is japan cheap to travel from us

How Affordable Is Japan for U.S. Travelers Right Now, Really?

From hotel upgrades to first-class bullet train rides and multicourse meals, now is the time for u.s. travelers to splurge in japan, while the yen is the weakest it has been in more than three decades..

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Go ahead, get an extra pack of sushi.

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Japan is on sale, and there is no better time to visit to take advantage of the value offered than now. The yen is the weakest it has been in 34 years; it’s weakened by about 50 percent against the U.S. dollar since the pre-pandemic era. Not surprisingly, tourism is booming. In March 2024, more than 3 million inbound tourists arrived in Japan, breaking a record.

As of press time, one U.S. dollar is equivalent to about 156 Japanese yen; five years ago, it was hovering closer to 100 Japanese yen. (It’s worth noting that currency exchange rates fluctuate frequently, so all conversions in this story were accurate as of the publication date but may be different at the time of reading.) Why is the yen so weak? Among the reasons is that “the interest-rate difference between cash money in Japan [zero percent] and the U.S. [around 5 percent with the best mutual funds or deposits] is … causing the yen to trade low,” explains Frederick Gundlach, a U.S. CPA and tax preparer currently in Narita, Japan.

So, how can you make the most of your travels in Japan? Now is the time to upgrade your hotel room, travel on the first-class green car on the country’s famed bullet train, and splurge on expensive meals. For instance, if you splash out for an elaborate sushi dinner with a 30,000-yen price tag, that is the equivalent of just under $200. In the past, the same $200 would have been worth only about 20,000 yen.

Shop till you drop

The deals are so good that travelers are purchasing suitcases in Japan to carry back all of their shopping, including Japanes knives, as well as clothing and accessories from fashion labels such as Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto. Many larger department stores like Isetan and Takashimaya and electronics shops like Bic Camera are duty-free, which means you can shop without taxes while traveling around Japan, not just at the airport before your return flight. Be sure to bring your passport with you, and look for the white-and-red “Japan. Tax-free shop” signs. Additionally, many department stores or electronics shops will give foreign passport holders a discount card at the information desk, usually for about 5 percent off, but sometimes more. After all of your shopping is completed, take your receipts to the duty-free counter in the department store and get the tax back: up to 10 percent, depending on what you are purchasing.

Look for the red tax-free shop signs to shop duty-free while out and about in Japan.

MMpai/Shutterstock

Hotel rates

Hotel rates for Japanese-owned hotels have not fluctuated much recently—and that’s a good thing. The Tokyo Station Hotel and Imperial Hotel Tokyo currently are in the 60,000 to 80,000 yen per night ($380 to $500) range, which is comparable to their rates before the yen weakened considerably, but the dollar equivalent is, of course, lower. But some other properties, namely international hotel brands, have tripled their rates as tourism demand has increased at record rates. The Aman Tokyo , for instance, is currently about 300,000 yen ($1,900) per night. In 2018, it cost about 110,000 yen.

For more budget-oriented travelers, however, Japan is a total bargain right now. Basic business hotels with small rooms and private bathrooms that are conveniently near major train stations start at about 7,500 yen per night, which is less than $50.

Train upgrades

A round-trip shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto from Tokyo is currently 26,000 yen ($165) or 38,000 yen ($240) for the first-class green car. Note that the price for the JR rail pass has recently increased , but it still poses a good value depending on how far one travels. The pass allows unlimited travel on Japan Rail trains, including shinkansen bullet trains. The basic seven-day JR Pass is 50,000 yen ($320); formerly it was 30,000 yen. The seven-day Green Car Pass is 70,000 yen ($445)—not a bad deal for a week of first-class bullet train rides.

When a bowl of ramen will only set you back about $6.50, it’s hard to resist.

Photo by Volkan Kacmaz/Unsplash

Meals at a minimum

Breakfast at a kissaten coffee shop with coffee, toast, and a boiled egg is about one coin or 500 yen ($3). A bowl of ramen goes for about 1,000 yen ($6.50). Add potstickers and an ice-cold beer, and the bill will be 2,000 yen ($13). Gundlach reminds travelers that “there is no tipping in Japan.”

Attractions and skiing

Tickets for the contemporary Mori Art Museum or the fine arts institute the Nezu Museum (both located in Tokyo) are 1,600 yen ($10). Entrance into the interactive digital art experience teamLab Borderless at the new Azabudai Hills urban village is 3,800 yen ($24), to get a sense of how much it will cost to soak up some culture in Japan.

For skiers and snowboarders, the renowned Niseko Village ski resort on the northern island of Hokkaido sells daily ski passes starting at 9,500 yen, a bargain at only $60. At Hakuba Valley in Nagano, the daily passes start at 8,500 yen ($55). Note that food at ski resorts is pricier than in the city centers, as are hotel rooms. But for some of the best powder in the world, it is still a bargain compared to, say, ski resorts in the United States that charge upwards of $100 and $200 for a day pass.

How long will the weak yen last?

Gundlach said he can’t forecast how long the yen will remain weak. But even if you aren’t traveling to Japan in the immediate future, you can still head to a foreign exchange office or a bank that exchanges currencies to buy some yen now; later, you can use it for on-the-ground expenses. With the weak yen, U.S. visitors can extend their stay for a few extra days, travel further, and explore more of the country. So, there’s no better time to visit Japan than the present.

Cost of a Trip to Japan & the Cheapest Time to Visit Japan

The average price of a 7-day trip to Japan is $1,659 for a solo traveler, $2,690 for a couple, and $1,913 for a family of 4 . Japan hotels range from $62 to $304 per night with an average of $105, while most vacation rentals will cost $140 to $520 per night for the entire home. Average worldwide flight costs to Japan (from all airports) are between $948 and $1,696 per person for economy flights and $2,977 to $5,325 for first class. Depending on activities, we recommend budgeting $48 to $99 per person per day for transportation and enjoying local restaurants.

See below for average , budget , and luxury trip costs. You can also look up flight costs from your airport for more tailored flight pricing.

The Cheapest Times to Visit Japan

On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to Japan and stay in a Japan hotel:

• January 8th to March 18th
• August 27th to December 9th

The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Japan is usually late September .

Average Japan Trip Costs

Average solo traveler.

The average cost for one person to visit Japan for a week is $1,380-$2,771 ($197-$396 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $48 to $99 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $564 to $1,394 for economy

Lodging : $80 to $114 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room

or $86 to $105 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Average Couple’s Trip

The average cost for a couple to visit Japan for a week is $2,279-$4,865 ($326-$695 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $96 to $199 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,127 to $2,788 for economy

Average Family Vacation

The average cost for 4 people to visit Japan for a week is $4,360-$9,723 ($623-$1,389 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $191 to $397 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $2,255 to $5,576 for economy

Lodging : $161 to $228 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms

or $128 to $157 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Traveling Cheap to Japan

How cheap can you make a vacation to Japan? The cheapest trip to Japan is about $150 per person per day for travelers willing to take standby flights, deal with inconvenience, and otherwise limit travel expenses. About 3% of rentals are available in the $0 to $100 range for an entire place, and vacation rentals can be booked for as low as $16 per night. These inexpensive rentals must be booked as early as possible and may not be in the most desirable areas. 1-star hotels are more likely to be available, with rooms starting at around $53.

Even cheaper trips are possible depending on where you live and whether you can drive. Check the cheapest times to fly for more saving ideas.

Budget Solo Traveler

The lowest cost for one person to visit Japan for a week is $1,050-$2,576 ($150-$368 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $24 to $48 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Lodging : $53 to $62 per night for one 1-star hotel room

or $110 to $141 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Budget Couple’s Trip

The lowest cost for a couple to visit Japan for a week is $1,781-$4,306 ($254-$615 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $48 to $96 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Budget Family Vacation

The lowest cost for 4 people to visit Japan for a week is $3,557-$8,186 ($508-$1,169 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $96 to $192 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Lodging : $105 to $124 per night for two 1-star hotel rooms

or $165 to $211 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Overall it is very difficult to travel to Japan cheaply.

The Cost of a Luxury Japan Trip

There is no true ceiling on the cost of a luxury trip, so our estimates are based on what most people do in Japan.

Luxury Solo Traveler

The high-end price for one person to visit Japan for a week is $3,040-$10,904 ($434-$1,558 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $96 to $198 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,408 to $3,470 for first class

Lodging : $160 to $304 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room

or $504 to $1,008 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Luxury Couple’s Trip

The high-end price for a couple to visit Japan for a week is $5,121-$15,768 ($732-$2,253 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $192 to $397 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $2,817 to $6,941 for first class

Luxury Family Vacation

The high-end price for 4 people to visit Japan for a week is $10,241-$28,542 ($1,463-$4,077 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $384 to $794 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $5,633 to $13,882 for first class

Lodging : $320 to $609 per night for two 4 or 5-star hotel rooms

or $753 to $1,517 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Japan Hotel Prices

The cost of staying in Japan is much higher than the average city. On average hotels are less expensive than vacation rentals. Luxury vacation rentals are more expensive in Japan due to very high property costs. The graphs below show how much cost can vary depending on the type of experience you’re looking for.

Japan Lodging Cost by Star Status

The average price for the class of hotel is on the (y) axis. The hotel class (out of 5 stars) is on the (x) axis.

Prices are based on Japan hotel averages and may not reflect current prices. In some cases, we extrapolate prices to estimate costs, and hotels with your desired star rating may not be available.

Vacation Rental Prices

The percent of vacation rentals in the price range is on the left (y) axis. Price range is on the bottom (x) axis.

There are a healthy amount of vacation rentals serving all budgets in Japan.

Flight Costs to Japan

Averaging flights around the world, prices go from a high of $1,696 average in early to mid July to a low of $948 in late September. Median flight price is $1,031. These prices are based on millions of flights. For Japan our data includes thousands of originating airports, and hundreds of airlines. The area has more variance in price compared with other locations.

Average Flight Cost by Season

Average flight cost by day of week.

The cheapest day to fly in is typically Tuesday, and the cheapest day to fly back is usually Tuesday. Click here to see data for the cost of flights from your airport. In Japan, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive week is about $748, so you can easily save about 79% simply by using our free flight guides and booking in advance.

Daily Expenses Budget

Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing. A fine dining restaurant with drinks around Japan can easily cost $361 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be about $24 per person. Private tours can cost $722 per day, but self-guided tours to see the outdoor sights can be free. Costs vary wildly, so recommendations are made based on the cost of living and averages we see for this type of vacation.

Other Japan Guides

Travel costs nearby.

• Nagahama, Japan
• Maibara, Japan
• Tsuruga, Japan
• Echizen, Japan
• Sabae, Japan
• Ogaki, Japan
• Yoro, Japan
• Hikone, Japan
• Fukui, Japan
• Gifu, Japan

Travel Costs in Popular Places

• Chicago, IL, US
• Vienna, Austria
• Nairobi, Kenya

Japan on a budget: 17 ways to get more for your yen

Mar 28, 2024 • 6 min read

These top tips to low-cost living can help you stretch your budget on a trip to Japan © Monzenmachi/Getty Images

Japan has a reputation as an expensive place to travel, but it’s an image that doesn’t hold up on the ground.

With a little strategy, a visit can be very reasonable – budget-friendly, even. Many of the country’s major sights , for example, cost nothing, and free festivals take place year-round.

With these top tips on finding the best-value places to stay, the right transportation tickets and places to eat that suit all tastes and wallets, you can make your yen go further on a visit to Japan .

A guide to daily costs in Japan

• Capsule hotel room: ¥4,000 (US$30) 
• Basic room for two: ¥8,000 (US$60)
• Self-catering apartment: (including Airbnb) ¥6,000 (US$45)
• Coffee:  ¥400 (US$3.50)
• Sandwich: ¥300 (US$2.20)
• Beer/pint at the bar: ¥600 (US$4.50)
• Dinner for two: ¥5,000 (US$38)
• Hour of karaoke for two:  ¥2,000 (US$15)

1. Consider staying in a business hotel

These economical (and, to be honest, rather utilitarian) hotels offer the best prices for private rooms with en suite facilities.

It’s possible to find double rooms for as low as ¥8,000 (and single rooms for as low as ¥6,000), though these will be a little more expensive in cities like Tokyo , Kyoto and Osaka .

Look for places that include a free breakfast buffet – they can be substantial enough to keep you going for hours. 

2. Book direct at a guesthouse or hostel 

Japan has fantastic guesthouses and hostels all over; not only are they generally clean and well-maintained, but friendly English-speaking staff are usually on hand to offer near concierge-level service.

A double or single room is comparable to a business hotel (but usually has shared facilities); dorm beds cost around ¥3,000.

Some places do charge extra for towel rentals, so you can save a few yen by bringing your own. Note that rates are often slightly cheaper if you book directly rather than through a booking site.

3. Sleep in a capsule hotel in the cities

Capsule hotels, which offer small rooms with enough space for just a bed, provide a budget-friendly place to spend the night.

A capsule berth costs slightly more than a dorm bed in a hostel (¥4,000 per night), but you get more privacy.

You probably wouldn’t want to stay every night in a capsule, but they’re good for saving money in cities where hotels are pricier. 

4. Go camping in the summer months

If you really want to do Japan on the cheap, you can rely on its network of well-maintained campsites in rural or resort areas; prices range from ¥500 to ¥1,000 per person or tent. Note that many sites are only open in the summer . 

5. Swap a night in a hotel for an overnight bus ride 

Long-distance buses, like those operated by Willer Express , are the cheapest way to get around, and longer routes have night buses, which saves a night on accommodation. There are also bus passes, which can make this an even cheaper option. 

6. The Japan Rail Pass is a great travel bargain

Like the famous Eurail Pass, the JR Pass is one of the world’s great travel bargains and is the best way to see a lot of Japan on a budget.

It allows unlimited travel on Japan’s brilliant nationwide rail system, including the lightning-fast shinkansen (bullet train).

