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Japan Travel Budget: How Much Does It Cost To Travel Japan?

Have you always dreamed about visiting Japan but are you worried about the costs? I spent two months in Japan and can say from personal experience: you can travel around Japan on a budget!

Yes, compared to Southeast Asia, Japan is an expensive country. But with some research and careful planning, it's possible to find great deals and travel on a budget in Japan.

In this post, you will find a full Japan budget breakdown and clever budget-saving tips in order to make the most of your money in the country of the rising sun. Let's get started!

Japan travel budget

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Floating Torii gate Miyajima island Japan

How to travel Japan on a budget

In the infographic below you can find a detailed budget breakdown of our Japan trip costs to give you a quick overview of how much you can expect to spend during your trip to Japan.

Of course, the amount you'll spend depends on your style of travel, the length of your trip, and the type of accommodation you choose.

Generally speaking, you can travel around Japan on a budget of $60-$120 per day (per person). As you can see in the infographic, our Japan daily budget was ¥13.418 (€107/$122) as a couple.

Read the post for detailed information about the costs of a trip to Japan, exactly how much we spent on accommodation, food, transport, and activities, and practical tips on how to travel to Japan on a budget.

How to travel Japan on a budget? Check out this detailed budget breakdown including the costs for accommodation, transport, food & activities in Japan. Find out how to travel Japan for ¥13.418 / €107 / $122 a day as a couple. #Japan #Travel

Japan budget travel: important facts and figures

I traveled around Japan with my husband, and all expenses mentioned are for the two of us together.

I quote prices in Japanese Yen (¥) as well as Euros () and US Dollars ($). When we were in Japan, €1 was around 125JPY and $1 was around 110JPY, you can find the current exchange rates here.

I spent almost a full month in Japan, 29 days to be exact. In total, we spent ¥389.122 (€3103/$3538), which comes down to an average of ¥13.418 (€107/$122) a day for us as a couple. This includes all our Japan travel costs (see note below car section).

It does not include our airplane tickets from the Netherlands to Japan and back home.

My trip started and ended in Tokyo.

We spent 10 days on Hokkaido (the northernmost island of Japan) and the other 19 days on Honshu.

Mount Fuji Japan in autumn

How to save money when planning a trip to Japan

When planning your Japan trip, it's important to plan carefully, look for discounts, and be flexible with your itinerary to make the most of your travel budget for Japan.

Avoid high season (travel during the low season instead)

Start by researching the best time of year to visit Japan as flight costs, hotel prices, and car rental fees vary throughout the year. Japan actually has two peak seasons:

  • Sakura or hanami (cherry blossom season): early March until mid-May
  • Koyo (autumn leaves season): early October until late November

While these are generally the best times to visit Japan, accommodation prices are at their highest.

So if you have the option to be flexible with your travel dates and able to travel during the low season (winter and summer), this is a great way to save money on your Japan trip.

Overlooking Kamikochi Valley from Mount Yakedake Japan

Save money on flights

You can save a lot of money by searching for cheap flights to Japan on websites like Kiwi.com. Try different travel dates and see how this affects the price of your flight.

Generally speaking, the cheapest days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Airlines often offer discounted fares on these days, so it's worth checking the booking sites and comparing prices on different days of the week.

You’ll get a better deal by booking your flight in advance. For domestic flights 1-3 months before your trip is ideal.

For international flights, it’s best to book 2-8 months in advance. Tickets to Tokyo (Narita International Airport and Tokyo Haneda International Airport) and Osaka (Kansai International Airport) are usually the cheapest options, but keep an eye open for tickets to Fukuoka Airport as well.

Lastly, you may be able to find cheaper flights if you're willing to be flexible with your departure and arrival times.

Sure, it’s not ideal to arrive in the middle of the night, but if it saves you hundreds of dollars it’s worth losing one night of good sleep.

✈️ Click here to find a great deal on a flight

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Book your accommodation in advance

Once you've got your flights booked, it’s time to research budget accommodation.

Not to worry, there are lots of budget options available in Japan, from a cozy private room with traditional tatami mats to clean to futuristic capsule hotels and sleeping pods.

