goes beyond presenting the total trip cost. It provides a detailed cost breakdown, categorizing expenses to unveil a more comprehensive view of your budget. The breakdown includes individual expenses for flights, hotel accommodation, daily transportation, food, travel insurance, and miscellaneous costs.

For each category, the expenses are presented both in your chosen currency and its equivalent in Japanese Yen (JPY). This dual presentation ensures that you have a crystal-clear understanding of how your expenses translate into the local currency, making your financial decisions in Japan hassle-free.

The cost breakdown also reveals the cost per person, which allows you to analyze expenses on a per-traveler basis. This insight is incredibly beneficial for group trips, ensuring transparency and equal distribution of costs among all travelers.

Budget Left Over

One of the most exciting aspects of using the Japan Vacation Budget Calculator is discovering how much budget you have left after considering all your expenses. If the calculator determines that you have a remaining budget, it will provide this information in your chosen currency, as well as its corresponding value in Japanese Yen (JPY).

Having a budget left over allows you the flexibility to explore additional activities and indulge in unique experiences during your trip. This extra budget, expressed in daily amounts and per person, provides a practical guideline for your daily spending while ensuring you have a safety net for unexpected opportunities or expenses.

With this knowledge, you can confidently immerse yourself in Japan’s rich culture, savor local delicacies, and engage in memorable adventures, knowing that you have budgeted wisely for an unforgettable experience.

Anyway, that’s enough talking from me. It’s time to have a go for yourself!

The Japan Travel Budget Calculator

Japan vacation budget calculator.

Has the calculator shown you a bigger number than you first thought? No problem, here are 5 ways to save money on your trip to Japan

5 Ways to Save Money on Your Trip to Japan

Traveling to Japan doesn’t have to be a drain on your bank account, even if it can sometimes feel like it might be. With a little savvy planning and some insider tips, you can experience the best of this fascinating country without breaking the bank.

Here are five practical ways to save money on your Japan trip:

1. Scoring Cheaper Flights

Let’s start with the big expense – flights. Booking early is your ticket to snagging those sweet deals.

Keep an eye on airlines’ sales and sign up with Going to catch the best prices (literally like 90% off your flights…). Also, consider being flexible with your travel dates – flying mid-week or during shoulder seasons often comes with lower fares.

Another nifty trick is to check nearby airports and alternative routes. Sometimes, flying to a different city in Japan and taking a domestic flight can save you a bundle. Not always the case, and not always ideal, but it can sometimes work out well.

2. Making Extra Income Along the Way

Now, this might sound a bit unconventional, but hear me out – you can actually make some extra yen while traveling in Japan! How? Well, put your skills to good use! If you’re a talented photographer, consider offering photography services to fellow travelers. Love writing? Start a travel blog and share your Japan adventures.

I’ve written a massive article about how to earn money in Japan , and while the majority of those suggestions are for people considering living in Japan, it could absolutely work for you as well

Alternatively, and depending on your visa, you can teach English online during your downtime or offer language exchange sessions with locals. This gives you a chance to earn a little extra income and enriches your travel experience by connecting with people on a deeper level.

3. Traveling Off-Peak

Want to experience the beauty of Japan without the crowds and the hefty price tags? Travel during the off-peak seasons. Spring and autumn are popular, but consider visiting during the shoulder months when the weather is still lovely, and prices are more budget-friendly.

Not only will you save on flights to Japan and accommodations, but you’ll also enjoy a more authentic experience, mingling with locals rather than fellow tourists. Plus, attractions and activities are less crowded, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in Japan’s culture and beauty.

4. Embracing Free Things

Ah, the beauty of freebies – they’re the traveler’s best friend! Japan offers a wealth of free or low-cost activities that are as enriching as they are enjoyable.

Explore the serene gardens, parks, and temples scattered throughout the country – many of them are open to the public at no charge. Enjoy the city lights by taking a leisurely stroll through bustling neighborhoods.

Don’t forget to research free events, festivals, and cultural activities happening during your visit – they’re fantastic opportunities to experience Japan’s traditions without spending a yen.

5. Eating Smart and Savvy

Let’s talk about everyone’s favorite topic – food! Japanese cuisine is undeniably delicious, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. While treating yourself to something special during your trip is a must, balance it out with more budget-friendly options as well.

Seek out local eateries, “izakayas” (Japanese pubs), and “tachinomiya” (standing bars) are perfect for affordable and tasty meals. Convenience stores are your best friend for quick and cheap bites, and they’re also so damn delicious!

Additionally, some restaurants offer lunchtime specials or “set meals” that give you great value for your money.

Congratulations! You have now mastered the art of budgeting for your dream vacation to Japan with the help of our Japanese Travel Budget Calculator. Armed with valuable insights into your trip costs, including the yen conversion, you can confidently plan your itinerary, book accommodations, and explore the wonders of Japan without worrying about exceeding your budget.

So, you’ve sorted out the budget, but you’re still a little sure about where to go? Take this Japan travel quiz I’ve made specifically for you. It’ll tell you where your next great adventure lies in Japan!

My Top Japan Travel Resources:

What’s the best way to get cheap flights to Japan?

Going is BY FAR the best way to secure dirt-cheap flights to Japan. We’re talking as much as 90% off!

Should I live in Japan?

Maybe – I’ve made this quiz specifically for you! Who knows, perhaps you’re closer to those bowls of ramen than you think 😉

Where should I visit next in Japan?

It depends – To help you figure it out, I’ve made this quiz just for you!

Can I get online in Japan?

You can! – The eSIM is the one I’d recommend using, plus it’s perfect if you’re planning to travel somewhere else afterward.

Can you help me plan my trip to Japan?

Yes – I’ve got a Japan bucket list just for you! Simply download the PDF, print it out, and tick off some of the things you’d like to see, do, and eat.

Can I get money out in Japan without getting charged?

Yep – The Zero-fee card I use to get money in Japan hasn’t steered me wrong yet. Highly recommended to any traveler!

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Jonny Gleason

Jonny is the founder of A Day of Zen and has an unhealthy obsession with Japan. In 2022 he moved to Japan on a mission to give his audience the best possible information. He's helped over 300,000 plan their trip so far, and is eager to make that number much bigger!

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Travel Planning Guide

Is Japan Expensive?

Is Japan expensive?

How expensive is Japan?

How expensive is a one week trip to japan, how expensive is a two week trip to japan.

How expensive is a one month trip to Japan?

Is it expensive to backpack in Japan?

Are hotels expensive in japan.

How expensive are activities in Japan?

Is food expensive in Japan?

Is transportation expensive in japan, is japan expensive to visit.

