Travel Budget Japan: How much it costs and how to save

Are you planning a trip to Japan and wondering how much it will cost? You’ve come to the right place. This article outlines our actual travel costs during our recent three-month trip to Japan. Contrary to popular belief, Japan can be an affordable travel destination, with surprisingly reasonable accommodation and dining options. Plus, with the current exchange rate working in your favour, now is the perfect time to explore the Land of the Rising Sun. We also share some useful tips for saving money while you’re in Japan.

What is the currency of Japan?

The Japanese Yen (JPY) – the word yen meaning circle or round object – has existed since 1871. In circulation these days are

• Banknotes in JPY1,000, JPY 2,000, JPY5,000 and JPY10,000 denominations; and
• Coins are available in JPY1, JPY5, JPY10, JPY50, JPY100, and JPY500 denominations (though the latter two are most commonly used).

Travel Cost Assumptions

When reading this article, please note that our travel costs are based on a couple travelling together. We are independent, budget-conscious travellers who plan our trips carefully and track our spending as we go. Our travel style is reasonably consistent wherever we go, which makes it easier to compare travel costs between destinations and over time:

• Accommodation: We usually stay in self-catered accommodation (homestays, locally owned guesthouses, hostels and short-term rentals)  - ideally with a private bathroom, though kitchens and other areas may be shared.
• Dining and Groceries: We typically eat two meals a day at home and eat out once a day or every few days (favouring locally owned restaurants away from tourist hotspots).
• Experiences: Many of our activities are free or low-cost. When we do pay for attractions or activities, we choose carefully - our budget is limited, just like everyone else's.
• Transportation: We walk frequently and use public transport wherever possible. We only occasionally hire a vehicle. Entry and exit costs between countries are not included (though we may reference them separately).
• Other: Our daily costs also include essentials like communication, insurance and basic admin required to stay location-independent.

Because we follow a consistent approach and keep a close eye on our spending, these numbers reflect what we actually paid - not estimates.

During our most recent visit, we spent the maximum time we could in Japan (that is, 90 days on a tourist visa), which means we travelled slower and saw fewer attractions and did fewer activities each day than someone who spends a two—or three-week vacation in Japan and tries to see and do as much as possible each day.

Japan Travel Cost Summary

Considering those assumptions, we spent an average of JPY9,205 per person per day in Japan (or USD69 using the foreign exchange rate applicable at the time).

Indeed, it’s not the cheapest country we’ve visited to date, but surprisingly more affordable than we thought.

Map of Accommodation, Points of Interest, Eateries and Transport

Below is a map of the recommended accommodations, points of interest, eateries, and transport terminals or stops mentioned in this article.

If you are interested in our other detailed maps containing recommended accommodations, points of interest, eateries, and transport terminals/stops, check out the following destinations:

How much does accommodation cost in Japan?

As independent travellers, we booked almost all our accommodations via the platforms we recommend below. We only used the help of an agent when organising accommodation for our two multi-day hikes – the Kumano Kodo (Kumano Travel) and the Nakasendo (the Tsumago Tourist Information Centre). Most accommodations were short-term rentals – studios or one-bedroom apartments with a small kitchen (where basic meals could be prepared) and bathroom, and laundry facilities. We also stayed in family-run guesthouses (minshukus) during our hikes, many of which had onsen facilities.

During our three months in Japan, our accommodation costs averaged JPY7,720 (USD58) per room per night:

Our most expensive accommodation was at Koyasan Saizenin [Google Maps location], a Buddhist Temple in Koyasan – at JPY14,199 per night. While not cheap compared with our other accommodations in Japan, the temple stay (shukubō) was well worth it, as it allowed us to experience a multi-course shōjin ryōri dinner and breakfast (not included in above price), bathe in the traditional onsen and attend the Buddhist early morning prayer.

At just JPY4,500 per night, our most affordable accommodation was a stay at Guest Cafe Kuchikumano [Google Maps location] on Day 0 of our Kumano Kodo Hike. This was a traditional Japanese guesthouse (minshuku) with a large shared kitchen and bathroom. The host was super nice, and we had a lovely evening around the fire, toasting mochi balls (the Japanese version of marshmallows) and then dipping them in zenzai, delicious sweet red bean soup.

Laundromats

Although most of the accommodations we booked had a washing machine, we used laundromats eight times over the three months in Japan, costing us a total of JPY4,600 (or JPY575/USD4 per laundromat use).