There are also more regionally specific train passes that are cheaper, so examine your itinerary carefully before deciding . Purchase a pass online or from a travel agent like JTB in your home country.

7. Ride local trains for less with the Seishun 18 Ticket

The Seishun 18 is another great deal, but with very specific conditions: for ¥12,050, you get five one-day tickets good for travel on any regular Japan Railways train (meaning not the shinkansen or any high-speed limited express trains) during a limited period of a few weeks.

The Seishun 18 Ticket is only available at certain times during the year – during school holidays (the ticket is designed for students, but there’s no age cap) – and can only be purchased from JR ticket windows in Japan.

If the timing works, and you’re a fan of slow travel, this is a unique, ultra-cheap way to get around in Japan .

8. Consider renting a car to go beyond the cities 

Highway tolls and petrol in Japan are expensive; however, renting a car can be economical if you’re traveling as a group or family , or are plotting an itinerary that takes you away from major rail hubs. 

9. Take domestic flights with low-cost airlines

Japan has several budget carriers, like Peach , Jetstar and Air Do , that offer bus-like pricing on some routes – just be sure to factor in the time – and cost – of going to/from the airport. 

10. Japan’s shrines and temples are free to visit

The vast majority of Shintō shrines in Japan cost nothing to enter. Likewise, the grounds of many temples can be toured for free (often, you only have to pay to enter the halls or a walled garden). 

11. Eat cheap food and meet locals at a traditional festival

Throughout the year , festivals take place at shrines and temples and through city streets. They’re free, an excellent way to see traditional culture come alive, and are well attended by cheap food vendors.

12. Opt for hikes and walking tours

Going on a hike or a trek is free and can be the most rewarding part of your trip: explore an up-and-coming city neighborhood , walk  old pilgrimage trails or rural lanes, or get up into the mountains in one of Japan’s national parks . 

Japan’s cities, especially Tokyo, have some fantastic buildings designed by many of the big names in Japanese architecture. With a little bit of planning, you could chart your own architecture tour. Ask at a tourist information center or your accommodation for suggestions.

13. Spend time relaxing in the city parks 

Urban parks are generally free to enter (and some gardens are, too) and are popular with locals on weekends; pack a picnic and settle in for an afternoon of people-watching. If you time your visit right, you could be bathing in the beauty of Japan's cherry blossoms . 

14. Shop for cheaper goods at a local market 

Many seaside towns have fish markets, some rural spots have morning markets, and some cities still have their old-fashioned open-air markets. Visits here are a great way to connect with local culture and are often a source of cheap, fresh food. 

15. Choose the right dish in the right place to save money

You can get a good, filling meal in shokudō , Japan's answer to the greasy spoon, for under ¥1,000. A steaming bowl of tasty ramen can be picked up in many places for as little as ¥600.

Tachigui (stand-and-eat counter joints) sell soba (buckwheat noodles) and udon (thick white wheat noodles) for even less – starting as low as ¥350 per bowl.

Many upscale restaurants in Japan offer a smaller course at lunchtime for significantly less than they charge at dinner, so for a bargain deal have your larger meal then. In all restaurants in Japan, tea and water are complimentary, and tipping is not required. 

16. Bentō are a budget alternative to a meal out

These "boxed meals," which include a variety of dishes, can be picked up for under ¥1,000 at supermarkets. Department store food halls sell gourmet ones for a little bit more; visit just before closing to buy them on markdown.

17. Get everything you need and more at the convenience store

Convenience stores are the best friend to all budget travelers. They stock sandwiches, rice balls, hot dishes and beer, all of which you can assemble into a very affordable (if not exactly healthy) meal. Accommodations always have kettles, so cup noodles are always an option.   

This article was first published May 15, 2012 and updated Mar 28, 2024.

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How Much Does a Trip to Japan Cost? Average 2024 Budget

Japan is a great first destination for American tourists looking to travel to Asia. It offers a unique taste of East Asian culture, in a highly-developed, Western-influenced setting. If Japan is on your bucket list but you are wondering “how much does it cost to go to Japan?”, that answer can sometimes be a lot. The Japan trip cost is the main reason it took us so long to finally take a family trip to Japan.

The bottom line is that the Japan trip cost for a two-week trip for a family of four, staying in four-star level accommodations with a few paid activities will cost about $13,420 or $280 per person, per day.

However, while Japan is an expensive country, there are options for budget travel in Japan. The trip to Japan cost depends on your travel style, but it need not be as expensive as you thought. This Japan trip budget breakdown will show you how and where to save on your visit. I will cover the cost of airfare, intra-country transportation, accommodations, food, and activities .

Planning a trip to Japan

Japan has so much to offer, but for a first trip, splitting your time between Tokyo , Kyoto , and maybe Osaka over two weeks in Japan is best. I’ve created a 14-day Japan itinerary and you can also see my friend Vaness’a suggestions for two weeks in Japan .

Your first experience with Japan is a total assault on the senses, so you really should slow down and stick to just a couple of destinations. If you return, you can then follow this longer 3-week Japan with kids itinerary or visit places like Hokkaido, the western coast of Honshu and Kanazawa, Shikoku, and Okinawa. Be sure to also read my Japan travel tips .

How much does a trip to Japan cost?

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

I based this budget on my personal experience of what it costs to travel to Japan and broke it down by airfare, accommodations, transportation, activities, and food. This breakdown assumes you are visiting Japan with kids for the following:

• A family of four with two adults and two kids under 12
• Two-week trip, including two travel days, with 12 nights in Japan
• Five nights in Tokyo, five nights in Kyoto, and 2 nights in Osaka
• Traveling during high or shoulder seasons (although not the top peak travel dates during Cherry Blossom season, then you can expect to pay premium pricing across the board.)
• Independent travelers that are comfortable exploring on their own and not looking to book a package tour or use private guides

Airfare to Japan

The first big expense for a trip to Japan is, of course, airfare. Economy class flights to Japan from New York during shoulder and high seasons will likely start at around $1,300 per person and easily go up to $2000. We paid about $3,200 per person to fly Delta from Boston to Tokyo through Detroit (but we used points for one flight at least!)

Air Canada and Delta with layovers in Toronto and Detroit, respectively, are common offerings at a price point like this. If you are looking to fly nonstop to Japan on United or one of the more upscale Asian carriers like Japan Airlines will probably cost around $2,000 from the East Coast.

West Coasters might find slightly cheaper fares, but whichever coast you start from, it is a good trip to use your frequent flier miles and points as that will really help with your Japan trip budget. It is best to book airfare at least six months in advance, or as early as possible.

I also highly recommend signing up for a membership in Going , to get alerts for flight deals to your dream destinations.

If you want to find the best way to accumulate points and miles through credit card spending and sign up bonuses, I’d suggest downloading the  Travel Freely app  to track your credit cards and learn how to earn points.

Total airfare cost: $1,300+ each x 4 travelers= $5,200

Accommodations in Japan

The good news is that airfare is definitely the most prohibitive cost for a trip to Japan. The accommodation are pricey when staying in big cities, but there are plenty of budget options (including those tiny capsule hotels). A night in a 4-star hotel in Tokyo will range anywhere from $250-$450 per room, with an average of $350 per night for a room large enough to sleep four. Just keep in mind that if you stay in a Japanese-brand hotel, the rooms are going to be quite small, be sure to check square footage.

We enjoyed our stay at the Hilton Tokyo , because it was a great location for using public transportation and the rooms were spacious and the full-service hotels had good amenities like free breakfast for Club level rooms.

Find a Hotel in Tokyo :

Hotel prices in Kyoto are wider-ranging, perhaps because there are far fewer options than in Tokyo. The overall average comes out to about $350 per room, per night for a 4-star property that will fit a family of four.

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Kyoto , which was accessible to public transportation and walkable to many of the main attractions. For cheaper accommodations, look at brands like the Mimaru .

Find a Hotel in Kyoto:

Osaka is a huge city with plenty of hotel options. It makes sense to stay near one of the main train stations or metro hubs to make it easy to get around. We loved our stay at the Intercontinental Osaka , where we splurged on a two-bedroom, two-bath residence with a full kitchen, living room, and amazing view (they have regular hotel rooms too). If you can book through American Express Fine Hotels with your Platinum card or a Virtuoso travel agent, you can also get perks like free breakfast and the breakfast is amazing!

A typical three to four-star hotel that can accommodate a family in one room is about $300 per night, but could go up to $600+.

Find a hotel in Osaka:

If you are traveling as a family, you will probably want more space than what you find in a typical Japanese hotel room (even beyond the capsule hotels). If you want to save money and get more space, I would recommend renting an apartment through vrbo or Airbnb.

You can get a nice, family vacation rental for about $130 per night (and a really nice one for about $180 a night). The best part is that you’ll have a kitchen and a dining room where you can bring prepared food home to eat or even try cooking yourself, which is helpful for budgeting since eating out in Japan can be pricey.

Rental options in Kyoto are much more limited and more expensive, but it is possible to find something affordable and really cool. A lot of the rentals in Kyoto are in older houses built in traditional Japanese styles.

Total accommodations cost if you stay in hotels: $350 x 12 = $4,200

Total accommodation costs if you stay in apartments: $200 x 12 = $2,400 (but it can be cheaper)

Transportation Costs in Japan

Transportation is another pricey part of traveling in Japan. I don’t recommend traveling by taxi very often in Japan, since they are quite expensive, but there will be times when it is the best choice, especially in the heat of summer. Taxis in Japan work similarly to taxis in the U.S., charging a higher starting fee for the first couple kilometers of travel with additional costs added on for any further distance.

For example, you will be charged about ¥500 for the flat fare and an additional ¥200 for each additional kilometer. (Japan Guide gives a detailed explanation of how taxi fares work in Japan.)

Japan’s public transportation networks in metropolitan areas are feats of modern urban planning. Trains arrive and depart at the precisely scheduled second . They are perfectly clean, they run smoothly, and they take you to wherever you need to go.

It can be a bit daunting if you have no knowledge of Japanese to make sense of the transit system maps, but you will eventually get the hang of it. Buying a train ticket isn’t too complicated either, as there is usually an English-language option on the self-service booth screens.

In Tokyo, one-day tickets for the metro are ¥600 (about $4.00) for adults and half that for children. In Kyoto, the metro is a little more expensive, with one-way fares costing about the same as the one-day tickets in Tokyo do.

For traveling longer distances in Japan, suburban trains and the Shinkansen (bullet train) are the way to go. If you are planning on taking several railway trips, then it may make sense to get a rail pass, but those rates recently went up so you really need to do the math to see how much you will use it. Rail passes are sold by duration (i.e., each week costs an extra amount of money), class of service, and region vs. national, and they are not cheap.

A regular fare for the JR 7-day rail pass is about $200, and a 14-day pass is $315 (children’s passes are less.) This does not include shipping and handling and any other processing fees. Make sure to book rail passes far in advance.

You cannot buy them in Japan— they have to be purchased within the United States with a valid passport several weeks before traveling to Japan. There are several websites where you can buy passes including JR Pass . When you arrive, you need to stop by the JR Train office and exchange your vouchers for actual passes.

The rail pass comes with added perks, which include not having to reserve a seat on long-distance trains, the ability to use the pass on suburban JR trains, as well as free access to the Narita Express between downtown Tokyo and Narita International Airport.

Rail pass costs: $315 per full price JR pass x 2 +$158 per children’s price JR pass x 2 = $946, plus (always double check for current rates)

Metro ticket costs: [2 x $4.00 metro tickets x 2+ 2 $2.00 children’s price metro ticket x 2] x 12 days = $144, plus

Taxi fare: $20 per occasional taxi ride x 4 = $80

Total transportation costs: $1,170

Sightseeing and Activities Costs in Japan

One of the best parts about budgeting for Japan is that it is easy to sightsee on your own without a guide and many of Tokyo and Kyoto’s most famous attractions are free.

Temples and museums charge small entrance fees, usually ¥600 (about $4.50) per adult, half price for children. This includes things to do in Tokyo like Senso-ji temple, and the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park.

Most of Kyoto’s attractions and temples typically charge similar small entrance fees, like Ginkaku-ji temple, Temple of 10,000 Buddhas, and the Iwatayama Monkey Park near Arashiyama.

There are a couple of major attractions that will cost, most notably the Tokyo Sky Tree, which charges about $15 per adult ticket (not including Fast Track), with a reduced fare for children.

Tokyo Dome charges about $30 per ticket with reduced fares for children, but that ticket covers all of the amusement park– the individual museums there (like the Japanese Baseball Museum) are about the same price as most temples would be. The Mori Art Museum also charges higher than usual ticket prices, but the ticket includes access to multiple galleries, as well as Tokyo City View.

Of course, many families are also going to want to go to Tokyo DisneySea or Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.

Japan’s fascinating history has produced a rich and complex culture. Tourists looking for traditional Japanese experiences have plenty of options when it comes to cultural activities. They come with a price tag though.

Option 1: Attending a Sumo Practice or Match

Watching Sumo wrestlers hone and practice their martial art is a stunningly beautiful cultural experience. Tournaments are only held seasonally, and tickets need to be booked in advance. Not to fear if you won’t be in Japan for a tournament though, Sumo practices are held in Sumo-beya (Sumo Stables) throughout the rest of the year.

General admission tickets for Sumo Matches are only about $2, but if you want better seats, a cheap seat will go for about $35, with a lower-end family box going for about $110. Expect to pay several times as much for a better ticket or box.

Option 2: Kabuki

Kabuki is a type of traditional Japanese theater. The costumes and masks are beautiful, and the performances are fascinating, even if you can’t really understand what is going on. The typical places to watch Kabuki are the Kabuki-za Theatre in Tokyo and the Minami-za Theatre in Kyoto.

Tickets can cost anywhere from $27-$220, based on the seat quality. There are tablet rental services for ¥500 available for tourists who don’t speak Japanese that attach to your seat during the performance so you can get a better sense of what is going on.

