Creating a Japan Travel Budget is an essential step that you must do before getting to the country. For me, the budget is a culmination of all my research and planning for my trip, so I actually find it quite fun! Take this time to sit down and write down all things you want to do, if you need ideas then check out my Ultimate Japan Bucket List.
You will read things online that say Japan is an expensive country to visit, but it really varies in prices. I found Japan to be quite cheap for meals (think sushi, ramen and curry) but expensive when purchasing souvenirs.
I’m a budget traveller so I tend to stay in places like hostels and Airbnb. I don’t see the point in splurging on a hotel when really I’m out the whole day and just need a bed. I’d rather spend my money on activities and experiences, like visiting Tokyo Disney Sea or Renting a Kimono, because when I travel I want to come away with amazing and fun memories.

Below you will find a:
- 1 Week in Japan Budget
- 2 Weeks in Japan Budget
- 3 Weeks in Japan Budget
Each of these budgets will show pricing in Yen and for one traveller (double amount for couples). These budgets are based on example itineraries and may differ from places you wish to visit. Feel free to add or change the budgets depending on what you would like to see and do.
Let’s get started!
Pre Travel Budget
1. Flights
A Pre Travel Budget is expenses you will have to pay before going on your trip. The biggest expense will most likely be your flights. Flight prices to Japan vary from country to country, but many low-cost airlines now offer specials and deals to Japan. A great place to start is How to Book Your Flights to Japan: My Advice on Cheap Flights & Japan Visa.
My return flights to Japan cost me $850AUD with Jetstar/Qantas.
2. Travel Insurance
Once you have your flights locked in it’s best to get some travel insurance. Don’t overlook getting travel insurance because it is there to help you with the worst case scenarios (illness, lost luggage, flight cancellations).
I use Travel Insurance Direct as it’s one of the most affordable out there; you can get 1-week travel insurance for Japan at around $55AUD. They also have 10% off Discount specials all the time so keep an eye out!
3. Accommodation
Now that your flights and insurance are booked you can now start looking at finding accommodation. If you’re still trying to figure out where you want to stay then check out What is the Best Accommodation in Japan?.
I’m a strong believer in booking your accommodation well in advance. I like to avoid jumping around from hostel to hostel and getting stuck with places that are at the bottom of the pile. My 19 days of accommodation came down to this (this price was halved between my partner and I):
Type | Location | No of Nights | Total Price |
---|---|---|---|
Airbnb | Osaka | 6 Nights | 23,640 yen |
Ryokan | Kyoto | 1 Night | 12,960 yen |
Hostel | Kyoto | 3 Nights | 11,250 yen |
Hostel | Tokyo | 8 Nights | 43,200 yen |
Hotel | Hirosaki | 1 Night | 12,000 yen |
TOTAL = | 103,050 yen/ $1200AUD |
4. Wifi Rental
It’s also important to book your wifi rental in advance. Free wifi is hard to come by in Japan and I need it because I rely on Google Maps a lot. We went with Wifi Rental Store, it cost us 8790 yen for 20 days and we picked it up from Kansai International Airport. It comes with a return envelope, so once you’re done just pop it in the post.
How much does 1 week in Japan cost?
One traveller for 7 days in Tokyo, Japan (double amount for a couple)
Category | Description | Price |
---|---|---|
Transport | Return Airport Bus Ticket from Narita Airport | 1,800 yen |
Transport | Purchasing Pasmo Card for Tokyo Subway | 500 yen |
Transport | Daily top of Pasmo Card - 7 days | 7,000 yen |
Food | 6 x Breakfast (800 yen a day) | 4,800 yen |
Food | 6 x Lunch (1100 yen a day) | 6,600 yen |
Food | 5 x Dinner (3000 yen a day) | 15,000 yen |
Food | 1 x Fancy Dinner | 4,000 yen |
Sightseeing | Senso-ji Temple | Free |
Sightseeing | Edo Tokyo Museum | 600 yen |
Sightseeing | View of Tokyo from Tokyo Metropolitan Building | Free |
Sightseeing | Tsukiji Fish Market - Wholesale area after 10am | Free |
Sightseeing | Meiji Shrine | Free |
Activity | Mori Art Museum | 1,800 yen |
Activity | Kawaii Monster Cafe | 500 yen |
Activity | Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo Disney Sea | 7,400 yen |
Activity | Studio Ghibli Museum (pre bought ticket) | 2,800 yen |
Shopping | Personal Spending x 7 days (2000 yen a day) | 14,000 yen |
Shopping | 5 x Souvenirs (2000 yen pp) | 10,000 yen |
Emergency | 10% Extra Emergency Funds | 7680 yen |
TOTAL = | 12,060 yen a day $143AUD a day $113USD a day €91EUR a day £80GBP a day | 84,480 yen $1005AUD $795USD €640EUR £566GBP |
How much does 2 weeks in Japan cost?
