Japan is a good first vacation spot for American vacationers seeking to journey to Asia. It provides a singular style of East Asian tradition, albeit in a highly-developed, Western-influenced setting. Japan is a really spectacular vacation spot. However if you’re questioning “how a lot does it price to go to Japan?”, that reply can generally be so much. Not like different fashionable Asian locations like China or Thailand, it is extremely straightforward to go broke in Japan.
Nonetheless, whereas Japan is an costly nation, there are alternatives for funds journey in Japan. The journey to Japan price relies on your journey type, nevertheless it needn’t be as costly as you thought. This Japan journey funds breakdown will present you the way and the place to avoid wasting in your go to.
Japan has a lot to supply, however for a primary journey, splitting your time between Tokyo and Kyoto over two weeks in Japan is finest. Your first expertise with Japan is a complete assault on the senses, so you actually ought to decelerate and stick to only a few locations. Should you return, you possibly can then comply with this longer Japan itinerary or go to locations like Hokkaido, the western coast of Honshu and Kanazawa, Shikoku, and Okinawa.
How a lot does a visit to Japan price?
Be aware: This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. Should you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I’ll obtain a small fee for free of charge to you.
I based mostly this funds on my private expertise of what it prices to journey to Japan and broke it down by airfare, lodging, transportation, actions, and meals. This breakdown assumes you’re visiting Japan with children for the next:
- A household of 4 with two adults and two children below 12
- Two-week journey, together with two journey days, with 12 nights in Japan
- Six nights in Tokyo and 6 nights in Kyoto
- Touring throughout excessive or shoulder seasons (though not the highest peak journey dates throughout Cherry Blossom season, then you possibly can count on to pay premium pricing throughout the board.)
- Impartial vacationers which can be comfy exploring on their very own and never seeking to guide a package deal tour or use personal guides
Airfare to Japan
The primary large expense for a visit to Japan is, in fact, airfare. Economic system class flights to Japan from New York throughout shoulder and excessive seasons will possible begin at round $1,300 per individual and simply go as much as $2000.
Air Canada and Delta with layovers in Toronto and Detroit, respectively, are widespread choices at a worth level like this. In case you are seeking to fly nonstop to Japan on United or one of many extra upscale Asian carriers like Japan Airways will most likely price round $2,000 from the East Coast.
West Coasters may discover barely cheaper fares, however whichever coast you begin from, it’s a good journey to make use of your frequent flier miles and factors as that can actually assist along with your Japan journey funds. It’s best to guide airfare a minimum of six months upfront, or as early as doable.
Whole airfare price: $1,300+ every x 4 vacationers= $5,200+
Lodging in Japan
The excellent news is that airfare is certainly probably the most prohibitive price for a visit to Japan. The lodging choices are literally not that unhealthy. An evening in a 4-star lodge in Tokyo will vary anyplace from $250-$400 per room, with a median of $350 per evening for a room giant sufficient to sleep 4.
Discover a Lodge in Tokyo
Lodge costs in Kyoto are wider-ranging, maybe as a result of there are far fewer choices than in Tokyo. The general common comes out to about $240 per room, per evening for a 4-star property that can match a household of 4.
Discover a Lodge in Kyoto
In case you are touring as a household, you’ll most likely need extra space than what you discover in a typical Japanese lodge room (even past the capsule motels). If you wish to lower your expenses and get extra space, I might suggest renting an condo via vrbo or Airbnb.
You may get a pleasant, household trip rental for about $130 per evening (and a very nice one for about $180 an evening). The perfect half is that you just’ll have a kitchen and a eating room the place you possibly can carry ready meals house to eat and even strive cooking your self, which is useful for budgeting since consuming out in Japan might be dear.
Rental choices in Kyoto are way more restricted and dearer, however it’s doable to seek out one thing inexpensive and actually cool. Plenty of the leases in Kyoto are in older homes inbuilt conventional Japanese types. The condo the place I stayed in Kyoto had stunning woodwork, tatami mats, and rice paper screens.
Whole lodging price should you keep in motels: $350 instances 6 nights in Tokyo + $240 instances 6 nights in Kyoto = $3,540
Whole lodging prices should you keep in residences: $180 instances 6 nights in Tokyo + $200 instances 6 nights in Kyoto = $2,280 (however it may be cheaper)
Transportation Prices in Japan
Transportation is one other dear a part of touring in Japan. I don’t suggest touring by taxi fairly often in Japan, since they’re fairly costly, however there can be instances when it’s your best option, particularly within the warmth of summer time. Taxis in Japan work equally to taxis within the U.S., charging the next beginning price for the primary couple kilometers of journey with extra prices added on for any additional distance.
For instance, you may be charged about ¥500 for the flat fare and an extra ¥200 for every extra kilometer. (Japan Information provides an in depth clarification of how taxi fares work in Japan.) A typical taxi trip from the middle of Kyoto to Higashiyama, for instance, would most likely price upwards of ¥2,000 (or about $15.)
Japan’s public transportation networks in metropolitan areas are feats of recent city planning. Trains arrive and depart on the exactly scheduled second. They’re completely clear, they run easily, they usually take you to wherever you want to go.