Japan is known as both a well-liked and moderately priced destination. It falls roughly in the middle range for overall travel costs. When compared to the rest of Asia, it is a moderately priced country. It places in the top 50% of countries in Asia for its travel costs. This puts it on par with destinations such as Taiwan and Macao.

As this is a very popular country for tourists, you'll find a number of great places in Japan to visit, all at a variety of price ranges. Some of the most expensive places to visit are Yakushima, Yokohama, and Tokyo. If you're looking for lower cost destinations, you can visit places like Sado, Dewa Sanzan, and Mashiko.

The average daily spending amount for tourists in Japan tends to be around $127 (U.S. Dollars). Keep in mind that your travel style, spending habits, and trip length will influence these costs. However, you can keep fairly close to this budget if you opt for moderately priced hotels, dine at economical restaurants, and make use of public transportation when available. See more travel costs for Japan here .

A one week trip to Japan costs about $888 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $1,775.

Based on the travel expenses of others, a two week trip to Japan costs around $1,775 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a two week trip costs $3,550.

How expensive is a month long trip to Japan?

Based on our calculations from previous travelers, a one month trip to Japan will cost around $3,804 per person. This amount includes sightseeing activities, hotels, restaurants, local transportation, and other travel expenses. For two people, a one month trip would cost $7,607.

Japan is a very popular destination for backpackers, offering an extensive network of over 220 hostels across the country. The average cost for a dorm room in these hostels is approximately $26 per night. (See detailed information on hostel prices in Japan here .) Notably, backpackers often flock to the popular hostels in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. If you're looking for budget-friendly options, Kobe, Kagoshima, and Okinawa has some of the most affordable hostels, averaging $22, $19, and $18 per night. Conversely, you'll find the most expensive hostels on average in Niseko Town, Mount Fuji, and Tokyo with an average cost of $40, $30, and $30 per night.

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Japan.

$21 for a dorm bed at Nui. Hostel & Bar Lounge in Tokyo more details
$23 for a dorm bed at Guesthouse U-En in Osaka more details
$20 for a dorm bed at Backpackers Hostel K's House Kyoto in Kyoto more details

Hotel prices in Japan are moderately priced and fairly even compared to other countries around the world. You can expect to spend about $102 a night for a room on average. Some cities in Japan are more expensive than others, like Ise, where hotel prices average $240 a night. There are also even more affordable destinations such as Osaka, averaging $37 per night for a hotel room.

Disney Ambassador Hotel

How expensive are sightseeing activities in Japan?

In Japan, the cost of activities and things to do can vary by the type of activity, its length, and the location. To provide an estimate of what to expect during your visit, below are several popular activities that are common in the country. On average, previous travelers have spent around $20 per day on sightseeing and entertainment.

Hidden Osaka - Yukaku Red Light Tour & Culinary Adventure Viator $ 55
Hidden Osaka - Yukaku Red Light Tour & Culinary Adventure: $55
Experience all of Japanese culture and Japanese food experience classes "origami, udon, Japanese food, green tea, calligraphy" in 4 hours: $85
Akihabara Tailor-made Tour for Anime Fans: $141
[Ishigaki]Mangrove SUP/Canoe Tour: $56
2.5 Hour Private History and Culture Tour in Himeji Castle: $142
1 Day Hiking Tour in the Mountains of Kyoto: $198
Kamakura Historical Walking Tour with the Great Buddha: $106
Private Customizable Walking Tour of Tokyo: $202

In Japan, the cost of food can vary by the type of restaurant and food options available. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible. On average, previous travelers have spent around $31 per day on food, per person.

Sushi & Sake Tasting Cooking Class + Local Supermarket Visit Viator $ 113
Sushi & Sake Tasting Cooking Class + Local Supermarket Visit: $113
Kimono experience and Japanese home-cooking lesson Osaka Umeda : $85
Ramen Cooking Class in Tokyo with Pro Ramen Chef/Vegan possible: $100
Sushi Cooking Class: AKEMI's SUSHiKiTCHEN in Tokyo: $85
Well-balanced BENTO (lunch box) Cooking Class: $85
Japanese Cooking and Udon Making Class in Tokyo with Masako: $118

Local transportation in Japan can vary in price depending on the type of transit used. Generally, other travelers have spent $18 on local transportation per person per day. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.

Expenses for intercity transportation within Japan can vary based on the type of transportation used and the distance traveled. On average, previous travelers have spent $72 per person per day for intercity transit. To save money, it's advisable to choose long-distance buses or trains over air travel. This is generally a more cost-effective choice despite the potential increase in travel time.

More for Japan

If you're planning a trip to Japan, check out these other informative travel guides.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works .

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Home » Topics » Budget Travel » 1 Month Japan Cost – How to travel Japan on a Budget for under $ 1,200

1 Month Japan Cost – How to travel Japan on a Budget for under $ 1,200

Anyone who has ever been to Japan knows that traveling in Japan is anything but cheap. So often, I have heard from people that they’d love to visit Japan but just don’t think it’s affordable for them to go. Those who book a standard travel tour in an agency easily pay € 2,000 – € 3,000 for two weeks in the country.

I have often heard from traveling friends and acquaintances something along the lines of “ Japan is my absolute dream, but I just can’t afford a trip to Japan “. But how much does a trip to Japan really cost ?

The truth is, traveling to Japan on a Budget is actually not that difficult if you keep a few simple things in mind. In order to show you how easy it is, we want to share our 1 month Japan cost with you in this article. (Yes, we kept a precise account!)

Honestly, we really didn’t miss out on anything during our trip to Japan. We went to restaurants, had a beer in the evening, and admired all kinds of attractions. Here, I want to show you how you can do the same without breaking the bank.

What to find out in this post

1 Average travel costs in Japan per day
2 Travel Cost Calculator for Japan
3 Our Japan Travel Cost (27 Days)
4 Average Japan Cost per Day (27 Days)
5 Our Daily Japan Budget per Day per City
6 Japan Prices – What costs what
7 How to Travel Japan on a Budget
8 Money and Currency in Japan
9.1 Save money when flying to Japan
9.2 JR Pass
9.3 Day Passes
9.5 Hitchhiking
10.1 Convenience Stores
10.2 Affordable Restaurants
10.3 Avoid fresh fruit
10.4 Cooking
12.1 Temple Pass
13.1 Booking in advance
13.2 Capsule Hotels and Dorms
13.3 Couchsurfing
14.1 Alcohol
14.2 Sim Card
15.1 Well-planned is half-saved
15.2 About the AuthorVicki

Average travel costs in Japan per day

Travel cost calculator for japan.

The average traveler in Japan spends about € 130 ($ 138) per day . If you are a backpacker or on a small budget, you usually spend € 60 ($ 64) per day . Those traveling in more luxury will pay around € 320 ($ 340) per day .

