** Please note that hotels in Kyoto charge tourist tax since October 2018, this is paid upon arrival at the hotel. Thank you! 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. Japan tourism statistics for 2016 was 33,456,000,000.00, a 22.62% increase from 2015. However, hostels in Japan are amazing and well worth the splurge! Hi Lauren. I attempted to experience as many as possible while I was in the country. Definitely less! With prices often reaching as high as $300 a night for the experience, I was thrilled when I stumbled across a more budget option in Yudanaka. Here's 6 easy tips to travel Japan on … 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. So let’s do Japan on a budget. I usually just price these articles in the local currency and USD, which is where the vast majority of my readers are located. Police can question you and will often fine you if you do not have it on you. As a bonus, we were a 50-metre walk from some of the best ramen I had in Japan, so it’s worth staying there for that alone! In this article, we break down exactly how much travel in Japan costs -- from food, hotels to trains to entertainment. What to do, where to go, where to stay, restaurants, hotels, free WiFi and maps, plan your trip here, to travel with confidence and ease when you visit Japan So many. 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. I love the details in your blog. Japan has had a reputation as being expensive for a very long time, people paying hundreds of dollars for a piece of Kobe beef or a sliver of the finest blue fin tuna. Miscellaneous: $2 per day. This vast and multifaceted city is famously cutting edge, yet its ancient Buddhist temples, vintage teahouses, and peaceful gardens offer a serene escape — and a poignant reminder of the city’s long history. Thanks to your blog I don’t anymore. With some research i found that the JR pass isn’t needed if you’re just staying in one city. great article! I really love Japan’s culture and their people. The Best Hostels in Japan for Backpackers, Students, and Budget Travellers. 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 :). While meal prices in Japan can vary, the average cost of food in Japan is ¥3,088 per day. 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. 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. In the Land of the Rising Sun, ancient temples sit alongside neon wonderlands and shinto shrines offer pockets of peace amid metropolises. Thank you and advance. 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? Japan attracted 31.19 million international tourists in 2018. But we house sat – rent-free – and saw that food and travel are on par or cheaper than New Jersey. So, a trip to Japan for two people for one week costs on average ¥192,845 ($1,854). I arrived in Japan fully expected 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. 2) Japan is mostly cash-based, so plan for lots of trips to the ATM. Two people traveling together for one month in Japan can often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week. In Kanazawa, we stayed at one of the coolest hostels ever. This is a very timely article for me to read as I’m actually going to visit Japan for a week on September. From traditional ryokan to luxury resorts, unique capsule lodgings to love hotels, find the perfect place to stay in Japan. However, because of the olympics the high school Japan trip has been canceled for 2020. 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. Every prospective tourist for the archipelago wondered about the amount necessary to plan a travel in their dream country. Past travelers have spent, on average, ¥3,088 ($30) on meals for one day and ¥2,114 ($20) on local transportation. Capsule hotels cost between 3,000-5,500 JPY (25-50 USD) for a tiny little room (that’s really a pod). (my boyfriend still gets a thousand-yard stare when I mention how much we paid for drinks in one bar.). 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. Thanks for reading, and I’m glad you found it useful :-). Ah yeah, unfortunately, the cherry blossom season is the most expensive time of year to visit Japan. I highly recommend the experience, although being presented with a seven course meal for breakfast had me on the verge of tears the morning after. Thank you so much for helping me get an idea of how much I would roughly spend! :-). Prices of hotels can be among some of the most expensive in the world. You'll pass through beautiful landscapes, picturesque towns, and meet some friendly people. Or Taiwan. I’d prefer to spend that extra on living in nice hotels + do more activities. We found that our Japan daily budget was ¥13.418 (€107/$122) for us a couple! 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. Thanks for such a detailed description of your time in Japan! Note that accommodation rates can increase during peak seasons in popular destinations which is not reflected by the numbers below. It also helps you see some of the country's intricacies that you would miss otherwise. 