One traveller for 8 days in Tokyo, 3 days in Kyoto, 1 day in Nara and 2 days in Osaka (double amount for a couple)
Category | Description | Price |
---|---|---|
Transport | Return Airport Bus Ticket from Narita Airport | 1,800 yen |
Transport | Purchasing Pasmo Card for Tokyo Subway | 500 yen |
Transport | Daily top of Pasmo Card - 8 days | 8,000 yen |
Transport | Japan Rail Pass (7 day pass pre-purchased) Activate to use from Tokyo to Kyoto, day trip to Nara, Kyoto to Osaka, Osaka to Tokyo | 28,500 yen |
Transport | Bus Pass 3 x Days in Kyoto (Buses are the main transport) | 1,500 yen |
Transport | 4 x Osaka Subway Ticket (not all subway lines are JR) | 800 yen |
Food | 13 x Breakfasts (800 yen a day) | 10,400 yen |
Food | 13 x Lunch (1100 yen a day) | 14,300 yen |
Food | 11 x Dinner (3000 yen a day) | 33,000 yen |
Food | 2 x Fancy Dinner | 8,000 yen |
Sightseeing | Senso-ji Temple | Free |
Sightseeing | Edo Tokyo Museum | 600 yen |
Sightseeing | View of Tokyo from Tokyo Metropolitan Building | Free |
Sightseeing | Tsukiji Fish Market - Wholesale area after 10am | Free |
Sightseeing | Meiji Shrine | Free |
Activity | Mori Art Museum | 1,800 yen |
Activity | Kawaii Monster Cafe | 500 yen |
Activity | Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo Disney Sea | 7,400 yen |
Activity | Studio Ghibli Museum (pre bought ticket) | 2,800 yen |
Sightseeing | Kinkaku-ji Temple | 400 yen |
Sightseeing | Daitokujo Temple | 400 yen |
Sightseeing | Arashiyama Bamboo Forest | Free |
Activity | Arashiyama Monkey Park | 550 yen |
Sightseeing | Fushimi Inari Taisha | Free |
Activity | Kimono Rental | 3,300 yen |
Sightseeing | Day Trip to Nara - Todaiji Temple | 600 yen |
Sightseeing | Dotonbori in Osaka | Free |
Sightseeing | Osaka Castle | 200 yen |
Sightseeing | Umeda Sky Building | 1,000 yen |
Sightseeing | Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan | 2,300 yen |
Shopping | Personal Spending x 14 days (2000 yen a day) | 28,000 yen |
Shopping | 5 x Souvenirs (2000 yen pp) | 10,000 yen |
Emergency | 10% Emergency Fund | 16,665 yen |
TOTAL = | 13,090 yen a day $155AUD a day $123USD a day €99EUR a day £88GBP a day | 183,315 yen $2180AUD $1726USD €1390EUR £1230GBP |
How much does 3 weeks in Japan cost?
One traveller for 5 days in Osaka, 1 day trip in Kobe, 4 days in Kyoto, 1 day trip in Nara, 7 days in Tokyo, 1 day trip to Mount Fuji, 1 day trip to Kamakura and 1 day trip to Mount Takao (double amount for couple)
Category | Description | Price |
---|---|---|
Transport | Airport Bus from Kansai Airport to Osaka | 1,550 yen |
Transport | Osaka Amazing Pass - 2 day pass & free entry to sightseeing | 3,300 yen |
Transport | Osaka Kaiyu Ticket - 1 day travel & entry to Aquarium | 2,250 yen |
Transport | Kansai Thru Pass - 2 day pass - use to travel from Osaka to Kobe, Osaka to Kyoto | 4,000 yen |
Transport | 2 days of bus passes for Kyoto (Kyoto's main transport is bus) | 1,000 yen |
Transport | Japan Rail Pass (7 day pass, prepurchase) - Activate when visiting Nara. Use for trip from Kyoto to Tokyo, Tokyo to Kamakura, Tokyo to Mt Takao | 28,500 yen |
Transport | Purchasing Pasmo Card for Tokyo Subway | 500 yen |
Transport | Daily top up of Pasmo - 3 days | 3,000 yen |
Transport | Airport Bus from Tokyo Station to Narita Airport | 900 yen |
Food | 20 x Breakfast (800 yen a day) | 16,000 yen |
Food | 20 x Lunch (1100 yen a day) | 22,000 yen |
Food | 17 x Dinner (3000 yen a day) | 51,000 yen |
Food | Kobe Steak in Kobe | 14,500 yen |
Food | 3 x Fancy Dinner (4000 yen) | 12,000 yen |
Sightseeing | Dotonbori in Osaka | Free |
Sightseeing | Osaka Caslte | Free with Amazing Osaka Pass |
Sightseeing | Umeda Sky Building | Free with Amazing Osaka Pass |
Sightseeing | Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan | Free with Kaiyu Ticket |
Activity | Universal Studios Japan in Osaka | 7,900 yen |
Activity | Museum of Housing in Osaka | Free with Amazing Osaka Pass |
Activity | Tombori River Cruise | Free with Amazing Osaka Pass |
Sightseeing | Kitano Area in Kobe | Free |
Activity | Ropeway & Entry to Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden | 1,120 yen (discount using Kobe Welcome Coupon) |
Sightseeing | Kobe Bay Area | Free |
Sightseeing | Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavillion) | 400 yen |
Sightseeing | Ryoan-ji (Zen Garden) | 500 yen |
Sightseeing | Daitoku-ji (Zen Temple) | 400 yen |
Sightseeing | Arashiyama Bamboo Forest | Free |
Activity | Arashiyama Monkey Park | 550 yen |