It may be a bit daunting when you’ve got no information of Japanese to make sense of the transit system maps, however you’ll ultimately get the cling of it. Shopping for a prepare ticket isn’t too difficult both, as there’s normally an English-language choice on the self-service sales space screens.
In Tokyo, one-day tickets for the metro are ¥600 (about $4.50) for adults and half that for youngsters. In Kyoto, the metro is a bit more costly, with one-way fares costing about the identical because the one-day tickets in Tokyo do.
For touring longer distances in Japan, suburban trains and the Shinkansen (bullet prepare) are the best way to go. In case you are planning on taking a number of railway journeys, then it is sensible to get a rail go. Rail passes are bought by length (i.e., every week prices an additional sum of money), and they don’t seem to be low-cost.
A daily fare for the JR 7-day rail go is about $224, and a 14-day go is $353 (kids’s passes are half the value.) This doesn’t embrace transport and dealing with and some other processing charges. Ensure that to guide rail passes far upfront.
You can not purchase them in Japan— they should be bought inside the US with a sound passport a number of weeks earlier than touring to Japan. There are a number of web sites the place you should purchase passes together with Japan Rail Cross, JR Cross, and Inside Japan Excursions (that is the place I purchased my go.)
The rail go comes with added perks, which embrace not having to order a seat on long-distance trains, the power to make use of the go on suburban JR trains, in addition to free entry to the Narita Specific between downtown Tokyo and Narita Worldwide Airport.
Rail go prices: $353 per full worth JR go x 2 +$180 per kids’s worth JR go x 2 = $1,066, plus
Metro ticket prices: [2 x $4.50 metro tickets x 2 + 2 $2.50 children’s price metro ticket x 2] x 12 days = $169, plus
Taxi fare: $20 per occasional taxi trip x 4 = $80
Whole transportation prices: $1,314
Sightseeing and Actions Prices in Japan
Among the finest components about budgeting for Japan is that it’s straightforward to sightsee by yourself with no information and lots of of Tokyo and Kyoto’s most well-known points of interest are free.
Temples and museums cost small entrance charges, normally ¥600 (about $4.50) per grownup, half worth for youngsters. This consists of issues to do in Tokyo like Senso-ji temple, and the Tokyo Nationwide Museum in Ueno Park.
Most of Kyoto’s points of interest and temples sometimes cost related small entrance charges, like Ginkaku-ji temple, Temple of 10,000 Buddhas, and the Iwatayama Monkey Park close to Arashiyama.
There are a few main points of interest that can price, most notably the Tokyo Sky Tree, which costs about $15 per grownup ticket (not together with Quick Monitor), with a diminished fare for youngsters.
Tokyo Dome costs about $30 per ticket with diminished fares for youngsters, however that ticket covers the entire amusement park– the person museums there (just like the Japanese Baseball Museum) are about the identical worth as most temples could be. The Mori Artwork Museum additionally costs increased than typical ticket costs, however the ticket consists of entry to a number of galleries, in addition to Tokyo Metropolis View.
Japan’s fascinating historical past has produced a wealthy and complicated tradition. Vacationers on the lookout for conventional Japanese experiences have loads of choices on the subject of cultural actions. They arrive with a price ticket although.
Possibility 1: Attending a Sumo Apply or Match
Watching Sumo wrestlers hone and observe their martial artwork is a stunningly stunning cultural expertise. Tournaments are solely held seasonally, and tickets must be booked upfront. To not worry should you gained’t be in Japan for a event although, Sumo practices are held in Sumo-beya (Sumo Stables) all through the remainder of the yr.
Basic admission tickets for Sumo Matches are solely about $2, however in order for you higher seats, an affordable seat will go for about $35, with a lower-end household field going for about $110. Anticipate to pay a number of instances as a lot for a greater ticket or field.
Whole per household: about $200
Possibility 2: Kabuki
Kabuki is a kind of conventional Japanese theater. The costumes and masks are stunning, and the performances are fascinating, even should you can’t actually perceive what’s going on. The everyday locations to look at Kabuki are the Kabuki-za Theatre in Tokyo and the Minami-za Theatre in Kyoto.
Tickets can price anyplace from $27-$220, based mostly on the seat high quality. There are pill rental companies for ¥500 out there for vacationers who don’t converse Japanese that connect to your seat through the efficiency so you will get a greater sense of what’s going on.
Whole per household: about $160
Different choices for cultural actions embrace tea ceremonies, origami lessons, calligraphy lessons, and kimono sampling lessons. A tough estimate of the value for every of those actions might be someplace between $50-$80 per individual. Should you’re in Japan for somewhat below two weeks, I might suggest choosing 1-3 cultural actions, relying in your funds.
Whole sightseeing prices: 2 $5.50 grownup fares per attraction + 2 $2.75 baby fares per attraction x 2 points of interest per day x 12 days of sightseeing = $396
Cultural exercise prices: 2 cultural actions instances $220 per household = $440 (this price will range vastly relying on the kind of exercise and what number of you select, i.e, count on to funds much more should you’re planning on experiencing Kaiseki).