Other options for cultural activities include tea ceremonies , sushi making workshops , origami classes, calligraphy classes, and kimono sampling classes . A rough estimate of the price for each of these activities is probably somewhere between $50-$100 per person.

If you’re in Japan for a little under two weeks, I would recommend picking 1-3 cultural activities, depending on your budget. I’d also suggest taking a food tour in Osaka or Tokyo. Another thing that older teens would love would be dressing up in costumes and go karting through the streets of Tokyo.

Total sightseeing and attractions costs: $1,100

Food Costs in Japan

If you aren’t going to Japan at least partially for the food, then you’re doing it wrong! Eating Japanese food is a really special experience, no matter your price point. With such a unique cuisine, it is impossible to get bored of eating on a visit to Japan— that is, if you are an adventurous eater.

Eating out in Japan can be expensive. Moderate-range restaurants and Izakaya (restaurants with bars) will cost about $15-$20 per person for lunch, and $25-$35 for dinner. The good news is that it is possible to experience great Japanese food without eating in these types of venues all the time.

Specialized restaurants, like ramen bars, are Japanese staples that serve up specific types of food and are perfect for those doing Japan on a budget. It is possible to find amazing ramen bars (including some Michelin-starred ones) that charge between $5-$15 for a large bowl. These types of venues exist for many other types of Japanese foods, like gyudon, tonkatsu, udon, okonomiyaki, curry houses. The only downside is that these venues are typically quite small and don’t take reservations so you need to be prepared to wait in line.

There are also shokudo and teishoku, which are smaller restaurants that serve meals that are less fancy, but often equally as tasty as Izakaya. Prices are about the same as what you would find at ramen bars— sometimes more, sometimes less. Some of these restaurants are chains where you order set meals, either from a paper menu or on these chunky, vending machine-looking devices that spit out tickets.

Another option for eating out is picking up bento boxes from the prepared foods sections of department stores, like Daimaru, Takashimaya, Mitsukoshi, and Isetan. The food is actually very high quality and is painstakingly prepared, as is often the case with anything in Japan. You can find almost anything at the department stores, including sushi, karaage, tonkatsu, yakisoba, zaru soba, eel, gyoza (dumplings), yakitori.

Good-sized meals at higher-quality department stores will probably cost around $15 per person. They are easily transportable and a great option to eat great quality Japanese food at a lower price point. Konbini (Japanese convenience stores) offer similar options, albeit in smaller quantities and of lower quality.

Street food is also great in Japan. Since Japan is a highly developed country, eating street food is pretty safe, unlike other countries in Asia where Americans need to be more cautious. Japanese treats like taiyaki, takoyaki, yakitori, and other fan favorites can be purchased, usually for cheaper than the food you will find even at ramen bars. Japan also has a proliferation of high-quality vending machines almost everywhere that spit out great Japanese snacks and drinks for cheap. And don’t underestimate the wonders of a 7-11 sandwich or rice ball!

Breakfast in Japan is a smaller meal that consists of various fish and rice dishes, as well as soup. A decent quality breakfast shouldn’t cost more than $10. It is also easy to make a DIY breakfast, especially if you’re staying in a flat if you pick up prepared and easy-to-prepare foods from konbini.

Just a warning though, if you do want to experience a Michelin-star sushi restaurant or a traditional Keiseki meal, it is going to cost about $250-500 per person!

Total food costs in Japan: $75 per adult, $50 per child, per day x 14 days = $1,750

This cost is subject to vary greatly, depending on whether or not you’re staying in a hotel or in a rental, how fancy a restaurant you prefer, whether or not you’re willing to shop for your own food in the department stores, whether or not you want to splurge for special meals, etc.

Total Japan Trip Budget

If you don’t overdo it on food or activities, your family of four can spend 12 nights in Japan for $13,420 or a little about $1,118 per day. Of course, this assumes average-priced flight tickets during the high season, staying in three or four-star hotels, and eating at lower-to-mid price range restaurants.

If you want an English-speaking guide to attractions, or if you take a lot of tours, your activities costs will go up significantly. But if you stay in vacation rentals, your costs can be lower.

Clearly, this number can be higher or lower based on how you choose to travel.

How Much Does it Cost to Go to Japan?

The bottom line is that for a family of four, with two young children, staying in one room or a rental apartment, a 12-night trip to Japan with 5 nights in Tokyo, 5 nights in Kyoto, and 2 nights in Osaka will cost approximately $13,420 including flights. This assumes you are using public transportation, eating at casual restaurants or picking up takeaway food, and limiting the number of activities. This comes to approximately $280 per person, per day.

Keep in mind that this cost will go up significantly if you want to take private tours, private transportation, or enjoy more cultural activities or fine dining.

If Japan sounds too expensive, you can also check out our trip budgets for:

• London trip cost
• Iceland budget
• Ireland trip cost
• Italy trip budget
• Hawaii trip cost
• Morocco trip cost
• Greece trip cost

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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel. A former marketing executive and travel advisor, Tamara is an award-winning travel writer and recognized expert in family travel. Tamara is a member of SATW and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens travel podcast.

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Publish Date: November 23, 2023

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How to Turn High-Cost Japan into a Cheap Place to Visit

For years, I put off traveling to Japan because I was afraid of how expensive it would be. The rumors I’d heard about the country’s high prices made me hesitant to go. I’ve always loved Japanese culture, and I knew any visit would involve gorging on sushi and ramen, visits to lots of temples, and heavy train travel through the countryside.

But the thought of how much it would cost always made me think, “I’ll wait until I have more money.”

When I finally visited Japan years ago, I was shocked to discover that, while it isn’t exactly cheap, Japan isn’t the prohibitively expensive country many people think it is. In fact, I actually found Japan to be affordable and on par with (and sometimes cheaper than) countries in Western Europe .

In subsequent visits, I’ve learned to further master the country and turn high-cost Japan into an affordable place to visit.

Traveling in Japan doesn’t need to cost a lot of money. To help you plan your trip and avoid breaking the bank, here’s a detailed breakdown of how you can cut your expenses to visit Japan on a budget!

Table of Contents

How to Save on Transportation in Japan

How to save on food in japan, how to save on accommodation in japan, how to save on attractions in japan, how much money do you need to visit japan.

The pass has several options (each valid for consecutive days, not just travel days):

• 7 days: 50,000 JPY (70,000 JPY for a Green Pass)
• 14 days: 80,000 JPY (110,000 JPY for a Green Pass)
• 21 days: 100,000 JPY (140,000 JPY for a Green Pass)

All pass times are for consecutive travel (the Green Pass is the first-class option, though this isn’t really necessary as even standard cars are quite luxurious).

Compare that to single tickets, where the three-hour journey from Tokyo to Osaka costs around 36,000 JPY (round-trip), yet you can get a 7-day rail pass that includes unlimited travel on JR trains for 50,000 JPY. That single round-trip trip is almost the same price as the entire 7-day pass!

Moreover, these JR trains also serve local city areas and so can be used intra-city. I used my pass to get around Kyoto and Tokyo instead of buying metro tickets. So, even if you aren’t going to do much traveling around Japan, buying a pass is better than buying individual tickets. While the high price of the pass can cause sticker shock, the alternative is even worse.

While you used to be able to purchase passes in Japan, you can no longer do so. You must buy your JR pass online in advance so it can be mailed to you. Read more about how it works in my complete guide to the Japan Rail Pass .

Metro Most of the city metro tickets cost 150–300 JPY for a single journey. The price varies by distance and may often be higher. You can buy a day pass in most cities which gives you unlimited travel for 24 hours for 800-1,100 JPY.

Buses Buses are a less expensive alternative to the bullet train system in Japan, but they take more time. For example, the three-hour train ride from Tokyo to Osaka becomes a nine-hour bus ride. The price for that seat is just 4,500-8,000 JPY, but at some point, you need to think about how much your time is worth.

For me, the savings weren’t worth the extra hours of travel, since I had such limited time during my visit. If I’d had more time, I’d have taken the bus more often.

There are also bus passes available that offer unlimited travel and begin at 10,200 JPY for three non-consecutive days of travel.

Flights There are many budget carriers now serving Japan — you can find them on sites like Skyscanner . Peach and Jetstar are two of the main budget airlines available.

In general, their prices are on par with bullet train tickets. If you book well in advance, they may even be cheaper than the train. However, more often than not, they’ll be a bit more expensive and not really any faster if you’re going a short distance.

ANA also offers special last-minute fares via a hidden page on their website . It’s only available to foreigners and can sometimes be cheaper than the flights you find on Skyscanner, especially for longer routes around the country.

Just keep in mind that, by the time you get to and from the airport (and go through security), you might not be saving much time.  

As long as I didn’t feed my sushi addiction, I found I could eat for less than 2,000 JPY per day. Some typical prices were:

• Sushi lunch sets (sushi, soup, salad): 1,600+ JPY
• Traditional Japanese set lunches: 1,500+ JPY
• Sushi trains: 125–625 JPY per piece
• Western dishes (sandwiches, burgers, pizza, etc): 1,200-1,500 JPY
• Fast food: 800 JPY
• Ramen: 1,200 JPY
• Tempura dishes: 480-1,100 JPY

There’s an array of cheap food options in the country so you don’t really need to spend much money on food (unless you want to splash out). You can save money on food in Japan by doing the following:

• Eat at “100-yen” shops – There are many 100-yen shops (the Japanese equivalent to dollar stores) in Japan, where groceries, water, toiletries, household items, and more are simply 100 JPY. I did all my shopping at these stores. Their names vary by region, so ask your hotel/hostel reception where the nearest 100-yen shop is located.
• Use sushi trains – Sushi in Japan is delicious at all levels. While I had a few fancy meals, you can’t beat the sushi trains for value. At 125-625 JPY per plate, I could stuff my face for less than 1,500 JPY most of the time. I usually just ate at sushi trains.
• Eat at 7-11 – 7-11, Family Mart, and other convenience stores have a lot of pre-set meals for under 500 JPY that make for cheap lunches. Additionally, supermarkets have many set meals at similar prices. I noticed this was a popular option for many Japanese people.
• Cook your food – Hostels (as well as many Airbnbs) have kitchens, where you can cook and cut your food expenses.
• Buy food before grocery stores close – After 8pm, many supermarkets discount their fresh food, as they have to get rid of it. You can save up to 50% on almost all ready-made meals. It’s a great cheap dinner.
• Avoid fresh fruit – The one rumor about Japan that turned out to be true was that fresh fruit and vegetables were expensive. Outside of shopping for an apple or banana at the market, I generally avoided fresh fruits and vegetables. They were too expensive.
• Eat curry, ramen, and donburi – I essentially lived off these three foods during my three weeks in Japan (on my first trip). Curry bowls and donburi (bowls of meat and rice) are the best ways to eat cheap and filling meals in Japan.

Hostel dorms typically cost 2,500-4,500 JPY per night and hotel rooms start at 6,000-10,000 JPY for a double room at a budget hotel. Capsule hotels cost between 3,000-5,500 JPY for a tiny pod that’s essentially just a bed. It’s not fancy, but it’s a unique (and very Japanese) experience.

Here are some ways to save on accommodation:

• Work for your room – Many hostels in Japan often let you stay for free if you clean for a few hours a day. Use a site like Worldpackers to find opportunities before you arrive.
• Stay with a local – Hospitality exchanges are not as widespread in Japan as elsewhere in the world, but there is a small, active Couchsurfing community here. A lot of expats enjoy hosting because it lets them get back in touch with other westerners so don’t hesitate to reach out to them as well. Just make sure you send a request ahead of time to increase your odds of success (especially in popular cities like Kyoto and Tokyo).
• Use credit card points – It’s times like these that points and miles come in handy. With the large sign-up bonuses that many hotel cards offer, you can get up to a week’s free accommodation! Here’s a list of my favorite travel credit cards!
• Capsule hotels – A step up from hostels and a step down from hotels, capsule hotels (pictured above) are tiny capsules you sleep in. You share bathrooms and common areas, and your capsule has a light, outlet, and sometimes a small television. They are frequently used by businessmen who work late. These capsules are usually around 3,000-5,500 JPY per night.
• Airbnb – Airbnb is a budget-friendly option if you’re traveling with a larger group. Airbnb in Japan is heavily regulated, meaning that prices are high (as there are less Airbnbs), and there are a few caveats for your stay. First, only hosts who have registered with the government can list accommodation. Second, you’ll need to send a copy of your passport to your host before arriving or let them copy your passport when you check in. That said, it’s an affordable choice for anyone traveling as a group/family. If you’re traveling on your own, a hostel dorm, capsule hotel, or even a budget hotel room are all cheaper.

Overall, I found these passes to be the best way to save money on temples, museums, and other attractions. Additionally, there are many free gardens, temples, and parks! I hardly spent any money on attractions while I was in Japan.

If you do want to visit paid attractions or do tours (like walking tours), Get Your Guide is the best place to book tickets and tours.  

Traveling around Japan can be affordable if you know what to do and keep an eye on your costs. You can save money in Japan by living like a local.

If you’re staying in a hostel, buying a rail pass , eating relatively cheap food, and visiting a few attractions, budget around 10,000-16,000 JPY per day.

However, by utilizing the tips above, I think you can travel Japan for 7,000-10,000 JPY per day. Japan shouldn’t cost you more than that per day if you don’t splurge. This would mean more bus travel, a (very) limited amount of sushi, cooking most meals, free attractions, and the occasional night Couchsurfing (or other free accommodation).

I saw lots of travelers in Japan traveling on the cheap. They did it, and it’s possible — but you’ll never feed your sushi addiction if you travel this way.

To me, budget travel is value travel. Japan is never going to be as cheap as traveling through Southeast Asia , but Japan has plenty of ways to visit on a budget. Japan will never cost $20 USD per day, but it also doesn’t need to cost hundreds either.

Whenever people go to Japan and come back, they always say, “It wasn’t as expensive as I thought.” I hope this article taught you that! Stick to the discount transit, local food, and local accommodation, and you’ll keep your costs low.