We even managed to stay under 40 € ($ 47) per day on our trip. Later in this article, I will tell you step by step how we did it.

Our Japan Travel Cost (27 Days)

Total: 995.22 €/ $ 1.103.37 per Person

Author’s note: Of course, all listed expenses were made in the local currency (yen). The Japan prices are listed in Euros and USD only for better understanding. Any discrepancies are caused by rounding.

All costs are per person.

Average Japan Cost per Day (27 Days)

Our daily japan budget per day per city, japan prices – what costs what.

Budget accommodation (Private double room for 2): approx. $ 60 – 120 (50 – 100 €) per night
Budget accommodation bed in a hostel: from $ 19 (16 €) per night
Lunch cheap restaurant (menu): from $ 6 (5 €)
Lunch: Sushi Menu: ca. $ 12 (11 €)
Dinner at a cheap restaurant: approx. $ 7 – 12 (6 – 10 €)
Dinner for 2 in a good restaurant: about $ 45 – 60 (40 – 50 €)
Dinner for 2 in an upscale restaurant: approx. $ 120 – 360 (100 – 300 €)
1.5 liters of water in the supermarket: approx. $ 1.20 (1 €)
Bottle of wine in the convenience store: approx. $ 4 – 5 (3.5 – 5 €).
0.5 l bottle of local beer in the restaurant: approx. $ 4 – 4 (3.50 – 5 €)
0.5 l bottle of local beer in the supermarket: approx. $ 3 (2.50 €).
A bowl of ramen: $ 7 – 12 (6 – 10 €)

How to Travel Japan on a Budget

miyajima island, Deer, Japan on a budget

Ugh. That was a lot of numbers. Now you surely want to know how we managed to spend so little money. Here is a small summary.

Money and Currency in Japan

In Japan, you pay with the so-called Yen (¥). One Dollar is currently equivalent to about 150 Yen. Depending on where you exchange your money, you will get a similar or worse exchange rate. It is usually advisable to exchange only a small amount at first and to change your money on-site (e.g., at the airport). Be sure to check the exchange rate.

It may be worthwhile to compare the exchange rate locally before deciding on a place to exchange. First of all, only exchange as much money as you actually spend. This way, you will avoid losing too much money by exchanging currencies.

Also, when choosing a credit card, make sure that there are no or very low withdrawal fees when you withdraw money from abroad. You may also be charged exchange fees if you pay with your credit card in a foreign currency. Before you leave, get advice on which credit card is best for your trip.

Japan Transport on a Budget

Transport costs make up about 42 % of our whole costs in Japan. Quite a lot, right? It can be very difficult to keep your transportation costs as low as possible because they are just incredibly expensive in Japan. Here are a few tips on how you can still save a few Bucks transportation costs.

Save money when flying to Japan

In general, you should expect the average cost of your Japan flight to be around $ 800 for a round-trip flight to Japan from the US and $ 700 from (Central) Europe.

For our flight to Japan, we paid just under € 250 per person (outbound only). Since travel is usually a big part of your travel costs, it is especially important to hope for a good price when booking. Although there is always a little bit of luck involved in finding a good flight, there are also some tricks that can help you save money.

Since I specialized in airline management in my studies, I know a few tricks of the airlines and can always find the best flight. In my low-cost flight guide, I pass on some of the most important tips to you. If you don’t feel like reading the whole guide, here is a short version:

Start comparing airfares a few weeks (preferably several months) before departure.
Always delete cookies or search from an incognito window
The more flexible you are, the better chance you have of finding good flights.
Compare different days, airports, and flight times
Direct flights are usually more expensive
Use flight comparison sites like Skyscanner to find the best flights
Set a price alert to notify you when prices change

Most travelers in Japan choose the JR Pass to get from A to B in Japan. With this pass, you can use all means of transportation from JR free of charge for the selected days.

Make sure to check beforehand which routes are covered by JR. In Tokyo, in particular, many routes are covered by other companies and therefore have to be paid for additionally. The best is to plan your Japan itinerary ahead of time to see whether the JR pass is worth it or not .

More information on the JR Pass can be found here .

Within big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto, it is worth buying a day or metro pass. Especially if you want to see a lot in a short time and travel a lot by public transport, buying a Metropass usually pays off.

Examples are the Icoca Card (for Osaka and Kyoto) or the Tokyo Metro Pass .

Even if you have a JR Pass, public transportation within the cities is not always included. Especially in Tokyo, many routes are covered by other companies, and therefore you have to pay extra. Here, a Suica-Card is a good idea, with which you can pay for all train companies. Simply load money at the machine in each metro station, and off you go. This saves a lot of time because you don’t have to buy a new ticket every time. You can purchase the Suica card at Tokyo Station.

Buses in Japan are often the cheaper alternative to expensive train rides. Many routes are covered by buses, and the buses are mostly of very good quality. Almost all buses have a toilet on board, and there are stops at service stations every 2 hours.

Willer Bus Pass

In addition to the JR Pass for trains, foreigners can also buy a Willer Bus Pass before arriving. The principle is similar. You can choose a certain number of days on which you can use the Willer buses. Here the days are calculated based on the trips you take. That means days do not have to be contiguous.

Although we first decided on the Willer Bus Pass, we canceled it on-site because we had to cancel a planned day tour due to the bad weather and found that a route we wanted to take was not covered by our pass. Therefore, it was ultimately cheaper for us to book our buses separately. But it all depends on your chosen route.

Hitchhiking

Another option to save real money is hitchhiking. Japan is considered one of the safest countries in the world, and the people of Japan are incredibly friendly. If you have enough time, you should definitely try it.

We hitchhiked almost 400 km during our trip to Japan, and it was a great experience. If we had had more time, we would definitely have hitchhiked further distances.

It actually sounds quite obvious, doesn’t it? The more you walk by yourself, the fewer transport costs you have to pay. You can save a lot of money, especially in cities. During our time in Tokyo and Osaka, we walked around 20 km every day. If the next destination is only 3 metro stations away, it can be very worthwhile to simply choose to walk.

Japan Food on a Budget

First of all, eating in Japan is not nearly as expensive as many blogs say. We were pleasantly surprised, as we had set our budget for around € 5 per meal per person. There are many ways to save a lot of money on food while traveling in Japan.

Convenience Stores

It’s hard to walk around Japan’s cities without passing by a 7/11 and Co. (and this can be taken literally). Many affordable dishes are offered here.

