I used to believe the common refrain that “Japan is too expensive.” For years, that myth kept me away from visiting. I heard stories of $300 sushi dinners and costly bullet train tickets, and I often chose destinations like Vietnam or Thailand instead, assuming Japan would break my budget.
This expensive image of Japan dates back to the 1980s economic boom, when prices in Japan truly were sky-high. But times have changed. When I finally touched down in Tokyo, I was surprised to find that traveling in Japan can be no more expensive than a trip in Western Europe or North America, but in fact, in some ways it felt cheaper than my travels in Australia.
Sure, Japan isn’t as dirt-cheap as rural Southeast Asia, but overall costs are often lower than in places like Singapore, Australia, or Scandinavia. With the Japanese yen fairly weak in recent years, my dollars stretched farther in Japan than they would at home – I essentially got 30-40% more yen for my money than a few years ago. In hindsight, I realized the real question isn’t “Is Japan expensive?” but rather “How can you experience Japan affordably?”
Finding Affordable Accommodation Across the Country
I was consistently impressed by the quality and value of accommodations in Japan. Even the budget options were clean, safe, and well-equipped – far nicer than equivalently priced rooms I’ve rented in North America.
In fact, what might cost over $100 a night for a simple hotel in Canada or the U.S. could cost as little as ¥7,000-¥10,000 (about $50-$80) in Japan. I learned that Japanese hospitality standards are high across the board: pristine rooms and plentiful amenities are common even in lower-end hotels.
During my trip, I often paid under ¥8,000 for a private business hotel – the kind of no-frills, efficient hotel aimed at salarymen – and this usually included a small but comfortable en-suite room, fast Wi-Fi, and even a simple breakfast. Paying $60 for such a room in Tokyo felt like a bargain, especially when I recalled spending more for a crummy motel off a highway back home.
To keep costs down, I mixed up my stays. In major cities, I sometimes stayed in hostels or capsule hotels, which in Japan are an experience unto themselves. For ¥2,000-¥4,000 ($20-$40) you can get a clean bunk or a futuristic sleeping pod.
One night in Osaka, I slept in a capsule hotel – essentially a cozy pod – for about ¥3,500, and it even had a spa floor with a hot bath and massage chairs. It was remarkably comfortable for the price.
Other times, I’d opt for business hotel chains like Toyoko Inn or Super Hotel, which often charge around ¥6,000-¥9,000 per night in smaller cities.
These business hotels are ubiquitous near train stations nationwide, meaning I found consistent prices whether I was in Hiroshima or in a smaller city like Kanazawa. Notably, prices tended to be higher in Tokyo, but even there I found deals by booking in less-central districts and well in advance.
Conversely, smaller towns and rural areas offered great bargains – in one mountain town, I snagged a room in a family-run inn for under ¥5,000. As one budget travel guide wisely noted, Tokyo will burn through your budget fastest, while smaller towns have plenty of reasonably priced beds.
Of course, Japan also offers unique stays you shouldn’t miss. I couldn’t resist spending a night in a ryokan, a traditional inn with tatami mats and hot springs. These are usually pricey (often ¥20,000+ with included kaiseki dinner and breakfast), but by traveling in the off-season I found a deal for ¥12,000 (around $100) at a lovely onsen ryokan in rural Kyushu.
It included a multi-course home-cooked dinner and a morning soak in a thermal bath – pure bliss. Traditional lodgings can be affordable if you plan right: many ryokan drop their rates drastically in low season.
Alternatively, I tried a minshuku (a family-run bed-and-breakfast) in the Japan Alps, which offered a homestyle dinner and futon bedding for about ¥8,000. These minshuku give the same cultural experience as ryokans but at a fraction of the price.
Between capsule hotels, business hotels, and occasional splurges on inns, I found that accommodation costs in Japan were actually lower than in many Western countries for comparable quality.
My travel partner and I averaged about $110 total per night for two people – roughly $55 each – which is on par with or better than what we’ve spent in parts of Europe. In short, mid-range travelers have plenty of comfortable, affordable places to sleep all over Japan.
