Ah, Japan, my second home – a wonderful country with lots of fascination and convenience… and not the most affordable travel destination. As someone who’s called this incredible country home for many years, I’m here to let you in on a little secret: you can absolutely experience the wonders of Japan without emptying your wallet. From the busy streets of Tokyo to the serene temples of Kyoto, Japan is a traveler’s dream – and it doesn’t have to be a budgeter’s nightmare. So, grab your luggage and let’s dive into 10 tried-and-true tips for exploring Japan on a budget.
1. Timing is Everything: Embrace the Off-Season
Yes, cherry blossoms and autumn foliage is amazing, but they aren’t the only pretty things in Japan! While spring is gorgeous, it’s also when prices skyrocket faster than a shinkansen bullet train. Consider visiting during the less crowded months like early spring (February, hello plum blossoms!), the summer months (middle of May – August) or winter (December – January). You’ll still get stunning scenery (hello seasonal flowers and snow-capped Mount Fuji!), minus the premium prices and crowds. If your timing is non-negotiable (I get it, I love cherry blossoms too), read on how to save money during your trip in other ways.
2. Fly Smart: Hunt for Budget Airlines and Deals
Getting to Japan doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg (you’ll definitely gonna need those for all the walking you’ll do!). Keep an eye out for sales from budget airlines like Peach Aviation or Jetstar Japan. Also, consider flying into alternative airports like Osaka’s Kansai International or Nagoya’s Chubu Centrair – they often have cheaper fares than Tokyo’s main hubs.
In addition, use plug-ins and flight search engines such as Skyscanner, Cheapoair, Jetradar etc. There is not a single search engine that constantly offers the cheapest deal – so it pays to check a few regularly and set reminders if you have specific dates. Try different devices too, sometimes prices can differ depending on if you access them via the newest mac or an older phone.
3. Rail Pass or No Rail Pass?
The Japan Rail Pass is often touted as a must-have, and it has been a great deal and its convenience is hard to beat. If you’re planning to stay in one region or make fewer long-distance trips, it might not always be worth it. With the new prices, the all-encompassing JR Pass for all of Japan won’t be worth it unless you’re planning to do a roadtrip from Kyushu to Hokkaido or vice versa.
Consider using regional passes or individual tickets instead. If you’re unsure if the JR Pass is worth it for you, you can use the JR Pass Fare Calculator. Simply put in all of your stops and you’ll get an automatic comparison. I use this a lot, especially when I plan bigger roadtrips.
4. More Hotel for Less
One of the biggest chunk of cost in Japan is definitely accommodation. I personally recommend to find one booking program that you like and stick with it – so you can use their loyalty programs to your advantage. I have the highest loyalty status on booking.com and sometimes get amazing deals because of it! In Japan especially, Agoda is much more popular and many accommodation can only be found on there.
As with flights, do your research though. Oftentimes booking directly on the hotel’s website can be quite a bit cheaper. I found this true only for smaller hotels though. For big chains, the booking platform was almost always cheaper. Depending where you go, AirBnb can also be a good option, especially if you travel as a group. Staying in a private home or apartment also gives you a more “local” experience, and you may have extra conveniences that you wouldn’t get at most Japanese hotels, such as a kitchen or washing machine. And speaking of, it doesn’t always have to be traditional hotels. I love staying in Japanese guesthouses and traditional ryokan, which can be a good affordable option (unless you go for a luxury ryokan – I like to splurge every once in a while…)
As a rule of thumb, don’t always aim for the city center, because it’s often a much better value to stay outside of the prime areas. But ensure that you can easily access public transportation and that it services the areas you want to explore.
5. Konbini are great, but supermarkets are superior
If you know me, you might be aware that I absolutely love convenience stores (or „konbini“) and that’s definitely what they are – convenient. But you usually pay for their convenience with a higher price tag. If you’re strapped for cash, you can find surprisingly delicious and affordable meals in local supermarkets. Usually, from around 6pm, many of them will be 50% off!
From onigiri (rice balls) to bento boxes, you can easily keep your food budget in line without sacrificing taste or quality. Search on Google maps for supermarket chains such as まいばすけっと mybasket or type in スーパー･マーケット (just copy and paste from here!)
5.5 Eat Like a Local
Speaking of tasty food, forget the touristy restaurants and dive into local eateries. The best trick is to google what you want to eat in Japanese via Google Translate or Deepl and then put your search result into Google Maps in Japanese. The reason is that most restaurants in Japan still don’t have English entries on Google, so you won’t find them if you only search in English. You will find that most of them are often quite a bit cheaper as well.
Alternatively, look for places with ticket vending machines out front – they’re usually cheap and delicious. Don’t shy away from street food either; taiyaki (fish-shaped sweet pancake) and okonomiyaki among many other options are both tasty and wallet-friendly options.
6. Free Attractions: Culture Without the Cost
Japan has so many free attractions to offer if you know where to look. Many temples and shrines are free to enter, and you can often catch traditional performances or festivals without spending a single yen. In Tokyo, enjoy the view from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory – it’s free and rivals the pricey Tokyo Skytree (and the only good thing about the view from the Skytree is that you can’t see the Skytree while youre on it, anyways. It’s also too high to really get a great view in my opinion).