Book Your Trip to Japan: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safety Wing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Be sure to check out the Japan Rail Pass if you’ll be traveling around the country. It comes in 7-, 14-, and 21-day passes and can save you a ton of money!

Want More Information on Japan? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Japan for even more planning tips!

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Using Miles and Points for Flights to Japan

September 28, 2022 by Robert Schrader Leave a Comment

If you’re like most travelers, you’re looking for ways to keep your trip to Japan cost down, without sacrificing convenience, comfort of the quality of the experience. At the same time, Japan is simply an expensive country —and flight prices do little to remedy this fact.

Using miles and points to travel to Japan offers a lot of benefits, though it’s not necessarily the cheapest way to get to Japan. Continue reading to see our best tips and tricks for booking flights to Japan the travel hacker way.

What’s the Cost of a Flight to Japan?

As a general rule, flights to Japan are expensive, whether you’re flying in economy, premium economy, business or first class. This is especially true for nonstop flights to Japan, and particularly so on routes that have no competition, such as San Diego to Tokyo on JAL, or United Airlines’ San Francisco to Osaka flight. Particularly, but not exclusively: Several airlines operate flights from Bangkok to Japan’s major airports, but prices in all classes of service remain high almost all year.

When it comes to a specific plane ticket to Japan cost, it’s difficult to name an exact figure, but you should expect to pay no less than $1,000 round-trip (in economy) from most cities in the US and Europe, and at least $500 return from points within Asia, sometimes even including neighboring countries like China and South Korea . Business class flights are several times more expensive—it’s rare to see round-trip premium class tickets between Japan and Europe or North America for under $3,000.

How to Find the Cheapest Way to Get to Japan

Japan flight deals.

Japan airfare deals are rare, but they are possible. Lower prices are particularly common on carriers that offer only connecting service to Japan, such as flying Air China via Beijing from Europe or the US (before covid-19, I saw prices under $700 return) or flying an airline such as Philippine Airlines from Kuala Lumpur to Nagoya via Manila or Cebu for somewhere in the $300 range. For what it’s worth, Taiwan (which is probably the cheapest country to fly to Japan from) is almost always on the low end of the Japan flight price spectrum.

Barring a great Japan flight sale (and keeping in mind that these occur rarely, since demand for travel to Japan tends to be strong year round), another way to save on flights to Japan is to fly a low cost carrier. Previously this was only an option from points within Asia—namely, flying Peach from Okinawa to Bangkok, or AirAsia X to Japan from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. But now that AirAsia X offers flights to Honolulu (via Osaka) and Singapore’s Scoot flies to Europe, the game has changed.

Frequent Flyer Miles

Of course, this article isn’t about paying cash for flights to Japan—it’s about using miles and points to find the cheapest way to fly to Japan. And what about the Japan Airlines frequent flyer program, Mileage Bank? The good news is that rates for redemptions are fair (which might come as a surprise, if you’ve ever wondered “why is Japan Airlines so expensive?”) even though they devalued slightly in 2018 . The bad news is that unless you frequently fly JAL or credit partner flights to your JMB account, points can be difficult to amass. The only credit card transfer partner for JMB is Marriott Bonvoy, whose credit card often has no sign-up bonus.

The ANA award chart is likewise favorable—at least if you’re traveling round-trip, since an ANA one-way award isn’t possible. It’s better than JAL’s, too, in that ANA is a transfer partner of AMEX Membership Rewards, making miles easier to accumulate. Keep in mind that while ANA’s low redemption rates can be appealing (according to the ANA mileage chart, round-trip in business class from Europe to Japan or vice-versa is only 95,000 ANA Mileage Club Points), transfers aren’t instant and holding awards is not possible, which means availability could technically disappear as you wait for your points to arrive. NOTE: As of late 2022, both JAL and ANA awards (at least when booking directly with each airline) are plagued by exorbitant fuel surcharges.

Credit Card Points

A quick Google search RE: what airlines fly to Japan will overwhelm even the most detail-minded person, since just about every airline geographically capable of doing so has flights to at least Tokyo. While most of these airlines pale in comparison to ANA and JAL, especially in business class , booking flights to Japan using frequent flyer points is generally much easier on non-Japanese airlines, even if prices are higher. This can certainly be the cheapest way to travel to Japan.

For example, while business class flights to Tokyo from Los Angeles cost as little as 80,000 United MileagePlus miles one-way (it only takes 75,000 ANA Mileage Club points, by comparison, to book a round-trip ticket), the flexibility of flying one-way is valuable for many travelers, United miles are easier to get than ANA Mileage Club points and United’s online booking system is a lot more straightforward than ANA’s, to say nothing of how simple the ANA award chart is. When using miles and points to book a flight to Japan, take careful stock of all your options and choose the one that offers the greatest reward for the least effort.

Other Ways to Fly to Japan Cheap

For most travelers, the cheapest way to Japan is contained among the strategies I’ve listed above. However, there are some other approaches you can take if you still can’t find the ticket price you want using these methods, though you do have to accept one truth before you begin: It just isn’t that cheap to fly to Japan!

Taking a connecting flight is one example. To be sure, the cheapest way to get to Japan from Europe is often through China, which is not a great value proposition in any way other than monetarily—Air China doesn’t compare to ANA or JAL in any positive way. Another way to save on your next flight to Japan is taking advantage of flash sales, which you can learn about by reading airfare blogs or even by subscribing directly to airlines’ email newsletters.

Other FAQ About Flying to Japan

What is the cheapest month to fly to japan.

There’s no one cheapest month for flying to Japan, although certain seasons are cheaper than others. Namely, winter months between December and February tend to be cheap, unless you’re flying directly to the winter sports capital of Sapporo, Hokkaido.

What is the cheapest city in Japan to fly to?

Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita Airports host the most intercontinental flights into Japan, so flights to Tokyo tend to be cheaper than those to other cities like Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo and Sendai. Note that sometimes, prices between Narita and Haneda can even be different.

How much does a round trip to Japan cost?

The price of a round-trip ticket to Japan varies depending on where your travel originates and the class of service you choose. While economy class flights between Japan and Asian countries like Taiwan and Thailand can cost as little as $300 round-trip, first- and business-class flights from long-haul destinations in Europe and North America can easily go for $5,000-10,000.

The Bottom Line

Are tickets to Japan cheap or expensive? They’re definitely not cheap, although using miles and points to book them can definitely result in a lower cost depending on how you play your cards. At the same time, since frequent flyer points for Japanese airlines can be difficult to acquire, you might actually end up spending more time (and, in some cases, money) going this route. Ultimately, the cheapest way to get to Japan (from US other otherwise) will depend on the particulars of your travel situation. Make your next trip to Japan your next yet when you hire me to plan a custom Japan itinerary

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Japan on a Budget: The Complete Guide to Cheap Travel in Japan

How to Travel Japan on a Budget:  The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need

Is is possible to travel to Japan on a budget?  Definitely!  Japan is one of the most fun and amazing travel destinations in the world.  However, many travelers are reluctant to plan a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun because of the cost.

Known for being an expensive place to visit, many Japan lovers give up when they hear how much it costs to travel to Japan.  In doing so, they miss out on the trip of a lifetime.  It’s true that Japan has tons of luxury hotels, world-class restaurants, and first class transportation options that cost more money than most people’s mortgages.

However, Japan also has lots of cheap lodging, amazing food, and transportation options that are very easy on the wallet. In fact, Japan can be one of the CHEAPEST destinations to travel on a budget. If you want to visit Japan on a budget, this article will provide you with all of the tips, tricks, and advice to save you as much money as possible.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Japan

While it is possible to visit Japan by boat (namely from Australia, China, Taiwan, and Korea) the vast majority of visitors choose to go by air.

If you live in one of these nearby countries and have LOTS of time, check out your local boat companies for deals. Sometimes they sell last minute tickets at a fraction of the cost.

However, it’s almost always more efficient to travel by air.

So here are 5 tips to getting the cheapest airline tickets to Japan.

5 Tips to Find Cheap Flights to Japan

 1.  book as early as possible.

When searching for a flight to Japan, booking as far in advance as you can is best. Waiting until the last minute to grab reduced price tickets can certainly pay off, but it’s a big gamble if the tickets sell out (which happens more often than not).

You’re better off by being prepared, planning in advance and choosing to visit Japan at a cheaper time of year.

I usually buy my tickets at least a month before my travel date. I found that this is the latest I can wait before tickets sell out or really get expensive.

2.  Avoid Peak Periods of Travel: Peak Times

Not only does the cost of airfare increase during peak times of travel in Japan, but hotels, attractions, and even restaurants raise their prices as well (usually buffets or nice restaurants that offer things like “special” holiday menus). If possible, try to avoid these peak travel times in Japan if you are on a tight budget:

• Golden Week: End of April – start of May
• Cherry blossom viewing: Late March – early May
• Summer: Mid-August is the busiest due to the Obon Festival
• Autumn: Changing colors of leaves (busiest time is late September due to Silver Week, a period of national holidays grouped close together)
• Spring: The end of March – the beginning of April. School children are on spring break, and lots of families travel during this time
• New Years: A popular time to travel during this time (domestic and international)

3. Cheapest Time to Fly to Japan

Here are the dates that generally have the cheapest flights to Japan

• Early to late December (before New Years)
• Just after the New Year holiday ends (people are usually back to work by January 5th) up until the end of March. However, Hokkaido has lots of visitors during this time due to all of the incredible ski slopes and winter foods. The world-famous Snow Festival also takes place in early February, which makes finding a cheap ticket to Hokkaido difficult.
• Mid May – June is also a cheaper time to visit.

While the winter season might not be the best time to visit Japan in terms of weather, you’ll usually save money on plane tickets. Winter foods in Japan are absolutely delicious as well. Delicious hot pot dishes, fresh crab, and other seafood are especially delicious in winter.

If you want all of the details and insiders tips on when to visit Japan, check out our  best time to visit Japan   guide.

4. Check for Internet Deals

Or course you could get cheap airlines tickets by choosing non-direct flights with long, inconvenient waits in between. But who wants to do that? Sure, you can save some money, but you’ll be giving up a lot of time and comfort by doing this.

Before going this route, spend an hour or two searching the Internet for the best deals. You can decide if a reduction in price with a 12-hour wait in some random airport is worth the inconvenience.

How to do Internet Research for Cheap Flights to Japan

Here are the steps I use to find the best deals to Japan:

1. Determine Both Your Budget and Which Airlines Companies You Want to Use

Of course, if you are willing to fly with any airlines, you’ll have the best chances of finding a cheap flight. However, I highly recommend you only use reputable carriers. There are lots of airlines with cheap flights to Japan, but they usually have very long layovers or delays, poor service, and safety issues.

Sometimes, it’s just not worth the risk. So to minimize your chances of having a bad flight, go with a reputable airline company. Airlines that fly to Japan differ depending on where you live, but I like Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA), and Korean Airlines.

2. Always Check Your Favorite Airline Carrier’s Website First

I always check the Hawaiian, JAL, and ANA Airlines website first. Most of the time, I find the best deals directly on their website.

Booking directly with the airline carrier is usually safer and more secure than booking with a third-party company. Be sure to check the prices often, as they can change frequently.

If the prices are high, proceed to step 3.

3. Do a Quick Search for Ticket Prices on a Multi-Search Website like Kayak.com

Other websites such as Skyscanner, Expedia, Jetstar, Kayak, Lastminute, and Farecompare are also good places to analyze ticket costs. Remember that flight costs will depend on where you’re flying from. Heading out from a major “hub” airport rather than a local one will certainly cut costs.

These websites search hundreds of travel sites and find the cheapest tickets out of all of them. Filter the searches by the airline carrier and how many layovers you are willing to have on your trip. Be sure to check the prices for different dates. Sometimes traveling just 1 day later can drop the prices significantly.

NOTE: I just do this to see what the average prices are for that dates of travel. I DO NOT purchase my tickets through Kayak unless there is an amazingly good deal though a REPUTABLE company. While there are usually cheap tickets that show up in the results, most of these are either a) flights with LONG layovers or b) flights listed by bad, untrustworthy third party companies.

In my experience, many of the companies that are listed on their website aren’t very trustworthy. Many of them have very bad reviews, with some even having complaints filed against them. Stick with the bigger companies like Expedia. Just use it to check the prices of the airlines you want to fly on.

4. Consider Buying a Ticket from Another Country or with a Different Currency

Choose the best 3 or 4 itineraries you found on Kayak/Expedia/Priceline/etc. I usually have the best results with Expedia.

At the bottom of the Expedia website, there’s a section called “Global Sites” with pictures of flags of different cultures. Choose a different country and search for the same flight. The ticket prices might be lower if you book it through another country with Expedia.

5. Fly into a Different Airport in Japan

If all of the flights to your desired airport in Japan are crazy expensive, consider flying to a different airport and then using the JR Rail Pass to take the train the rest of the way. If you don’t mind having a longer trip, the JR Rail Pass is a good way to cut costs.

You can fly into another major airport in Japan and then cash in your rail pass at the nearest participating station. Then you can take the bullet train to your desired location. While this does take more time, it can save you money and is much more fun that riding an airplane.

The seats on the bullet train are much more spacious than a plane and are much easier to travel. The only downside is that the bullet train doesn’t have space for big pieces of luggage.

Transportation in Japan: Saving Money on Domestic Travel

Finding a cheap way into the country is only half the problem. Domestic travel within Japan is also expensive. Of course, you could explore only one or two cities, which can cut costs dramatically by only paying local fares, especially if there are city passes available.

What makes Japanese so awesome is traveling to different areas to eat local foods and to experience the culture throughout Japan. If you want to explore many places in Japan, purchasing a travel pass will be your best bet. These passes can save you both time and money if you plan to travel a lot in Japan.

The JR Rail Pass: The Best Deal in Japan

The Japan Rail Pass is essential if you want to experience all that Japan has to offer. This pass allows you unlimited rides on most JR trains, including the bullet trains, as well as some JR buses and the JR ferry to Miyajima.

