How Much Does a Trip to Japan Cost? The Honest Truth

How much is a trip to Japan, and is Japan as expensive as people say? No! But it certainly isn’t a backpacker destination either. Read on if you’re wondering how much a trip to Japan costs. I’ve been to Japan on extended trips three times now and will continue to return yearly. It is my favorite country to travel around, and Cameron and I have made it a goal to return twice a year – once in the winter and always another time during the year. Yes – Japan is that good.

I first heard that Japan was notoriously expensive to travel around in 2013 when I contemplated my first trip there. It was at the top of my destinations list, but I was scared to book a flight knowing how much the trip could cost me. I decided to bite the bullet anyway and figured I would try and stay on budget, but having some money in my savings account for backup pushed me through.

I have spent four months traveling in Japan, and the prices never scare me or will ever scare me from going there. Indeed, Japan is not cheap, but it’s far from the most expensive place in the world. Japan is entirely doable on a modest budget, and I hope to manage your expectations with the following Japan travel costs so you can enjoy all your trips to Japan as much as I do!

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How Much Does a Trip to Japan Cost Video?

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How Much is the Cost of Transport in Japan?

Transportation should be the first thought when considering how much a trip to Japan is. Transportation in Japan could be your number one expense, depending on how much you plan to bop around the country. Rail travel in Japan is simply expensive. The faster the train, the higher the ticket price, especially if you’re traveling on the famous Shinkansen (bullet train).

You can lower your cost significantly by buying a Japan Rail Pass, which is only offered to visitors to Japan. The JR Pass is something you will typically want to think about purchasing before your trip, and you can pick it up once you arrive at a JR station. From there (depending on your pass type), you can travel around Japan freely on JR trains. They have different kinds of passes depending on where you’ll be and the length of your trip.

The first time I visited Japan, I wanted to see as much as possible, so I bought a 14-day JR Pass for less than $400 and traveled around Japan every two to three days. The second time I visited, I was only in Hokkaido doing minimal travel as it was a ski trip, so I paid for my train travel outright.

The third time I visited, I also declined a JR Pass as I was doing minimal travel, but after spending ¥12000 on one round-trip train journey from Osaka-Shingu, I think I would have been better off with a designated rail pass. When planning your trip to Japan, you should consider where you will visit and the distances you’ll cover. Long distances may require high-speed trains and will generally cost more than a short one-hour journey.

If you are traveling to one region of Japan, purchasing a rail pass before may or may not be worth it. If you want spontaneity in your Japanese travels, a rail pass is a great way to travel. We’ve also found that MOST (but not all) buses and subway rides in Japan charge you by distance covered. It is not a flat fare. Most importantly, keep your bus, train, or subway ticket on you throughout your journey. You will need it to exit the station.

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How Much is a Trip to Japan: Accommodation

I bet you’re wondering if Japan is expensive. The answer is—it depends. Accommodation can be another budget breaker in Japan, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve found decent value and stayed at some fantastic places.

However, going over your budget if you stay at luxury hotels, ryokans, or travel during the high season. I want to stress that if you want to score a good deal in Japan, you should travel during the offseason. This means between November and March in most places (besides ski resort towns like Niseko and Hakuba).

June-August is shoulder season in Japan, with rain and high temperatures but lower prices. Cherry blossom (sakura) and fall are high seasons in Japan, and accommodation prices go through the roof. So, if you are traveling during this time, be prepared to book ahead or pay a bit more.

There are many different styles of accommodation in Japan, ranging from traditional hostels to capsule hotels, standard guesthouses, hotels, and the creme de la creme—a Japanese Ryokan. A ryokan is a type of traditional Japanese inn. Typically featuring tatami-matted rooms, an onsen, and other public areas where visitors may wear a yukata is common to wear. Guests are also served an elaborate kaiseki dinner which is a series of small dishes. A ryokan is one of those things that one should experience in Japan and can cost anywhere from ¥15,000 and up a night.

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How Much is the Cost of Food in Japan?

When figuring out your trip to Japan cost, don’t forget about food. In my opinion, the food in Japan is the best value. One can easily have a fantastic Japanese meal out for under ¥1000. I’m talking sushi, soba noodles, udon, ramen, yakitori – pretty much anyone should be able to fill themselves up on ¥1000.

Of course, if you go to upscale restaurants or notable sushi restaurants with world-class chefs, your dining will cost you more. But if you want traditional and delicious Japanese cuisine, it can be done affordably.

It’s also possible to go into any convenience store and pick up a pastry for breakfast with coffee or lunch for under ¥500.

The only exception to this is fruits and western specialty items that you will find at grocery stores. Most fruit I see in Japan is insanely expensive compared to North America. Bananas and apples, and frozen blueberries are among some of the cheapest fruits I can find. The great thing about Japan is the service is impeccable, but it’s considered rude to leave a tip. So the cost of your meal is the cost of your meal – no other additional charges!

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How Much is the Cost of Coffee in Japan?

I love having coffee when I travel, so this has to be included in this post. If you don’t drink coffee, feel free to skip over this! A cup of coffee from a coffee shop in Japan will run you about the same that it does in the states. For a medium latte or cappuccino, you can expect to pay ¥400-500.

Hot matcha tea is usually provided for free at many restaurants in Japan. If you don’t want to spend that much on coffee, all convenience stores have coffee to take away. This cost between 150-300 and is surprisingly good quality for a push-button machine.

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How Much is the Cost of Alcohol in Japan?

How much a trip to Japan costs may depend on your alcohol consumption. Although Japan, surprisingly, will not break the bank to have a beer. Unlike some countries where Alcohol is heavily taxed and expensive (looking at you, Australia, Norway, and Iceland), it’s actually affordable to drink in Japan.

