Your Guide to Budgeting for Japan
Regardless of whether your funds are tight or not, budgeting for Japan is just as overwhelming as planning the actual trip. You might be wondering how much to budget for upfront costs or how much cash to bring for food, shopping, and transportation. Luckily, I documented every expense on my last trip, and, of course, you know I’m sharing it with you.
On my most recent 17-day trip in May 2024, I was determined to stay on top of my budget with the intention of making future trips easier to navigate. Because Japan is a place I frequently visit, this particular itinerary is tailored for more laid-back travelers who want to experience Japan without overspending (with the exception of shopping 😉). However, I am confident this will serve as a solid jumping off point no matter what your travel style, preferences, or budget.
In this blog, I share:
Upfront Costs: flights, lodging, Shinkansen tickets, Pocket Wifi, etc.
Daily Budget Estimate + Expenses to Consider
Average Daily Costs: food, transportation, and shopping (spoiler alert: I spent the most money shopping)
ITINERARY BREAKDOWN
Please keep in mind that for my trip specifically, I was there to work, hang out, and see where the wind blew me. I am providing this solely to (hopefully) help with your own trip. My budgets below do not include many activities; however, I have provided a section with additional expenses (such as activities) to consider.
Overall Vibe: Budget-friendly, laid-back, lots of flexibility to explore
Tokyo: My journey began and ended in Tokyo, where I spent a total of 12 days. I left room for (2) day trips to Chichibu and Enoshima to explore the beautiful countryside and coastal areas.
Osaka: I spent two days in Osaka with family and included (1) day trip to Himeji to visit the famous Himeji Castle.
Things You Should Know…
While in Japan, I had a few unique experiences that influenced my budget:
Budget amounts are subject to change based on currency exchange rates. At the time of my travels, the yen was roughly ¥160 to $1 which was insane!
I was treated to (2) lunches and (3) dinners by family, which helped me save on food costs.
I enjoyed a BBQ at a friend’s house, saving on dinner costs for one night.
I was sick for (2) days during the trip, so I bought groceries to prepare meals at home and had an unpredictable eating schedule on those 2 days.
My food expenses below also include drinks and nightlight expenses.
While I kept my budget in check for most of the trip, the most expensive splurge was nights out with friends and shopping as I had many gifts to purchase for family + team members.
UPFRONT COSTS
Flights, Lodging, Long-Distance Travel, Miscellaneous
TOTAL UPFRONT COSTS: $3,113
Flights
*Flight costs will absolutely vary depending on your location, airport destination, and time of year. Flights can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.
I flew Zipair (Japan Airlines’ Low Cost Airline option) from San Jose, California to Narita.
Flight Cost: $568
Checked Bags: $100 ($50 x2)
I also brought my own food on the flight to save a little money.
Total Flight Cost: $668
Lodging
*Lodging costs will also vary based on your preferences, needs, exchange rates, and location. Whether you choose a hotel, ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), or Airbnb, there are plenty of options in each category to fit every budget. If you need tips on how to navigate this, check out my TikTok on how I determine my bookings for lodging.
I opted for Airbnbs throughout this trip. I find they’re actually more cost effective the longer your stay.
Tokyo (5/13-5/18): $381
Gotanda - a quaint, local neighborhood with access to the Yamanote lineOsaka (5/18-5/20): $238
Kujo - a quiet neighborhood away from the hustle + bustle of Dotonbori (though be aware of their redlight district after hours)Tokyo (5/20-5/29): $775
Nakano - a lively area with tons of food options, shopping arcade, and close access to Shinjuku Station
Total Lodging Cost: $1,394
Airport Transfers and Long Distance Travel
*Don’t forget that you’ll need to get out of the airport and into the city! There are plenty of options to choose from including local trains and Airport Limousine bus. Similarly, when considering long distance travel, you’ll want to figure out whether a JR Pass, individual Shinkansen tickets, or something like a highway bus is best for you.
Airport Transfer: For this trip, I took the Airport Limousine Bus (booked through Klook); however, local trains are another fantastic, easy, and efficient way to get into the city.