Getting Around
Japan’s transportation is modern, efficient…and sometimes notorious for its cost. It’s true that if you buy individual bullet train tickets for long distances, the price can make your eyes water (for example, a one-way Shinkansen ride from Tokyo to Kyoto runs around ¥14,000, or $100+).
But here’s the good news: with smart planning and the right passes, getting around Japan can be both convenient and affordable. As a foreign visitor, I took full advantage of the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass).
This pass, available exclusively to tourists, offers unlimited rides on JR trains (including nearly all Shinkansen bullet trains, plus JR buses and even a ferry) for a fixed period of 1, 2, or 3 weeks.
The upfront cost runs a few hundred dollars – I paid roughly what I’d budget for a couple of long train rides – but it paid for itself after my first few hops across the country. With my 7-day pass in hand, I gleefully crisscrossed Japan: Tokyo to Osaka, Osaka to Hiroshima, Hiroshima back to Tokyo, racking up rides that would have cost far more if bought separately.
The freedom to just flash my pass and hop on a bullet train felt incredible. It turned a potentially expensive aspect of Japan into a fixed, reasonable expense.
When I wasn’t using a nationwide JR Pass, I discovered a plethora of regional passes and deals. Japan offers transit passes for almost every region or city, which can be much cheaper if you’re exploring one area. In Kansai, for example, I bought a regional rail pass that covered Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe for a few days at a cost far lower than individual tickets.
In Hakone, I used a “Free Pass” that bundled the mountain trains, cable cars, buses, and even a scenic pirate ship ferry (yes, really) into one ticket – saving me money as I looped around the sights.
For travelers with more time than money, Japan has options like the Seishun 18 Pass, a special ticket that gives you 5 days of unlimited local train rides anywhere in the country for just ¥12,050 (about $85).
I met backpackers who used this pass to leisurely zigzag through Japan on local trains, spending very little (though it requires patience since bullet trains aren’t included).
And for shorter distances or off-the-beaten-path travel, Japan’s highway buses are a budget-friendly alternative – an overnight bus from Tokyo to Hiroshima, for instance, can cost significantly less than the Shinkansen and doubles as accommodation for the night.
What if you need to travel really far, say Hokkaido in the far north or Okinawa way south? I was happy to find that discount airlines like Peach Aviation and Jetstar Japan offer surprisingly cheap flights on those routes. I snagged a round-trip flight from Tokyo to Sapporo (Hokkaido) for about ¥12,000 (under $100) by booking a sale fare – an incredible deal to reach Japan’s northern wilderness.
In general, domestic flights between distant points can be found for around $100-$150 if you plan ahead. Major carriers JAL and ANA even have special fares for foreign tourists that make flying inside Japan affordable.
By mixing and matching these transit options – rail passes for intensive travel periods, regional passes when staying in one area, buses or low-cost flights when convenient – I kept my transportation costs in check.
Over 2.5 weeks, I averaged about $25-$30 per day on transportation, which is comparable to what I might spend on trains and buses in Europe.
One more strategy saved me money: slow down and savor one region at a time. Japan’s geography is wonderfully compact; you’re almost never more than an hour or two from mountains, beaches, or hot springs, no matter where you are. I realized I didn’t have to cross the whole country every day to experience variety.
For instance, I made Osaka my base for a week and did day trips to Nara’s deer parks and Kobe’s harbor, all on cheap local trains. Because Japanese cities and towns are so well-connected (and walkable once you arrive), I could stay put in one hotel and explore multiple places nearby on the cheap.
Skipping a couple of hotel check-outs and long transfers not only saved me money, it also gave me a deeper feel for each region. In the end, getting around Japan was far less expensive than I’d feared – and a lot more fun. With a bit of planning, transport became a highlight of my trip rather than a budget buster.
Dining
A hearty bowl of Fukuoka’s tonkotsu ramen – a mouthwatering dinner for under ¥800. If there’s one thing that truly delighted me, it’s how affordable delicious food is in Japan. From sushi counters to ramen joints, I ate very well on my mid-range budget.
