Calculate your estimated budget
Japan has a reputation for being expensive, but the reality is more nuanced: public transport, local food and temples are surprisingly affordable. The final price depends above all on your travel style and on when you book your flights.
The reality of the cost of travelling to Japan
Japan has carried a reputation as an expensive destination for years. In part it is deserved: long-haul flights are not cheap, and a ryokan with dinner can cost you what three nights in a European hotel would. But day to day, Japan is surprising. A bowl of ramen at a local restaurant costs between 6 and 10 €. A metro ticket between zones, 1 or 2 €. Many of the best moments of the trip — strolling through Gion at dusk, watching the Shibuya crossing, sitting in a park during the sakura — are completely free.
The key is understanding where the real spending is concentrated. Most of the budget for a trip to Japan goes on three things: the flight, accommodation and, if you travel between cities, long-distance transport. Everything else — food, tickets, shopping — is surprisingly flexible.
The flight: the most variable item
Direct flights to Tokyo are scarce from most origins — the usual thing is to make a layover in cities such as Doha, Dubai, Helsinki or Amsterdam. The price varies a lot by season: in low season (January-February, June) you can find flights for 500–700 €. In spring (sakura season) or during Japan's Golden Week, the same flights can cost double. Booking 4–6 months ahead and being flexible by ±3 days on the dates can save you 200–400 €.
Accommodation: more options than you think
Japan has one of the most varied accommodation systems in the world. At the budget end are hostels (guesthouses) and capsule hotels, where you can sleep well for 25–45 € in cities such as Tokyo or Osaka. In the mid range, Japanese business hotels (chains such as Toyoko Inn or Dormy Inn) offer clean, well-equipped, well-located rooms for 60–100 €. At the top end is the ryokan — traditional accommodation with tatami, a wooden bath and a kaiseki dinner included — which can run from 150 € to more than 300 € per person.
One important detail: prices in Tokyo are 20 to 30% higher than in the rest of the country. If your budget is tight, staying some nights in secondary cities such as Kyoto or Hiroshima (instead of Tokyo) cuts the bill noticeably.
Where does the money go?
Indicative average prices per person, at a rate of 1 € ≈ 177 ¥. The euro figures may vary with the exchange rate.
Daily budget by travel style
Per person and day, not counting flights.
Backpacker
Mid-range traveller
Comfortable trip
Total budget by trip length
Per person, flights included (~700 € with a layover).
If you have three weeks, check our 21-day Japan itinerary to see how to split the budget between cities.
How to handle money in Japan
Japan is still a predominantly cash country, although the situation has improved a lot in recent years. Hotels, large store chains and konbini accept cards without a problem. But many small restaurants, temples, street markets and some local transport only accept cash. Going to Japan with cards alone is risky.
Where to withdraw cash?
The ATMs at 7-Eleven and at Japan Post (the Japanese post office) accept international cards on Visa, Mastercard and other global networks. They are the most reliable and you will find them in almost any neighbourhood. Avoid local bank ATMs, which often reject foreign cards. The limit per transaction is usually 50,000–100,000 ¥ (280–565 €), enough for several days.
The yen and the exchange rate
The indicative exchange rate is 1 € ≈ 177 ¥ (as of 2026), but it can vary. For quick calculations on the trip, divide by 150 and you will get a conservative estimate in euros. So 1,500 ¥ is about 10 €, and 10,000 ¥ around 65 €. For the exact conversion before you leave, use this site's yen to euro converter.
Transport card: Suica or Pasmo
One of the best investments you can make on arrival is to load a rechargeable transport card, Suica or Pasmo. It can be used on the Tokyo metro, local trains, buses, and also to pay at konbini and some shops. It removes the need to buy individual tickets and greatly speeds up getting around. You can get it directly on an iPhone with Apple Pay or at the machines in the main stations.
How much it costs to get in from the airport
The cost of getting from the airport to the centre is one of the first surprises of a trip to Japan. There are important differences between the options:
Tokyo: Narita vs Haneda
Narita is 60–80 km from central Tokyo. The main options are:
- Narita Express (N'EX): about 3,070 ¥ (~17 €) to Tokyo Station and 3,250 ¥ (~18 €) to Shinjuku or Shibuya. It takes 60–90 minutes. The most convenient option with luggage. There is a discounted round-trip tourist ticket (around 4,070 ¥) for foreign passports.
- Keisei Skyliner: about 2,580 ¥ (~15 €) to Ueno or Nippori (a little less buying it online in advance). 36–41 minutes. Faster than the N'EX if you are staying in northern Tokyo.
- Shuttle bus (limousine bus): around 3,200 ¥ (~18 €) to the major hotels. Slower because of traffic, but it takes you straight to the door.
- Taxi: 20,000–25,000 ¥ (115–140 €). Only makes sense in a group of 4 with a lot of luggage.
Haneda is much closer (30–40 minutes to the centre). The monorail to Hamamatsucho costs about 500 ¥ (~3 €) and the Keikyu Express to Shinagawa, around 300–400 ¥ (~2 €). The fares of the Tokyo-area trains were revised upwards in March 2026, so confirm the exact price before travelling.
Osaka: Kansai Airport
- Haruka Express: covered by the JR Pass. Without a pass, foreigners have a discounted one-way tourist ticket (around 1,300 ¥ to Tennoji or 1,800 ¥ to Shin-Osaka/Osaka). 50–75 minutes.
- Rapi:t (Nankai): about 1,520 ¥ (~9 €) as an e-ticket (1,670 ¥ on paper) to Namba. 35–40 minutes. Not covered by the JR Pass.
- Nankai Airport Express: the cheapest option, around 970 ¥ (~5 €) to Namba in about 44 minutes.
Costs many travellers do not anticipate
Beyond the big items, there are small recurring costs that, added up over the trip, distort the budget if you do not account for them. The good news is that some play in your favour.
What adds up without you noticing
- Coin lockers: storing luggage at a station costs about 400–700 ¥ per use. If you do day trips (Nara, Kamakura, Hakone), they add up.
- Luggage forwarding (takuhaibin): sending a suitcase from one hotel to another costs about 1,500–2,500 ¥ per item. It is very convenient to avoid dragging it on the Shinkansen, but it is an extra cost to budget for.
- IC card deposit: a physical Suica or Pasmo requires a 500 ¥ deposit (refundable when you return it). The digital version on your phone does not have it.
- Small temple entries: individually they cost 300–600 ¥, but on an intensive route through Kyoto you can visit several a day.
- Onsen and extras: towel rental (100–300 ¥) or a locker at some public baths. Paid onsen are around 500–1,000 ¥.
What plays in your favour
- No tipping: in Japan you do not tip at restaurants, taxis or hotels. Unlike other destinations, that extra 10–20% simply does not exist — the price you see is what you pay.
- Tax-free shopping: in many shops, foreign tourists can buy without the 10% consumption tax by showing a passport, usually from 5,000 ¥ of purchase. Look for the "Tax-Free" sign and confirm the conditions at the till.
- Free water and toilets: the tap water is drinkable and public toilets (stations, konbini, shopping centres) are free and clean. Zero spend on these basics.