Narita to Tokyo: $23.15
Tokyo to Narita: $22.95
Total Airport Transport Cost: $46.10
Shinkansen: Transportation is a whole different ball game. As stated above, you’ll want to do extensive research to determine which option best suits your travel plans. I use Klook for almost all of my long distance travel bookings. For this trip I traveled between Tokyo and Osaka and also took a day trip to Himeji.
Tokyo to Osaka: $104.95
Osaka to Himeji: $21.09
Himeji to Osaka: $18
Osaka to Tokyo: $104.95
Total Shinkansen Cost: $249
Other Expenses
*There are a number of additional costs to consider, including, but not limited to: Pocket WiFi vs eSIM, Luggage Storage or Luggage Forwarding, etc. Don’t forget to include these in your budget!
Pocket WiFi: $69.15
Luggage Storage: $18
Total Misc. Cost: $87.15
BUDGET ESTIMATES + BREAKDOWN
Before my trip, I allocated:
¥5,000/day for food
¥1,000/day for everyday travel
¥150,000 Envelope Budget for shopping
If I had planned to do activities, I would have allocated roughly ¥20,000.
Planning Activities
As I mentioned, I did not do many activities on my trip. I recommend doing your research on pricing depending on what exactly you plan to do and creating a separate budget for that. Below is a list of activities within different price ranges to give you an idea. Check out my Klook recommendations for additional inspiration.
Shibuya Sky: ¥2,200
Osaka Aquarium: ¥2,300
Osaka Ferris Wheel: ¥800
TeamLab: ¥3,800
Tokyo Disneyland: ¥7,900 - 10,900
Kinkaku-ji Temple Kyoto: ¥500
Nijo Castle Kyoto: ¥800
Karaoke with Friends: ¥1,000 - ¥3,000
Actual Budget Summary
Here's how my spending broke down:
Total Food: ¥64,759
This breakdown is actually pretty affordable in comparison to past trips.
Meal Breakdown: breakfasts at 7-11, groceries for the house, snacking throughout the day, a few nights out with friends, and a handful of solo dinners.
Total Transport: ¥20,475
This included (2) day trips from Tokyo, and costs varied depending on daily itinerary. Daily travel almost always cost less than ¥800/day with the exception of a few days here and there.
Total Shopping: ¥147,165
I had the largest budget for shopping based on items I had already planned to purchase. Between vintage shopping, requests from family members, and gifts for my colleagues, I was ready to splurge.
Overall Total: ¥232,399
Loading My SUICA (IC Card)
*Please note that all of these expenses were factored into my transportation budget; however, this should give you an idea of how much you’ll want to keep on hand for reloading your IC card.
I used a SUICA card for everyday travel and other miscellaneous purchases (including trips to 7-11 and quick food ordering), which I topped up as needed. I loaded my card roughly every 2-3 days:
Total SUICA Load: ¥15,000
Averages Per Day
Food Average: ¥3,597.72
Based on my original estimate, I actually think ¥5,000/day is still a good place to stay. Considering, a few of my meals were paid for, and I didn’t go out as much, you’ll likely want to consider beefing up this budget to accommodate a few more dinners out or special reservations.
Transport Average: ¥1,137.50
This is a pretty safe amount to budget for, especially to include a few day trips though I always recommend looking at general costs ahead of time to prepare accordingly.
Shopping Average: ¥8,176.94
This is a generous budget that included purchases such as Nintendo Switch Joy Con Controllers, snacks, skincare products, clothing + accessories, random Japanese goodies you have to have and the like.
Overall Average: ¥12,911.06
FINAL THOUGHTS
I say this all of the time, but traveling to Japan is all about choosing your own adventure. There truly is something for everyone and there are so many creative ways to accommodate an eclectic range of needs, preferences, and budgets. Whether you're planning your first trip or looking for ways to explore Japan on your own terms, I hope my experience helps you plan your own adventure!
Lots of love, Sugi 🫶🏽
P.S. Use my code for an additional 10% off of first time Klook purchases:
(click the code below to browse my Japan travel recommendations)