In big cities and small towns alike, I could wander into a local eatery and fill up on a satisfying meal for about ¥1,000 (roughly $7-$10) – tax included, and no tipping ever. In fact, even in touristy areas, ¥1,000 can buy a full set meal (known as teishoku) complete with rice, miso soup, pickles, and a main dish like grilled fish or fried chicken.
I remember one evening in Kyoto: I sat down in a little family-run restaurant and enjoyed a tempura set with all the fixings for ¥900. I couldn’t believe the value – a similar meal in New York or London would easily cost me double plus 20% tip, whereas in Japan there’s no tipping at all.
It became a fun challenge for me to find the tastiest cheap eats. I slurped countless bowls of ramen (typically ¥700-¥1,000 each, or about $5-$8) and savored Tokyo’s famed sushi without emptying my wallet.
In fact, some of my favorite sushi meals were at standing sushi bars where ¥3,000 ($20) bought a feast of fresh nigiri – not exactly Southeast Asia prices, but incredibly reasonable for the quality of seafood I got.
And on days when I wanted to be extra frugal, Japan’s culinary secret weapon was there for me: the convenience store. Yes, you read that right. The ubiquitous 7-Elevens, Lawsons, and Family Marts in Japan are a godsend for budget travelers.
I often grabbed a breakfast or light lunch from the “konbini” – maybe a couple of onigiri (rice balls) at ¥120 each and a canned coffee for ¥100 – and had a perfectly tasty meal for under ¥400 ($3).
These aren’t sad, stale convenience foods either; Japan’s ready-made snacks and bento boxes are shockingly high quality. Even celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain once praised Japanese convenience store cuisine.
I quickly learned why: for ¥500 ($4) or less, you can pick up items like a fresh sandwich, a bowl of pasta, or a bento with rice and meat, all prepared fresh daily. Many mornings, I’d pop into Lawson for a ¥150 pork bun or a ¥100 yogurt and be set until lunch.
To put some typical prices in perspective, here are a few everyday food costs I experienced (converted roughly to USD): a bakery pastry or hot meat bun for $2, a generous bowl of noodles (udon or soba) for $4-$5, a basic ramen for $6-$8, a donburi (rice bowl topped with beef or tempura) for around $5, and a combo fast-food meal for $6-$7.
Dining in Japan often felt like a steal, especially considering the quality. In fact, I noticed something interesting: eating out alone in Japan can be just as cheap, or cheaper, than cooking for yourself.
Groceries aren’t overly expensive, but they’re not super cheap either – and buying ingredients for one person can add up. Meanwhile, restaurants (from noodle counters to curry shops) have perfected the art of the affordable single serving. For budget travelers, this is great news. I could eat out for most meals without guilt.
On nights when I did visit supermarkets, I timed it for the magical end-of-day sales: typically after 7 or 8 PM, supermarkets start discounting their prepared foods and sushi packs. I scored half-price bento boxes for ¥250 (under $2) because they were clearing out today’s stock.
Imagine enjoying a full dinner of teriyaki chicken, rice, and salad for the price of a soda back home! I even treated myself to some high-end department store deli foods (“depachika”) at closing time, when fancy items like sashimi and tempura go on sale. Competing with little old ladies hunting bargains was an adventure of its own, but the reward was gourmet bites at fast-food prices.
All in all, food in Japan proved to be both outstanding and budget-friendly. I never felt like I skimped on meals; quite the opposite, I ate some of the best food of my life there. Whether it was a ¥300 street-food yakitori stick or a ¥1200 hearty ramen with all the toppings, I always felt I got great value.
Compared to traveling in the West where I’m always watching my restaurant spending, in Japan I could follow my stomach without overspending.
For mid-range travelers, this means you can enjoy Japan’s famous cuisine – sushi, ramen, yakitori, you name it – on a daily basis without blowing your budget. You might even find, as I did, that a $10 meal in Japan can be as satisfying as a $30 meal elsewhere.
Attractions and Experiences
One of the wonderful things about Japan is that many of its best experiences are either free or very low-cost. As a traveler, I often found that the moments I cherished most didn’t require opening my wallet at every turn.