This pass opens up the whole Japan to you. You’re free to travel wherever, and whenever you want. I highly, highly recommend getting this pass.

This pass also makes traveling much easier. You don’t need to research ticket prices or deal with buying or keeping track of your tickets for each trip. Just walk on through the gates on the side and show your pass to the attendant.

Also, if you don’t mind sitting in the unreserved area, you can walk straight onto the train too – although reserving specific seats ahead of time is certainly recommended for busy times/seasons/routes.

How the JR Rail Pass Works

IMPORTANT: You can’t buy a Japan Rail Pass while in Japan. You must purchase your pass before you arrive in Japan. The pass is only for those on a tourist visa.

Also, keep in mind that the JR pass cannot be used on every type of transport. For example, you cannot ride the NOZOMI or MIZUHO type bullet trains using a Japan Rail Pass. This isn’t usually a problem, though.

The NOZOMI trains travel the exact same route as other types of bullet trains but only stops at major stations. A full list of what you can and can’t use the pass for can be found on the rail pass website .

JR Rail Pass Prices

There are two types of pass you can buy. A “green pass” allows you to sit in the first-class section of the train. However, not every train has a green car (first class section). The “ordinary” JR Rail Pass is the more economical option. Both of these passes can be used to make seat reservations for the bullet train.

Passes are available for periods of 7 days, 14 days, or 21 days. The countdown will start on the day you activate your pass. You do not have to activate it as soon as you arrive in the country. You can redeem it anytime during your trip.

Just take your rail pass voucher to a JR Station that can redeem it. A list of places should be included on a sheet with your voucher. However, most big, urban JR stations can activate your rail pass.

JR Rail Pass Prices (2017)

Prices for adult “original” passes:

• 7-day pass: 29,110 yen
• 14-day pass:  46,390 yen
• 21 day pass:  59,350 yen

Prices for child passes (age 6 to 11):

• 7-day pass:  14,550 yen
• 14-day pass: 23,190 yen
• 21-day pass:  29,670 yen

The passes may seem expensive but can save you an incredible amount of money if you travel a lot during your trip. A round-trip ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto would already cost 28900 yen, nearly the full price of a one week pass.

A typical 7-day trip for tourists would look like this:

• Days 1&2: Tokyo
• Day 3: Osaka
• Days 4&5: Kyoto
• Day 6: Hiroshima

This itinerary would cost you 41,640 yen, not including all of the local trains you’ll ride within these cities. If you were to return to Tokyo from Hiroshima, the total cost would be 60,200 yen, which is more expensive than a 21-day pass.

If you plan to visit more than one city by bullet train on your trip to Japan, a rail pass is an absolute must.

Where to Buy the JR Rail Pass

There are a few different agents you can use to order your Japan Rail Pass. Be sure to check the details. Some airlines sell rail passes, but you must book your airlines ticket with them as well.

Here are some of the main agents through whom you can purchase the pass: Tobu Top Tours, JTB Corp., KINTETSU INTERNATIONAL, Japan Airlines, Nippon Travel Agency, ANA Sales Americas (Los Angeles), and JALPAK. Check the website for details on how to purchase a rail pass.

Special Passes to Save You Money on Travel in Japan

As well as the Japan Rail Pass, there are other special tickets and passes you can buy to cut costs on your trip to Japan. Some tickets are regional, but others can be used all over the country.

Seishun 18 Pass

This is another offer from the JR (Japan Rail) company. This ticket is similar to the Japan Rail Pass, but it is more limited. However, the reduced cost makes this pass a great option if you’re trying to travel on a budget (and have lots of time).

The Seishun 18 ticket is a seasonal offer only. You can use the ticket for a 5 day period during the spring (early March to early April), summer (mid-July to early September), or in the winter (early December to early January). The exact dates are released when the tickets become available.

You can use this pass for unlimited travel on all local and rapid JR trains. You cannot use it on Shinkansen rides (bullet train) or on limited express travel.

The Seishun 18 is a 5-day ticket, costing 2,370 yen per day – a total of 11,850 yen.

A fraction of the price of the Japan Rail Pass, this is a great option if you want to do lots of little trips or one or two big journeys during the 5 day period. Interestingly, the ticket can also be shared between up to 5 people. You could have use of it for one day each and your friends could use it the other days.

Where to Buy the Seishun 18 Pass

You can buy the Seishun 18 ticket in the JR East station travel centers, or at JR Ticket Offices. Advance booking is available. Dates for when the passes go on sale are listed on the website along with the details, which usually becomes available from 1 to 3 weeks before the pass becomes available.

Hakone Free Pass

Hakone is an amazing place to visit. It is filled with stunning natural beauty, especially when the autumn leaves change and the cherry blossoms bloom in the spring. Whatever the season, Hakone is a wonderful place to visit. Amazing hot springs, outdoor walks, mountain hikes, surrounded by peace and quiet. It’s pure bliss.

The Hakone Free Pass is a must for people heading out that way. It gives you free travel on eight different types of transport in the Hakone area for a 2 or 3 day period, as well as discounted entry to dozens of attractions, including hot springs, museums, galleries, historical sites, parks, restaurants, shops and more. A full list is available on their website .

The Hakone Free Pass has different prices depending on where you depart from.

While you can get passes that are valid from Machida and Odawara, most travelers start their journey at Shinjuku. However, if you are heading off from one of the other two locations, be sure to check out the details as those tickets are a little cheaper.

From Shinjuku:

2-day adult pass:   5,140 yen

3-day adult pass:  5,640 yen

For children:

2-day pass:  1,500 yen

3-day ticket:  1,750 yen

Where to Buy the Hakone Free Pass

Hakone Free Passes can be purchased at any Odakyu line station, including Odakyu line ticket machines.

JR Tokyo Wide Pass

If your trip to Japan will be focused in and around Tokyo (there is so much to do there that you could easily spend your whole holiday there) then you should consider buying the Tokyo Wide Pass.

This 3-day ticket offers unlimited travel in Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto area. Including both the Narita and Haneda airports, you can pick up your pass on arrival, and it will cover the cost down into central Tokyo, and everything else for the rest of the period of validity.

Like the Japan Rail Pass, this ticket is only available to people with a tourist visa. As it is only valid for 3 days, you could easily get yourself one of these passes to use for a few days in Tokyo, then after that head off around the rest of the country using a Japan Rail Pass.

The 3-day pass is 10,000 yen for adults and 5,000 yen for children aged 6 to 11.

Where to Buy the JR Tokyo Wide Pass

You can buy a Tokyo Wide Pass at the JR Ticket Offices and JR Travel Agents located in the Haneda International Airport and in the Narita Airport Terminals 1 and 2, and 3.

The passes are also available at JR travel centers and general travel service centers at various locations, including Shinjuku, Tokyo, Ueno, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Yokohama, and Mito. Check the website for details.

Domestic Air Travel

Train passes are good for people who want to travel a lot, but what if you only want to explore one or two areas? While the rail passes are, on the whole, cheaper than buying individual tickets, they are still quite costly if you aren’t going to be getting a lot of use out of them. So if this applies to you, take a look at budget local airlines for domestic travel.

Low-Cost Carrier (LLC) Flights

Several airlines in Japan offer flights to various locations, and often at a fraction of the price of the same journey by train. Of course, you need to factor in all costs to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Keep in mind that getting to the airport might involve time-consuming/costly trips on the subway or train.

However, this depends on the city. For example, in Fukuoka, the airport is only a 5-minute subway ride away from the central train station.

Two of the most well-known budget airlines in Japan are Peach and Jetstar.

Both of these airlines fly to a variety of locations, including Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, and Nagasaki.

Other popular domestic airlines include JAL (Japan Airlines) , ANA (All Nippon Airways) , Skymark Airlines , Vanilla Air , Spring Airlines and Solaseed Air .

Taking a plane instead of a train, even for a short journey, can make a huge difference in price.

For example, reserving a seat on the train from Kumamoto to Tokyo will cost a total of around 27,000 yen (and take about six hours!) whereas the same journey by plane (using Jetstar airlines) will cost less than 7,000 yen.

Taking the train from Kagoshima to Osaka will set you back around 22,000 yen, vs. a flight on Peach Airlines can cost you less than 6,000 yen. That’s a huge discount!

Special Airlines Discounts

If you prefer to take Japan Airlines or ANA Airlines, here are a couple of special discounts you can use.

JAL: Special Japan Explorer Pass – 10,800 yen flights to over 30 different cities in Japan.

Restrictions: Only for short-term visitors. Must have a ticket leaving Japan to be eligible for this special pass. You also need to purchase these flights directly through the JAL website.

ANA: Experience Japan Special Fares : 5,500 yen flights to cities within Hokkaido, or 7,700 – 11,000 yen flights for any other destinations.

Restrictions: You need to reside outside of Japan, have a passport from a country other than Japan, and have an international ticket leaving Japan.

Traveling by Bus

Probably the cheapest way to travel long distances in Japan is by bus. Taking a highway bus is not the most popular option, but can be a great way to save money on both short and long trips.

A popular bus provider is Willer Express. You’ll be surprised to know that you can make online reservations in English when booking through Willer Express. Most other bus companies don’t have online or English reservations.

Other companies to look into are Japan Bus Online, Hankyu Bus, and JR Bus branches (split into eight regional companies).

Insider’s Tip

Most bus companies offer different types of seating for overnight buses. These range from the cheapest 2-seater style seats (think of an American school bus) to super comfortable individual seats.

The price difference is significant, but if you’re taking a long bus (over 8+ hours) I highly recommend that you purchase a better seat. The buses with 3 seats per row are very comfortable. The seats are not connected, which makes it feel like you have your own personal space.

I took an overnight bus from Kobe to Tokyo on Willer Express with the cheapest seats (which was only 2,500 yen or so). While the bus looked new and the ride was smooth, it was the one of most cramped, cold (it was during winter), and uncomfortable experiences of my life. The better seats were 2 to 3 times more expensive, but I would definitely purchase those seats next time. These upgraded seats would still be much cheaper than taking a bullet train.

Taking the bus can also save you on money on hotels. You can sleep on overnight buses that run late into the night.

Japan Bus Pass

If you plan on traveling all around Japan, consider the Japan Bus Pass.

This pass can be used on all daytime and overnight buses provided by Willer Express. There are 3-day, 5-day, and *7-day passes, with 2 different prices depending on if you’ll be using it from Monday to Thursday or over a weekend period. A 3-day Monday to Thursday pass costs just 10,200 yen.

*NOTE:  The 7-day pass is only valid during Monday – Thursday, but you don’t need to use the 7 days consecutively.

There are a few rules. The pass can be used for up to 3 rides per day, but you can’t use it on premium buses. However, on the plus side, this is one of the “only for foreign visitors” passes which can also be used by foreign residents. That means that JET teachers and other ex-pats who usually miss out on the great travel deals can use the Japan Bus Pass.

For more information:  Willer Bus Pass Page

Cheap Places to Stay Overnight in Japan

Finding a place to stay is one of the major concerns for people wanting to travel Japan on a budget. There are tons of luxury hotels that cost a fortune, but there are also lots of budget hotels as well. A discerning eye can track down cheap accommodation all over Japan. The key is knowing what kind of lodging to look for, and where to find it.

Finding Cheap Deals Online

With price comparison websites and dedicated travel companies providing endless lists, this is the best place to start your search. However, bear in mind that these websites have more listings in big cities. Small towns in the countryside will probably yield very few search results. If you’re hoping to visit somewhere off the beaten track, you may need to find other ways to find lodging there.

One of the best websites to use is Booking.com . This website is easy to use and often has great deals. It is also a reputable company that most people trust. I recommend Booking.com because it offers a whole range of different sorts of accommodations. From fancy hotels to local ryokans, you can find something in your budget.

However, there are some popular hotels that are not listed on Booking.com. Agoda.com comes to the rescue in most cases.

Most of the lodging options that aren’t listed with Booking.com can be found on Agoda. I always check both of these websites anyway, to compare prices for the same hotels.

Other good websites are Rakuten, Hostelworld, Japanican and Jalan.

Accommodation Booking Websites

Booking.com :  Best choice to reserve most types of accommodations (hotels, Japanese inns, hostels, capsule hotels, etc.)

Agoda.com :  Not as easy to use as Booking.com, but has some hotels that are not listed on Booking.com

If you’re having trouble finding something, or the hotel you want is fully booked, check out the Japanese version of the site.

Particularly on Jalan and Rakuten, it might appear that something is fully booked, but when you check the local website, there is still availability! Also, the Japanese website sometimes lists a cheaper price.

The only downside to this is you need to be able to read Japanese.

However, if you are just booking a room (no meals or other services) you can probably book a reservation in Japanese by using “rikaichan” which is an add-on to the Mozilla Firefox browser (for Google Chrome, the extension is called “rikaikun.” When you turn it on and hover your mouse over Japanese characters, it will show you the reading and the definition of the word.

Google Chrome:  Rikaikun Mozilla Firefox:   Rikaichan

Business Hotels

One of the most affordable types of accommodation in Japan, business hotels are certainly “no frills, ” and you get what you pay for.

They are hugely popular, as the name suggests, with Japanese business people (mainly men) who travel a lot for work.

Business hotels are a good choice if you plan to explore Japan all day and just want a bed to sleep in at night. You find them all over Japan, with many big chains all over the country, with their rooms looking the same whether you’re staying in a big city or out in the countryside.

Major companies to look out for include Toyoko Inn, Daiwa Roynet Hotel, Dormy Inn, Chisun Hotels and Route Inn.

How Comfortable are Business Hotels?

Rooms are functional with minimal decorations. Some rooms can be very small (the bed and drawers take up most of the space). Beds are very standard but usually pretty comfortable. There’s usually a TV, small refrigerator, a hot water pot, and internet access (either by ethernet cable or wi-fi).

