If you are thinking about visiting, you might wonder is japan expensive. Most would agree that a trip to Japan doesn’t cost as much as many people suspect it would. For U.S. citizens, you will find that Japan isn’t any more expensive and may, in fact, be cheaper in some ways. In general, you will find that visiting countries such as Australia, Scandinavia, Singapore, and the U.K. are all more expensive to travel to than Japan is. There are many ways in which a visit to Japan is more affordable than a trip to many other more popular travel destinations.
How Expensive Is Japan?
The currency in Japan is the Yen. How much of it you spend while you are visiting depends largely on what you do. For example, the Tokyo Tower costs Y900 to get into. The Nikko Tosho-gu Temple has an entry fee of Y1300. Even more expensive is the Tokyo Skytree, at Y1540 to get in.
For many people, a trip to Japan isn’t complete without seeing Tokyo Disneyland. Tickets for the park range from Y4000 up to Y7000. If you want to go to Universal Studio Osaka you must pay Y7900.
One way to save on some of the expenses you may incur in Japan is to book various tours for your stay. You can choose from tours that take half the day or the entire day. There are also group tours that take place over the course of several days.
Though you can see many of the sites from the tours on your own, paying for a tour guide gives you access to information about each attraction you visit that you wouldn’t get otherwise.
Another way to make Japan more affordable is to see the sites you can visit for free. This includes places such as Takeshita Street. If your travel plans include Nara, the city’s many parks are free to explore.
Food and Drink Prices
Without proper planning, food and drink in Japan can become costly. If you book certain group tours, meals are included in the cost. If not, it helps to set a food and drink budget for each day of your visit.
Typically, a sandwich, salad or side dish in Japan will cost you anywhere from Y200 to Y300. Pasta and noodles usually cost between Y300 and Y500. Rice balls, desserts and drinks average between Y100 and Y200. These are convenience store prices, meaning the daily cost of buying your food there could be Y400 to Y600.
One of the most popular foods in Japan is ramen soup. Countless restaurants all over the country include it on their menus. On average, one bowl of ramen soup costs Y600 to Y1200. Combined with a side dish and drink, or extra topping on the soup, a meal like this typically costs at the most Y2000. Depending on your budget you may typically spend Y1000 to Y3000 per day on food.
Another popular food in Japan is sushi. Typically, a sushi lunch costs Y2,000 to Y3,000. A sushi dinner usually costs between Y5,000 and Y10,000. Beer and saki, two of the most popular drinks to have wish sushi, cost Y400 to Y1,000 a piece.
Transport Costs
To get around Japan without a car, the most affordable mode of transportation is the subway. The most affordable way to travel is by paying for a Tokyo Metro Pass, at a cost of Y800 per day. This price gets you unlimited rides on all subway trains.
The JR Rail Pass is one that is reserved specifically for visitors to Japan. When you purchase it you can travel between cities without the costs of doing so adding up to a big expense. Be sure to buy your pass before leaving for Japan, as you won’t be able to acquire one after you arrive. It must then be activated only when you will need to use the pass.
Accomodation prices
Accommodations in Japan can be expensive if you fail to make reservations far enough in advance. You should research your options before choosing which accommodations suit your needs the best. To save some money, consider booking a hotel that includes complimentary breakfast.
How much you pay for your accommodations greatly depends on what type you are looking for. The two most popular in this country are Japanese and Western styles. The two types of Japanese style hotels are Ryokan and Minshuku. Ryokan accommodations are generally between Y6,000 and Y40,000 per person. However, the cost of these accommodations mean you get breakfast and dinner at no additional charge. A Minshuku is the Japanese version of a bed and breakfast.
Western-style hotels in Japan will cost you between Y800 and Y50,000 for each room you need. For a cheaper option, you can stay at a business hotel for between Y5,000 and Y12,000. A Pension is another option for your accommodations and is a western-style bed and breakfast that generally costs between Y6,000 and Y12,000 for each person staying. Other accommodation options include temples and cafes, which can cost you anywhere from Y1500 for a cafe stay to Y15,000 for a stay in a temple, and also includes some meals.
However, if you really want an affordable place to stay consider a hostel or a dormitory. There are over 300 hostels throughout the country and prices range from Y1,500 to Y4,000 for each person.