Communications

Before arriving in Japan, we purchased two NIPPON 4G-LTE SIM cards (one for each smartphone), costing JPY3,280 (USD25) each. Each card came with 15GB of data and was valid for 180 days, which gave us more than enough for navigation, staying in touch, and finding local places during our trip.

If we were planning this trip today, we would take a different approach.

Rather than organising a physical SIM card, we now install an eSIM before we travel so we have mobile data as soon as we land. It removes the need to wait for delivery, queue at the airport, or swap SIM cards after a long flight. Check eSIM options for Japan before you travel.

Switching to an eSIM has been one of the simplest changes we’ve made to reduce friction when travelling.

How much do you budget for experiences in Japan?

You can pack a lot into a three-month trip to Japan, and we did. All our experiences added up to JPY131,583 (USD984) between the two of us—on average, JPY756 (or just under USD6) per person per experience.

Here are some of our favourite things to see and do (including the cost per person when we visited – note that some were FREE):

How much should you budget for dining and grocery items in Japan?

As mentioned above, during our time in Japan, we stayed mostly in accommodations with a kitchen with basic cooking facilities, enabling us to have at least two meals a day at home. That said, it was sometimes easier and cheaper to buy ready-to-eat meals from convenience stores such as Lawson’s, 7-Eleven, or FamilyMart—though we did try to limit those occasions to avoid adding to Japan’s plastic waste problem.

Our daily dining costs in Japan averaged JPY1,193 (USD9) per person, with our most expensive dining experience costing us JPY2,350 per person at Steakland Kobe-kan​ [Google Maps location] – a worthwhile luxury to taste the famous beef the city is renowned for.

Our daily groceries expenses in Japan averaged JPY1,043 (USD8) per person. We found Aeon supermarkets offered some of the best value for money, and between the major convenience store brands of 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart, we found Lawson offered the best range at the most affordable prices.

If you happen to visit Sapporo, make sure to pop into a Bostonbake branch [Google Maps location]. They have delicious pastries and buns daily (which are super affordable) – great to stock up on some items when you’re out and about during the Snow Festival. Sadly, Bostonbake only exists in Hokkaido.

Recommended Food Experiences

Food in Japan is everywhere—but understanding what to order, where to go, and how it's meant to be eaten isn't always obvious at first. Convenience stores and casual restaurants make it easy to eat cheaply. But if you want to go deeper—into local neighbourhoods, small izakayas, or home-style cooking—context matters. One of the most effective ways we've found to bridge that gap is through small, locally hosted food experiences.

Eatwith connects travellers with vetted local hosts, offering cooking classes, neighbourhood food walks, and shared meals that help you understand not just the food, but the culture around it. If you're short on time—or want a more structured introduction—these are a practical way to avoid guesswork and experience Japanese food with confidence.

How much should the transportation budget be in Japan?

Our transport costs over the three months we spent exploring Japan averaged JPY 1,569 (just under USD 12) per person per day.

Air Travel

Given that Japan is an island country, we ended up taking two internal flights: The flight from Sapporo, Hokkaido, to Nara, Okinawa, cost us JPY16,580 each (with Peach Aviation), while the flight from Nara, Okinawa, to Hiroshima on Honshu cost JPY14,460 per person (with ANA). In both cases, unfortunately, we had to check our travel packs because the strict carry-on limit was 7 kilograms.

Train Travel

As we were keen to see the country and had more time to explore Japan than most foreign tourists, we always considered taking slower (and thus cheaper) trains rather than the Shinkansen. That said, we did want to ride the Shinkansen (and in some cases, there was just no feasible alternative). In the end, we took the bullet train three times: Our Hiroshima-to-Himeji trip cost JPY8,040 per person; the Kanazawa-to-Nagano journey cost JPY8,590 per person; and the ride from Odawara to Tokyo cost JPY3,280 per person.

The Shinkansen was always markedly more expensive than slower train options. As an example, the distance from Hiroshima to Himeji was 239 kilometres, with a per-kilometre cost of JPY33.64 on the Shinkansen, whereas the (slower) Rapid Express train from Himeji to Kyoto – a distance of 127 kilometres – cost JPY2,310 per person or JPY18.19 per kilometre. So, if you have time, take the slow train and save money.

