How Much Money Do I Need To Travel To Japan

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If you plan on travelling to Japan for the first question most people ask is how much does it cost to go to Japan? There's a big misconception that Japan is expensive, but I didn't find it to be that much more expensive than other major cities I've visited.

There are plenty of ways to save money when in Japan, but you're still going to need to pay for airfare and your transportation costs. It's better to just approach Japan with a realistic budget in mind and then make adjustments depending on your travel habits. Regardless of which country you're from, make sure you apply for a credit card with no foreign exchange fees before you depart.

Japan budget for 2 weeks

	Estimated cost
Airfare	$800
JR Rail Pass	$435
Accommodations	$1,750 ($125 per day)
Local transportation	$140
Attractions	$120
Food	$560 ($40 per day)
Random spending	$200
TOTAL	$4,005 USD

The above estimates are in US dollars for a 14-day trip. Use XE.com to see the exchange of your home currency. Since these are just estimates, there are actually a few ways to save which I'll detail below.

The 2 most important sites you'll use when planning a trip to Japan are; Japan Guide which covers everything you need to know about Japan and Hyperdia which details train schedules, routes, and pricing.

Airfare

$800 is the average cost of airfare from the US direct to Tokyo. It's possible to save $100-300 if you get a seat sale or you're willing to take a stopover. Note that Tokyo has 2 major airports; Haneda which is closest to the city and Narita which is 1.5 hours outside of Tokyo. If given the choice, pick Haneda since it is located much closer, but note that many international flights only go to Narita. If you're flying from other parts of the world, prices will either be more expensive or cheaper than my estimates.

If you're Canadian, you may want to consider applying for one of the best travel credit cards in Canada to help offset your costs by collecting points. For example, the American Express Platinum Card gives you a signup bonus of up to 105,000 American Express Membership Rewards points which have a minimum value of $1,050 (potentially more if you transfer your points to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy ). There's also the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card that has no foreign transaction fees and it comes with airport lounge access .

Japan rail pass

JR passes are essential if you plan on travelling across Japan. They allow you unlimited use of Japan Rail trains for 7, 14, or 21 days. The ordinary pass is what most travellers get, but if you want more luxury and service you can get the green pass. The prices of JR passes change depending on the exchange rate so the below prices may be off by a few dollars.

7 days – Ordinary $275, Green $370
14 days – Ordinary $440, Green $600
21 days – Ordinary $565, Green $780

The general rule is that the 7-day pass is only worth it if you make a return trip to Kyoto from Tokyo and you use the Narita Express. For the 14 day pass, you need to go as far as Hiroshima to get your money's worth. The passes can be activated at any time so if you're in Japan for just 10 days, you could purchase a 7-day pass and activate it on day 3. If you'll be spending your time just in Tokyo, then the pass has no real value to you. Note that JR passes must be ordered from an authorized agent BEFORE you enter Japan. If you want to learn more about JR Passes, read my Japan Rail pass guid.

Local transportation

A JR pass won't get you everywhere. JR mainly operates on surface lines so if you need to take the subway, you're actually using a different operator. The good thing is that public transportation isn't that expensive in Japan and it's easy to pay for it by using one of the seven prepaid IC card e.g. Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA. They don't offer you any discounts but they're compatible with each other so you can use any of them in major areas of Japan. Many shops, vending machines and even restaurants accept IC cards as payment, making them very convenient.

It's also worth noting that some cities offer their own transportation passes such as Kyoto where you can get to all major tourist attractions by using just the Raku bus. From time to time, you may want to take a taxi which isn't cheap, nor do I consider them expensive.

Day trips – The JR Pass will get you across Japan, and IC cards are useful in major areas but when you take day trips to outer areas you'll need to pay for the private lines to get there. Most people will use their JR pass to get them as close to the location as possible and then transfer to the private lines. Popular areas such as Hakone, Koysan, and Mt. Fuji will require extra payment but most of these areas have their own day passes which offer good value. My estimate above combines local transportation and day trips.

Asakusa Temple in Tokyo - Japan on a Budget

Japan Accommodations

Like everywhere else in the world, Japan has a wide range of accommodations available. You could stay at a capsule hotel or you could stay at a luxury brand hotel. The choice is totally up to you. Despite the different types of accommodations available, space is typically at a premium in Japan. What that means is that your room will likely be small. I personally don't have an issue with that, but if you're trying to find something that fits four people, that may be tricky. Below are the different types of accommodations available to you.

Hostels

Hostels are usually the cheapest option wherever you stay, but in Tokyo, prices can go as high as $50 a night. They're a little cheaper in other cities such as Kyoto. Check out my Tokyo hostel guide for the best hostels in Tokyo.

