The main costs to travel to Japan are accomodation, food, transport and sightseeing, With so many options for tourists between low-cost and luxury, here is a breakdown of each of these costs to give you a good idea for the overall cost.
The Costs of Accommodation in Japan
In general, it costs roughly the following for one night in any Japanese accommodation:
- Budget: ¥3600 for one dorm bed in a hostel
- Mid-range: ¥17000-20,000 for a double room in a hotel
- Luxury: ¥40,000 to 45,000 for a double room at a ryokan
The Costs of Food in Japan
Naturally, this means that how much you spend on food in Japan can vary dramatically. You might prefer to pick up a prepared meal from a convenience store before hopping on your bullet train, or you may enjoy dining out at a traditional Japanese izakaya (pub).
Whatever the case, you’ll be ready to feast on Japanese food. You’re in the country that introduced the world to fresh sushi, tempura, ramen, kobe beef, teriyaki, and okonomiyaki!
It’s broadly recommended to put aside about ¥4600 per day per person for food.
You can grab sushi plates from a sushi train from ¥200. A light bite at a bakery may cost just ¥300 while a hearty bowl of noodles may be about ¥800. Dinner at an izakaya might cost ¥3000 while a good sushi restaurant could come to about ¥7500.
But on average, it’s best to put aside the following daily allowances:
- Budget: ¥2000
- Mid-range: ¥5000
- Luxury: ¥10,000-15,000
The Costs of Transport in Japan
A Japan Rail Pass is one of the best investments you can buy (note: you can only buy it BEFORE arriving in Japan). A Japan Rail Pass for one adult in standard class costs:
- ¥33,610 for 7 days
- ¥52,960 for 14 days
- ¥66,200 for 21 days
Just note, the JR Pass isn’t a free-for-all. You’ll still need to pay for any subway journeys as they’re operated by a different company.
For local transport on subways, your best bet is to buy a prepaid IC card, which you can load up with Japanese yen and then pay as you go. A single trip on the Tokyo metro costs ¥210.
You can also use your IC card to pay for items at vending machines and some shops and restaurants.
Given the efficiency of Japan’s public transport networks, it seems almost unnecessary to get a taxi anywhere. But if you’re tired of dragging around lots of luggage, taxis can be convenient. On average, expect to spend roughly ¥25,000 for a trip from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station in the centre of Tokyo.
And if you prefer the freedom of a road trip? Car rentals vary dramatically between the types of cars, as well as where and when you hire them. A pre-booked car rental from Narita Airport for a driver over 30 years old costs on average ¥6900 for a medium-sized car for one day or ¥9500 for a large car for one day.
The Costs of Sightseeing in Japan
And you can meander the cobblestone streets of historic Kyoto, mingle with the deer at Nara, and marvel at the flashing lights of Oaska’s Dotonbori district without spending one yen.
Some costs you might expect for some of Japan’s biggest tourist attractions:
- Tokyo Skytree: ¥1800-3100 per adult
- A sumo match: ¥2800-14,300 per adult
- Tokyo Disneyland: ¥7900-9400 for one adult for one day
- Ghibli Museum: ¥1000 per adult
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum: ¥200 per adult
- Osaka Castle: ¥600 per adult