4 in tokyo 3 in kyoto and 3 in osaka. It was fine, although nothing stood out as being amazing, aside from the price, which was low for Japan. Préparer votre voyage au Japon avec Kanpai et calculer avant de partir votre budget transports, hébergements ainsi que le coût de la vie sur place. My mom lived in Kanazawa. Will it come out to more than what you spent or less? Again, thank you for writing this. You can find the local hangouts, and meet more residents than you would if you were staying at a hotel or hostel. I’m slowly working my way through my records and adding more and more to the site. Traveling in Japan is possible with a limited budget. Good to know that you can save so much on accommodation and activities! Obviously, your trip was on a very impressive budget. Thanks. Extremely thorough and helpful. Activities/Entrance Fees: $2 per day Japan hat eine industrialisierte, freie Marktwirtschaft.Einige Elemente weisen immer noch auf Japans Vergangenheit als gelenkte Volkswirtschaft hin, in den letzten Jahren wurde allerdings zunehmend dereguliert und privatisiert, ein umstrittener Schritt wurde im Oktober 2007 mit der Privatisierung der Japanischen Post vollzogen. Memory Lane in Shinjuku, Tokyo — this is one of my favourite photos I’ve ever taken! #30 Best Value of 344 Budget Hotels in Japan “ Rooms are small (which is should be expected), but amazingly affordable for what you get. You can think of it as a more personal, funnier version of this site, revealing all the stuff I could never share publicly. In particular, nightclub raids are common, so if you're going out for the evening, don't leave home without your passport. Transportation: $31 per day Plus, we’re sharing some of our best money-saving tips so you can travel to Japan on a budget! The costs seem much better than I found in Amsterdam this spring! How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Japan? This is an encouraging article, thanks, Lauren! The public water in Japan is considered safe to drink. Budget,Ministry of Finance Japan. However, there are ways to travel to Japan cheaply if you know a few tips! Takayama: $35 per night/¥3,800 per night (I have hotel points where i can stay at osaka). I’m wondering if you still advise from not booking Airbnb for Tokyo? It’s currently listed for 414 USD. Activities, Day Trips, Things To Do, and Excursions. We then bought our day pass from….and …….. By signing up for our email newsletter, you will receive occasional updates with coupons and discounts, plus travel tips and advice from experienced budget travelers! Seems a dumb question, but I’m assuming all the values are in USD, is it correct? 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. What can you do more with $150/day? This is great! I absolutely loved Japan although it’s definitely the most challenging place I have ever been too from a budget point of view; my budget was a paltry 20 euros a day which really didn’t stretch very far… Luckily the couchsurfing community came to my rescue so that was accommodation sorted! My husband and I will go with backpacks like we did when we were younger and before having kids. 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. Wow! I simply can’t resist them and can end up buying seven times a day. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price for a hotel room in Japan is ¥13,323. Hi! It turned out that my 14-day JR pass saved me ¥19,000/$175! Thank you so much in advance for your time!!! Where Do Backpackers Go in Japan? The Airbnb apartment I stayed at in Tokyo has since stopped accepting guests. I’m wondering if I should expect to sleep in a separate area than my partner for most of the trip…. I personally find backpacks easier for navigating train stations, as you don’t have to drag it up and down stairs, etc. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses. Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Taxis; Bicycles; Luggage & Storage; Brochure Download. View also our pages about budget travel, package tours and suggested itineraries to see the sample budgets applied to specific itineraries. Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. When it comes to travel in Japan, your biggest expense is most likely to be a JR pass. I am thinking for Cherry blossom (April 2019) and everything is coming up too expensive. 6. Are you able to name all the accomodations you stayed with? Was kostet mich das? I’m debating spending 5 nights in Osaka and doing day trips to kyoto, nara and himeji castle. On average, people spend ¥542 on bottled water in Japan per day. 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. Each affordable tour will provide you with great experiences for some of the lowest prices on the market. Kyoto: $35 per night/¥3,833 per night Japan’s defense budget for fiscal 2021 will be around ¥5.34 trillion ($51.5 billion), a record high for the seventh straight year, government sources said Wednesday. 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. I’ll add that detail to my post now! In saying that, there are always small local organised tours you can take in various cities across Japan. L’alimentation sera le poste le moins élevé pour votre séjour au Japon. It makes writing these posts super easy! i guess the expense for a couple will be double up. Japan on a budget: readers’ travel tips The perception that Japan is an expensive destination is challenged by our tipsters, who find 70p sushi delivered by … Japan is an affordable destination even on a tight budget. 