The bathrooms are usually very tiny but they do the job unless you are very tall or big. Most business hotel bathrooms are stocked with basic amenities (toothbrush, soap, shaving razor, etc.).

Average Prices

A single room in a business hotel will cost you between 4,000 Yen to 10,000 yen a night, whereas a twin or double room will be the cheaper option if split between 2 people. For a twin, prices are around 7,000 yen to 12,000 yen per night.

Capsule Hotels

One of the most famous types of Japanese lodging, staying in a capsule hotel is definitely an experience. The first ever capsule hotel opened in Osaka, Japan, and now you can stay in similar lodgings all around the world.

They may look like fun, but capsule hotels aren’t always all that they’re hyped up to be. It is small, but not as small as most people think. Most capsules are big enough for you to sit up inside without hitting your head.

However, it’s somewhere to sleep and nothing else. Also, many capsule hotels are for men only. They’re geared at businessmen and often don’t have capsules for women. Some capsule hotels have a “female only” floor, though. You’ll find them in big cities, but smaller towns throughout Japan are unlikely to have mixed gender capsule hotels if they have one at all.

Are Capsule Hotels Comfortable?

For the first day or so, capsule hotels are decently comfortable. However, it doesn’t take an expert traveler to know that these are not good for long term stays. There is only so many nights in a row that sleeping in what is basically a well-lit coffin can be counted as a fun novelty rather than an annoyance.

Depending on your fellow travelers, capsule hotels can easily be noisy, crowded places, and while many hotels offer lockers or other places to store your belongings, theft, while not rampant, is more common in these lodgings than in other types of accommodation.

Capsule hotels are far from the most luxurious hotel, but they do come cheap! Spending a night in a capsule hotel can cost as little as 2,000 yen. However, is it worth it? Some travelers thrive on this sort of “simple” accommodation, but if it doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, move on to another type of hotel.

At best, make your stays in capsule hotels a one-night-at-a-time affair when you are just stopping over or arriving somewhere too late to make use of a regular hotel room. In these instances, the low cost is worth the inconveniences.

Japanese Hotels

This is probably the type of lodging with the widest variation between properties. Some hotels in Japan are little better than business hotels. The rooms have basic furnishings, no decorations or excessive comfort, and is just somewhere to spend the night.

At the other end of the scale, you have fancy hotels which are amazingly luxurious. Fully furnished rooms, spacious bathrooms, communal areas with massage chairs, gym facilities and even swimming pools.

There is great variety between different hotels in Japan. The number of choices can be overwhelming. The good thing is that many hotels are conveniently located near to train stations or bus stops.

Are Hotels in Japan Comfortable?

This really depends on what kind of deal you’re looking for. A cheap hotel will, naturally, not be very comfortable, but it will cost a mere fraction of the cost when you compare it to mega hotel chains like MyStays, APA or Nikko. In general, bigger hotels in Japan are comfortable and are good for both sleeping and relaxing in.

Cheaper hotels are usually around 8,000 yen per night, with luxury hotels priced 30,000 yen to 60,000 yen or more per night. While many hotels might look out of your budget, it’s worth keeping an eye out for special deals. For example, the MyStays chain is a delightful place to stay, but with the rooms usually priced at 20,000 yen per night, it’s not exactly a budget choice.

However, on websites like Booking.com you can regularly see special deals when booking in advance, which see those rooms listed at half price, or less!

Why pay 8,000 yen to stay in a terrible business hotel when you can splash out a little and stay in a palace for 10,000 yen?

Even budget travelers need to relax once in a while, so if you need a night of luxury, this is a great option to check out.

Minshuku / Ryokan

These are types of traditional Japanese accommodation, which are just as popular with foreign visitors as they are with locals. Cheap hotels are all well and good, but if you want to experience local hospitality and step back in time, you can’t beat spending the night in a ryokan or minshuku.

They are pretty similar, it’s just that minshuku tend to be smaller, located in older buildings and usually run as a family business. Ryokans are often run like this too, but sometimes they are located in newer, bigger buildings and have more staff with more services.

Are Ryokan and Minshuku Comfortable?

Staying in traditional Japanese accommodation isn’t for everyone.

For starters, you’ll be sleeping on the floor on a traditional futon, and the flooring will probably have tatami mats rather than carpet.

Sometimes ryokans and minshukus have showers, but often they only have traditional communal bathing facilities – and these will likely be down-to-earth and not luxurious unless you’re staying in an “onsen ryokan” which is specifically designed for spa relaxation.

However, if you like experiencing different cultures in local style, these can be very comfortable places indeed. They vary a lot – some have fun, bubbly atmospheres like youth hostels, with a variety of characters lounging in the common areas, and are quieter than an emply library. Check reviews to see what other travelers think before you make a booking.

These can vary quite a lot, particularly between little minshuku out in the countryside, and fancy onsen ryokan in a swanky location. However, lodging like this is seen less and less in big cities – it’s more frequent to see ryokan and minshuku out in the countryside and on the outskirts of small towns.

The cheapest minshuku can be seen at around 4,000 yen per night, up to about 9,000 yen per night. Ryokan can be as cheap as 5,000 yen or less per night, up to 60,000 yen per person for luxury inns. Be sure to check whether prices are per person or per room.

Internet Cafe / Karaoke Rooms

If you told a Japanese person that you were planning on spending the night in an internet cafe or private karaoke room instead of booking into a hotel, they’d probably think you were a bit weird. That isn’t because you can’t stay overnight in these places – it’s certainly a popular option.

It’s just that few people plan to use this kind of accommodation. The usual overnight clients at these types of establishments are salarymen who stayed out too late drinking and don’t want to go home and face the wrath of their wives, or young party animals who missed the last bus home and need somewhere to stay.

You can choose a public or private space, and choose between a normal chair, reclining chair, floor space or whatever other options they provide.

Are Internet Cafes in Japan Comfortable to Sleep In?

Generally not comfortable in at all. These rooms are not designed for sleeping in, they’re designed for surfing the internet or playing online games. You probably will not get a good nights sleep in a place like this.

They can be noisy, uncomfortable and full of people who are doing anything but sleeping. However, they are super cheap, and often there are shower facilities which you can use for a small charge, and machines which provide free soft drinks, ice-cream, etc.

If you want to try and get a good night’s rest in an internet cafe, be sure to choose the “floor” type of room. This is the only type of room that has enough space to lie down. The other types, come with reclining chairs, or small couches, which makes sleeping difficult.

This depends on how long you stay. Some places charge by the hour, and others have deals where you can stay up to a certain number of hours for a fixed price. You may have to pay in advance. Generally, one night in an internet cafe or similar place will cost 2,000 yen or less.

You can’t book in advance – just turn up, and be wary of busy times. There is usually a crowd around the time just after the last trains/buses have left, so be sure to arrive before then.

Food on a Budget

Eating out in Japan can cost a lot of money if you don’t know where to go. When you arrive in Tokyo, everything looks so delicious it can be difficult to hold back, even when you know you’re on a budget. But there are several ways to make savings in Japan without sacrificing all the delicious culinary experiences that are waiting for you.

Knowing a few tricks can save you a bundle – which you can use to treat yourself to a really extravagant meal. Use these tips to eat well while saving you some cash.

Cheap Restaurants in Japan

Just because you’re cutting down on costs doesn’t mean you need to miss out on eating at restaurants during your trip. There are plenty of budget restaurants in Japan where you can get a tasty meal for a reasonable price. Following these few hints will ensure you get the best value for money without sacrificing your dining experience.

Lunch Deals

If you want to find deals for food in Japan, lunchtime is king. Many restaurants have special menus at lunchtime where you can get the same food available in the evening, but at a lower price. The portions are usually a little smaller, but still worth it.

There are some hearty lunch sets that will leave you stuffed until dinnertime though. Even fancy restaurants offer lunchtime sets for 1,000 yen to 2,000 yen.

Cheaper restaurants sometimes offer a “one coin” lunch which will set you back just 500 yen (1 coin). This is especially a good deal for expensive foods like Kobe beef. Eating Kobe beef for lunch can save you a lot of money.

Gyudon (beef bowl) is one of the more popular cheap eats in Japan, and it soon becomes a favorite of foreigners traveling Japan on the cheap. “Don” means a bowl (with rice), and “Gyu” refers to the beef topping. Plenty of different “don” are available throughout Japan.

Thin strips of beef and slices of onion are simmered in a sweet sauce consisting of soy sauce, mirin (sweet rice wine) and dashi (Japanese broth). Gyudon sets are often accompanied by a raw egg (for dipping the beef in), miso soup, salad, pickles, and tofu. You can get extra toppings like kimchi, cheese, green onion and grated yam.

Popular chain restaurants where you can purchase these dishes, and other cheap options, are Sukiya, Matsuya, and Yoshinoya. You can find these restaurants all over Japan, serving gyudon in portions of different sizes depending on how hungry you are.

A simple bowl of gyudon will cost you about 350 Yen (bargain!). For a set, you’re looking at between about 500 yen and 750 yen. An awesome deal for a quick and delicious meal for the hungry traveler.

Famiresu – Family Restaurants

As eating out is a popular weekend treat for families in Japan, there is a special type of restaurant which cater to this demographic – famiresu ファミレス , which stands for “family restaurant.”

With a mix of Japanese and Western style food at low prices, these places are also a great choice for budget travelers as it allows you have a filling meal in a comfortable environment for a relatively cheap cost. They also tend to have cheap alcohol so are good of you need a treat!

There are many different chains of famiresu in Japan, some of which have specialty dishes or styles, but they are all pretty much the same.

Here are some of the big names which you’ll see around: Gusto, Royal Host, Jolly Pasta, Denny’s, Joyful, and my personal favorite, Saizeriya. Meals cost as little as 500 yen, but taste great.

Teishoku Restaurants – Set Menus

Teishoku restaurants serve meals that follow this basic principle: one main dish, soup, and one side dish. You order whichever main meal you’d like, and it comes with a little plate of pickles, perhaps some tofu or a salad, and a bowl of miso soup.

These vary from place to place, but the combinations are the same. Main meals vary, serving seasonal products throughout the year but also traditional Japanese favorites: udon, katsu don, gyudon, karaage fried chicken, etc.

Some restaurants have a vending machine at the front where you purchase a ticket for your meal. You then hand the ticket to the server once you’ve taken your seat. Food is cheap, ranging from about 500 yen to 1,000 yen for a meal. Teishoku meals give you a taste of popular Japanese foods that can be found all over Japan.

Japanese Supermarkets

You may not think of visiting a supermarket for food during your trip to Japan, but it’s actually a great place with lots of choices. Supermarkets in Japan, whether they are small or large, have a great selection of ‘prepared food,” and they usually have a microwave where you can heat it up too.

Larger supermarkets will often have a seating area with tables where you can sit and eat. Bento boxes are a popular choice, with rice, meat, vegetables all packaged up neatly together. You can get all sorts of food in the supermarket – tempura, sushi, tendon, udon, salads, sandwiches, onigiri (rice balls), fried rice, Chinese steamed buns…the list goes on and on.

Price wise, a small bento at the supermarket could be 300 yen or less, while bigger bento with lots of different dishes cost around 400 yen to 600 yen.

Daily Discounts

The best thing about supermarket dining is the price discounts at the end of the day. From the early evening up until closing time, supermarkets reduce the price of their prepared food, making it even cheaper. At about 6:00 pm you can see savings of 10% or 20%, and then by 9:00 pm the reductions are as low as 50% off, or more.

However, by this time it’s slim pickings and the other customers around at that time as just as eager to grab a bargain, so you have to be decisive and time your visit wisely. If you go too early the savings are small, but go too late, and all of the food is gone.

This is a great option if you’re staying somewhere with a fridge. You can buy your meal late at night and then keep it for lunch the next day. If you really want to save money, you could easily get by on spending around 1,000 yen per day on food.

Cheap Attractions in Japan

If you aren’t fussy about how you spend your leisure time in Japan, it doesn’t need to drain your bank account to see and do amazing things. There are plenty of attractions which you can see cheaply, or even for free.

Parks and temples are often free to visit, and while some specialist museums can be costly, many others have very cheap admission fees.

Hiking and city walks don’t cost a thing, and attending local festivals are some of the best attractions you can see for free in Japan.

For attractions you need to pay for, you can often get combination tickets or discounts. Some small towns offer a combination ticket to encourage visitors to see more of their attractions. Big cities offer pricier combination tickets where you can get entry to dozens of attractions with just one ticket.

The best place to find out information about free and cheap attractions is at a local tourist center. Many centers have brochures with coupons for discount tickets, and the staff there can advise you on how to make the most of your trip for the cheapest cost.

Free local guides are a popular way to see Japan on the cheap. Often run by volunteers who want to practice their English, taking a free tour can be done in a group or even on a one-to-one basis. Research free guides for the area you’re visiting to see what’s available.

Shopping on a Budget in Japan

The cost of shopping in Japan varies greatly depending on where you are and what you want to buy, but the best tip I can offer you is to visit a 100 yen store.

These shops sell everything under the sun, including stuff that tourists want to buy (like Japanese fans, hand towels, chopsticks, fake lacquer bowls).

Almost everything in the store costs 100 yen (+ 8% tax) and if things cost more then they are clearly marked.

Popular 100 yen store shops are Daiso, CanDo and Seria.

TheTrueJapan

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$466 Cheap flights to Japan

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Japan is full of notable places to explore, many with significant historical value to the region and the world. Some of the most popular landmarks in Japan are Akihabara Electric Town, Tokyo Disneyland, Dotonbori Glico Man Sign, and Universal Studios Japan, among many more.

What is the best airport to land at to visit Akihabara Electric Town?

Flying into Tokyo Haneda Airport is typically the best way to visit Akihabara Electric Town, since it is the closest airport to the area.

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Osaka Kansai Intl is the most popular airport in Japan to fly to at the moment. Out of all our users who flew to Japan in the past year, 22% of them chose to fly into Osaka’s Osaka Kansai Intl airport. Keep in mind that there may be other airports within Japan that are also a great option to fly to.