Whole sightseeing and points of interest prices: $836
Meals Prices in Japan
Should you aren’t going to Japan a minimum of partially for the meals, you then’re doing it incorrect! Consuming in Japan is a extremely particular expertise, irrespective of your worth level. With such a singular delicacies, it’s inconceivable to become bored with consuming on a go to to Japan— that’s, if you’re an adventurous eater.
Consuming out in Japan might be costly. Average-range eating places and Izakaya (eating places with bars) will price about $15-$20 per individual for lunch, and $25-$35 for dinner. The excellent news is that it’s doable to expertise nice Japanese meals with out consuming in most of these venues on a regular basis.
Specialised eating places, like ramen bars, are Japanese staples that serve up particular varieties of meals and are good for these doing Japan on a funds. It’s doable to seek out superb ramen bars (together with some Michelin-starred ones) that cost between $5-$15 for a big bowl. These kind of venues exist for a lot of different varieties of Japanese meals, like gyudon, tonkatsu, udon, okonomiyaki, curry homes. An instance of an affordable place like that is Curry Home Coco Ichibanya.
There are additionally shokudo and teishoku, that are smaller eating places that serve meals which can be much less fancy, however typically equally as tasty as Izakaya. Costs are about the identical as what you’ll discover at ramen bars— generally extra, generally much less. A few of these eating places are chains the place you order set meals, both from a paper menu or on these chunky, merchandising machine-looking units that spit out tickets.
An alternative choice for consuming out is choosing up bento bins from the ready meals sections of malls, like Daimaru, Takashimaya, Mitsukoshi, and Isetan. The meals is definitely very prime quality and is painstakingly ready, as is commonly the case with something in Japan. You’ll find nearly something on the malls, together with sushi, karaage, tonkatsu, yakisoba, zaru soba, eel, gyoza (dumplings), yakitori.
Good-sized meals at higher-quality malls will most likely price round $15 per individual. They’re simply transportable and an amazing choice to eat nice high quality Japanese meals at a cheaper price level. Konbini (Japanese comfort shops) provide related choices, albeit in smaller portions and of decrease high quality.
Road meals can also be nice in Japan. Since Japan is a extremely developed nation, consuming avenue meals is fairly secure, not like different nations in Asia the place People must be extra cautious. Japanese treats like taiyaki, takoyaki, yakitori, and different fan favorites might be bought, normally for cheaper than the meals you can find even at ramen bars. Japan additionally has a proliferation of high-quality merchandising machines nearly in every single place that spit out nice Japanese snacks and drinks for reasonable.
Breakfast in Japan is a smaller meal that consists of assorted fish and rice dishes, in addition to soup. An honest high quality breakfast shouldn’t price greater than $10. It is usually straightforward to make a DIY breakfast, particularly should you’re staying in a flat should you decide up ready and easy-to-prepare meals from konbini.
Whole meals prices in Japan: $150 per individual, per day x 14 days = $2,100
This price is topic to range vastly, relying on whether or not or not you’re staying in a lodge or in a rental, how fancy a restaurant you favor, whether or not or not you’re prepared to buy your individual meals within the malls, whether or not or not you wish to splurge for particular meals, and so forth.
Whole Japan Journey Finances
Should you keep in condo leases and don’t overdo it on meals or actions, you possibly can spend 12 nights in Japan for somewhat below $1,000 per day. After all, this assumes average-priced flight tickets through the excessive season, staying in good high quality trip leases moderately than motels, and consuming at lower-to-mid worth vary eating places.
In order for you an English-speaking information to points of interest, or should you take a variety of excursions, your actions prices will go up considerably.
| Class | Price |
| Airfare | $ 5,200 |
| Lodging | $ 2,280 |
| Transportation | $ 1,314 |
| Actions & Points of interest | $ 836 |
| Meals | $ 2,100 |
| Whole Japan journey funds | $11,730 |
Clearly, this quantity might be increased or decrease based mostly on the way you select to journey.
How A lot Does it Price to Go to Japan?
The underside line is that for a household of 4, with two younger kids, staying in a single room or a rental condo, a 12-night journey to Japan with 6 nights in Tokyo and 6 nights in Kyoto will price roughly $11,730 together with flights. This assumes you’re utilizing public transportation, consuming at informal eating places or choosing up takeaway meals, and limiting the variety of actions. This involves roughly $244 per individual, per day.
Take into account that this price will go up considerably if you wish to take personal excursions, personal transportation, or get pleasure from extra cultural actions or superb eating.
If Japan sounds too costly, you may as well try our journey budgets for:
PIN THIS FOR LATER
As we speak’s visitor submit is written by Max Levine. Max has been touring ever since he can bear in mind together with his household. In recent times, he has been the one who plans holidays for his household and for himself, from researching airfare and railway tickets to crafting itineraries. Max has traveled so much each within the US and internationally. He has additionally developed a penchant for writing. Max hopes to proceed pursuing alternatives to journey and write each in faculty and past that. All images by Max Levine.
