How Much To Travel To Japan?

In this case, going to Japan is not cheap, though it can be cheap if one is able to plan for the trip and the expenses well. The cost will vary depending on when you go, how long you plan to be there, how active you will be in sightseeing and other activities, and your travel habits in general. Here is a breakdown of typical costs and tips for planning a Japan trip on any budget.

Flights

The average cost of flights to Japan from most destinations in the United States of America is between $600 and $1200 for a round trip. The best possible opportunity to even get cheaper flights is in the months of January, February and March as well as in the last week of August and September. Traveling midweek as opposed to on weekends also normally helps reduce costs. Look for a budget airline and also compare the prices of flights in different airlines and look out for offers.

Accommodations

Hotel expenses in Japan can range from cheap hostels that cost $25 per night to traditional Japanese inns, which can cost from $500 to $800 per night. As for the price, most of the budget/mid-range hotels in Tokyo cost $100-150 for a twin/double room while you can find cheaper ones in Kyoto or other cities for $60-100. Bed and breakfast, and homestays are also used to refer to accommodation services that are provided by the Airbnb. If you are to spend a night at a ryokan, the cost is inclusive of the breakfast and dinner meals.

Food

They found that eating out in Japan was relatively cheap ranging from 800yen-1500yen for an average meal at an informal restaurant to 3000yen-5000+ yen per head at higher end restaurants. If the majority of your meals are bought from inexpensive local eateries, it is possible to spend only $30 per day on food. Eating higher end, especially for multiple meals a day, could cost $70+ per day. You can also easily locate convenience stores and bakeries almost all over Japan and you can get snacks, processed foods, sandwiches and others at an affordable price.

Transportation

Transportation costs depend with the distance that one plans to traverse in the country of Japan. If you are planning to move within a single city using the metro/bus, expect to spend $5-10 per day. If you are to take the Shinkansen bullet train from one city to another, the cost range is about $60-150 for one way. Rental cars usually cost $50 – $100 per day depending on the type of vehicle. Taxis are costly, expect to pay more than $35 for a short trip within the city.

Sightseeing & Entertainment

Admission charges towards the places of interests such as temples, castle, museums and gardens range $5 to $25 per place. This means that while museums in such cities as Tokyo and Kyoto offer multi-day passes, one can save money in the long run. Participation in such cultural events like tea ceremonies would cost approximately $30- $60 per individual. The cost of watching a sumo match is relatively cheap, ranging from $30 to $100. Karaoke at $20-30 per hour for room rental. Watch a bunraku puppet show for $20-50. Watching a baseball game or a kabuki performance costs about $50-100 per head.

Shopping & Souvenirs

Shopping in Japan can therefore be expensive especially when purchasing electronics, designer clothing or when taking merchandise back home in large quantities. Japan also has good household items, cloth, handicrafts, stationery, ceramics and other products done with lacquer that are not very expensive but still objects of fun to carry back home. Alcohol, tobacco, and sweets cost about $10-20 per person; general shopping and souvenirs range from $100-300+ per person on most 7-10 day tours.

The Bottom Line

To summarize, here is a rough breakdown for a 7-10 day trip to Japan per person

Flight - $600-1,200
Lodging - $700-1,500
Food - $200-500
Local Transportation - $50-100
Sightseeing/Entertainment - $100-500
Shopping/Souvenirs - $100-300

All that comes to roughly $1,750 for the bare minimum of a budget trip up to $4,000 + for a luxury vacation to stay in some of the best hotels and eat out at restaurants each day. Most mid-range visitors should be ready to spend within $2,500-$3,500 for the wonderful trip including the nice variety of activities.

The key things that allow you stretch your dollar furthest in Japan are

• Traveling by plane during the shoulder seasons
  
• Taking a middle-level hotel chain
  
• For most meals, people can eat cheap.
  
• Such is the case that when one is to travel to multiple destinations within a limited period of time then he should consider using rail passes.
  
• Combining paid activities with free sites

Whether your total trip cost is high or low, Japan has got something that will suit every type of traveler. If you are careful to plan effectively your accommodation, transport, activities and meals, you can indeed have an even more fabulous vacation without blowing your budget.

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