In May 2024, we visited Japan for the first time and instantly fell in love. We couldn’t resist coming back just three months later to explore a different side of this incredible country. While our first trip took us to popular spots like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, along with hidden gems like Hirosaki and Kanazawa, this time we set our sights on Japan’s stunning islands. We spent most of our trip on the beautiful Miyako Islands and ended with a long-awaited visit to Mount Fuji. After sticking to a budget of € 201 per day on our first trip, we were curious to see how this adventure compared. Here’s a full breakdown of our budget for 17 days in Japan, along with tips for keeping costs low while still enjoying every moment!
Table of contents
- Flights
- Accommodation
- Transportation
- Food
- Drinks
- Sightseeing
- Other
- Total of our 17 days in Japan
- Tips and tricks for saving money in Japan
How much did our trip to Japan in August 2024 cost? Here’s our budget breakdown for 17 days in Japan:
Flights
We flew from Bali to Okinawa in Japan, with a 4-hour layover in Singapore, resulting in a total travel time of around 12 hours. To make our journey easier, we booked our tickets with Jetstar Asia two months ahead and paid € 718,85 for both of us, which included checked baggage and seat selection. While it was one of our more expensive flights during our world trip, it was also one of our longer ones, so it made sense! In hindsight, we probably could’ve saved some money if we had booked a bit more in advance or if we hadn’t flown straight to Okinawa. For example, flying to Tokyo and making our way down Japan to Okinawa would’ve been a bit cheaper, however, this wouldn’t have made sense for our next stop on our world trip: Hawaii.
Total for 2 people: € 718,85
Accommodation
Our accommodation expenses in Japan were a mixed bag, with some great deals and a bit of a splurge. We spent two nights at Music Hotel Koza by Coldio Premium in Okinawa, paying just € 31,30 per night for a spacious private room and bathroom – a fantastic value if you ask us! On Miyakojima, we stayed 8 nights at T&T Villa 宮古島 for € 42,87 per night. While the room had everything we needed, it was a bit too small, especially for a longer stay. That being said, it was the most affordable option on the island so we can’t really complain.
In Tokyo, we spent 3 nights at HOTEL MYSTAYS Asakusa for € 39,43 per night. We’re becoming big fans of the MYSTAYS chain – they offer everything you need at affordable prices, even if the rooms aren’t the largest. Our biggest splurge was at HOTEL MYSTAYS Fuji Onsen Resort, where we paid € 121,85 per night. We booked last minute, so options near Fuji were limited. While the room was spacious, probably the most spacious during our 17 days in Japan, it felt overpriced. In total, we spent € 889,43 for 16 nights, averaging € 55,59 per night. If it weren’t for the expensive stay near Fuji, our average would have been much lower!
Total for 2 people for 16 nights: € 889,43
Transportation
During our 17 days in Japan, we spent a total of € 868,35 on transportation, averaging about €50 per day for both of us. Notably, the biggest expenses were our two domestic flights: from Okinawa to Miyako for € 132,05 and from Miyako to Tokyo for € 325,35. In addition, on Miyakojima, we rented a scooter for € 154,59 over 8 days, which came to € 19,32 per day. Furthermore, we also rented a car in Tokyo for 4 days to visit Mount Fuji, costing € 141,96 or € 35,49 per day. Along with this, we incurred costs for gas, parking, tolls, and public transportation, plus € 24 for translating our driver’s licenses to drive in Japan.
Total for 2 people: € 868,35
Food
If you recall our first trip to Japan, we managed to spend almost € 50 per day for both of us on food. This time, we were determined to cut back a bit. Over our 17 days in Japan, we spent € 275,58 on food, which averages just € 16,21 per day for both of us.
We mostly opted for quick lunches from 7-Eleven and FamilyMart, these expenses are included in the “other” category. We still treated ourselves to some great meals, like ramen at T’s Tantan and Kyushu Jangara, where we spent € 20 each time for both of us. In Miyakojima, we enjoyed delicious pizzas at Pizzeria Crown for € 28 and garlic shrimp from Harry’s Garlic Shrimp Truck for € 23. We also had breakfasts at Little Mermaid and a few meals at McDonald’s. We’re really proud of how we managed to cut our food expenses to less than half of what we spent on our first Japan trip!
Total for 2 people: € 275,58
Drinks
We had originally planned to visit a rooftop bar in Tokyo for some cocktails; however, the weather was so terrible that day that we decided to stay in. As a result, we didn’t spend any money on cocktails, but we can now say that we’ve experienced a typhoon in Japan. 😉 In Miyakojima, we bought some sangrias from the supermarket, which you’ll find listed under the “other” category in our budget. To our surprise, they were surprisingly good!