Japan hostel recommendations:

Book and Bed Tokyo (Tokyo)
Gojo Guesthouse (Kyoto)
Hiroshima Hana Hostel (Hiroshima)

Capsule hotels

This seems to be a novelty thing but they are still quite popular. Capsule hotels offer decent amenities, they just happen to cram everything into your capsule. A one night stay will cost you about $30-$75 per person. Note that quite often a 2-3 Star hotel may actually be cheaper than a capsule hotel. Check out my guide to the best capsule hotels in Tokyo for some inspiration.

Japan capsule hotel recommendations:

Shinjuku Kuyakusho-mae Capsule Hotel (Tokyo)
Capsule Resort Kyoto Square (Kyoto)
Capsule Hotel Cube Hiroshima (Hiroshima)

Mid-range hotels

Generally speaking, you're looking at about $125 a night for a 3-4 star hotel. You can easily save quite a bit of money on hotels in Japan by simply staying at smaller hotel chains or in areas just outside of popular districts. The transit in Japan is so good that it really doesn't matter where you stay. Here's a list of cheap hotels in Tokyo that I recommend to people.

Japan mid-range hotel recommendations:

Odakyu Hotel Century Southern Tower (Tokyo)
Hotel Unizo (Kyoto)
Hotel Sunroute Hiroshima (Hiroshima)

Luxury hotels

If you're looking for something fancier, you'll have no problem finding name brand hotels in every major city. If you're going to go this route, you could easily pay double if not more of the cost of a mid-range hotel.

Japan luxury hotel recommendations:

The Ritz-Carlton (Tokyo)
Four Seasons Hotel (Kyoto)
Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel (Hiroshima)

Ryokans

Ryokans are popular since they can give you a traditional Japanese experience. There are different types of ryokans so prices can range from $80-$400 a night. Ryokans usually have shared washrooms and some charges per person so double check what is offered before paying.

Japan ryokan recommendations:

Kimi Ryokan (Tokyo)
Ebisu Ryokan (Kyoto)
Sansui Ryokan (Hiroshima)

Apartments

Japan recently introduced new laws that limit short-term rentals. Airbnb is still a popular choice, but note that owners need to be licensed to rent out their homes so beware of any listings that tell you not to talk to neighbours. A better choice would be to rent a legal apartment or a hotel that comes with a kitchenette. This option is great for groups or families who need more space. Prices can vary quite a bit so check out my guide to the best apartments in Tokyo.

Japan apartment recommendations:

Akihabara Luxury Cityhouse (Tokyo)
Citadines Shinjuku Tokyo (Tokyo)

If you have the right credit card, you can save a fair amount of money on hotels. Americans should strongly consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card since you can earn up to 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and $200 back at U.S. restaurants as a welcome bonus.

Canadians should consider the Marriott Bonvoy American Express which gives you up to 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That's enough points for up to five free nights at some hotels which could easily have a value of over $500. There's also the BMO World Elite™* Mastercard®* since it typically has a sign up bonus worth more than $200 and the annual fee is normally waived for the first year.

Food and drink

Food is relatively inexpensive in Japan, but it can also certainly add up if you're constantly treating yourself or you're looking to try the best food in the city. As a rough budget, consider the following costs for each meal.

Breakfast – $7
Lunch – $12
Dinner – $21

Realistically speaking you could easily eat for less than I listed a day, but with fresh sushi, Kobe beef, takoyaki, okonomiyaki and so many other yummy things to eat, I prefer to have a decent food budget.

Breakfast is often included in many hotels and hostels. It'll be a simple breakfast, but it should last you until lunch. Alternatively, bakeries sell fresh buns for less than $2 which makes a good breakfast or snack. Also, keep in mind that convenience stores in Japan have decent food at really low prices. Seriously, you could get a bento box or a sandwich for less than $5. Heck, a good bowl of authentic ramen will set you back less than $10 a bowl at some of the most popular chains.

Even though the robot restaurant in Tokyo is clearly aimed at tourists, I actually quite enjoyed it. Keep in mind that this isn't really a restaurant, it's more of a show that happens to serve snacks.

Tasting local cuisines is a life experience and it's something you shouldn't cheap out on. $40 a day is a good estimate, but depending on the type of traveller you are, you may spend more or less.

One other thing that I should mention is that depending on what region you're in, there are usually local delicacies such as matcha in Kyoto and Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima.