I always use Agoda and Booking to find the best value-for-money accommodation for our trips. I recommend checking both platforms before you book to make sure you get a good deal on hotel rooms.

Please note that Agoda includes taxes in their price whereas Booking doesn't always include this. Make sure to check this before finalizing your booking.

Also, if you want to avoid hefty ATM fees or there's a strict limit on how much cash you can withdraw per transaction, it can be better to book with Agoda as you can often pay online with your credit card (thereby reducing your need for cash).

Cost to travel Japan: average daily expenses

Now that you know some great ways to save money in the planning phase of your Japan trip, it's time for a deep dive into our Japan travel expenses. Our Japan travel costs are divided into four categories:

  1. Accommodation cost: 23% of our average daily costs
  2. Transportation costs: 39% of our average daily costs
  3. Food & miscellaneous costs: 34% of our average daily costs
  4. Activity costs: 4% of our average daily costs

1. Accommodation costs in Japan

I'll be the first to admit that finding budget hotels in Japan can be a bit tricky as the general price level in Japan is just a lot higher than in countries in Southeast Asia or Taiwan.

That being said, there are some great options available. For example, APA Hotels, Super Hotel, and Hotel Mets are budget hotel chains in Japan that offer reasonable prices for quality accommodation.

Business hotels are also a good budget option if you're looking for an economical no-frills double room. Wing International Hotels, Smile Hotels, and the Toyoko Inn are some of the most well-known names.

How much did we spend on accommodation in Japan?

In total we spent ¥92.178 (€740/$832) on accommodation, averaging ¥3179 (€25/$29) per day. The accommodation costs are split into three categories:

  • Campsites
  • Sleeping in our car (at a free parking lot)
  • Hotels and apartments

Where to stay in Japan on a budget?

Here is a list of all the places we stayed during our travels around Japan.

LocationWhere to stayPriceBook/info
TokyoCandeo Hotels Shimbashi*€110 / $120Book here
Lake ShikotsuCampsite Morappu€12,80 / $14Read more
Lake ToyaNakatoya Camping Ground€7,20 / $8Read more
HakodateHotel WBF Hakodate€76 / $79Book here
FukushimaRoadside Rest Area FukushimafreeRead more
Toyako OnsenToyako Parking Lotfree(check map)
FuranoShin Furano Prince hotel**€131/$135Book here
SōunkyōParking lot next to 7-11free(check map)
Akanko OnsenShizen Koen Parking Lotfree(check map)
SapporoHotel Areaone Chitose€51/$53Book here
HiroshimaHiroshima Pacific Hotel€78/$81Book here
MiyajimaCampground Tsutsumigaura€8/$9Read more
NaraFamily Inn Nara***€76/$79Book here
KoyasanKoyasan Guesthouse Kokuu€68/$71Read more
KyotoCarta Hotel Kyoto Gion***€31/$33Book here
KanazawaAPA Hotel Katamachi€37/$39Book here
TakayamaGuesthouse Tomaru€47/$49Book here
KamikochiKonashi-daira campsite€13/$14,50Read more
MatsumotoAlpico Plaza Hotel€59/$62 Book here
Narita airportNarita Tobu Hotel€74/$77Book here

* Read more about our stay at Cando Hotel Shimbashi here.

** Unfortunately the accommodation we stayed at in Furano during our Hokkaido trip is no longer available. While we didn't personally stay at the Shin Furano Prince hotel we did visit their spa twice during our time in Furano.

*** Several other accommodations we stayed at are no longer available (stupid C**vid?). I’ve done my utmost to find suitable alternatives that I'd be happy to book myself.

Note: Prices for the hotels, campgrounds, and guesthouses depend on the time of year and how far in advance you book. Click ‘book here’ to see the latest prices on Booking and book ahead to get the best deal.

#1. Japan budget tip: stay at campsites

Camping in Japan Hokkaido

Camping in Japan is a great way to save money on accommodation. Yes, you'll have to bring camping gear but campgrounds are so much cheaper than hotels!

On Hokkaido for example, we stayed at 2 campsites and paid only between €7-13 ($8-14) per night. We also went camping on Miyajima Island and in Kamikochi (in the Japanese Alps) which saved a ton of money.