For breakfast, there are different types of pastries and sandwiches. You can even find fruit (Unfortunately, fruit in Japan seems to be priceless. Only bananas fit in our budget. and watermelons for € 20 apiece are not uncommon)

For lunch and dinner, you can find all kinds of dishes here. Simply slide it into the microwave when paying, and you’re done. – Backpacker Heaven.

Affordable Restaurants

If you’ve had enough of convenience stores and microwaves, you can also eat at one of the many affordable restaurant chains. You can usually find the prices displayed outside. Many restaurants display plastic dishes in the shop windows so that you know what you are ordering. But many also have English menu cards.

You can find dishes starting at about $ 6/5 €. There are usually a lot of people in suits looking for a quick lunch during their lunch break. The quality and freshness of the dishes differ from restaurant to restaurant but generally correspond to our Western standards.

Avoid fresh fruit

I love fruits and fresh vegetables. However, I recommend you give them a wide berth in Japan. Except for a banana or an occasional apple, we did not dare to eat the fruit in Japan. Unfortunately, the prejudice that fruit is hardly affordable in Japan is true. Watermelons for 20 € are not uncommon here. And other fruits and vegetables can also tear a big hole in your budget.

If you have booked accommodation with access to a kitchen, it may be worth making use of it. Don’t worry, you don’t have to miss out on the delicious Japanese food . But if you already replace just one meal in a restaurant with a homemade meal, you can really save money.

Of course, you can use local ingredients and be inspired by the selection of Japanese supermarkets. If you choose Couchsurfing as we did, your host will be happy to have a delicious meal cooked by you.

Staying hydrated while traveling is important. Saving money for water in Japan is very easy, though. The magic word is tap water. The tap water throughout the country is very clean and has drinking water quality. So just fill up the bottle before leaving the house, and you’re done. Since drinking water in Japan is not exactly cheap, tap water is a real alternative that saves you a lot of money.

Entrance & Activities

Matsumoto castle, Japan Price entrance fees

Saving money is probably the most difficult thing when it comes to admission costs. Many attractions offer student or group discounts. In the Edo Museum, we even received a couple-discount. Otherwise, you can only check blogs you trust (maybe this one? *blink blink*) to see if the attraction is really worth the entrance fee. (Because a few times it was clearly not). Another option is to check the attractions you might want to see and see what other travelers are saying.

Temple Pass

There is another way to save on entrance fees and activities in some places in Japan: tourist passes. With the purchase of such a tourist pass, you get free access to the attractions included in the pass. This way, you can save a lot of money compared to buying individual tickets.

Such passes are, therefore, especially worthwhile in places where you want to see several sights, such as the Osaka Amazing Pass .

Japan Accommodation on a Budget

Booking in advance.

We Germans are known for planning everything in advance and being super organized. My way of traveling is usually completely different. I like to travel spontaneously and decide on the spot where to go, where to sleep, and how long I stay.

In Japan, it was a bit different. Already two months before departure, we set up a (worst case) budget (approx. 1,200 €) and collected information about all the places we wanted to visit during our trip to Japan. We compared prices for various types of transport, accommodation, and activities and summarized everything in an Excel table.

Before we started, we had a detailed plan with all our routes, accommodations, and prices. So we weren’t as flexible anymore, but we were able to save a lot of money. And somehow, it is nice to travel and to know exactly what to expect in the next place.

We almost exclusively use Booking.com to book accommodation. It is super easy to use, and thanks to the many reviews, you usually know what to expect. You can find accommodation for all types of Budgets.

Check accommodation in Japan on Booking.com

Capsule Hotels and Dorms

It doesn’t always have to be such “extreme” possibilities as Couchsurfing (see next point). In Japan, you can save money by choosing a classic dormitory in a hostel instead of a private (single) room. Since you share your room with other travelers, you usually pay only a fraction of what you would pay for a private room.

Such a bed in a dormitory also gives you the great opportunity to get in touch with other travelers from all over the world. Especially for solo travelers, this is usually a great advantage.

Another option – and a real experience in Japan – is the so-called capsule hotels. Maybe you’ve seen such a capsule on TV or social media. As the name suggests, instead of renting a whole room, you rent a small capsule to sleep in. The concept is similar to that of a dorm room. However, the capsule usually offers you a bit more privacy than a conventional single bed. This is because you are shielded from the other guests by walls.

Couchsurfing

It’s time to Couchsurf. Couchsurfing is not quite as popular here as it is at home in Europe. But you can find Couchsurfers in many cities. Whereas in Europe, there are more younger people using the platform, in Japan, there are also older Couchsurfers or even whole families.

We had a little bit of everything. We slept in student apartments on the floor or with families in our own room, lived for four days in the unique Couchsurfing house in Kyoto (an entire house just for Couchsurfers – such a fun experience), and even had an entire flat for us in Hiroshima.

So if you look at the average price of our accommodations per night and consider that we spent 21 nights with Couchsurfers and friends, you can calculate that we might have saved about € 706.02 for accommodations.

But please don’t see Couchsurfing just as a way of saving money. Every day, I get requests from people who are only just looking for free accommodation and don’t even take the time to read my profile.

Couchsurfing offers much more than the opportunity to meet new people from other cultures, exchange ideas with them, and learn from them. Couchsurfing gave us the opportunity to get a much deeper insight into Japanese culture and to get to know different areas. (Student life, family life, life as an expat living in Japan, etc.) It was an incredible experience that you cannot book in any travel agency. And I can only recommend this to everyone.

Update: Unfortunately, Couchsurfing in the post-pandemic world is not as easy to use as it used to be. In the meantime, the site has evolved into a platform that you have to pay to use. Accordingly, there are far fewer people Couchsurfing. It may still be worthwhile to see if there are still interested hosts in Japan.

Random Expenses in Japan

Alcohol in Japan is much more expensive than we know in Europe. So if you want to go out for a drink, expect to spend a little more.

It becomes cheaper if you buy a bottle of sake or beer in the supermarket and have a drink with your hosts or in the park. But if you follow all the tips and tricks to save money during your trip to Japan, you can treat yourself to a drink or two with a clear conscience. 😉 (Sake and Japanese plum wine (mixed with mineral water) should definitely be tried)

Anyone who is traveling naturally wants to stay mobile. But it is already clear at the airport that a SIM card and mobile internet are not for free. Of course, it is practically always available, no matter where you are. But is it really necessary to buy a sim card in Japan?

Our tip: In our experience, a Japanese SIM card is not necessary. Almost every convenience store offers free wifi for up to two hours a day. You can also find wifi in most accommodations, in many metro stations, and in enough restaurants and cafes. So there is always a way to google something, check WhatsApp or similar in about five minutes. The easiest way to connect to free wifi is the Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi app .