For example, wandering through the thousands of vermilion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto at dawn didn’t cost me a single yen – and it remains one of my most magical memories.
Similarly, I spent blissful hours strolling the historic streets of Gion, hiking in the forests around Nikko, and people-watching in Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park on a Sunday, all for free. Japan is culturally rich at street level: just walking through a neighborhood or browsing a local market is entertainment in itself.
I realized that “wandering is free,” as an old travel article put it, and it’s absolutely true in Japan. In fact, when I think back on my trip, many highlights – like seeing the neon spectacle of Shibuya Crossing or enjoying a peaceful moment by a mountain lake in Hokkaido – didn’t cost a penny.
As that article noted, often the things that stick with you most from a trip are those that didn’t cost anything.
Of course, Japan also has plenty of paid attractions, but I was happy to discover that entrance fees are usually quite reasonable. Many temples and shrines are completely free to enter, and those that do charge tend to ask only a token fee (often just ¥300-¥500, which is about $2-$4).
For instance, all the major shrines in Tokyo were free, and in Kyoto, places like Kiyomizu-dera or the Golden Pavilion had small fees around ¥400. Coming from trips in Europe where I’ve paid $15 to enter a cathedral or $25 for a famous museum, these Japanese prices felt like a bargain.
I visited the beautifully landscaped Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa for only ¥300, and the ticket to the unique Ghibli Museum in Tokyo was just ¥1,000 (roughly $7) – an almost symbolic price for a very popular attraction. Museums generally ranged from ¥500 to ¥1,500 ($4-$12) for admission.
Even sumo wrestling matches, which I assumed would be expensive, offered affordable seats; I paid about ¥3,000 for a half-day of sumo in Tokyo (though ringside box seats can cost a lot more, up to ¥45,000 for a group).
I also took advantage of local festivals (matsuri) whenever I could, which were free to attend and provided endless entertainment and cultural insight. One evening in Osaka, I stumbled upon a summer festival with street food stalls and fireworks – my only expense was the ¥500 I spent on tasty takoyaki (octopus fritters) from a vendor.
Another day, I joined a free guided walking tour in Hiroshima (many cities offer volunteer guides at no charge, or for a token tip if you insist) and learned so much about the city’s history without spending anything.
For a mid-range traveler, the key takeaway is that you don’t need to budget a fortune for sightseeing in Japan. By balancing a few selective splurges with a lot of free or cheap activities, I kept my daily activities cost very low.
In fact, looking at my expenses, I averaged only a few dollars per day on attractions over my trip. Some days I spent nothing to have an incredible time – for example, hiking in the Alps or wandering the streets of Kyoto. Other days I might pay a small fee to enter a castle or museum.
It evened out to be far less than I’ve spent touring other countries. And whenever I did pay for an experience, I felt I got great value. For example, paying ¥4,000 (~$30) for a day pass to Tokyo Disneyland was totally worth it for me (that’s cheaper than most Disney parks elsewhere).
Even riding the shinkansen could be seen as an attraction in itself – the experience of gliding at 300 kph past Mt. Fuji feels almost like a tour, included in my JR Pass.
All in all, Japan proved that enjoying world-class sights and culture doesn’t have to drain your funds. Many of the country’s charms are available to travelers for free or for very little cost, which is a huge plus for budget-conscious explorers.
Smart Budget Strategies for Japan Travel
To wrap up, here’s a checklist of smart strategies I used (or learned from fellow travelers) that can help mid-range travelers enjoy Japan affordably:
- Use Rail Passes for Long Distances: If you plan to city-hop, consider the Japan Rail Pass or regional rail passes. The JR Pass provides unlimited travel on JR trains (including bullet trains) for a set period. It can save a ton if you’re covering large distances. Alternatively, look into area-specific passes (e.g., a Kansai Pass for Osaka/Kyoto region) or discount tickets like the Seishun 18 Pass for unlimited local train travel during school holiday periods. These passes turned expensive rides into flat, manageable costs for me.