Sightseeing | Kyoto Imperial Palace | Free |
Sightseeing | Nijo Castle | 600 yen |
Sightseeing | Fushimi Inari Taisha | Free |
Activity | Kimono Rental | 3,300 yen |
Sightseeing | Day Trip to Nara - Todaiji Temple | 600 yen |
Sightseeing | Senso-ji Temple | Free |
Sightseeing | Edo Tokyo Musuem | 600 yen |
Sightseeing | View of Tokyo from Tokyo Metropolitan Building | Free |
Sightseeing | Tsukiji Fish Market - Wholesale area after 10am | Free |
Sightseeing | Meiji Shrine | Free |
Activity | Mori Art Museum | 1,800 yen |
Activity | Kawaii Monster Cafe | 500 yen |
Activity | Anime Themed Cafe or Maid Cafe | 2,000 yen |
Activity | Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo Disney Sea | 7,400 yen |
Activity | Studio Ghibli Museum (pre bought ticket) | 2,800 yen |
Sightseeing | Day trip to Kamakura - Giant Buddha | 200 yen |
Sightseeing | Hasedera Temple in Kamakura | 300 yen |
Sightseeing | Walk along the beach in Kamakura | Free |
Sightseeing | Day trip to Mount Takao - Ropeway | 480 yen |
Sightseeing | Hiking Mount Takao | Free |
Sightseeing | 1 Day Mount Fuji & Hakone Bus Tour | 14,000 yen |
Sightseeing | Tokyo Imperial Palace (walk around outside) | Free |
Sightseeing | Shinjuku Gyoen Garden | 200 yen |
Sightseeing | Harajuku | Free |
Sightseeing | Tokyo National Museum | 620 yen |
Shopping | Personal Spending x 21 days (2000 yen a day) | 42,000 yen |
Shopping | 5 x Souvenirs (2000 yen pp) | 10,000 yen |
Emergency | 10% Emergency Fund | 25,600 |
Total = | 13,410 yen a day $160AUD a day $126USD a day €101EUR a day £90GBO a day | 281,600 yen $3346AUD $2650USD €2133EURO £1887GBP |
10 Tips for a Japan Travel Budget
I am a thrifty traveller and because of that I seek out every discount I can find for my trip. I recently put together a Free Discounts & Passes for Japan 2018 Guide which you will see I refer to above in the budgets. The guide includes all the tourist passes and discounts to the most popular cities in Japan, I used many of them to get discount entry fees and free transport.
If you want to make your dollar go further then here are 10 Tips for Japan Travel Budget!
- If you want to save money on food eat at ramen restaurants, sushi chain restaurants, convenience stores and curry restaurants. You can usually get a meal for under 1000 yen!
- Don’t spend a ridiculous amount of money for a view of Tokyo. You can get a free view from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the mall level of Tokyo Skytree or the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
- Pick hostels or Airbnbs over staying at hotels. If you really want to save the dollars you can always stay at a computer or manga cafe!
- You can go on a free walking tour of Tokyo with Tokyo Free Guide.
- Spend a relaxing afternoon at one of the many free parks and gardens in Japan.
- Don’t pay extra for breakfast at your hotel, go to the local supermarket and pick a freshly made omurice!
- Go to a free gig at the Ruby Room in Tokyo – all drinks are 500yen!
- Try a Public Bath in Japan – all ‘sentos‘ are the same price 460 yen!
- Stroll through markets like Nishiki Market in Kyoto, Kuromon Ichiba Market in Osaka and Kappabashi Street in Tokyo
- Try and walk between sightseeing activities, you will find little temples and gardens down side streets! Plus saves you money from buying a train or bus ticket.
Are you planning a trip to Japan? Complete my Step by Step Guide!
- Step 1: Free Printable: The Ultimate Japan Bucket List
- Step 2: When is the best time to visit Japan?
- Step 3: How to book flights to Japan – My Advice for Cheap Flights and Japanese Visa
- Step 4: What is the best accommodation in Japan?
- Step 5: Free Downloadable Guide: Discounts and Passes for Japan 2018
5 Comments
Ces
Came across your site in Pinterest. So glad I did. Your posts are full of info and so budget friendly, I think I’m following everything you’ve written in your posts. 🙂 We have the exact same goals going into Japan! Thank you for saving my time I love you!
C
Came across your site in Pinterest. So glad I did. Your posts are full of info and so budget friendly, I think I’m following everything you’ve written in your posts. 🙂 We have the exact same goals going into Japan! Thank you for saving my time I love you!
Gypsy
Love this blog! Thanks for all the info!!
Lissy
OMG! This blog is so helpful. My fiancee and I are planning to have our honeymoon in Japan. Thank you for this! Now it’s easier for us to plan.
Jasmine
Thank you so much Lissy! Hope you have an awesome trip