You can find more information about the accommodation and campgrounds we stayed at in our Japan itinerary.

#2. Japan budget tip: sleep in your car

Red Jeep in Furano with mountainous background

I went to Japan in April/May and during that time it can still be very cold in Hokkaido. In fact, there were several nights when the temperature dipped below 0 degrees Celsius.

That's why we slept in our car for 4 nights. Which is totally acceptable in Japan! One night we found ourselves in an almost full parking lot with lots of Japanese people spending the night.

The crowd varied from a businessman who slept in his sports car to camper vans complete with their own generator and TV-reception antennae.

While this may not be the most comfortable or luxurious option, it's again a great way to cut your Japan accommodation costs.

We only did this during our first trip to Japan, when we were budget travelers and backpacking around Japan as a couple.

During our second Japan trip, we traveled as a family (with our 15-month-old son) and only stayed at hotels.

#3. Japan budget tip: book hotels in advance

Our Airbnb in Nara

We booked almost all our hotels a few months before our trip to Japan via Booking. Booking ahead and keeping an eye out for deals really helps to find affordable hotels in Japan.

For our trip, accommodation prices varied between ¥3300 (€24/$25) and ¥15000 (€110/$120). That's a lot more than hotels in Southeast Asia but it's still cheaper than hotel prices in New Zealand.

2. Transportation costs in Japan

Let’s take a closer look at public transportation in Japan. First and foremost: public transportation in Japan is super efficient, well-managed, and very punctual.

There's no such thing as major delays in Japan (except when there's been an earthquake that severely damaged the train tracks).

There are many ways to travel around the country, such as trains, buses, taxis, and the MRT in big cities.

How much did we spend on transportation in Japan?

In total we spent ¥150.332 (€1202/$1367) on transportation, averaging ¥5185 (€42/$47) per day. Transportation costs are split into 4 categories:

  • Regional flights
  • Rental car
  • JR Rail pass (regional)
  • Other transportation

Cheap flights in Japan

There are several budget airlines in Japan (Jetstar, Peach, and Vanilla), we flew with Jetstar from Tokyo to New Chitose Airport on Hokkaido and from Hokkaido to Kansai airport, near Osaka, for 21.625JPY (€173/$197).

Car rental fees in Japan

Michi-no-Eki Hokkaido Japan

If you're interested in reading more about renting a car and driving on Hokkaido, be sure to read this post as well.

My car was provided by ToCoo. They were so kind as to provide me with a free rental car for my 10 day trip around Hokkaido.

Even though the rental fee for my car was covered by ToCoo, there were other costs to pay which you can find in my Hokkaido post.

For us, the total costs of renting a car for 10 days were ¥42.527, which comes down to ¥4253 (€34/$39) per day (add the daily rental fee of the car you would like to rent and you have your total car rental cost).

If this seems expensive, keep in mind that a car gives you the option to go camping in a tent and to sleep in your car. As mentioned above, this will save you a lot of money on accommodation!

Get a Japan Rail Pass

Shinkansen Japan Shin Osaka station

Upon arriving in Osaka, we bought a JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass which was valid for 5 consecutive days and at that time was ¥14.000 (€112/$127) per person.

This was the best JR pass for our trip because it covered all the places we wanted to see in this area.

If you plan on covering long distances in Japan within a short period of time, I highly recommend buying the Japan Rail Pass.

This pass gives you unlimited travel on all JR trains (including the famous shinkansen, aka bullet train), JR buses, and several other lines. You can choose a pass valid for 7, 14, or 21 consecutive days.

While the Japan Rail Pass offers great value for money it may not always be the most economical option for your trip. It's worth calculating the costs of your itinerary to Japan with and without the rail pass to see which option is best for you.

You can use Hyperdia to check the costs of your intended Japan itinerary and decide whether or not the JR Pass is worth the money for your trip.

Local trains are much cheaper than the shinkansen, but they're also a lot slower. So it's a bit of a trade-off between how much time and how much money you have available for your trip to Japan.

Important note: regional rail passes can be bought at most of the larger train stations, but the countrywide JR Rail Pass can only be purchased outside of Japan.