And speaking of travelling slowly: If you’re in the Hakone area, ride the Hakone Tozan Train [Google Maps location] between Gora and Odawara. The scenery is stunning, and the train makes several switchbacks as it descends the mountain (or ascends if you make the trip in reverse)—a unique experience.

How to save on transport costs in Japan?

Japan boasts an efficient transportation system. But as we found out, transportation costs add up quickly, especially if you travel extensively around the country.

Rail Transportation

Japan-wide Rail Pass

The Japan-wide JR Rail Pass is a cost-effective option for visitors who plan to travel frequently during their stay. It’s available for 7-, 14-, and 21-day periods and is valid for consecutive days within the chosen timeframe. The pass allows unlimited travel on JR-operated services, including JR trains—even the Shinkansen (just NOT the Nozomi and Mizuho)—and JR-operated city buses. Seat reservations are included with the JR Rail Pass but must be obtained (free of charge) before travel.

The Japan-wide JR Rail Pass can only be purchased by foreigners outside Japan and must be exchanged for the actual pass upon arrival.

Although the JR (Japan Rail) Pass is a popular option for foreign tourists visiting Japan, it’s not the only way to save, and it may not even be worthwhile, depending on your itinerary. To determine if the Rail Pass is worthwhile, use an online route calculator to compare the costs of individual ticket purchases against the price of the pass.

Regional Rail Passes

If the Japan-wide JR Rail Pass is useless to you, one (or several) of the many Regional Rail Passes might be worthwhile. A big difference to the Japan-wide Rail Pass is that you can buy these passes while already in Japan (though they are slightly more expensive than if you bought them from overseas). Worthwhile options to check out include:

• JR East: the JR Tokyo Wide Pass
• JR West: the Kintetsu Rail Pass, JR West Kansai Area Pass, JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass or the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass
• JR Central: the JR Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass or JR Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Pass.

Without Rail Passes

Even without any of the rail passes, there are still ways to save on train travel in Japan:

• Shinkansen – Buy a non-reserved seat ticket (where available): This also offers greater flexibility as you’re not bound to a specific train. Which carriages are non-reserved varies from train to train (most often, it’s carriages 1-3 or 1-5). Arrive at the platform early to check out where the non-reserved carriages are located and position yourself/queue at the door marker of one of those carriages to increase your chances of getting a seat as you board.
• Alternatives – Opt for Limited Express trains: You may need to change trains along the way, but the trains in Japan are usually on time, and changing trains in Japan is not really stressful, especially if you travel light. Unless you’re travelling during rush hour, Limited Express trains are often less crowded than the Shinkansen, which also means you can save the seat reservation cost (where possible).

TIP In many areas of Japan, you can use an IC card to tap on/off rather than purchasing individual paper tickets for each journey. This saves time and makes train travel more convenient.

What are IC cards?

In Japan, you will often encounter the term IC card (IC stands for Integrated Circuit). IC cards are essentially plastic cards that can be topped up, and the amount stored on the card is used for transportation—simply by tapping on/off at the card reader—and increasingly at convenience stores and other places.

Each region issues their version of the IC card; for example

• If you enter via Narita Airport or Haneda Airport in Tokyo, you will buy the Suica IC Card.
• You can purchase the ICOCA card upon entering Osaka Kansai Airport.

Fortunately, 10 of the most common IC cards (including the two above) can be used across regions (and likely more will be added over time). Some areas (including Nagano and Okinawa prefectures) only allow their own IC card (at this stage) or cash.

• Cards (including any stored funds) expire after 10 years of non-use, but you can reuse them if you return to Japan within that timeframe.
• You can return it (and get a refund to the card for the money you spent plus the deposit you paid for the card itself)—as long as it's in the region where you bought it.
• You can load the IC card onto your smartphone via Apple Pay or Google Pay, but you won't be able to get a refund for your deposit or any funds stored when you leave the country.

Bus Transportation

Buses can be a good alternative to trains (especially for medium to long-distance and competitive routes). Do note, though, that while train timetables are (mostly) reliable, buses can be stuck in traffic just like any other road transport (and delays of 30 minutes and more are not unusual).

Bus Passes

One way to save on transport costs in Japan is to purchase a Willer Express Bus Pass. This pass allows you to travel for 3, 5, or 7 days within a period specified by you.

• Advantages: The travel days do not need to be consecutive, giving you flexibility in your itinerary. Willer Express has several night buses, which can save on accommodation costs. Additionally, you can easily book your seats in advance online through the user-friendly Willer Express website.
• Disadvantages: The pass can only be used on Willer Express buses and only on the least comfortable four-seat-per-row bus types.