When dining out, a glass of beer, sake, or plum wine will cost between ¥300-500. The Japanese like to drink, and you’ll often find groups of men ordering beer after beer. However, where I find the value and what I like to do is pick up alcohol at the grocery store and bring it back to my accommodation to enjoy.

A bottle of sake ranges anywhere from ¥600-1500 (or more for the excellent stuff) and is perfect to have after a long day out in the snow. Beer and Japanese plum wine are similar in pricing as well!

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How Much is a Trip to Japan: Activities

Our activities in Japan have always been reasonably priced. Japan is one of the most forested countries on earth, and the result is there are so many things to do outside that are free! Many temples and shrines are beautiful and free to enter, while some of the more touristy ones in the cities will cost no more than ¥500.

We found significant value in lift ticket prices at the ski resort last winter, with one-day lift tickets costing between ¥5000-7000 (much cheaper than in the United States). In the offseason in Furano, we even scored full-day lift tickets for ¥3500!

Smaller experiences like cat cafes, short Ferris wheel rides, and theatre shows cost less than ¥1000. If you want a specialty experience, you can expect to pay more. We’ve spent between ¥8000-20,000 per person before for Kendo classes and Maiko dinners in Kyoto.

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Miscellaneous Expenses While in Japan

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Flight to Japan

As with most travel, your flight to Japan will be your number one expense. It’s best to book in advance if you know your travel dates. If you have flexibility with your schedule, you stand a greater chance at scoring a deal. We like to use Google Flights and Skyscanner’s open search feature to find good deals to Japan. From North America to Japan, we’ve paid anywhere from $700-$1500.

Car Rental in Japan

A car rental can sometimes be a good option if you want to explore Japan on your own terms. Car rentals can be had for as little as $40 a day. Remember that you need an International Drivers Permit to rent a car in Japan. Unlike many countries that let you rent a car off just your license (as long as it uses the Latin language), you need to go the extra mile in Japan.

An IDP is different from your regular license and must be certified beforehand in your home country. For Americans, this can quickly be done at AAA for $20. No car rental company will rent to you in Japan unless you have one, so make sure it’s done before you attempt to pick up your rental.

Luggage for Japan

You’ll need to decide if you want a backpack or suitcase for your Japan trip. I like to travel with a hard shell suitcase for my clothes and use a carry-on backpack for my essential electronics. See a few of our posts here for recommendations:

• What to Pack for Japan
• The Best Carry-On Backpacks
• The Best Carry-On Luggage

Travel Insurance for Japan

Healthcare is expensive in Japan, so make sure you have travel insurance if anything goes wrong. We never travel without travel insurance with HeyMondo. Heymondo offers flexible and great plans for Japan!

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Is Japan Expensive? Here Are Some Money-Saving Tips

Take Public Transport

You may think that the trains in Japan are expensive, but they are nothing compared to the price of taxis in Japan. If you step into a taxi, you should be prepared for a costly fare.

No – the Japanese are not trying to rip you off; that’s just the fare for traveling via taxi in Japan. It’s also important to note that in most cities, public transport stops around midnight, even in Tokyo, so if your flight lands late, have a plan for how you are getting to your accommodation.

Stay in Guesthouses

If you don’t want to stay in a hostel, the next best thing is a Japanese-run guesthouse. I found them to be extremely valuable to hotels in Japan and almost always busy. Yes, most hotels in Japan have crazy small rooms. We book a lot of our accommodation on Airbnb. You can see our top Airbnb tips if it’s your first time booking.

Cook Your Own Food

If your accommodation has a kitchen, it’s best to use it. We saved a ton of money this way in the expensive resort town of Niseko and made our own meals every night. The grocery store provides excellent value, especially Japanese food like noodles, rice, and vegetables. You can even find food to cook with at the convenience stores.

Check Out The ¥100 Shops

A ¥100 shop is equivalent to an American dollar store. You can find almost anything at them, so it’s always worth it to scope some out!

Eat your fresh fruits and vegetable before you get to Japan

Fresh fruits like strawberries, blueberries, and even oranges are pretty expensive in Japan, so try to avoid them if you’re on a budget. I found many vegetables besides mushrooms and a few leafy greens to be higher than average.

Frequent Convenience Stores

You can get almost anything you want at Lawsons, 7-11, and Family Mart. They are open around the clock and have things like pastries, coffee, pre-made meals, toiletries, and sake.

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How Much Does a Trip to Japan Cost

So how much does a trip to Japan cost, and how much spending money per day should you have? Besides the pre-trip expenses like airfare, luggage, and any Japan packing list items you’ll want to buy, I believe you can get by in Japan for ¥7000-10,000 a day.

To prove this, I tracked all our expenses for one day out in Osaka. We were not frugal but not lavish in our spending either. We ate what we wanted to eat, did what we wanted, and had a fantastic time!

Now you definitely could do it a lot cheaper than this or for much more. Many things on the above list are extra, but I like coffee, ice cream, a beer with my meal, and the occasional shopping spree.

When I first traveled to Japan for the first time, I was on a backpacker budget. I visited there in February (off-season), spent my nights in hostels, ate basic meals from 7-11, and only indulged in a few cheap excursions – but for the most part, I stuck to the free temples and just walked around and enjoyed the view. I had a fantastic time on less than ¥6000 a day.

You can travel cheaply through Japan if you are determined. At the same time, if it’s your one big trip to Japan, I don’t think you should be afraid to spend money on food and experiences you can’t get back home.