Japan’s growth as a tourist destination means that travelling has become more expensive in recent years, but we’re not about to let that stop you exploring this incredible country! There are plenty of ways to visit Japan without breaking the bank, so whether you’re looking to take a group tour or travel solo, here’s some of our top tips for exploring Japan on a budget.
Travel Off-Peak
It’s an easy one, but it pays off! You can find our full guide to travelling Japan out of season on our blog here, but to cut a long story short – travelling to Japan off-peak means that everything is cheaper. Avoiding the cherry blossom season or the start of the autumn period means that everything, from flights to hotels, tourist sites to food, will be more reasonable than at peak times. Before you’ve even started planning what you’ll eat or where you’ll go, your best way to visit Japan more economically will be to ensure you’re not travelling when everyone else is!
Eat Like a Local
Dining out in Japan can be expensive, but if you’re smart you can maximise your budget by shopping at convenience stores, or eating at gyūdon (beef bowl) chains. If you visit somewhere like 7-Eleven or FamilyMart (and who hasn’t dreamed of doing their own konbini haul?) you can get a full meal for around US$5 – with onigiri at around the US$1.50 mark, and a bento box costing between US$3-$7. And that fluffy egg sandwich you’ve seen all over the internet? That’s just US$1.50 as well.
For a hot meal, chains like Sukiya – which has 2000 stores nationally – will do full beef bowls that start from around US$3, keeping it nice and simple when it comes to eating around Japan on a budget.
Shop Secondhand
When you’re heading to areas like Shinjuku or Harajuku, the temptation to fill your backpacks with goodies is overwhelming. However, you can make swaps to the way you shop if you’re looking for souvenirs or amazing fashion pieces! Thrifting is a big part Tokyo culture, and getting on board with the secondhand scene means you can pick it up a unique item for less than buying it new. Plus – it’s sustainable! Shopping secondhand means you’ll get a chance to grab something that no one else – and who doesn’t want the best travel memento?
(Psst… If you want a guide to the best thrift stores in Tokyo, we’ve got you covered.)
Take the Metro
We’ll break this to you gently – Tokyo is big. As in, it’s one of the most populous urban areas in the world. That big. And while we’re keen believers in getting your steps in wherever possible, for you to truly make the most of cities like Tokyo, you’re going to want to be able to get from one side to the other quickly. With a public transport system as good as Japan’s, there really isn’t much needed for private transfers or travel.
Public transport across Japan is convenient and efficient, and in many places, very affordable. For example – if you’re looking to access Tokyo’s metro, you can get an all-inclusive (Metro & Toei Subway) 72hr pass for just 1,500Y. That’s US$10 for three days of unlimited metro rides – it doesn’t get more affordable than that! If you’re travelling around the country solo and are planning on heading multiple cities, you may want to weigh up if a JR Pass is worth investing in. While they’re more expensive now than they were in previous years, if you’re planning on making multiple return journeys across the country on trains like the Shinkansen, you may find that something like a 7-day JR Pass (50,000Y / US$335) quickly becomes the more economical option than buying individual train tickets.
Suica is the prepaid IC card by JR East for JR trains in the Greater Tokyo, Niigata and Sendai regions. A special version of Suica, called Welcome Suica, is available to foreign tourists. The special cards are valid for only four weeks, come without a deposit fee, but do not allow for refunds. An app version, Welcome Suica Mobile, is available for Iphones and is valid for 180 days instead of just four weeks.
Embrace Free Entry
While lots of the hot-ticket items across places like Tokyo (i.e. the Ghibli Museum, TeamLab Planets) charge entry, travelling Japan on a budget provides you with the chance to take in the incredible cultural sites across the country that offer free entry. Not only will you save valuable Yen on sightseeing, but it’s also a ready-made opportunity for you to embrace the best part of travelling and get under the skin of Japan’s cultural heritage.
For example, in Kyoto, a visit to the world-famous Fushimi Inari Shrine is free, meaning you can grab that Instagram photo and get an incredible hike through the torii gate-lined trails all at once. You can also visit Arashiyama Bamboo Forest for free as well, for some truly awe-inspiring views of towering bamboo stalks.
