The first thing most people inquire about when making travel plans is how much it would cost to visit Japan. Although it’s a common notion that living in Japan is expensive, I didn’t find daily costs to be all that much more than in other significant cities I’ve visited.
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Although there are many ways to cut costs while in Japan, you will still need to pay for your airline and transportation. It’s best to just go into Japan trip cost with a reasonable spending limit in mind, then adapt based on your vacation preferences. No matter where you are from, make sure you apply for a credit card before you leave that has no international transaction fees.
| Expected price | |
| Plane tickets | $800-$900 |
| JR Rail Pass | $435-$450 |
| Accommodation options | $1,750-$1,850 |
| Transportation | $140-$160 |
| Places to visit | $120-$140 |
| Meals and drink | $560- $600 |
| Random spending | $200-$250 |
| TOTAL | US $4,005- $4,350 |
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Plane tickets
The average cost to visit Japan when come to fighting from the US is $800. If you can find a seat discount or are prepared to make a layover, you could save $100–300. The two main airports in Tokyo are Haneda, which is the one nearest to the city, and Narita, which is located 1.5 hours outside of Tokyo. If you have an option, choose Haneda because it is closer; nevertheless, keep in mind that many foreign flights only go to Narita. Prices will either be more or lower than my estimates if you’re flying from another continent.
Consider applying for one of Canada’s top travel credit cards if you’re a Canadian if you want to reduce your expenses by earning points. For instance, you can receive a sign-up bonus of up to 115,000 American Express Membership Rewards points, each of which is worth a minimum of $1,150, when you apply for the American Express Platinum Card (potentially more if you transfer your points to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy). There is also the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card, which allows access to airport lounges and has no foreign transaction fees.
Accommodation options
The cost for a trip to Japan, when come to the accommodations listed below, is average for lodging during off-peak times. During the busiest times, rates can rise significantly! For additional details on various housing options and related price ranges, visit our accommodation website.
Low spending: 2,000 to 5,000 JPY per person and night
In the majority of Japan’s cities and regions, hostels and dorms normally charge less than 3500 yen per person per night. Additionally, fantastic rates are offered by booking services like Hostelworld.
Medium spending: 6,000–12,000 yen for each night and single room; 8,000 to 15,000 yen per night for a twin room
Rooms in business hotels, minshuku, and low-cost, basic ryokan are available at this level. At this pricing point, several trip packages (for lone travelers) include lodging at upscale Western-style hotels.
High spending: More than 12,000 yen for a single room and a night and more than 15,000 yen for a double room and a night
You may book rooms in nicer business hotels and low-cost Western-style hotels for as little as 12,000 yen per person. Normally, a night at a ryokan with two meals included costs between 12,000 and 30,000 yen for each person. In a 4 or 5-star hotel with Western-style decor, a room costs somewhere between 20,000 and 50,000 yen per night. In anyways, consider fitting in your Japan trip cost while you’re there.
Meals and drink
Breakfast
Low spending: 500 yen each day
You will have to subsist on convenience store goods (bread, rice balls, etc.) and fast food joints that serve affordable breakfasts, like McDonald’s or Mister Donut.
Medium spending: 500–1000 yen each day.
In shopping centers and close to train stations, a lot of coffee shops and restaurants sell breakfast sets for between 500 and 1000 yen.
High spending: More than 1000 yen each day
Breakfasts at hotels and breakfast buffets typically cost more than 1000 yen. In first-class hotels, breakfast buffets frequently cost at least 3,000 yen.
Lunch
Low spending: 500–800 yen each day
Convenience stores and stalls in commercial districts and railroad stations sell affordable lunch boxes. For 800 yen or less, several fast-food restaurants with a focus on noodles, curries, donburi, or hamburgers can offer quite full meals.
Medium spending: 800 to 1500 yen daily
At this price point, there is an even wider selection of affordable restaurants, including the quick food outlets already mentioned as well as eateries that offer lunch set deals for about 1,000 yen.
High spending: more than 1500 yen daily
Better restaurants often charge between 1500 and 3000 yen for lunch.
Dinner
Low spending: 500–1000 yen each day
Convenience stores offer a wide selection of affordable ready-to-eat meals. Additionally, there are low-cost fast-food establishments.
Medium spending: from 1000 to 2500 yen each day.
Since there are no lunch deals, conventional eateries are typically more expensive in the evening. You can have a good dinner at a variety of fast food and traditional restaurants, including those available in department stores, where meals normally cost between 1000 and 2500 yen, excluding alcoholic beverages, when you reach this level.
High spending: more than 2500 yen daily
You may get a wonderful dinner at a variety of eateries for 3000 yen per person. For a dinner at a high-end restaurant serving sushi, French cuisine, sukiyaki, kaiseki ryori, steaks, etc., a budget of 5000 yen or more per person make your cost for a trip to Japan affordable.
Place to visit
Low spending: 0 to 500 yen each day
There are many free attractions in Japan. There are no entrance fees for the majority of shrines and certain temples. A few museums have free days once a week or once a month.
Medium spending: 500 to 1500 yen each day
Famous temple admission ranges from 300 to 1000 yen (around 300 yen in Kamakura and around 500 yen in Kyoto and Nara). The average museum and castle admission fee is between 300 and 1000 yen.
High spending: more than 1500 yen daily
Some museums and tourist traps (often the best ones) charge between 1000 and 3000 yen per person. Large theme parks often charge between 5000 and 9,000 yen for day admission.