Japan offers a wealth of free cultural experiences that often get overlooked by travelers. Here’s a few of my favorite ones:
- Temples and Shrines: While some major temples charge entrance fees, many are completely free. In Kyoto, for example, you can explore the atmospheric streets of Gion or wander through the torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha without spending a yen.
- Public Parks: Japanese parks are not just green spaces; they’re cultural hubs. Tokyo’s Ueno Park is home to several museums (which have free admission days), while Yoyogi Park in Harajuku is perfect for people-watching and often hosts free events, such as a great flea market on Sundays.
- Traditional Festivals (Matsuri): These colorful celebrations happen year-round and are free to attend. The Gion Matsuri in Kyoto and the Sanja Matsuri in Tokyo are spectacular examples – you can check the calendar of matsuri happening in Japan here.
- Free Walking Tours: Many cities offer free walking tours led by volunteers. In Tokyo, check out Tokyo Free Walking Tour for guided explorations of different neighborhoods.
- Government Buildings: As mentioned, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building offers free views, but don’t forget the Diet Building (Japan’s parliament) which offers free tours when the Diet is not in session.
- Art and Culture: Many museums have free admission days, usually once a month. The National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo is free on the first Sunday of each month for example.
7. Budget-Friendly Transportation
While Japan’s public transportation is efficient, but it can definitely add up quick. Many cities offer bike-sharing programs that are both cheap and fun. Check out Docomo Cycle for example. Kyoto is a city that is honestly best explored by bike! Apart from that, Japan’s cities are incredibly walkable, and you’ll discover hidden gems along the way.
We also rented electrical scooters to get around more rural areas such as our weekend trip to Ine. As a general tip, make sure to tag all the places you would love to visit and figure out in which order you’ll do them, as unnecessary back and forth really adds up quickly. Lastly, sometimes it can pay off to take an overnight bus (save on train tickets AND one night for free) or a regular express bus in comparison to taking the train.
8. More Party for Less
Want to experience Japan’s famous nightlife on a budget? Look for izakaya and bars offering „nomihoudai“ (all-you-can-drink) deals. You will often find Japanese in the evening outside holding big signs – many of them can offer a good deal for bringing you in. This is true except for the area of Kabukicho: Do not go with anyone trying to lure you into their establishment there, as the area is littered with scammers. Other areas, such as Roppongi or Shibuya, are usually safe.
Or do as the locals do and grab a drink from a konbini or supermarket to enjoy in a park or by the river. Especially in summer I wildly prefer this than sitting in a stuffy bar!
9. Shop Smart: 100 Yen Stores and Tax-Free Shopping
Need souvenirs? Skip the tourist traps and head to a 100 yen store (like Daiso). You’ll find quirky, uniquely Japanese items at unbeatable prices. You can find a huge variety of cute stationary and kitchenware, beautyproducts, stickers and even character goods such as anime or Sanrio goods. Beyond Daiso, check out Seria and Can Do for slightly different selections. They’re perfect for practical items you might need during your trip as well as unique, inexpensive souvenirs.
For bigger purchases, look for tax-free shops – just remember to bring your passport! (I forget about this way too often..) In order to shop tax-free, your purchase usually needs to be over 5,000 yen in the same store on the same day. Bring your passport, as shops will need to attach the receipt to your passport (this is now usually done electronically).
There are also outlet malls worth to explore: For brand-name goods at discounted prices, consider visiting Gotemba Premium Outlets near Mt. Fuji and Rinku Premium Outlets near Osaka.
For a more traditional shopping experience, visit local markets. Kyoto’s Nishiki Market and Tokyo’s Ameyoko are great for foodstuffs and unique finds.
You know I LOVE thrifting and Japan has excellent second-hand stores where you can find high-quality items at a fraction of their original price. Check out chains like Book Off for media and electronics, and Mode Off for clothing. My favorite area for clothing is Shimokitazawa in Tokyo, there are so many thrift shops at every single corner.
Also, if you’re visiting Japan around the turn of the New Year, keep an eye out for „fukubukuro“ or lucky bags, which offer a selection of items at a discounted price. Almost every store in Japan offers these lucky bags and I used to get the ones from my favorite stores.
10. Connect for Less: eSIM and WiFi Hotspots
I always see portable WiFi rentals being advertised, and they can be a good deal when being shared as a group, but I find them quite expensive and I personally hate to carry another device with me that I need to charge every single day (maybe a personal problem since I already carry my camera, phone, my drone, sometimes a go pro as well as a power bank..) For those reasons, ane because its cheaper, I always use an eSIM instead! I have had good experiences with xplori where you can get up to 10GB for a month for 23$. You can also easily top them off via their app if you need more (not that that regularly happens to me…)
In addition, many convenience stores, train stations, and even vending machines offer free WiFi. Just look for the „Free Wi-Fi“ signs and you’re good to go! I would not entirely rely on public WiFi hotspots throughout your trip, as they are quite few and far in between – especially once you leave the bigger cities. But even Tokyo has a surprisingly low number of free WiFi spots for being such a huge city.
Conclusion:
If you’re willing to sacrifice a bit of time, it is definitely possible to cut a huge chunk off your Japan adventure. Remember, some of the best experiences in Japan – like watching the sunset from a hilltop temple or chatting with locals in a neighborhood park – are absolutely free. Get ready to fall in love with Japan (I am sure you will if you made it this far!) one budget-friendly experience at a time.
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