Daily Budget Estimates
| Budget Level | Per Day | Per Week | 2 Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | ¥6,000–8,000 ($40–55) | ¥42,000–56,000 | ¥84,000–112,000 |
| Budget | ¥10,000–13,000 ($65–85) | ¥70,000–91,000 | ¥140,000–182,000 |
| Mid-range | ¥18,000–25,000 ($120–165) | ¥126,000–175,000 | ¥252,000–350,000 |
| Comfortable | ¥35,000–60,000 ($230–400) | ¥245,000–420,000 | ¥490,000–840,000 |
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Accommodation Costs
| Type | Price per Night |
|---|---|
| Hostel dormitory | ¥2,500–4,000 |
| Capsule hotel | ¥3,000–5,500 |
| Budget business hotel (Toyoko Inn) | ¥6,500–9,500 |
| Mid-range business hotel | ¥10,000–18,000 |
| Mid-range hotel (private, decent size) | ¥18,000–30,000 |
| Boutique hotel | ¥25,000–50,000 |
| Entry-level ryokan (no meals) | ¥15,000–25,000 |
| Ryokan with dinner and breakfast | ¥30,000–80,000+ per person |
| Luxury hotel | ¥50,000–200,000+ |
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Food Costs
| Meal Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Convenience store meal (onigiri + drink) | ¥300–500 |
| Standing soba/udon | ¥400–700 |
| Gyudon (beef rice bowl chain) | ¥500–700 |
| Ramen | ¥750–1,200 |
| Lunch teishoku set | ¥900–1,500 |
| Mid-range dinner (izakaya) | ¥2,000–4,000 |
| Quality sushi restaurant (dinner) | ¥5,000–15,000 |
| Omakase sushi | ¥15,000–50,000+ |
| Kaiseki (Kyoto haute cuisine) | ¥15,000–50,000+ |
Realistic food budget:
- Budget: ¥1,500–2,000/day (convenience store + one cheap restaurant)
- Mid-range: ¥4,000–6,000/day (mix of restaurants)
- Foodie: ¥10,000–20,000/day
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Transport Costs
| Journey | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tokyo metro single journey | ¥165–320 |
| Tokyo daily Suica usage | ¥500–1,000 |
| Narita Express (airport to Tokyo) | ¥3,070 |
| Narita Airport Bus (to Tokyo) | ¥1,000–1,300 |
| Tokyo to Kyoto (Hikari Shinkansen) | ¥13,320 |
| Tokyo to Osaka (Hikari Shinkansen) | ¥13,620 |
| Kyoto to Osaka (local train) | ¥570 |
| 7-day JR Pass | ¥50,000 |
| 14-day JR Pass | ¥80,000 |
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Activity and Entrance Fee Costs
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Most shrines (exterior/grounds) | Free |
| Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) | ¥500 |
| Fushimi Inari | Free |
| Nara deer park | Free |
| Todai-ji (Great Buddha, Nara) | ¥600 |
| Tokyo Skytree (observation) | ¥2,100–3,100 |
| teamLab Planets | ¥3,200–3,800 |
| Hakone Open Air Museum | ¥1,600 |
| Universal Studios Japan | ¥10,000–15,000 |
| Onsen (day use) | ¥800–2,000 |
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Visa Costs
Citizens of 68+ countries: Free visa-free entry (up to 90 days for most, 30 for some).
Japan eVisa: Approximately $15–25 USD depending on nationality.
Working Holiday Visa: Application fees vary by country (usually ¥0 or small admin fee).
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Tipping
Japan does not have a tipping culture. Never tip in restaurants, at hotels, in taxis, or for any service. It can cause embarrassment. The price is the price.
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Budget Hacks
Eat like a local at lunch: Many upscale restaurants serve affordable teishoku lunch sets (¥1,000–1,500) that are as good as their dinner menus at 3× the price.
7pm supermarket discount: Prepared foods marked down 20–50%. High quality at low prices.
Free observation decks: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (free, open evenings), Bunkyo Civic Center (free), many department store rooftops.
Japan Ichiban app: Shows current deals at supermarkets near you.
Ekiben: Station bento boxes (¥800–1,500) are one of Japan’s great food traditions — buy at major stations before boarding Shinkansen.
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Booking activities and experiences through Klook often costs less than at the door, and you skip the queues — especially useful for popular Tokyo attractions.
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Related Guides
- Japan on a budget
- Best food in Japan
- Japan rail pass guide
- Japan itinerary 2 weeks
- Where to stay in Tokyo
Plan Your Trip
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