If you want to have a GPS map to get your bearings, just try maps.me. This app works similarly to Google Maps but is completely offline. Super practical. And on this trip, this app saved us several times from getting lost.

We didn’t buy a SIM card and didn’t miss it. But if you don’t want to rely on public wifi, I recommend using pocket wifi during your trip to Japan (e.g., this one ).

More One Month in Japan Budget tips

Your travel time

Like most tourist places, there is a high and low season in Japan. If you travel in the high season, you have to expect higher prices. Especially during the cherry blossom season ( Sakura ) in spring, you will pay a lot more for accommodation and activities than in other seasons.

The same is true for a visit during the Christmas season as well as the ski holiday season. Since it gets very hot in Japan in the summer, surprisingly, the months of July and August are considered more affordable.

Well-planned is half-saved

If you really want to save money, you should plan a good bit before your trip. Accommodations and flights are usually cheaper if you book them in advance. The Japan Rail Pass is also cheaper if you book it before you arrive in the country.

In addition, you have more time in advance to compare the prices of different providers and generally the different offers in the country.

Interested in Japan?

best Ryokan in Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera temple

About the Author Vicki

Hi, we are Vicki & Eduardo, an international travel couple on a mission to help you save money for priceless travel experience. Follow us through the miracles of this world and you will be rewarded with a bunch of practical travel tips.

17 thoughts on 1 Month Japan Cost – How to travel Japan on a Budget for under $ 1,200

Oh this is super useful! Japan is a definite bucket list destination for me and if I can do it on a budget, even better!

Japan is just wonderful. The people are so kind there. I’m sure you will love it.

I love these kind of posts!! Budget travel is something I need to work on and this post was so helpful thanks!! 🙂 Saving it for when I go to Japan!

I’m always happy if I can help people saving money for traveling 🙂

I am dreaming about Japan butt pff way too much expensive!! It worths the effort though ?

It doesn’t have to be that expensive as you can see 😉

I’ve always wanted to visit Japan but have always been put off by the cost – this had been really helpful in opening my eyes, it certainly looks achievable with a bit of planning! Thanks for sharing.

Thank you. I hope you can go. It’s such an amazing country

I love your post, I love how you have broken the expenses down, by destination as well. Really helpful for a budget traveller like me. My theory is the more you budget the longer you can travel. Thanks for sharing

I totally agree. If I wasn’t on a tight budget all the time I would be back home already. 🙂

This is so funny that I’m reading this because I just told someone yesterday that I don’t want to visit Japan because it’s too expensive ?. These are awesome tips and I’m definitely saving this post for if/when I go. So good to know about the buses because I know trains are insanely expensive there! Thanks for all of the info!

Awesome post… Definitely helpful.

I’m looking to spend 4 days in Akihabara Tokyo this year, And I was wandering if it’s possible for me to go for $1200 counting the flight?? $1500 is the max that I can spend.

I live in Houston Texas USA

I just checked and yes, it is totally possible to go for $1200. For example, if you’d go from the 16th April to the 20th April, there are flights for $722 round trip from Houston to Tokyo. To find it, just scroll up to the section on this posts and click on the Momondo-Link under the Text. (or I guess this link will work as well: http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?gid=309328&mid=7198&awinaffid=450159&linkid=627845&clickref= ) The average spendings from us per day (with breakfast at 7-11, and cheap lunch & dinner) are $33,64 per day, which is $134,56 for 4 days. The accommodation, in general, is $40,06 per night (thus $160,42 for 4 days), but you might be able to find something even cheaper or maybe a little more expensive here: http://www.booking.com/searchresults.en.html?district=2040&aid=1341044&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1

In Total that would be $1016,08.

So, you even have some money left for different things to do or souvenirs. 😉 I hope this helps you! Please let me know!

Hey Vicki! Did you apply for Couchsurfing in advance also? Im travelling Japan for 1 month, 20 days on Okinawa and 10 days from kagoshima -> Tokyo. We booked all of our stay in Okinawa, and Tokyo, but nothing else.. Love your post, It’s very helpfull! Best regards, Sofie

thank you so much for your comment! Yes, we applied around 1 month beforehand, because Japanese are usually pretty organized and like to know whether someone is coming in advance. 🙂 We didn’t have time to see Okinawa during our stay in Japan, but I’ve heard it’s super beautiful. Enjoy!

Hi! Thank you for this post, it was very useful, we are now in Cambodia and then in a few weeks going to Japan so I’m a bit afraid of the expenses since here is so cheap! My name is also Vicky, my husband is german and we meet also through couchsurfing in Barcelona six years ago haha what are the odds?!? 🙂

That’s truly crazy how much we have in common! Would love to meet you guys one day 😀 We did it exactly the other way around. We went to Japan first and afterwards to Cambodia, so we didn’t get used to cheap prices before going to Japan haha

Comments are closed.

Travel Budget

This page is meant to give you a rough idea of the cost of individual travel in Japan by introducing some sample budgets. Note that accommodation rates can increase during peak seasons in popular destinations which is not reflected by the numbers below. View also our pages about budget travel , package tours and suggested itineraries to see the sample budgets applied to specific itineraries.

Sample daily budgets

The numbers below do not include the cost for transportation and heightened accommodation rates during peak seasons. Click here for the current yen exchange rates.

Accommodation

Below are typical rates for accommodation outside the peak seasons . Rates can increase considerably during the peak seasons! Check our accommodation page for more information on different accommodation types and corresponding price ranges.

Low budget: 3,000 - 5,000 yen per night and person Dormitories and hostels , found in most cities of Japan, typically charge below 5000 yen per night and person. Furthermore, booking services like Hostelworld offer great deals.

Medium budget: 6,000 - 12,000 yen per single room and night 8,000 - 15,000 yen per double room and night At this level, you will find rooms in business hotels , minshuku and inexpensive, no-frills ryokan . Some tour packages (for individual travelers) include accommodation at quality Western-style hotels at this price level.

High budget: over 12,000 yen per single room and night over 15,000 yen per double room and night Starting around 12,000 yen per person, you can get rooms in better business hotels and inexpensive Western-style hotels. A stay at a ryokan with two meals included typically costs between 15,000 and 30,000 yen per person and night. For a room in a 4 or 5 star Western-style hotel, you typically pay from 25,000 to 50,000 yen per room and night.

Low budget: 500 yen per day At this level, you will have to live from convenience store food (bread, rice balls, etc.) and fast food restaurants like McDonald's or Mister Donut which offer inexpensive breakfasts.

Medium budget: 500 - 1000 yen per day Many coffee shops and some restaurants in shopping areas and around train stations offer breakfast sets for around 500 to 1000 yen.