Smart PAYG

Even without a bus pass, you can save money when travelling by bus in Japan:

• Avoid backtracking and travel point to point instead. For example, stop in Shirakawa on the way from Takayama to Kanazawa (or vice versa) rather than visit the UNESCO World Heritage site on a day trip—this also reduces carbon emissions.
• Make use of specials—Just ask at the local tourist office at your destination or check the websites of the bus companies operating there, such as Alpico and Nohi Bus in the Japanese Alps. Make sure they are worthwhile by comparing individual fares (via Google Maps) against the special fare.

Other Expenses you may incur when travelling to Japan

Travel Insurance

We always buy travel insurance because overseas medical costs can add up quickly, and our travel packs hold pretty much everything we own. For a longer trip like Japan, we think the real question is not whether to get cover, but whether the policy actually matches how you plan to travel.

Before buying, we recommend reviewing the exclusions and activity limits. That matters even more if you plan to hire a motorbike, hike at higher elevations, or do anything that sits outside ordinary sightseeing. A policy can look fine at first glance, but the fine print is what tells you whether you are actually covered if something goes wrong.

For this trip, we used Cover-More. Our joint Cover-More Travel Insurance Single Trip International Comprehensive+ policy for three months in Japan cost us USD1,022, which worked out at just under USD6 per person per day. We did not need to make a claim, so we cannot comment on the claims process itself. Looking back, though, we would now spend more time comparing policies side by side before buying, rather than settling on the first option that seemed to fit.

If you want to compare policies more easily, Insubuy is a useful next step. As a travel insurance marketplace, it lets you review different options in one place, making it easier to compare pricing, benefits, and exclusions before you commit.

Finance and Bank Fees

Japan surprised us. Although cards are widely accepted, cash still matters in many situations, especially once you get beyond the most straightforward tourist payments. That means it is worth setting up your travel money properly before you arrive, rather than assuming your usual bank card will work the way you expect.

Our biggest lesson was simple: travel with both a debit card and a credit card, and do not rely on just one. We now see the debit card as the better option for cash withdrawals, while a credit card is an important backup for purchases, emergencies, or times when your main card does not work as expected.

Looking back, we would focus less on finding just any card with low fees and more on building a smarter system before the trip: a debit card for cash withdrawals, a credit card as a backup, and a clear understanding of how each card behaves overseas. That matters in Japan, where a small card-setting issue or ATM surprise can quickly turn into wasted time, unnecessary fees, or both.

That is one reason we now use the Wise Debit Card more than ever. It gives us a simpler way to manage travel spending, access cash, and keep a closer eye on exchange rates before and during a trip. And while the main use case here is withdrawing yen and paying day-to-day costs, Wise can also be useful if you need to send money to Japan ahead of time, for example, to move funds into place before arrival or pay a Japanese bank account directly.

Luggage Transfer and Storage Services

Unless you plan to hike the Kumano Kodo or Nakasendo, you will likely not need a luggage transfer service. We ended up using luggage transfer twice (both times with Yamato Transport):

• On our final day on the Kumano Kodo, paying JPY2,500 for the same-day transfer of one travel pack from Koguchi to Nachikatsuura and
• During our Nakasendo hike, we paid JPY1,620 for the standard transfer of one travel pack from Osaka to Matsumoto.

We also used luggage storage facilities on occasion to store our travel packs for a few hours or to store excess luggage during our week-long Kumano Kodo hike. The total storage costs were JPY3,640 (an average of JPY607 per storage use). If you need to store excess baggage in Osaka, we recommend Daikoku Locker.

Haircuts and Massages

When you explore a country for three months, you will likely need a haircut (in that country). I had mine at a barber in Osaka about halfway through our trip for JPY2,200 (a bit over USD16).

We also took the opportunity to get a 90- and 60-minute massage, respectively, just before the Nagano Marathon at Relaxation Salon Lovina [Official website, Google Maps location] for a total cost of JPY13,200 (or JPY6,600/around USD49 per massage). It was well worth it, and we both would recommend it to anyone visiting Nagano.

Donations and Gifts

It is traditional and appropriate to make a donation when visiting a Shinto shrine. It doesn’t have to be a lot, especially when you throw loose change into the large container before you bow your head and clap your hands. All our donations totalled JPY1,511.

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