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). This page provides - Japan Tourism Revenues- actual … My heart is full right now and my eyes are misty. Entrance to the Snow Monkey Park: $7/800¥ I’m traveling with my 22yr old daughter to celebrate her graduation and my birthday. 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. A trip for two weeks for two people costs ¥385,690 in Japan. All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget. No, not really. Is October a good time to go? I’ll confess I was skeptical it would be as much of a necessity like every travel blogger claims, so picked one up then made a note of the cost of every train we took in the country. Peach Air is Japan's budget airline, and with flights for as little as ~$40USD across the country, ... (Japanese-style guesthouses). SUBSCRIBE for more Japan tips! If you’re on a really tight budget, you can even get surprisingly decent food from 7-Eleven! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Oh, just left it in my hotels. The price of renting a car in Japan will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. I recommend downloading the mobile app Hyperdia — you can plan your train travel out using that. Japan is one of the most fun and amazing travel destinations in the world. The average person spends about ¥1,653 on alcoholic beverages in Japan per day. This is about Japan rather than my poor financial decisions, so let’s get started! Just to share, one of my own major expenditure in JP is … vending machine contribution! The transportation is more expensive, but the food was cheaper in Japan. This will ensure tourism in Japan can benefit both locals and visitors alike. Public transportation in Japan is excellent but expensive. Pas de soucis au Japon, vous trouverez tout ce qu’il faut à côté de votre hôtel. In Yudanaka, we splurged on a stay in a cosy ryokan, which is something you have to experience at least once in Japan. i am planning to go to japan as well with my wife. All income generated from my Patreon goes straight back here to ensure I can continue to keep my content helpful, entertaining, and free of sponsorships or press trips. Takoyaki is one of my favourite Japanese snack foods — you have to try them while you’re there! Entertainment and activities in Japan typically cost an average of ¥1,623 per person, per day. I’d recommend looking at May or September as the best months to travel there. My mom who was from Japan, always told me it’s too expensive to go back and visit. I’d love your advice. I always assumed Japan to be very expensive. 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. 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? Plus, I’m sure times and platforms change so it would be impossible for me to keep the information up-to-date and accurate. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment. 1) I prefer to travel with a backpack, but you’ll do okay with a suitcase, too. How to Visit Japan on a Budget. The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Japan is ¥342. All of these Japan prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers. This one in Hiroshima was $22 a night and so cosy! I read September can be humid. However, many travelers are reluctant to plan a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun because of the cost. However, if you are doing your best to see Japan on a … From authentic cooking classes to bar hopping tours, bicycle rides to tea ceremonies, these types of tours help support local businesses and enrich your trip. In Kyoto, we stayed in a cosy hotel, that provided us with a tatami mat room for an excellent price. 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. It was such a relief to touchdown in Tokyo with a Japanese SIM card already in my phone and ready to go. That is a very good breakdown cost analysis there. Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) has requested 16.8 billion JPY (about $159 million) in the FY2021 budget starting April 1 2021, 0.2% smaller than the FY2020 budget of 17 billion JPY. Plus, we’re sharing some of our best money-saving tips so you can travel to Japan on a budget! ... Japanese onsen (natural hot springs) and sento (public bathhouses) have a very special place on my things-I-love-about-Japan list. Yay! Entry to Ryoan-ji zen garden in Kyoto: $5/500¥ Until moments ago, I had always assumed Japan to be too expensive to even consider. I really liked you post and I think is really helpful. 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. I love train travel and Japan is one of the best places to do that..your take on that would be appreciated. Yes! Soaking in steaming hot water is my perfect end to a big day of walking, sightseeing, and souffle-pancake-eating—and a wonderful way to experience a part of everyday life in Japan. This budget breakdown covers how much I spent on accommodation, transportation, activities, food, and whichever miscellaneous items popped up while I was in country. Kyoto: 3 nights Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion is such a magical spot to visit in Japan. Osaka: $33 per night/¥3,600 per night “P. 