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Flights to Japan have been found on momondo for as low as $239 per ticket recently. However, the average price tends to be $3,326 and anything for $2,830 or less is a good deal. $36,459 is the most expensive flight we’ve seen in the past week, though you may be able to avoid this price depending on what airport you fly from, what airline you choose, and how far in advance you book your flights.

What is the best day of the week to fly to Japan?

If your travel plans are flexible and you’re looking to save money on flights to Japan, then be sure to book your departure on a Tuesday. Flying out on a Tuesday, as well as a Monday, is your best option. Departing on a Saturday tends to be the most expensive day of the week to fly to Japan.

Where is it cheapest to fly into Japan?

When traveling to Japan, Tokyo Narita airport in Tokyo offers the cheapest overall flights with an average airfare of $239, while the second most affordable option is Osaka Kansai Intl airport with an average airfare of $378 for Osaka.

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The minimum age for a child to fly alone is five, but airlines that offer an unaccompanied minor (UNMR) service may have their own age limitations. Flight duration, scheduling, and layovers are among the considerations that may influence age limits. We recommend that you double-check with the airline you are booking with for travel to Japan.

What documentation or ID do you need to fly to Japan?

The travel and health documents you'll need for your trip to Japan may differ based on your itinerary and personal situation. Typically, you should have several documents on hand, such as a national ID card or driver's license and a passport that is valid for six months after your intended arrival at Japan. It is always advisable to seek advice from your airline or a trusted third party, such as IATA.

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Is Japan Expensive? My EXACT Japan Trip Cost Breakdown Revealed

I spent an unforgettable month in Japan during the cherry blossom season in April 2023. This was my fifth trip to Japan in the last decade, however, most of those previous trips were snow trips, with not as much time spent exploring the cities. 

As the first stop on our big 5-month world adventure, my husband and I made it a mission to track everything we spent in Japan over 4 weeks. While most people may have a perception that Japan is an expensive country to visit, I think the cost of travel to Japan is not as expensive as you might think.

In this article I reveal our exact Japan trip cost, breaking it down by categories along with tips for how to plan your own Japan travel budget and ways you can save money. 

Let’s get into the numbers! 

Table of Contents

How Much is a Trip to Japan? Summary Japan Trip Cost Breakdown

Crunching the numbers, in short, my month-long trip to Japan in April 2023 cost around ¥850,000 total for two adults. 

At today’s exchange rates, that’s just shy of AUD $8.5k total or AUD $315 per day for two people.

However, at the time of writing this article in May 2024, the Yen is at a record decade high relative to the Australian dollar. Unfortunately for me, my trip actually cost me closer to AUD $10k total at the time. 

I think this is my sign to book another trip?!

The majority of my readers are based in Australia, so I’ll refer to the Australian dollar as my primary currency, but for reference here are the equivalent costs (for two people) at today’s exchange rates:

• AUD $315 per day
• USD $210 per day
• EUR €195 per day

Let’s break that down by category:

Note that I have excluded the costs of flights for two reasons. 

• We flew one way from Australia to Japan and then flew from Japan to Europe so the costs aren’t a good benchmark for a return trip.
• Flight prices are very dependent on the time of year, and location you are flying from. Generally speaking, expect flight prices to be the highest during the cherry blossom season (March-April) and over the Christmas period. 

Traditionally, I’ve been able to get return flights around the $800 – 1,200 from Perth, Western Australia for previous trips.

I’ve also excluded the cost of our travel insurance, as we had purchased a 5-month policy from Covermore (my go-to travel insurance provider in Australia) to cover our entire trip. 

Accommodation

Accommodation will likely be your biggest expense for your trip to Japan.

Hotels are fairly expensive for the size of the rooms. I’ve stayed in many cheap Japanese business hotels which were clean and comfortable, but basically were just slightly larger than a shoebox! 

Accommodation accounted for about 40% of our budget for our 4-week trip at an average cost of $120 per night for the two of us. We stayed in a mixture of hostels (private rooms), guesthouses, boutique hotels, and business hotels and had one splurge night at a ryokan (which cost $600 for one night!). 

To save on accommodation , we often stay at guesthouses or private rooms in hostels that come with shared bathroom facilities as they tend to be spotlessly clean in Japan. 

Some of my favourite budget accommodation from our recent trip included: 

• Kimi Ryokan Guesthouse in Tokyo (I’ve stayed here 3 times now!)
• Hotel Sobial Namba in Osaka
• Hotel Pacific in Kanazawa 
• Hostel Michikusa-ya in Kawaguchiko (which came with a view of Mt Fuji!)

The most expensive accommodation (in terms of value for money) I’ve found is Kyoto – and that was staying in TINY rooms, albeit in convenient locations. 

To save money on accommodation in Japan, consider staying at business hotel chains .

You’ll find these across the country. They offer good value accommodation if you’re looking for a clean, comfortable and affordable place to sleep at night, but also have extra facilities like coin-operated laundry machines and even provide pyjamas at some of them! 

Common chains to look out for include APA Hotel, Daiwa Roynet Hotel, Dormy Inn, Tokyo Inn and my new favourite, Via Inn. We stayed at three different Via Inn properties on my last trip alone! (Two in Osaka, and one in Tokyo).

I use booking.com to book all my accommodation in Japan, filtering for properties with a rating score of over 8.0 and making sure to find accommodation that is close to a subway station (in cities like Osaka and Tokyo). 

I haven’t stayed in a capsule hotel in Japan, simply because I’ve always been travelling with my husband who is 196 cm tall and doesn’t fit in them! But they look like a fun and unique way to save on accommodation, especially if you’re travelling solo.

Tip: When booking accommodation in Japan, it’s common to find that many properties only take bookings from 6 months out. So if you’re searching quite far in advance, you may not see any availability.

Food & Drink

Food and drink were the next biggest expense of our trip. however, I don’t think eating out in Japan is expensive – for what you pay the food is of high quality. The reason for our “high” spend in this category is that when I travel Japan, I do NOT hold back on eating and drinking. 

Now I’m not paying hundreds of dollars for fancy dinners, but I do eat a lot, and eat very well. It’s one of my favourite things about Japan. From fresh sashimi, melt in your mouth wagyu beef to rich bowls of ramen – the food in Japan is next level. 

We averaged $109 per day for two people or 35% of our budget on eating and drinking. This might be higher than the normal traveller, given our tastes and the fact that eating out in Japan is as much an activity for us as visiting a castle or temple. 

However, there were also many nights when after getting over 20,000 steps in, or after our MASSIVE day at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, we couldn’t bring ourselves to head out for a proper dinner. 

This is where the amazing Japanese Konbini comes in – we love grabbing a cheap and cheerful dinner from the nearest 7/11 or Lawsons, which you can heat and take back to your nearby hotel. 

As self-proclaimed coffee snobs, we also tend to treat ourselves to at least one or two single-origin filter coffees in Japan per day. I’m almost embarrassed to say it, but on our most recent trip, we spent nearly $50 on a VERY special coffee at Glitch in Osaka. 

We’re also avid sake lovers, and went all-in on the sake tastings and visiting quite a few sake bars. Some personal favourites that I’ve shared in my Osaka itinerary and Tokyo itinerary were Sake Bar Shiki in Osaka and Yata Yata in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Comparing our spend on alcohol vs coffee, I can confirm we spent more on coffee than alcoholic drinks… Which I think says enough about us – ha! 

Your next biggest expense is likely to be transport, which cost us $43 per day and made up 14% of our total spend. 

This was made up of a combination of using the subway within cities like Tokyo and Osaka, long-distance Shinkansen train rides between cities, the airport train from Narita and highway buses between towns like Kanazawa and Takayama .  

You’ll be heavily reliant on the efficient public transport system in Japan, but it isn’t necessarily cheap. 

If you’ve read my Things to Know Before Visiting Japan guide, you’ll know I don’t recommend getting a JR Pass anymore after a significant price rise in October 2023. 

Simply buy individual tickets for the Shinkansen. You can do this:

• In person at the station on the day (or a few days beforehand) using the ticket machines (in English) or at the ticket office; or
• on the SmartEx app (certain routes only); or
• purchasing in advance online through Klook (although prices may be slightly higher than buying them in person, but you are paying for the convenience) 

Activities and Attractions

Next up are activities and attractions, which averaged out at $14 per day for the two of us, or 5% of our budget which I think is fairly low, 

Our big ticket item was our tickets to Universal Studios Japan, but other than that most of our other ticket costs were in the $10 – $20 range.

This included entrance fees to the many castles, temples and gardens we visited, as well as our tickets to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival and Shibuya Sky. 

There are lots of free things to do in Japan and many ways to fill your days that don’t cost the earth.

Whether it’s wandering the buzzing electric town of Akihabara in Tokyo or hiking under the thousand torii gates at Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, there’s lots of fun activities you can do at zero or low cost in Japan. 

Ahh, shopping in Japan. It’s probably a good thing Japan was the first stop on our 5-month world adventure, which meant we couldn’t physically buy too much otherwise we’d spend the next 4 months lugging it around in our backpacks! 

Even then, we had to mail a small package home of some of our favourite Japanese souvenirs that we picked up on this trip (which included this beautiful sake set that we picked up at a sake brewery in Fuji Five Lakes!). 

The shopping is awesome in Japan, full stop.

Whether it’s colourful anime figurines, unusual flavours of Kit Kats, Japanese skincare or vintage clothes, I’d recommend making sure you leave some room for the inevitable purchases you will make during your time in Japan. 

We spent $12 per day (averaged over a month though, keep in mind), which was 4% of our total spend. 

For me, staying connected in Japan is essential. 

I rely on Google Maps religiously to get around and to find the best restaurants and places to eat on the go. On this trip, this was our first time trying eSIMS (we’d previously used pocket WiFi and physical tourist SIMs), and I’m now an eSIM convert. 

It’s a no-brainer to use eSIMs if you have an unlocked phone, as you can have internet access from the minute you step out of the plane and don’t have to fiddle around with changing physical SIM cards in your phone. 

I used AirAlo and it was a seamless process to set up the eSIM for first-time use, and then to recharge it once I used all my data up very quickly (ha). I now use AirAlo for all my trips, but my husband used Ubigi in Japan and had no issues with them either.

You can check out AirAlo Japan plans here for comparison. 

Between us, we spent $3 a day on data (just 1% of our spending).

Miscellaneous 

This consists of small things like baggage storage at train station lockers, coin-operated laundry and luggage forwarding services between cities (another great hack when travelling in Japan).  

This averaged out to $3 a day .

Wrapping things up, the last expense on our 4-week trip to Japan was a rental car in Kawaguchiko .

This was my first time renting a car in Japan, and I have never needed a rental before nor do I think it’s strictly necessary for you, even if you’re visiting Kawaguchiko.

However, as we had planned to go to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival and a few other sites out of town, we decided it was easier to hire a car than to catch infrequent buses. 

Car rentals are fairly expensive – we paid $250 for a 3-day hire. 

So, Is Japan Expensive? 

In summary, I don’t think Japan is expensive to visit – I would consider it on par with a holiday in Australia or places in Europe like Italy or Germany. 

In fact, as an Australian, I would consider a week in Tokyo to be much cheaper than a week in London or Paris. 

Accommodation and dining will likely be your biggest expenses, and these are things that are fairly easy to manage and find good-value alternatives if you are travelling on a strict budget. 

As a 30-something married couple, we don’t do the typical shared dorm room hostel thing these days. We still managed to find great, clean, comfortable and cheap lodging in guesthouses, private hostel rooms and business hotels for $80 – 90 a night, even in cities like Tokyo and Osaka during peak tourist season in April.  

There are also so many free and low-cost activities in Japan that balance out against bigger ticket attractions like the incredible theme parks. 

How Much Does a Trip to Japan Cost for 2 Weeks

Whilst we spent a month in Japan, most travellers will spend around 2 weeks in Japan. For this length of trip, I would budget $4 – 5k for a couple of mid-range travellers looking to spend 2 weeks in Japan (excluding flights and travel insurance). 

Here’s the average cost of a trip to Japan for a typical mid-range traveller:

• Accommodation: $100 – 200 per day
• Food & Drinks: $70 – 120 per day
• Transport : $20 – 40 per day
• Activities & Attractions: $10 – 40 per day
• Total: $200 – $400 per day

Don’t forget to budget for the inevitable shopping you’ll do too!

If you’re heading to the slopes during ski season, expect to pay more as accommodation prices will be higher in the snow and lift tickets are fairly expensive.  

Final Thoughts – Cost to Travel Japan

That wraps up this detailed analysis of our EXACT Japan trip cost (can you tell I used to be a data analyst in my former corporate life ?!). 

I find it really interesting to look back and see all the costs broken down, and I hope this has been helpful to give you an idea of how much to budget for your own trip. 

Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions, and don’t forget to check out my other Japan travel guides to help you plan your trip. Happy adventuring! 

Japan Itineraries:

• A Fun 7 Day Tokyo Itinerary: Complete 1 Week in Tokyo Guide
• The Perfect 3 Day Kyoto Itinerary: How to Avoid the Crowds
• An Exciting 4 Days in Osaka Itinerary for First-Timers
• Exploring Fuji Five Lakes: 3 Days in Kawaguchiko Guide
• Takayama Itinerary: 2 Days Discovering Traditional Japan
• A Perfect 4 Weeks in Japan Itinerary: Ultimate Travel Guide

More Japan Guides:

• How to Plan a Trip to Japan: Ultimate Japan Travel Guide
• 15 Things to Know Before Visiting Japan for the First Time
• 30 Unmissable Experiences for Your Japan Bucket List
• Koyasan Temple Stay: Essential Travel Guide & Tips
• Guide to Visiting the Fuji Shibazakura Festival in 2024 
• 10 Best Tokyo Cherry Blossom Spots for Incredible Photos
• Cool Stuff to Buy in Japan: 20 Souvenirs Actually Worth Buying
• How to Easily Visit the Chureito Pagoda from Tokyo
• 10 Most Mesmerising Views of Mt Fuji from Kawaguchiko

TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES My tried and tested recommendations to make your next trip easier

🛡️ Travel Insurance: For my fellow Aussies, I use CoverMore for domestic and overseas travel insurance and they've been great to deal with. Travel with peace of mind knowing you're covered for unexpected events, ensuring a worry-free journey.