High budget: above 1000 yen per day Hotel breakfasts and breakfast buffets will usually cost you more than 1000 yen. Breakfast buffets in first-class hotels typically cost at least 3000 yen.

Low budget: 500 - 800 yen per day Inexpensive lunch boxes are available in convenience stores and stands in railway stations and business districts. Various fast food restaurants , specializing in noodles, curry, domburi or hamburger, also offer relatively filling meals for 800 yen or less.

Medium budget: 800 - 1500 yen per day At this level you will have an even larger range of inexpensive restaurants such as the above mentioned fast food places, plus restaurants which offer lunch set specials for around 1000 yen.

High budget: above 1500 yen per day A lunch at better restaurants costs typically between 1500 and 3000 yen.

Low budget: 500 - 1000 yen per day Convenience stores sell various, inexpensive ready-to-eat meals. Other options are again cheap fast food restaurants .

Medium budget: 1000 - 2500 yen per day Conventional restaurants are generally more expensive in the evening than during lunch time, as there are no lunch specials. At this level, you will be able to enjoy a nice dinner at a wide range of fast food and conventional restaurants, including the restaurants found in department stores where meals typically cost between 1000 and 2500 yen, not including alcoholic drinks.

High budget: above 2500 yen per day With 3000 yen per person you will be able to have a good dinner at a wide range of restaurants . Calculate 5000 yen upwards per person for a dinner at upper class restaurants specializing in sushi , French cuisine, sukiyaki, kaiseki ryori, steaks, etc.

Sightseeing

Low budget: 0 - 500 yen per day Japan offers many free attractions. Most shrines and some temples do not charge admission fees. A few museums charge no admission on one day of the week or month.

Medium budget: 500 - 2000 yen per day Admission to famous temples costs between 300 and 1000 yen. Most museums and castles charge about 500-1500 yen per person.

High budget: above 2000 yen per day Some museums and attractions (usually outstanding ones or tourist traps) charge between 1,500 and 3,000 yen per person. Admission to large theme parks typically cost around 5,000-10,000 yen per day.

Transportation

Low budget: Highway buses , the Japan Bus Pass and the Seishun 18 Kippu (only available during certain times of the year) are among the cheapest ways of traveling in Japan.

All budgets: Travelers of all budgets should consider purchasing a rail pass . Over long distances, domestic flights are often more economical, if you take advantage of the various discount offers .

Questions? Ask in our forum .

The complete budget guide for a 2 week trip to Japan

Our trip to Japan was like a dream come true. We waited for it for a long time, we were worried about the plane tickets, we planned everything carefully and we made mistakes. It’s the way things work for us. But planning the budget for the trip was never a problem, as you will see in this complete budget guide for a 2-week trip to Japan.

Yes, it’s true guys, there might be affiliate links in this awesome, free post. This means that if you decide to buy something that you find here, and you use one of my links to do so, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I plan to use the money to buy ice cream and to travel more so I can write these useful guides for you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Not because we have won the lottery (as if…). And even though everyone thinks that living and working in Switzerland automatically links you to a full bank account, we still travel the same as before: budget to mid-level. What does this mean?

It means we’re usually spending around 50$ per hotel night, and we never go to hostels. I did too much of that in college, don’t want to go back. It also means we usually go to local restaurants, and half of our meals are to-go. Still, from time to time, we’ll splurge and invest in a night at a special hotel, or a nicer island in the Maldives , or even a room above average in Indonesia .

And lots of times we hear this question when we come back from a trip: “How much did you spend, overall?”. We usually know roughly how much we spent, but we rarely focus on the details. But, since I’m trying to become a better blogger (or WTH am I doing here anyway), I started keeping a better track of our costs for the trip to Japan.

Tickets to various castles from our 2 week trip to Japan.

What you need to know.

First of all, I have to tell you that these numbers are all approximate. Japan is still a cash-based country, so we had to withdraw money from an ATM and spend it like this. And spending cash makes it pretty hard to track what you spent on. I have a rough idea, but please take this information with a grain of salt.

Second, we didn’t visit everything that we wanted, due to lack of time (and sometimes bad planning, because why not?). But we researched a lot before going, and at the end of this post you’ll find a printable sheet with entry fees to all the cool places to visit in Japan, plus our comments and helpful tips.

Third, we were always on the run, so half of our meals were things we bought from grocery stores, not proper restaurant meals. Breakfast was almost always taken either in the room or on a train on the way to the next adventure. I also only had one cup of coffee to go, since I felt guilty about producing so much waste. Since then, I have bought a to-go coffee cup so that I can enjoy my guilty pleasure without the actual guilt.

Forth: even if you’re on a budget, never ever travel without travel insurance. It used to be fairly OK, but during the last few years, we have learned that it’s not OK anymore. You can get a quote in the widget below.

And the last one: the prices are displayed in Yen, for two persons. We used 2 Revolut cards and one TransferWise to withdraw money (50.000 Yen in total), and we paid everything we could in Yen since this is the best option, so here’s a pro tip for you: while traveling, always, ALWAYS pay in the currency of the country you’re in.

Are you ready to find out how much is a trip to Japan for 2 weeks going to cost you? Good. Let’s start!

Don’t have time to read it right now? Pin it for later!

How much to budget for the flights to japan.

Of course, it depends on where you’re coming from, the season when you’re traveling, if you could find a crappy combination that takes you there cheaper or have miles that take you there free. In our case, we used my benefits, so the price we paid is irrelevant.

But, since this will be a large chunk of your budget, I looked into it a bit. I used Skyscanner for this, filtered for round trips from Tokyo, in November (using the whole month feature), and verified the prices from the US, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Of course, you can use the same features to search for the flights by yourself, but I’ll attach my findings just to provide an idea.

From the US

900-1.200$, from the West Coast (LA, San Francisco)
1.300-1.500$, from the East Coast (New York, Washington)

From Europe

900 euro from Italy
1.000 euro from Spain or Germany
1.100 euro from France
1.200 euro from Netherlands or Switzerland
350$ from Thailand or Hong Kong
550$ from Singapore
650 from India

From Australia

As you can see, the prices are somewhere in the area of 1000-1.200$ for a round trip for 2 people. It’s not as bad as I thought. We paid 1800 euro (about 2000$) for the crappiest flight we ever had, so my standards are not that high.

So, how much does it cost to fly to Japan? About 1200$, I would say. This means 131.527 Yen .

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The cost of transportation in Japan will be one of the major downfalls for your budget. You'll spend about a quarter of your budget just to get around Japan, and probably another quarter on the flights that will get you there. So be prepared and buy ahead everything you can, so you don't feel the burden of paying everything at once for transportation in Japan.

How much does accommodation in Japan cost for 2 weeks?