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! FY2020 Budget. 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. Good to know that you can save so much on accommodation and activities! Some first time offenders get off with just a warning. Takayama: 1 night Wooow !! I made sure to bookmark this page for reference. It's a wonderful and unique way to experience the country. My wife and I are heading to Japan in mid May and I plan to use your itinerary. Data Source: World Bank MLA Citation: Similar Country Ranking; Country Name 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. Which month you visited Japan? I rarely paid more than ¥1000 ($9) for a bowl of ramen, and street snacks like takoyaki were ¥500 ($4.50). Did you have to get separate beds for those nights? Backpacker Budget in Japan. I would have stayed another night! At the end of each month, I send out a kickass email, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at my life as a digital nomad. How much money will you need for your trip to Japan? Question: do most hostels and accommodations that you experienced have you sleeping solo? Methinks many labeling Japan and NZ as expensive as can be are used to paying $1 for lunch in Chiang Mai LOL. :-) 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. It was surprisingly cosy! To explore Japan on a budget, a simple shift in the days you visit can help cut down on costs. $5 a month gives you access to a hundred untold mishaps as well as weekly long-form narratives and behind-the-scenes updates. I just came across your website when searching for trips for Japan for my son. Very useful breakdown that would be very helpful for first-timers to 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. 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. All said it would be expensive. After 8 years based here, I can say that Japan rivals many developed nations with its budget friendliness, and today I’m on a mission to show you just how affordable it can be with some of my favorite travel hacks for sightseeing and dining. As a budget traveller, you might wince at the thought of paying 3,000 yen ($27/£20) for a dorm bed. or is better to stay 2 nights in Osaka and 3 nights in kyoto. Is Japan expensive? Japan's Cabinet approves a 21.84 trillion yen ($210 billion) extra budget, bringing its total spending for fiscal 2020 to a record high of 175.69 trillion yen, as it grapples to ensure the coronavirus-stricken economy stays on a recovery track. Ha! A reasonably big expense was our Hakone Free Pass (spoiler: not free), although this was more of a combined transportation and activity cost. Haneda Airport; Narita Airport; Osaka (KIX) Fukuoka Airport; Getting Around. We recommend SkyScanner because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies. If you do some research on this country's interesting customs before your trip, you will find your experience all the more enlightening. I published a guide to my favourite things to eat in the country last week: https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/best-food-japan/. Definitely! How much does a trip to Japan cost? My sister bought me this guidebook as a gift before I left for Japan and at first I was like, Insight Guides? It provides you with unlimited transport around Hakone (where you’ll find Mount Fuji), and discounted entrance to the attractions in town. Loving the posts about Japan so far. You can walk to a lot of places, but otherwise the metro won’t cost much at all — a dollar or two per trip. — 観光庁（Japan Tourism Agency） (@Kanko_Jpn) May 27, 2020 A summary of the government’s supplementary budget for fiscal 2020 showed it has set aside approximately ¥1.7tn ($15.8bn, £12.8bn) to finance the measures, which could include travel vouchers for up to a maximum of ¥20,000 per person, per stay, the Japan Times reported . Travel insurance for 16 days in Japan: $60. I actually don’t have an Instagram account — it wasn’t doing good things for my mental health, so I deleted it :-). Tourism Revenues in Japan decreased to 507000 JPY Thousand in September from 718000 JPY Thousand in August of 2020. You can see in my photo in this post that there’s not much room for anybody else! but i guess 3000 aud for 2 people is unavoidable. At the moment, the site shows flights for 566 AUD return from Australia, from Switzerland for €330 return, and from New York for $450 return. It is a widespread misconception that Japan is an expensive place to travel. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget. The islands’ life might seem costly, however the archipelago offers a wide range of transportation and accommodation services adapted to all budgets. Yes! Never have done international travel and would like your advice on a couple of things. 1. Do you have any idea about prices for solo travellers though? Based on your experience – is that ok? US Partner News SEE ALL. Can I use a credit card or should cash be used? Yeah, definitely true. Budget Tours & Vacation Packages to Japan Explore a varied offer of budget Japan tours that will take you through some of the most renowned destinations such as Tokyo and Kyoto. 