If you're interested in getting a JR Rail Pass for your trip, be sure to buy one before you arrive in Japan. If a regional pass is a better option, you can wait until you've arrived.

Although getting a regional JR Pass online can still be a better option, as we had to wait in line for quite a long time when purchasing our JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass in Osaka.

Other transportation

Keisei shuttle bus airport Japan Tokyo city center

We used a lot of other transport, such as the bus around the Japanese Alps (Kanazawa to Shirakawago) and the metro in Tokyo. Total costs for all other transportation was ¥58.180JPY (€465/$529).

3. Cost of food in Japan

Sushi Narita Airport Tokyo

Japan is famous for its delicious cuisine! Sushi, ramen, tempura, and yakitori are some of the most popular dishes.

For a taste of traditional Japanese cuisine, try Washoku, a selection of small dishes including steamed rice, miso soup, and pickles.

If you're looking for something more modern, you can find a wide variety of international and fusion cuisine throughout Japan. Regardless, Japan is sure to have something to satisfy your taste buds!

Good news: the food in Japan is not only really tasty, but it’s also very affordable compared to eating out in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand!

That is if you eat local food at local restaurants. Eating Western Food always triples the price of dinner when traveling in Asia.

When it comes to food, stick to Japanese cuisine, browse the fresh food section in convenience stores (meals are heavily discounted at the end of the day) and take advantage of lunch specials and early bird specials that many restaurants offer.

Bowl of Abura Soba Takayama

How much did we spend on food and drinks in Japan?

In total we spent ¥130.751 (€1044/$1189) on food and some miscellaneous costs, averaging ¥4510 (€36/$41) per day.

I will say that it’s definitely possible to spend less on food, but I wanted to try out as many dishes as possible. Even so, we rarely spent more than ¥1000 on a dish.

Miscellaneous costs in Japan

Miscellaneous is comprised of small expenses like laundry, coin lockers for our luggage and towel rental, etc.

4. Cost of activities in Japan

When you’re in Japan, make sure to take advantage of all the free activities the country has to offer, like exploring temples, historic cities, National Parks, and manicured Japanese gardens.

Doing so will help you make the most of your vacation while still sticking to your budget.

When planning your Japan trip, it's also worth looking into tour companies that offer (discounted) activities that can help you save money while still getting the best experience.

Klook is the largest tour operator in Southeast Asia, but Get Your Guide has been working really hard on growing their SEA offers as well so be sure to check out those websites as well when you're planning your Japan activities.

Some of the most worthwhile tours and activities in Japan are:

Hiroshima peace park Japan

How much did we spend on activities in Japan?

We spent ¥15.834 (€116/$145) on paid activities, which comes down to an average of ¥546 JPY (€4/$5) per day.

We did a lot of sightseeing in the major cities (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Nara) and a lot of hiking in the mountains (Koyasan, Hokkaido, and Kamikochi).

Travel insurance costs

I didn't include the cost of travel insurance in our Japan budget breakdown because we use our travel insurance for all our trips, not just for our Japan itinerary.

However, that doesn't take away the fact that making sure you have proper travel insurance is super important.

It helps protect you and your belongings in the event of a mishap during your travels. Furthermore, it provides coverage for medical expenses, trip cancellation, lost or stolen items, and more.

Also, having good travel insurance will provide you peace of mind, knowing that if something goes wrong, you have a safety net in place.

With so much to consider when planning a trip, having the right travel insurance can help ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey without stressing out about things that can go wrong.

Plan your Japan trip like a pro with these tools:
Get a Japan Railpass to save lots of time and money.
✅ Rent a car for your Japan road trip via Rentalcars.com.
✅ Stay connected with Airalo Japan offer.
✅ Plan your journey with the Japan Lonely Planet.
✅ Find the best hotel deals on Booking.com.
✅ Join the best tours in Japan via Klook.
✅ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing.

Our Japan expenses: in conclusion

I hope my budget breakdown gives some insight into the travel budget needed for Japan. While Japan might not be the cheapest country, it has so much to offer

Within just one month I went from hiking in the snow on Hokkaido to climbing to the top of Mount Misen while it was 30 degrees Celsius at Miyajima island.