This is a tricky one. Of course, it can cost anything from 30$ to 1.000$ a night. And Japan is known to have one of the most expensive accommodation offers in the world. And we’re saying this while we know the prices for accommodation in Switzerland (in short, we need to start crapping money before we take a 2-week vacation in Switzerland).

I’ll give you two views about this. The first one is the options that you have so that you know your options for any budget. The second one will be our exact costs for accommodation, with detailed information about the places, nights and everything you may need.

How expensive can accommodation in Japan be?

Hostel – 50-80$
Capsule hotel – 30-50$
Guesthouse – 80-100$ (but are not very different than hostels, to be honest)
Love hotel – 120-130$ (but you can rarely book ahead, usually they’re booked per each night individually)
Ryokan (traditional inn) – 50-500$ (no exaggeration, you can find either of these prices and everything in between)
Budget hotel – 60-100$
Mid-range hotel – 100-250$
High-end hotel – 250-1.000$

As a reminder, these are the prices for 2 people per night. Multiply this with the number of nights you’re planning to stay, and you’ll have a good overview. Also, I have to specify that I found these prices using Agoda . This is my favorite toy to use for finding accommodation, and the prices are often better than other competitors, especially in Asia.

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What was the cost of accommodation in japan for us.

OK, now you have an overview. The next prices are the ones that we have paid. Our target budget was to fit, on average, below 100$ per night. And, in my opinion, we nailed it. The prices were good, the places were great, and everything worked out smoothly.

Hamamatsu – Hotel Daiwa Roynet – 9.211 Yen
Kyoto – Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio – 8.280 Yen
Gero (ryokan) – Yukai Resort Geroonsen – 19.110 Yen
Tokyo – Hotel Keikyu Ex Inn – 9.700 Yen

We stayed for a total of 12 nights. The first one was in Hamamatsu, the next 5 in Kyoto, the next in Gero, and the last 5 in Tokyo. For these 12 nights, we paid a total of 116.961 Yen .

Between castles, temples, and shrines, I fully recommend that you visit at least a Japanese garden. It may sound like a bad idea to pay a price to see a park, but it's worth it. These gardens were designed in such a way that they bring you joy and peace of mind, and they're usually in the middle of a crowded city, making it even better. You should invest a part of your budget into visiting a few Japanese gardens while you're there.

How much does transportation cost in Japan for tourists?

Boy, am I on a roll here or what? So, for transportation, you have two main topics: the JR Pass and the rest. Luckily, I covered this subject in a detailed guide to transportation in Japan , so I am already informed about the subject.

How much does the JR pass cost?

Well, first of all, you have to analyze if you need it. There are lots of ways to do this, and I’ll cover them separately, but a good rule of thumb is that if you’re going to do the Tokyo-Kyoto return trip at least once and a day trip somewhere outside Tokyo or Kyoto, you already need the pass.

The JR pass is quite expensive. We paid 96.417 Yen for the one valid for 14 days. This is around 800$. It hurt, it really did. But, and this is a big one, but it would have been even worse if we wouldn’t have had it. We used it intensively, and I think it paid for itself in the first half of the trip.

And this price is valid if you buy it outside Japan. In the last years, they have enabled an option to buy the JR Pass inside Japan as well, but this will cost you even more than that, about 105.920 Yen. The difference doesn’t seem that much, it’s about 50$, but you can invest this in a better hotel room, a nice souvenir, or a gallon of ice cream. No one’s judging.

If you’re buying any JR Pass product with my affiliate link, whether it is a train pass , a portable Wi-Fi , or the Meet & Greet package, send me a copy of your receipt at [email protected] and you’ll get my Japan Map Collection entirely for free!

How much does transportation in Japan cost, apart from the JR?

And now it’s the challenge. The other transportation has to be paid cash. No matter if you use Suica/Icoca/Pasmo or any other card, you will fill it up with cash. There’s no way to do it by card, and, believe me, we have tried. That’s why it’s challenging.

Out of everything that we paid from the cash amount we took from the ATM (50.000 Yen), my estimations tell me we have spent around 20.000 Yen on transportation. This includes:

500 Yen per each card as a deposit (you get it back when you redeem your card, don’t worry, but you need to provide this amount)
a 1.400 Yen trip with a local bus to see a cool cave near Hamamatsu
a 4.200 Yen trip with a local bus from Odawara to Hakone
a 3.200 Yen round trip by cable car to see Mount Fuji

These expenses are the bigger ones. The rest of them were around 200-250 Yen each, and we also walked a great deal. My Fitbit was so proud of me those two weeks…

So, the total amount spent on transportation in Japan is…( drumrolls )… 116.417 Yen . A big chunk, I know.

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So, we got to my favorite part. I mean food. Japanese food, on the other hand, is a story for another time. How much did we spend on food? Well, again, it boils down to your spending behavior.

We ate a maximum of one meal per day at a restaurant (main dish, drink and sometimes dessert), and the other meals were gracefully provided by all sorts of grocery stores, pastry shops, random street food isles, and quite a few ice cream stands.

Costs for eating out in Japan

In 12 days, we spent around 33.952 Yen on food in restaurants. We paid by card in most of them, and tipping is not a thing in Japan, so there are no extra charges in this field. One complete meal for two was usually around 35 to 40$, no matter where we ate.

We didn’t eat in fancy restaurants, we tried to find places where we could eat like the locals. No worries, the food is good everywhere and it’s worth it to order based only on pictures. I honestly have no idea what I have eaten in there, but I seem to still be alive so, can’t be that bad, right?

Costs for eating on the go in Japan

In grocery stores, we spent around 16.495 Yen , out of which my estimation is that only 15.000 Yen was food and water. Because, unfortunately, while tap water IS drinkable in Japan, it tastes too much like chlorine to be actually drinkable.

Some of the grocery shopping visits were influenced by us buying large amounts of fruit, which we missed there, and some others by us randomly taking things just to see what they were. There were some isolated occasions when we paid for food in cash, but it’s an amount not worth mentioning.

So, in total, we spent about 55.952 Yen on keeping our weight as it is. Maybe we added a little bit though…

Visiting temples and shrines in Japan is probably why most of us go there. While some temples are free to visit, some of the others can cost up to 1000 Yen. If your budget is tight, you can visit just the free ones, and make a judgment call on the others. Or you can decide it's worth it and you can temple yourself out as much as possible.

How much did we spend on entry fees?

Well, now you’ve caught me. I lied before, the food is not my favorite part (although you won’t say that based on my figure…). Visiting the stuff is my favorite part. I even create Trello boards for this part of every journey. Kind of explains why people don’t come with us on trips. Anymore.