Total for 2 people: € 0
Sightseeing
Sightseeing in Japan turned out to be the most pleasant surprise of our trip so far – we didn’t spend a single yen on entry fees! It’s the first time during our world trip that all the places we visited were free. We explored the American Village in Okinawa without spending a dime, and on the Miyako Islands, our days were filled with visits to beautiful beaches, all free of charge. In Tokyo, we enjoyed breathtaking views from two free observation decks. Plus, our visits to Chureito Pagoda and the lakes around Mount Fuji – Lake Shoji, Lake Kawaguchi, and Lake Yamanaka – were also completely free.
Total for 2 people: € 0
Other
Our “other” expenses were solely from supermarket visits, mostly to 7-Eleven and FamilyMart. We spent a total of € 314,10, which breaks down to € 18,48 per day for both of us. This covered snacks, lunch, and drinks during our trip.
Total for 2 people: € 314,10
Total of our 17 days in Japan
Here is our budget breakdown for 17 days in Japan in August 2024:
Total per category for the two of us
✈️ Flights: € 718,85
🛏️ Accommodation: € 889,43 (€ 55,59 per night)
🛵 Transportation: € 868,35 (€ 51,08 per day)
🍜 Food: € 275,58 (€ 16,21 per day)
🍸 Drinks: € 0
🌊 Sightseeing: € 0
🛒 Other: € 314,10 (€ 18,48 per day)
💰 Total excluding flights: € 2347,46 | € 138,09 per day for 2 | € 69,04 per day per person
💰 Total including flights: € 3066,31
Excluding our flight costs, we spent an average of € 138,09 per day for both of us, or € 69,04 each. This is a significant drop from our first trip, where we spent € 201,20 per day for both of us, or € 100,60 each. The main reason for this decrease was our reduced spending on food. Additionally, all the sightseeing we did was free this time, and we didn’t spend on drinks either. However, we did spend more on accommodation on this trip (€ 55,59 per night), compared to our previous visit (€ 49,29 per night).
For budget travelers in Japan, a daily budget of € 50 to € 70 per person is reasonable. This range covers accommodation, transportation, food, and other expenses. The variance depends on how many destinations you visit, as transportation can add up quickly. This budget assumes you’re staying in hostels and not dining out for every meal.
Tips and tricks for saving money in Japan
After visiting Japan twice and managing to spend € 30 less per day per person during our second trip, we feel we’ve got a good handle on how to explore Japan on a budget. Here are some practical tips for traveling Japan without breaking the bank.
1. Accommodation
While accommodation in Japan can be quite pricey, we recommend checking out hostels as a budget-friendly option. In fact, Japan boasts some fantastic hostels that offer all the essentials, from hair dryers and toothbrushes to shampoo and soap. Moreover, you can choose from various setups, including double beds in dorms, capsules, and private rooms with bathrooms. Having stayed in several, we’ve had no complaints. Therefore, below are some of our favorite hostels in Japan:
If you prefer hotels, then we recommend checking out MYSTAYS hotels. In fact, they offer excellent value for money and are located in convenient spots. Specifically, here are a few MYSTAYS locations we’ve tried and approved:
2. Transportation
Unless you’re frequently changing destinations every couple of days, the Japan Rail Pass might not be the most cost-effective option. Instead, consider using regular trains or buses, even if they take a bit longer – in fact, they can save you more than half the cost! Furthermore, if you’re only planning on visiting major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka, then get a Suica, ICOCA, or Pasmo card. Although these cards don’t offer discounts, they make travel more convenient and help you avoid the hassle of ticket vending machines.
Planning on visiting Tokyo? Read all about Tokyo’s Subway system in our guide.
3. Food
We have three tips for saving money on food in Japan. First and foremost, avoid eating out for every meal. Instead, head to the nearest convenience store to pick up snacks like pizza buns and onigiri, or prepared meals like kimchi fried rice. Additionally, you can even ask the staff to heat your meal for you. With a 7-Eleven or FamilyMart on almost every corner, you’ll easily find delicious and affordable options. Overall, this is a great way to save money!
Another effective tip is to explore street food instead of dining at restaurants. Japan has fantastic food markets where you can enjoy tasty street food at budget-friendly prices.
Lastly, check out conveyor belt sushi for a more affordable sushi experience. Chains like Kura Sushi, Sushiro, and Daiki-suisan kaitenzushi offer great options for delicious and reasonably priced sushi!
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