Pocket WiFi

You may want to consider picking up a portable WiFi while in Japan since it makes travelling more convenient when you have access to Google Maps live. Prices vary depending on how many days you need the WiFi for and how much data you need, but overall, prices are quite reasonable at $4.65 USD to $7.80 USD per day. Sakura Mobile offers both a SIM card and portable WiFi which allows you to have up to 15 devices connected. Their service is reliable and it's rather convenient to pick up or have the WiFi delivered to you. Drop off is also easy. See below for the different plans and prices.

Attractions

Although Japan has many free attractions, you'll eventually have to pay for some things. Temples only charge a few hundred yen, and museums cost just a touch more, but if you decide to go see a sumo match or visit a theme park, the costs do add up fast. My estimate of $120 assumes that you're just paying the admission to the major temples, parks, and museums.

If you plan on doing Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios in Osaka, or some of the paid observation decks in various cities, you could easily spend a few hundred dollars on attractions. To be honest, theme parks in Japan are reasonably priced compared to other theme parks around the world, but I find paying for some observation decks to be a bit expensive.

Always try to buy your attraction tickets in advance as you'll be able to skip the lines. This can make a huge difference since some attractions can get quite busy at certain times of the year.

Some of the more popular attractions you should considering pre-purchasing your tickets include:

Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo Sanrio Puroland
Legoland
Osaka Castle
Tokyo National Museum
Mt. Fuji and Hakone Day trip from Tokyo
Go karting in Akihabara, Tokyo
Owl Cafe Akiba Fukurou

Random spending

This is the one area people that people tend to underestimate or rather not budget for at all. You will shop when travelling. It could be for souvenirs, gifts for family, or things for yourself, so you might as well put some money aside. Also, most people who go to Japan will spend on random things they don't normally spend on e.g. arcade games, Buddhist charms, karaoke. If you're the type who likes to shop, you may want to budget a little more.

Japan trip cost

If you're going to travel all the way to Japan, it's best to have a proper budget in place. The last thing you want is to miss out on experiences because you didn't budget properly. For more tips on how to save in Japan, check out my Tokyo on a budget guide. Alternatively, read my guides on Hong Kong, Vietnam, Southeast Asia and Malaysia for more inspiration.

Is it possible to see Japan on a budget?

It is possible to see Japan on a budget. There's plenty of food that you can get for less than $10 a meal. There are also quite a few hotels out there that have low rates, but they may not be in the prime tourist areas. if you stick to free attractions, then there's no need to pay admission to anything. To be honest, many of the top things to do in Japan are free anyways.

Is Japan an expensive country?

It depends on your definition of expensive. Getting to Japan from the eastern side of North America can be expensive due to the distance. Some people think a JR pass is expensive, but it gives you unlimited travel throughout the country. In my experience, food and accommodations is cheaper compared to many other destinations around the world. You honestly won't have to pay for many attractions since many people go just for the culture.

How much time should I spend in Japan?

Many people who visit Japan for the first time use Tokyo as a stopover and spend just a few days there. While this is a good taste, it really doesn't do the country any justice. Spending one week in Japan will allow you to see at least two cities and do a day trip, but you really should strive for as much time as possible. I spend 16 days in the country the last time I was there and it was a nice pace. That said, I do wish I had more time as there were many lesser-known areas I wanted to visit.

Is a JR Pass worth it?

While a JR Pass definitely offers incredible value, it depends on how often you'll use it and where you're going. Generally speaking, you'll need to travel the following distances to make it worthwhile.

7 day pass – Tokyo – Osaka (round trip)
14 day pass – Tokyo – Hiroshima (round trip)
21 day pass – Tokyo – Fukuoka (round trip)

This is is just a rough estimate for your reference. You can calculate the exact value of your route by using hyperdia.com. Just see how much individual tickets will cost compared to a pass.

What are the best cities in Japan to visit?

You honestly can't go wrong with any city in Japan. The most popular ones are Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima. Some of the other cities worth a visit include Yokohama, Nara and Miyajima. When planning your itinerary, you should also look at what smaller cities/towns are within a reasonable distance. Koyasan, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji, Hakone, Himeji, and Matsumoto are all worth of runs. With the Japan train system, it's quite easy to get just about anywhere in the country.

Is Tokyo Disneyland worth it?

If you love Disney, there's no reason why you shouldn't visit. Tokyo Disneysea is a unique Disney theme park and there's nothing else like it in the world. Even though Tokyo Disney isn't run by Disney, it was designed by Disney Imagineers. That said, it's also worth mentioning that there's Universal Studios in Osaka that now has Nintendoland. That's definitely worth going to if you love Nintendo.

How Much Does it Cost to Go to Japan?