Transportation
Low spending: Among the cheapest modes of transportation in Japan include highway buses, the Japan Bus Pass, and the Seishun 18 Kippu (only available at specific periods of the year).
All spending: Every traveler should think about getting a Japan Rail Pass or a regional rail pass. For instance, the price of a 7-day Japan Rail Pass is nearly equivalent to the cost of one shinkansen ride from Tokyo to Kyoto on your Japan trip. Even more economical are two and three-week passes. Depending on how far you travel, domestic flights may be just as affordable as a rail pass if you take advantage of the numerous discounts available.
Mobile WiFi
While going Japan trip, you might want to think about buying a portable WiFi because it makes traveling easier to have live access to Google Maps. Depending on how many days you need the WiFi and how much data you require, rates can vary, but on the whole, they range from $4.65 USD to $7.80 USD per day, which is fairly affordable. With Sakura Mobile, you may connect up to 15 devices using both a SIM card and portable WiFi. It’s convenient to pick up or have the WiFi delivered, and their service is dependable. Drop-off is simple as well. View the various plans and costs below.
The Best Times to Visit Japan
Aerial image of the Tokyo skylines at dusk, showing the Tokyo Tower and the city. Japan is shockingly big despite not being particularly big. The warm islands of southern Okinawa look like a world away from the chilly winters in the northernmost tip of Hokkaido. The months of March through May and September through November are often regarded as the ideal periods to visit the nation if you aren’t planning on hitting the slopes.
Travelers can find vibrant autumnal foliage or, on the other hand, recognizable cherry blossoms that look as if they were plucked off a postcard during that time. Additionally, these seasons include limited rainfall, bright skies, and warm temperatures.
For those who don’t mind the heat and humidity, summer in Japan has a different pace. The best places to explore the outdoors at this time of year are cool mountaintops or as far north as you can go. Hokkaido’s lushly milder climate is paradise in the summer, with its rainbow-colored flower fields and a wide range of outdoor pursuits, such as horseback riding and hiking.
Festival season’s peak occurs in the summer (think: outdoor beer gardens and fireworks). Winter in Japan is a period for onsen excursions and winter sports. Hokkaido, Japan’s most northern prefecture, is without a doubt the best spot to go skiing, although areas outside of Tokyo, like Niigata, are also home to several excellent ski resorts and are only accessible by Shinkansen. Flying south to Okinawa in the winter for a more subtropical environment is great for those who prefer warmth.
When to Avoid Visiting Japan
Bad weather in one area may mean clear skies in another since the weather often varies depending on the region you visit. In most of the country, including Tokyo, the rainy season normally lasts from early June to mid-July, except for Okinawa, where it starts in early May. Hokkaido experiences pleasant summer temperatures and clear skies.
The rainy season typically comes before a very hot and muggy summer. It is advised to avoid visiting cities with high summer temperatures, such as Tokyo and Kyoto, in July and August.
It should come as no surprise that the sakura season is the busiest time for tourism as tourists from all over the world appreciate Japan’s cherry blossoms in their Japan trip. The Japanese national holiday known as Golden Week, which lasts from the end of April to roughly the middle of May, is also used by domestic travelers. If possible, avoid traveling during this time of year because trains, hotels, and famous tourist attractions are frequently congested or fully booked.
Which Japanese cities are the greatest to visit?
In all honesty, Japan’s cities are all excellent choices. The most well-known ones are Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo. Yokohama, Nara, and Miyajima are a few other cities that are worthwhile of a visit. You should consider what smaller towns and cities are accessible when creating your itinerary. Runs are worthwhile at Koyasan, Kamakura, Mount Fuji, Hakone, Himeji, and Matsumoto. The Japanese train system makes it simple to travel to almost any place in the nation. You can enjoy the most beautiful, amazing, and yet peaceful views and places while staying in or visiting Japan.
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How long should I plan to stay in Japan?
Many first-time visitors to Japan choose Tokyo as a pit stop and stay there for only a few days due to the cost to visit Japan. Even while it has fantastic taste, this doesn’t really do the nation any justice. You can visit two cities and go on a day excursion in Japan if you stay for a week, but you should definitely try to stay as long as you can. The previous time others visited, they said when they stayed in the nation for 16 days, and it was a lovely pace.
Is a trip to Japan expensive?
The cost for a trip to Japan for tourists typically spends between 12,000 and 15,000 yen, or roughly $110 and $140, per day. It’s really simple to spend money here if your budget is flexible, but even on a restricted budget, you may still have a fantastic time.
Despite the fact that traveling to Japan is not inexpensive, it is feasible to do it on a budget. You can cut your travel expenses by preparing your own meals, being selective about where you stay or restricting eating out. Another excellent technique to make your money go further while getting a deeper understanding of a location is to travel slowly
Should I go to Tokyo Disneyland?
There is no reason you shouldn’t go if you enjoy Disney. There is no other Disney theme park like Tokyo Disneysea in the entire world. Tokyo Disney was created by Disney Imagineers, despite the fact that it is not managed by Disney. Having said that, it’s also important to point out that Nintendoland is now a part of Universal Studios in Osaka. If you enjoy Nintendo, you should visit it.
Budget-friendly Japan trip cost is definitely achievable; simply decide on your top priorities and compromise on the rest, or think about going off-season and avoiding school breaks to save money. The sky is the limit if you want to indulge yourself or live on the luxurious end of the range of cost for a trip to Japan.
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