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Costs & Budgets

Home > Travel Tips > Cost of Travel

The cost of travel in Japan may not be as expensive as you think. Travelers are often surprised by how reasonable the prices are for sightseeing, food, and shopping.

Of course, you can find expensive items, such as a prized honeydew melon or a box of beautiful strawberries for 10,000 yen! But these prices are exceptional and do not reflect the average costs.

Average Cost of Travel in Japan

Kabuki-cho – Shinjuku, Japan

Kabuki-cho - Shinjuku, Japan

Breakdown of Costs

It is best to budget around $3,500 USD for a one-week trip to Japan for two people, not including airfare. It is possible to spend a little less or a lot more, depending on your preferences.

Budget for 2 People
DailyWeekly
Food (8 days)$100$800
Accommodation (3-star hotel for 7 nights)$200$1400
Transportation (7-Day Pass)$800
Sightseeing$150
Entertainment$100
Shopping$250

Yakitori Restaurant – Hamamatsu, Japan

Yakitori Restaurant - Hamamatsu, Japan

Food

There are so many options for good food at reasonable prices in Japan. For two people, plan on a daily budget of around 2,000 yen for breakfast, 2,000 yen for lunch, and 6,000 yen for dinner.

McDonald’s – Harajuku, Japan

Takeshita Dori - Harajuku, Japan

Breakfast or morning sets are available at most cafes for around 500-700 yen. A morning set usually includes toast, an egg or fruit, salad, and coffee or tea. There is also a McDonald’s on every corner if you want something familiar. Breakfast sets at McDonald’s include a hash brown and coffee for around 500 yen.

Japanese Udon Noodles

Japanese Udon Noodles

For lunch, you can choose from udon, soba, ramen, curry, sushi, onigiri, fast food such as Mos Burger, or a bento box for less than 1,000 yen per person. A teishoku set lunch from a Japanese restaurant ranges from 1,200-1,500 yen per person.

Typical Costs in Japan (Updated December 2022)
Water (500 ml bottle)120 yen
Coke (500 ml bottle)160 yen
Café Latte at Starbucks (Tall)455 yen
Donut at Mister Donut140 yen
Big Mac at McDonald’s450 yen
Big Mac Combo Meal710 yen
Roast Beef Sandwich at Subway590 yen
Bowl of Udon Noodles400-700 yen
Movie at the Cinema1,900 yen
Asahi Beer (330 ml can)230 yen
Malboro Cigarettes600 yen

Dinner at a Japanese restaurant, such as an Izakaya (Japanese bar and grill) or Okonomiyaki restaurant, is usually around 6,000 yen for two people (including drinks). You can find great restaurants near train stations and inside department stores.

Toyoko Inn Business Hotel – Japan

Toyoko Inn Business Hotel - Japan

Photo by Tzuhsun Hsu / CC BY-SA

Accommodation

When traveling with two people, the cheapest accommodation is a business hotel. Business hotels are conveniently located near popular train stations, have modern amenities, and are clean. Expect to spend around $100 per night for two people at a business hotel.

Capsule Hotel – Osaka, Japan

Capsule Hotel - Osaka, Japan

Single travelers looking to lower their budget may want to try hostels or capsule hotels, which run about 3,500 yen per night.

Hilton Executive Lounge – Nagoya, Japan

Hilton Executive Lounge - Nagoya, Japan

Luxury hotels, such as the Hilton or Marriott, and Ryokan (Japanese inns) typically charge per person and not per room. A stay at these types of hotels will increase the cost of travel in Japan. One night can range from 20,000-50,000 yen per person per night.

Recommended Hotels

See our recommendations for hotels in Tokyo and hotels in Kyoto.

Shinkansen Passing Mt. Fuji

Shinkansen Passing Mt. Fuji

©JNTO

Transportation

The best deal for travelers in Japan is the Rail Pass. The 7-Day Pass is around $300 per person and offers unlimited access on JR trains and Shinkansen.

Subway – Tokyo, Japan

Subway - Tokyo, Japan

If you’re going to do a lot of travel by subway in local areas, it is best to purchase a day pass or IC Card. Day Passes offer unlimited rides and are usually less than 1,000 yen.

Taxi – Shinjuku, Japan

Taxi - Shinjuku, Japan

Taxis can get expensive, so it is best to stick to the trains and subways when possible. A short ride in a taxi typically costs around 1,000 yen.

Kiyomizu Temple – Kyoto, Japan

Kiyomizu Temple - Kyoto, Japan

Sightseeing

Sightseeing is not so expensive. You can enter many temples and shrines for free. Generally, admission to notable temples, shrines, and castles is around 500 yen. Museums can cost around 1,000-2,000 yen.

Karaoke at Big Echo – Japan

Karaoke at Big Echo - Japan

Entertainment

It’s good to budget a little extra for a couple of fun nights of karaoke, movies, or clubs. The price of karaoke depends on the venue, but is generally 2,000-3,000 yen for one hour for two people. A new movie at the cinema is 1,900 yen per person. And clubs can vary from 2,000-3,000 yen for admission.

Souvenir Shops – Asakusa, Tokyo

Souvenir Shops - Asakusa, Tokyo

Shopping

Whether it’s electronics, clothing, or souvenirs, you’re going to want to budget money for shopping. 100 yen shops are a great place to find Japanese goods, such as chopsticks and sake sets. For more expensive items, tourists can enjoy tax-free shopping at major department and electronics stores (consumption tax is 10%).

Izakaya Restaurant – Hamamatsu, Japan

Becki and Shawn at an Izakaya Restaurant 2010

Tipping

There is no tipping in Japan. This includes the server at a five-star restaurant, taxi driver, delivery man, or bartender. If you leave money, they will usually just give it back to you. At some high-end establishments, a service charge is added to your bill, so no tip is expected.

Update: We’ve recently started using the WISE card for transferring funds into foreign currency. It’s a convenient and safe way to exchange, withdraw, and spend money while traveling.

You can use your WISE card anywhere MasterCard is accepted, and you can withdraw money from ATMs with minimal fees. You can read more about it in our Wise Card article.

Read More →

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Hi, we’re Becki and Shawn! We love Japan and are truly passionate about Japan and Japan travel.

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Becki & Shawn in Nara, Japan

Becki and Shawn
Japan Travel Specialists

Hi, we’re Becki and Shawn! We love Japan and are truly passionate about Japan and Japan travel.

We’ve lived, worked, and traveled in Japan for 20+ years, so we know where to go, what to see, and how to get there. Join us in Japan for an adventure of a lifetime!

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