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. With its futuristic skyscrapers, unrivaled food scene, and wild nightlife, Tokyo is a rush of pure adrenaline. Japan plans to keep setting aside money to promote domestic tourism and dining out in its next stimulus package, according to a draft of the government's upcoming … Osaka: 3 nights. 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. I’m so glad I found your website! Hi Lauren, 3. We recommend SkyScanner because they can find the best deals across all airlines. Hi Lauren, Tokyo Tourism: Best of Tokyo. What will exactly cost my trip to Japan? Naturally, it depends on the dates. Thanks so much for your posts! One of the perks of visiting Japan in winter. Whether you’re on a budget or ready to splurge, it’s essentially impossible to eat badly in Japan. It’s time to tally up all of my expenses to see my total travel costs! The average price for Tips and Handouts in Japan is ¥404 per day. The cost of a taxi ride in Japan is significantly more than public transportation. How much did you save in Tokyo by having the pass? I especially got fascinated seeing the capsule hotel…must have been a unique experience. A great way to familiarize yourself with the region is to read any number of books on the country, fiction or nonfiction, before you begin your trip. Prices of hotels can be among some of the most expensive in the world. I love the idea of the capsule hotels and the standard tatami mat rooms look enchanting. In advance, I appreciate your advice on this! Kanpai’s Budget Calculator provides a precise estimate of the travel expenditures item-by-item, with numerous possible choices. 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! I therefore studiously record everything I spend everywhere I go. Thanks so much for this article, it is so helpful!!! 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. Tourism Revenues in Japan averaged 5546030.52 JPY Thousand from 1985 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 30450000 JPY Thousand in October of 2019 and a record low of 39000 JPY Thousand in May of 2020. Hope you’re well. Japan was simply too expensive for a budget traveller, so I decided to save it for when I was rich. Japan Travel Costs. Overview of the Second Supplementary Budget for FY2020（May 27,2020） (PDF:863KB) Overview of the Supplementary Budget for FY2020（April 7, 2020）※Updated on April 20, 2020 (PDF:829KB); Highlights of the Draft FY2020 Budget (December 20, 2019) (PDF:522KB) Japanese Public Finance Fact Sheet (July, 2020) This is super awesome! Anyway! You can also buy a Japanese SIM card in advance through the Japanese rail pass site, which I did, and would recommend doing. Here’s how I spread my cash around: Entrance fee for the hedgehog cafe: $13/1400¥ 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. If you’re on a tight budget, beds in a hostel dorm room will be around $15-25 a night, private double rooms in hostels and guesthouses are around $60-$80 a night, and staying in a ryokan will typically be over $120 a night, with most coming in at around $250 a night. Wer sich einmal den Preis- und Konsum-Index bei numbeo anschaut, stellt fest, dass der Index um die 70 Prozent von New Yorker Konsumkosten liegt. So how do I search for either? Now check your email to confirm your subscription. Really remarkable post, Lauren. The Sagano Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama, 15 minutes from Kyoto by train, is one of Japan’s most photographed sights. However, there are ways to travel to Japan cheaply if you know a few tips! How much does it cost to go to Japan? He also wanted to go to TUJ(Temple University Japan). If you think exploring this intriguing place means bleeding your budget, think again. Are you going to be posting about food in Japan? This is a great blog .. Hello Lauren, Stretch your yen with JNTO's Guide to Traveling Japan on a budget, from transport to dining out. 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. Japan is a notoriously expensive destination. The official site of JNTO is your ultimate Japan guide with tourist information for Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, and other top Japan holiday destinations. I could have spent a week just in that private room. I’ve wanted to visit Japan for years, and this has certainly nudged me a little closer, as I assumed it was expensive too. 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. Naturally, prices vary by the length of the route, the type of transportation used, and the date. I was there in December, so prices will be higher than the ones mentioned in this post. It even included homemade cherry wine, which was delicious! Hi Lauren, Hakone: $61 per night/6,750 Yen per night Japan Tourism: Best of Japan. If you’re looking for privacy, expect to pay around 8,500 JPY (75 USD) for a double room at a budget hotel. From costs to itinerary, I've covered everything. East Japan Railway Company Announces Its Revised Fares and Charges... Aug 28, 2019. P.S. 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, as always, I do not accept comps or press trips, so everything listed in this post is something I personally paid for with my own money.