How Much Does it Cost to Travel Japan?

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How much does it cost to travel Japan?

Japan is known for being an expensive destination: the flights alone are pricy and accommodation can gobble up even the most generous Japan travel budget.

The public transport system is famed for its efficiency but does that only up the cost of travel in Japan?

We spent 17 days in Japan in 2015. We started in Osaka and visited Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Nara before finishing in Tokyo.

Our cost to travel to Japan was actually much less than I thought it would be. However, it was still more expensive than other countries in Asia due to accommodation and transport costs. 

It was Luke’s birthday while we were there so we did splurge. Also, we’d just left our jobs teaching English in Korea and decided not to hold back too much.

We visited as many temples, shrines, and palaces as we could. We took bullet trains and subways, drank copious amounts of Japanese craft beer (delicious), and splurged on fancy sushi in Tokyo and hibachi in Osaka.

I took so many beautiful photos of Japan (but should have taken more!).

Whenever we saw something we wanted to do/try, we did. But we did make an effort to save where we could, especially with accommodation (the chunkiest Japan travel cost). 

How Much Does it Cost to Travel Japan?

We spent a total of $2,417 USD ($1,208.50 per person) in two and a half weeks.

That ends up being about $70 a day per person.

In 2015, the average exchange rate was $1 United States dollar to around ¥121 Japanese yen.

In 2024 the average exchange rate is $1 United States dollar to around ¥156 Japanese yen.

$70 a day (especially in 2015) sounds like quite a lot; we’ve never spent that amount in any other country on our travels. But, we’d decided not to limit our budget too much during our two-week itinerary in Japan. It was a luxury for sure.

Note: the cost to travel to Japan in 2024 is higher as accommodation, travel, food, and airfare prices have gone up across the board. This guide draws on our experiences in 2015 and reflects current prices. 

Is Japan Expensive to Visit?

Japan is expensive to travel compared to countries in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. Prices are comparable with the United States and Western Europe – some costs will leave you wincing but others are really as you’d expect to pay back home. 

Let’s start with how much does it cost to travel to Japan?

Flights from the US/UK are expensive in the high season of mid-spring/summer. July is the most expensive month to travel to Japan. 

The cheapest return flights from the US tend to be around $650-950 per person while the priciest fares can cost between $1,300-1,700 for a return.

Round flights between London and Tokyo cost $550-750 in early spring and winter or around $1,000 during summer and early fall. 

How Much Does Food Cost in Japan?

We spent a total of $595 on food in Japan. That’s $17.50 per day per person. This includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, sushi and allllll the mochi for two people for 17 days.

How can you watch this and not want to try it?

We spent $29 on breakfast, less than a dollar each per day!

This is because 1) we often skipped breakfast because we stayed up late and woke up later and 2) we would just stock up on fruit from the grocery store and munch on bananas if we felt hungry before lunch.

We spent $218 on lunch, or about $6.50 per day per person.

For lunch, we usually bought bento boxes in grocery stores. These contain rice, fruit, fried fish, potato cakes, and sushi rolls. In 2024, you’ll find them for 470-940 yen ($3-$6).

Don’t miss out on all the amazing little ramen and soba noodle shops! You can grab a meal for around 785 yen ($5). Also, look for restaurants serving donburi, which means rice bowl, where you can get a big bowl of rice with meat or veggies for about the same price.

Note: You usually order and pay at a machine and then hand the people at the counter your receipt.

We spent $324 on dinner, or about $9.50 per person per day.

This is surprising considering we had some serious splurges throughout our trip. For dinner we usually found a local restaurant.

We did a lot of research on places to eat since we were excited about food in Japan. We ate at ramen restaurants, yakitori (skewered meat) places, and sushi bars. Sometimes we cooked at our self-catered apartment.

The cost of food in Japan is manageable if you’re careful and avoid expensive restaurants.

How Much Does Accommodation Cost in Japan?

This was by far one of our biggest expenses in Japan. 

In total we spent $817 on accommodation, or $24 per person per night.

We opted for affordable apartment rentals and private rooms in hostels. 

The cost of hostels in Japan starts at $15 for a bed in a shared dorm at a basic place. For a slightly fancier hostel, you should budget $30-50 for a dorm bed. Some hostels have capsule-bed dorms.

A private room at a hostel in Tokyo costs around between $50-$100 based on the amenities and whether you have a private bathroom. 

Nice budget hotels are comparable (around $120 per night) which really isn’t bad considering the amenities of a hotel. 

Luxury hotels will set you back anywhere from $150 per night to the hundreds during high season or if the place has a pool and gym. 

Accommodation is most expensive during summer and around Japanese holidays. 

There are so many accommodation options in Japan’s large cities. We relied on Booking.com as you can narrow down the best places to stay in Tokyo, Osaka, etc, based on guest score, location, property type, and amenities. 

How Much Does Transportation Cost in Japan?

We spent $1,040 on transport, or $30 per person per day. Yikes!

The cost of travel in Japan is high but we felt that the Japan Rail Pass offered excellent value. It allows unlimited train rides for a 7, 14, or 21-day period on national services and train routes in cities that are operated by Japan Rail. 