- Mix Transit Modes: For certain routes, overnight buses or low-cost domestic flights can be cheaper than trains. I used a Willer Express overnight bus once to save on a night’s accommodation and fare. And airlines like Peach, JetStar, ANA’s Experience Japan fare, etc., offer flights in the $50-$100 range that can be cheaper for reaching far-flung places. Don’t hesitate to compare – resources like Hyperdia and Navitime let you check train vs. flight vs. bus costs easily.
- Eat Like (and Where) the Locals Do: Enjoy Japan’s inexpensive culinary delights. Seek out ramen shops, noodle stands, curry houses, conveyor-belt sushi, and izakayas where locals grab dinner – you can eat well for under ¥1000-¥1500. Convenience store meals are a traveler’s best friend for quick, cheap bites. I often had a ¥500 lunch from 7-Eleven that was tasty and filling. Also, look for lunch specials at restaurants: many places offer set menus at midday for a discount (I had a fantastic sashimi teishoku at noon for half of what it would cost at dinner). And remember, no tipping in Japan – a cultural bonus that makes dining out more affordable.
- Opt for Business Hotels, Hostels, and Minshuku: You don’t need luxury hotels to sleep comfortably. Business hotels (like the nationwide chains or local ones) offer private rooms that are small but complete, usually $50-$100 a night. Hostels and capsule hotels are plentiful and often in the $20-$40 range if you’re solo and don’t mind shared space or a pod. For a cultural touch, try a minshuku (Japanese B&B) – they give you a traditional room and home-cooked meals for under $100 in many cases. I found all these options clean, safe, and enjoyable – and far cheaper than Western hotels of equivalent quality.
- Travel in Off-Peak Seasons: Timing can impact your budget. I purposely visited in winter (January), which is off-peak for tourism, and I scored lower rates on hotels and airfare. If you can avoid the cherry blossom season and New Year holidays (peak times), you’ll find not only lower prices but also smaller crowds. Even traveling just before or after the busiest periods (e.g., late autumn or summer’s end) can make a difference in cost. Plus, some pricey experiences like ryokan stays become more affordable in the off-season when they offer discounted rates.
- Use Free Attractions and Discount Passes: Make a list of free attractions in each city – Japan has plenty. Parks, shrines, walking districts, observation decks (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building’s observatory is free, for example) won’t cost you anything. Many cities also offer discounted day passes for public transport that include entry to certain sights, or combination tickets (a temple combo ticket, museum pass, etc.). I grabbed a ¥500 Kyoto bus day-pass that saved me money after just 3 rides. Take advantage of these little deals; they add up to big savings while sightseeing. And remember, just exploring Japanese streets and markets can be the best entertainment of all – at no cost.
- Shop Smart and Cheap: If you need to buy everyday items or even souvenirs, hit the 100-yen shops (like Daiso or Seria). These are Japan’s equivalent of dollar stores, but with much better stuff – you can find anything from kitchenware to quirky souvenirs for ¥100 each. I bought toiletries, an umbrella, and some cute gifts all for a buck apiece. For bigger souvenirs, consider supermarkets or local shops instead of tourist traps; I found locally made snacks and sake at normal grocery prices to bring home as gifts.
The constraints of budgeting led me to more authentic, interesting experiences – I ate where locals eat, traveled the way locals do, and discovered places I might have skipped if I were spending lavishly.
Final Thoughts
In the end, my journey through Japan was not defined by what I spent, but by the richness of the experience. I learned that Japan can be as expensive or as affordable as you make it. If you seek out luxury, you’ll find plenty of ways to empty your wallet (and by all means, if you can, enjoy that $300 sushi!).
But if you’re a traveler like me, aiming for a comfortable mid-range adventure, rest assured: Japan welcomes you. With a bit of planning and an open mind, you can ride bullet trains, savor sushi, soak in hot springs, and wander ancient temples – all without coming home to a drained bank account.
So, is Japan as expensive as they say? No – at least, it doesn’t have to be. For the savvy mid-range traveler, Japan is filled with opportunities to save money while still fully experiencing its culture, cuisine, and natural beauty.