I scaled a volcano, camped on the shore of the most gorgeous lake, walked under the vermilion Shinto gates in Kyoto, and gawked at the neon galore in Tokyo’s Akihabara.

I loved my month in Japan and I'm sure you will too, it's worth every ¥!

Read my other posts about Japan for more Japan travel inspiration!

This post was updated in July 2021.

Laura Velasquez

Thursday 11th of October 2018

Hi Lotte,

Thank you for all that information, is very useful. I have a question: I will be going by myself but I don't have a driver license. Do you think is possible to move entirely by public transport? Thank you,

Lau

Lotte

Saturday 13th of October 2018

Hi Laura,

Thank you for reading:-) To answer your question, yes, it's very possible to travel entirely by public transport. The most 'difficult' place to navigate without a car is Hokkaido but there are trains and buses there as well so you shouldn't have any issues. We also just traveled by public transport on Honshu and it was very easy to do so. Have a great trip!

Lotte

Karl Brown

Sunday 7th of October 2018

Hi Lotte,

Interesting reading your blog! I'm arriving in Manila October 26, the day before my birthday. Then on 27 planning on arriving in Tokyo so looking at cost effective accommodation for myself. Could you recommend anything?

Karl, U.K.

Lotte

Saturday 13th of October 2018

Hi Karl,

Thanks for reading:-) Congrats on your birthday! We stayed at a lovely Airbnb in Tokyo, you can find the place here: https://www.airbnb.nl/rooms/8933904. If you have never stayed with Airbnb before you can get a discount with this link: https://www.airbnb.nl/c/leschbach?currency=EUR. Enjoy your trip!

Lotte

Gosia

Sunday 5th of August 2018

Hi Lotte, Just read through all your posts on Hokkaido, as hubby and I are heading over there for 2 weeks in October. You are a treasure trove of useful info, so already a BIG thanx! We want to start with Daisetsuzan Nat.Park and I was wondering about three things: 1. Is it too far to drive on the first day after we pick up the rental car from the New Chitose airport? 2. How many nights of accomodation to book to have a nice hiking time around the park? 3. Which base to choose: Sounkyo, Tokachi-dake or Adahidake Onsen? Any advice? Best wishes from sunny Poland! Gosia

Lotte

Thursday 9th of August 2018

Hello Gosia,

Thank you for reading my blog and very exciting you'll be visiting Hokkaido in October! I'm not sure about the weather in that month but I think it can already be rather cold and perhaps there will be snow on the mountains, so be prepared and bring warm clothes! About your questions:

1. That depends on the time you land. If you arrive in the morning it could be done, but you would have to drive on the toll highways and may end up driving until darkness (I'm not sure what time it gets dark in October, be sure to check that before your trip;-) 2. We only did 1 short hike because there was still a lot of snow on the mountain and all the hiking trails were still closed. It's very possible there is snow on the trails in October so I find it a little bit difficult to answer this question... If you arrive late in the evening I would stay 2 nights so you have one full day plus, depending on your next destination, the next morning to go hiking. But again, trails may already be closed... 3. Adahidake Onsen is tiny (basically only hotels), Sounkyo is a bit bigger and has several restaurants so perhaps that would be a better base. I haven't been to Tokachi-dake so I don't know if that would be a suitable place to base yourself, sorry!

I hope this helps! Enjoy your trip and feel free to ask any other questions you may have:-) Lotte

Berna

Friday 9th of March 2018

Hello! Is ¥60,000 sufficient for 5 days daily budget for 1 person excluding the airfare and accommodation? Thanks!

Lotte

Saturday 10th of March 2018

Hey Berna, well it always depends on your travel style. Do you plan to buy a rail-pass? Will you join a tours? How much do you plan to spend on food (Wagyu beef everyday may be delicious but will leave a serious dent in your budget;-). In general I would say ¥60,000 should definitely be enough, but it depends on your plans. Enjoy your trip! Lotte

Evelyn

Saturday 3rd of March 2018

Thanks for the info. Be heading to Tokyo today and looking forward to it. Gonna read some other posts of you as well!

Evelyn

Lotte

Saturday 3rd of March 2018

Hi Evelyn, you are most welcome, have a great time in Tokyo!