Note: it doesn’t include the metro systems. 

You can buy the Ordinary Pass or the Green Pass. The Japan Rail Pass prices for 2024 are:

• 7-day Pass: 50,000 yen/$318 (Ordinary) or 70,000 yen/$446 (Green)
• 14-day Pass: 80,000 yen/$510  (Ordinary) or 110,000 yen/$701 (Green)
• 21-day Pass: 100,000 yen/$637 (Ordinary) or 140,000 yen/$892 (Green)

As the cheapest pass works out at around $45 per person per day, the cost of trains in Japan is high. 

I recommend considering a JR Pass for your trip to Japan if you are planning on moving between multiple cities. It saves money in the long run and saves time on booking trains.

If you are just staying in one city, it will likely work out cheaper to book individual train fares for day trips. 

It’s only available to purchase online or via a travel agent overseas. You can’t buy it at a train station in Japan. 

Be aware: Two separate companies run Tokyo’s subway. If you are only going to use one of those companies, you can save by only buying the day pass for that line.

How Much Does Beer Cost in Japan?

In total we spent $297 on beer, or $9 per person per day on beer.  

We spent a lot on beer. If you’re not into drinking or on the craft beer trail, you’ll spend a whole lot less per day than Luke and I did.

In 2024, a craft beer costs around 1,568 yen ($10) in a bar or 313-785 yen ($2-5) for a can in a convenience store.

Other Japan Travel Costs

We spent money on temples and palaces all over the country with the majority in Kyoto. Admission generally costs 500/600 yen ($3.20-4) with more expensive sites costing 1,000 yen ($6.50). 

A lot of museums, shrines, and smaller temples are free to visit. 

Access to a public onsen will cost from 785-3,137 yen ($5-20) subject to the level of luxury. Private onsen experiences cost from 7,843 yen ($50). 

A charge of 2,000 yen ($13) applies to climbing Mount Fuji. Other costs can include a guide (not mandatory) and the cost of accommodation if you opt for the two-day hike. 

We bought postcards for a few dollars each and some Japanese souvenirs in Tokyo and Kyoto that were all less than $10 back in 2015. There are several great street vendors and cool markets around the major cities where you can find fun and reasonably priced souvenirs.

Travel insurance is an obvious expense to factor into your Japan travel budget before you hit the road. 

Tipping in Japan

One thing you don’t need to worry about in Japan: tipping.

Tipping is not expected in Japan and can be considered rude. 

Tap water is also safe to drink and is available free of charge in restaurants. This is an easy way to save money. 

How Could You Travel Japan Cheaper?

Cutting out the craft beer (or avoiding alcohol in general) is one way to reduce your Japan travel costs. 

The cost of food in Japan is subjective as it depends on what type of places you choose to eat and how much you consume. It’s an area where you can be quite thrifty or really splurge if you love food. 

Shop for snacks, groceries, and budget meals at konbini (Japanese convenience stores) to save money. The instant noodles are inexpensive and so satisfying!

We often asked the staff at our accommodation for recommendations on where to eat within our budget and this helped us save money. 

Avoid July and August if possible as flights/accommodation spikes in summer.

Booking a self-catered apartment makes sense if you’re slow-traveling and are with a partner/friend. If you have access to a kitchen, you can prepare some meals at home. This might not make sense on a pacier itinerary with only a few nights at each stop, especially if you find a hotel with breakfast included. 

Check out ryokan hotels. These traditional inns were designed to be homely and sociable – basically, the prototype for hostels. They often have tatami-matted floors and roll-out futon beds. Some have onsen baths or onsen-inspired suites. There are luxury ryokan in Japan but many are affordable.

For example, a night at the Asakusa Ryokan Toukaisou in Tokyo costs from $55 for two people. It’s around $100 for a single occupancy room at Ryokan Kamogawa Asakusa plus you get a private session in the onsen-style bath. 

Do your research to see if the JR Pass will save you money. It most likely will if you are planning to travel to multiple cities like we did. 

Final Thoughts on Japan Travel Budgeting

We spent $2,417 USD ($1,208.50 per person) in 17 days in Japan.

In comparison, we spent the equivalent of around $420 ($210 per person) during 15 days in Thailand.

We spent the equivalent of around $1,020 ($510 per person) during 30 days in Vietnam. Allow a bit of give and take for the exchange rates!

Is Japan expensive to visit? It is in comparison with nearby countries. However, Japan is much more developed and has a totally different infrastructure. 

Our Japan travel costs worked out at around $70 per day in 2015 for a mid-range experience.

So how much does a trip to Japan cost in 2024?

$70 per day or 110,000 Japanese yen is a realistic starting point for daily spending for 2024 Japan travel on a budget.

This covers a couple of treats and private rooms in hostels or budget hotels. It doesn’t include the cost of the JR Pass although you’ll need to factor this into a multi-city itinerary.

If you prefer mid-range hotels and plan to eat and drink out more, budget for $120-150 or 18,820-23,530 Japanese yen per day.

Ever been to Japan? How did you cut costs while still enjoying every minute?

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