Because we spent more time moving from one place to the other compared to what we thought we will, and also due to my lack of skills for basic functions like counting days, we missed some of the places we wanted to visit. Also, some of them were free of charge, and no one loves a bargain more than I do.

In the end, we spent about 32.000 Yen on entry fees. This included expensive stuff like the Digital Art Museum in Tokyo (it’s totally worth the 6.400 Yen we spent on it) or a geiko and maiko show in Kyoto , but also some things that didn’t impress us that much (some rebuilt castles, for example), and some totally useless things like the audio guide in Hiroshima.

For each one of us, this price will vary deeply. I didn’t see the point in paying to walk on a bridge in Nikko, for example, when I could see it very well from the bridge next to it. Others will feel templed out after 2-3 temples and shrines, and will invest this money in other things, or will just not spend it altogether.

Enjoying an experience in Japan can cost you quite a bit. A dinner with geisha show can be up to 2000$, a tea ceremony can be around 100-200$ and a private tour can also be very pricey. Still, I fully recommend going to at least one experience. In the end, there's no use of a trip to Japan if you cannot enjoy and meet this outstanding culture. Make use of any budget planning techniques you know and put aside some money for this.

To help you with this decision, I have prepared a printable PDF with prices for the most important places to see in Japan. I have also added some personal comments to it, which I think will be of great help when it comes to the decision of what to visit in Japan. And yes, I also did the currency exchange for you, you’re welcome.

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Any other additional costs we should know of?

Of course, not everything comes down to these categories mentioned above. What other things we spent our money on include, but are not limited to:

commissions for ATM withdrawals – 917 Yen
a bag to be able to split our luggage, because I packed like crazy and didn’t expect that many stairs – 3.080 Yen
a short visit to the pharmacy because I am not only unable to count, but I’m also unable to walk safely – 198 Yen
souvenirs – 5.840 Yen (it honestly could have been a lot more)
a SIM card that saved our buts SO many times – 3.700 Yen

All of this got to a whopping amount of 15.340 Yen . This is money we don’t have anymore and we’re not exactly sure why. #responsible_adults right? I promise, we didn’t do anything illegal or immoral, we’re too old for this sort of thing.

Want to have a helpful resource to make your planning efforts not only easier but also more enjoyable? Check out my Japan Travel Guide from the shop!

The complete budget guide for a 2 week trip to Japan – Key takeaways

Phew, that was a big one. Was it as hard for you to read as it was for me to write it? I hope not, I’m trying to be helpful here. So, how much does a trip to Japan cost for 2 weeks, you ask?

In case you’re more of a visual person, I have created a chart for the budget needed for a two week trip to Japan. Because who doesn’t like charts? Right? Right? * awkward silence *

This chart is the best representation for the budget split while on a 2 week trip to Japan. Most of the money went into the flights, accommodation and internal transportation.

As you can see, the total budget for this trip went up to 468.197 Yen , which means around 4.300$ . It’s not cheap, I know. I feel your pain.

It’s similar to what we paid for the trip to the Maldives . But the Maldives is known as a luxury destination (not how we did it though), and Japan offers so much more than beaches and sunshine.

But, with proper planning , you can do this without feeling it is such a burden. If you split the big money suckers across a whole year, it may feel less stressful.

In any case, now you know everything about how much it costs to travel to Japan.

Wait, there’s more! You almost forgot your printable PDF with the entry fees for all the important things to visit in Japan.

2 thoughts on “The complete budget guide for a 2 week trip to Japan”

Wow, about $300 USD a day for 2 people is pretty expensive! Going to Japan is definitely on my bucket list and I love your approach to food and fun but those hotel costs are what always dissuade me from heading to that country! Don’t get me wrong, I have no issue even at 44 years old with staying in a Private Room in a hostel with my wife since we don’t plan on staying in the room beyond sleeping and storage! But dang that is ridiculous with pricing!

I know, right? Again, this is pretty similar to what we paid in The Maldives if you catch my drift. But there are two things to keep in mind: 1. I included the airfare in the price. This can vary widely depending on so many factors and can be quite helpful if you can score a better deal here. 2. We decided we’re too old for hostels, and my husband didn’t want a capsule hotel experience (you can see which of us is older this way :)) )

If you can go lower with airfare and accommodation, you can probably score this to about 200 $ per day, which is still not cheap, but might make you decide to go already 🙂

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IMAGES

VIDEO

COMMENTS

The Cost of Travel in Japan: My 2024 Budget Breakdown

My 16-Day Japan Itinerary

What’s Included in this Post

The Cheapest Accommodation Options in Japan

The Cost of Accommodation in Japan

The Cost of Transportation in Japan

The Cost of Food in Japan

The Cost of Activities and Entrance Fees in Japan

My total cost of activities in Japan averaged out to $2 a day.

Miscellaneous Expenses in Japan

How I Track My Expenses While I Travel

How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Japan?

How about you? How expensive were you expecting a trip to Japan to be?

Lauren Juliff

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Is Japan Expensive To Travel To?

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How Much Is a Trip to Japan?

🎒 Budget Traveler – Japan Trip Cost

Accommodation Budgeting Tips

Transportation Budgeting Tips

Food Budgeting Tips

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💰 Mid-Range Budget Traveler – Japan Trip Cost

About My Japan Trip

Japan Trip’s Total Cost: $2,829

💰 Cost Breakdown for Japan

🗓️ Daily Budget in Japan: $145

✈️ Flight Cost to Japan: $796

🏠 Accommodation Cost in Japan: $807

Budgeting Tips for Accommodations in Japan

🍣 Food Cost in Japan: $489

Cheapest Meals in Japan

Most Expensive Meals in Japan

🚆 Transportation Cost in Japan: $374

Budgeting Tips for Trains in Japan

⛩️ Entertainment Cost in Japan: $155

Costs of Activities and Attractions in Japan

Free Things To Do in Japan

Cost Breakdown by Destination in Japan

🍱 Tokyo Trip’s Total Cost: $97

⛩️ Kyoto Trip’s Total Cost: $616

🐙 Osaka Trip’s Total Cost: $50

Do You Need Cash in Japan?

💴 1. Withdraw cash in Japanese yen.

💵 2. Carry about $40 worth of cash per day in Japan.

🏧 3. Many places in Japan are cash-only.

💰 4. Tipping is not customary in Japan.

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Japan Travel Expenses: How Much Does a Trip to Japan Cost?

Japan: Cash withdrawals and currency

This is less expensive in Japan than in Germany

This is more expensive in Japan than in Germany

This costs as much in Japan as in Germany.

Our costs for overnight stays in Japan

Our expenses for food and beverages in Japan

Costs of transportation in Japan

Entrance Fees in Japan

Costs for flights to Japan