GUIDE Guide to Traveling Japan on a Budget A guide to budgeting your trip to Japan
Plan in advance to make your trip to Japan affordable
You may have heard that Japan is an expensive place to visit, but don't be discouraged. With some advance planning, Japan is an affordable destination for even the most budget-conscious traveler. Take some time to decide which options best suit your budget.
There are a wide variety of budget accommodation options, transportation passes and sightseeing discounts available. Browse our list for more details.
Transportation
Flights
(JAL) or All Nippon Airways (ANA), and intend to take a domestic flight during your stay, it is worth buying your domestic ticket in conjunction with your international ticket. Both JAL and ANA can offer considerable savings on the cost of internal flights purchased in this way. Contact JAL or ANA for further details. Check out the Domestic Air Service of this site to find out more about domestic air travel and low cost carriers.
Railways
, foreign visitors to Japan can enjoy discounted travel on nearly all services of the extensive JR Transportation Network, including the shinkansen, or bullet train. There are also a variety of other rail passes , which offer significant reductions on rail travel in Japan. Long distance buses
and local train services are other low-cost transport options. Consider taking a night bus as you save on a night's accommodation, too.Taxis
Ferries and passenger boats
section. | Transportation and Tours | Price |
|---|---|
| 7-day Japan Rail Pass (Ordinary) |
29,110 yen |
| Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket | 700 yen |
| Common 1-day ticket for Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway | 900yen |
| Toei 1-day economy pass | 700 yen |
| Airport Limousine Bus (Narita Airport to Central Tokyo) |
3,100 yen |
| bus ride (base fare) | from 210 yen |
| taxi ride (base fare) | from 410 yen |
| 1-day guided coach tour (from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji) |
10,000 – 15,000 yen |
Accommodations
The cost and quality of accommodation in Japan are comparable with that of most other developed countries and there is something to suit every taste and wallet. Here is a list of useful online booking sites .
| Accommodations | Price |
|---|---|
| youth hostel | 3,000 yen per night |
| guesthouse (single room) |
from 3,500 yen per night |
| budget hotel (single room) |
from 6,000 yen per night |
| mid-range hotel (double room) |
from 12,000 yen per night |
| four star hotel (double room) |
from 30,000 yen per night |
| five star hotel (double room) |
from 50,000 yen per night |
| ryokan (including 2 meals) |
from 15,000 yen per person per night |
Dining out
Dining out in Japan doesn't have to be expensive, and is often better value for money than most other world capitals. Wherever you travel, restaurants in popular tourist areas will always cost more. Follow the locals and you will generally find both lower prices and more authentic Japanese cuisine. Avoid restaurants that don't list their prices outside the door. Budget dining can usually be enjoyed at more casual establishments such as izakaya (Japanese pubs), shokudo (small casual restaurants, often with set meals), kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi) and okonomiyaki restaurants.
Comparing Prices
Recent improvements in the foreign exchange rate have meant more favorable prices for overseas visitors to Japan. The price chart on this page is designed to give an idea of what you can expect to pay for a variety of everyday and travel-related items in Japan.
| Food, Drink and Sundries | Price |
|---|---|
| drink | 130 yen |
| cup of coffee | 100-600 yen |
| can of beer | 200 yen |
| pint of beer | from 500 yen |
| 1/2 liter of mineral water | 120 yen |
| bowl of ramen | 600-700 yen |
| breakfast service in a coffee shop | 400-700 yen |
| Big Mac | 390 yen |
| toothbrush | 300 yen |
| umbrella | from 500 yen |