🌐 Stay Connected: After trying an eSim for the first time when travelling Japan & Europe for over 4 months in 2023, I'm officially converted! Thanks to Airalo , gone are the days of needing to physically swap plastic sim cards every time you enter a new country. Stay connected wherever you go by easily and affordably purchasing an eSim for all your travel destinations.

🚗 Easy Car Rental : Enjoy hassle-free car rentals on DiscoverCars with a wide range of options, competitive prices, and excellent customer service. I often find it's cheaper than booking direct, and I can compare a large range of suppliers to make sure I'm getting the best price.

💱 Access Local Currency: I've been using Wise in my business and on my travels to save on currency exchange and it's been a game changer! Wise provide a transparent and cost-effective way to access and manage local currency, with minimal fees and the best exchange rates compared to the traditional travel cards which sneakily charge extra fees and usually give you a poor exchange rate. Find out more here .

🏨 Accommodation: I book all my accommodation through booking.com . Discover their vast selection of accommodations worldwide, with great deals and flexible booking options. Plus, if you join their Genius Loyalty program, you get special benefits and discounts on selected stays.

🌟 Attractions & Tours: GetYourGuide is my preferred platform as they make it super easy to compare different tours, book experiences and get the best prices for tours across the world. I've downloaded their mobile app to have all my bookings in one place to easily pull up details when I've got multiple tours booked.

📸If you're wondering what I've used to capture the photos in this article, you can see what's in my camera bag here .

☕ Finally, if you found this free guide useful, you can buy me a coffee to say thanks :)

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17 Japan Travel Budget Tips for Savvy Spenders

Updated January 10, 2022

If you’re all about budget travel, great news—your trip to Japan doesn’t have to break the bank. With these 17 Japan travel budget tips, you’ll be ready to take on new adventures without incurring crazy expenses. This essential guide includes everything from accommodations and transportation to food and attractions.

Transportation

#1—Buy your plane tickets at least 2 months in advance 

Finding inexpensive airfare to Japan can seem a little daunting, but the key is to purchase any plane tickets at least 60 days before you plan to leave. Locals in Japan tell us that ticket prices can rise $500 or more when you travel during major holidays, like Golden Week , Obon , Christmas, and New Year’s. 

#2—Pay for trains with a Japan Rail pass

Even if you’re only staying in Japan for a short time, getting a Japanese Rail (JR) pass is one of the wisest budget moves you can make. The JR pass is essentially a discounted train pass for tourists in Japan, covering train lines in six regions.  JR passes must be purchased online prior to arriving in Japan. It can be confusing to figure out, but since the result is so rewarding (and budget-friendly). You can also use apps like Jorudan to sketch out your public transit plans. 

#3—Know which type of subway pass works best

You definitely will need a subway pass when visiting Japan’s best cities, especially big metropolises like Tokyo and Kyoto . The type of subway pass you’ll need will vary by where you are, how long you’ll be there, and how much you’ll use it. For example, the Tokyo Metro offers 24-, 48-, and 72-hour passes for under 1,500 yen (around $15)—significantly cheaper than paying 170-310 yen per trip. 

#4—Use buses for short-distance travel 

Since Japan is very safe, public buses are great ways to visit cities like Kyoto or Tokyo without spending beaucoup bucks on a taxi or Uber in Japan. Kyoto public buses charge a flat 230 yen fare within specific districts, and Tokyo public buses similarly charge a flat 210 fare per trip. 

Overnight buses from companies like Willer Express are also available for cross-country trips, departing from two major hubs—the Yokohama City Air Terminal and the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal. Overnight buses are known for their relatively low prices, averaging $90 for trips 10 hours and up. 

#5—Get cheap snacks at 100-yen shops

100-yen shops are like American dollar stores on steroids. Since 100 yen is roughly equivalent to $1, you can easily buy inexpensive but authentic Japanese food to supplement your meals throughout the day (or to count as meals themselves—no judgment here!). Just make sure to hang onto any pocket change—Japanese locals note that most 100-yen stores only accept cash. 

#6—Go to 7-11 for meals under 500 yen (USD$5) 

Japan’s 7-11s are to American 7-11s as a gourmet steak is to a rock. Seriously! Japan’s 7-11s take cheap, fresh food to another level, rolling out fresh sushi, bento (lunch) boxes, onigiri rice rolls, and pastries. Meals range from 120 yen to 600 yen, depending on how much food is included. Importantly, locals tell us that 7-11 is also the only conbini (convenience) store in Japan to accept foreign credit/debit cards. 

For other conbini stores that produce fantastic, cheap meals, check out stores like Lawson, FamilyMart, Circle K, and Ministop.

#7—Eat at conveyor-belt sushi restaurants

Conveyor-belt sushi (kaiten-zushi) restaurants prove that Japan has this whole fast food thing figured out. These futuristic restaurants are popular just about everywhere in Japan, especially since you pay by the plate, averaging only about 100-300 yen ($1-3) per dish. In terms of places to go in Japan, kaiten-zushi restaurants are a must-go for happy tastebuds and wallets. 

#8—Fill up on street food 

No matter which destinations you choose, street food is a staple of diverse, delicious, and cheap travel. The key is to know where the locals eat—for example, tourists generally don’t know that you can get a fabulous monjayaki pancake for under $10 on Tsukishima Street in Tokyo. You can also get some mean takoyaki (octopus balls) for $8 in Osaka ’s Kougaryu neighborhood and okonomiyaki (noodle crepes) for $4 in Hiroshima . 

#9—Remember that some restaurants charge unusual fees

Since many Japanese customs differ from those in the U.S., it’s important to know what is expected in restaurants, especially since you’ll encounter unfamiliar fees. There is indeed no tipping in Japan; however, you may be charged 500-700 yen for otoshi, a table fee added when a server gives you a small, unordered appetizer. (Think free chips and salsa, but without the free.)

Accommodations 

#10—Keep it minimalist at a capsule hotel

Capsule hotels are slightly bizarre but fun Japan accommodations for travelers on budgets. Guests sleep in their own futuristic pods, stacked on top of each other and containing a single bed, TV, and clock. Bathrooms, storage, and common rooms are shared, but it’s worth it for just $20-$40 per night.

#11—Spend the night at a Buddhist temple

If you want to travel in Japan in a different way, consider spending the night at a Buddhist temple. You can find shukubō, temple lodgings for pilgrims and adventurous travelers. Averaging USD$50-$90 per night, there are few shukubō in Japan, but they’re 100% worth the addition to your Japan itinerary. 

For other traditional Japanese lodgings, think about staying overnight at ryokans (traditional inns) and minshuku (family-owned B&Bs). Both are a little pricier than shukubō but a unique way to enjoy Japanese culture. 

#12—Rent an Airbnb 

Airbnbs became legal in Japan in 2018, so you’re now good to book your Japan Airbnb anytime and anywhere. One-bedroom apartments average $40-$70 a night, with the price dependent on how long you stay, how many rooms you need, and what features you want (i.e., pool or balcony). Some Airbnbs in Japan also charge a $40-$50 cleaning fee. 

Heads Up: If you're staying in an Airbnb in Japan, bring a small gift for your host. Gifts are a big and important part of Japanese culture, and our local trip planners tell us that people really appreciate the gesture. 

#13—Bed down at a hostel

Budget travelers in Japan often choose to stay in hostels, which average $30-$50 a night and are usually close to cool things to do in Japan. You’ll find different types of hostels depending on which city you’re in—for instance, Tokyo is known for its “love hotels” ($50-$100 rooms used for under-the-radar romance) and manga kissa (manga cafes where you can play video games and catch some Z’s). 

Attractions

#14—Travel during Japan’s off-peak season

Save hundreds of dollars on airfare to Japan and accommodations by exploring Japan during the country’s off-peak season. Actually one of the best times to visit Japan, the off-peak season lasts from October to March (with the exception of Christmas and New Years). With fewer tourists vacationing and sightseeing, you’ll encounter much shorter lines and significantly lower prices. 

We can help you find the best budget-friendly deals, especially during Japan’s major events like Golden Week and Obon.

#15—Take advantage of free activity passes

Japan’s free activity passes can be more aptly called comprehensive or all-inclusive. The passes sell for around $50 and cover a range of attractions in Japan’s coolest places to go, including Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Buy your free activity pass at a subway or train station within the city you want to explore.

#16—Know which attractions offer free entry

When it comes to budget travel in Japan, it pays to know which fun things to do have low entry fees or (even better) are totally free. For example, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building offers free 360 birds-eye views of Tokyo (and Mt. Fuji , on a sunny day). We also recommend major landmarks like the Hiroshima Peace Park and Kyoto’s Imperial Palace , which are free to enter. 

#17—Plan your tour itinerary in advance

Since tours of Japan’s cities and landmarks are very popular and sell out fast, the best solution is to plan your itinerary in advance. Not only will you end up saving on last-minute booking costs, but you’ll get to visit off-the-beaten-path places in Japan that few tourists ever see.

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$288+ Cheap flights from the United States to Japan

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 9/4. fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel., leverage cheapflights for your next trip, 1. tell us where you want to go, 2. select your favorite providers, 3. compare prices and book, cheap usa to japan flights in august & september 2024, find cheap flight options from usa to japan specifically for the months of august and september 2024. explore affordable fares based on user searches. over the last 7 days, cheapflights users made 2,719,686 searches. prices were last updated on agosto 22, 2024., listed are some of the best fares we've found on flights departing from usa to japan in 2024. check back soon for alternative fares., this deal was found by cheapflights users on 8/21. clicking the “pick dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. from there, click “find deals”, make sure is selected, and click “compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals., this deal was found by cheapflights users on 8/22. clicking the “pick dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. from there, click “find deals”, make sure is selected, and click “compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals., usa to japan 2024 flight deals, discover exclusive flight deals for travel between usa and japan in 2024. find excellent offers based on user searches. over the last 7 days, cheapflights users made 2,719,686 searches. data last updated agosto 22, 2024., usa to japan flights leaving soon, find last-minute flight options from usa to japan for spontaneous travel. discover available flights and compare prices based on user searches. secure great deals and offers for spontaneous trips with quick booking options. over the last 7 days, cheapflights users made 2,719,686 searches. data last updated agosto 22, 2024., book one of these great deals on flights from usa to japan. to prevent any unwanted surprises, users should verify their flight info before booking., this kiwi.com deal was found by cheapflights users on 8/21. clicking the “pick dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. from there, click “find deals”, make sure kiwi.com is selected, and click “compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals., this mytrip deal was found by cheapflights users on 8/22. clicking the “pick dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. from there, click “find deals”, make sure mytrip is selected, and click “compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals., this kiwi.com deal was found by cheapflights users on 8/22. clicking the “pick dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. from there, click “find deals”, make sure kiwi.com is selected, and click “compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals., this kiwi.com deal was found by cheapflights users on 8/20. clicking the “pick dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. from there, click “find deals”, make sure kiwi.com is selected, and click “compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals., one-way flights to japan from usa, search for one-way flight options from usa to japan. find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. compare prices and availability to plan your one-way journey according to your preferred dates and budget. over the last 7 days, cheapflights users made 2,719,686 searches. data last updated agosto 22, 2024., take a look at some of the best available options we've come across on one-way flights from usa to japan. users needing a return flight from usa to japan should utilize the search form above., this mytrip deal was found by cheapflights users on 8/21. clicking the “pick dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. from there, click “find deals”, make sure mytrip is selected, and click “compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals., find flights from usa to japan within your budget, customize your flight search to find flights from usa to japan that fit within your specific budget. explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. over the last 7 days, cheapflights users made 2,719,686 searches. data last updated agosto 22, 2024..

$523 - $672

Los Angeles Tokyo Narita

Los Angeles

1 stop 28h 03m

Tokyo Narita

1 stop 31h 11m

1 stop 29h 45m

1 stop 17h 02m

San Francisco Tokyo Haneda

San Francisco

1 stop 32h 00m

Tokyo Haneda

1 stop 29h 40m

Nonstop 11h 55m

Nonstop 9h 45m

Los Angeles Tokyo Haneda

1 stop 17h 25m

1 stop 16h 25m

Newark Tokyo Narita

Nonstop 14h 05m

Nonstop 12h 35m

New York John F Kennedy Intl Tokyo Haneda

New York John F Kennedy Intl

Nonstop 14h 40m

1 stop 17h 57m

1 stop 25h 15m

Nonstop 10h 20m

Flights are sorted by cheapest first

Deals found on 8/22

Best time to book a flight from USA to Japan

Have a flexible travel schedule discover the best time to fly to japan from usa with our price prediction graph., travel insights for flights from usa to japan, get recent, data-driven insights about flights from usa to japan including ideal travel times, pricing trends, and more., what is the cheapest month to book a flight from usa to japan.

Currently, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from USA to Japan (average of $81). Flying from USA to Japan in December is currently the most expensive (average of $189). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from US to JP?

Find hourly flight availability from usa to japan. discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. data last updated agosto 22, 2024..

It’s typically best to fly out from USA to Japan in the evening. Doing so could potentially save you 7% on the flight price compared to flying at noon, which is usually more expensive.

What is the cheapest day to fly from USA to Japan?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from usa to japan. price data was last updated on august 18, 2024..

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their USA to Japan flight should consider departing on Tuesday afternoons when fares are most often at their lowest. Thursday evenings flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Rainfall in Japan by month

Plan your trip to japan by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month..

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Japan ranges from 2.0 - 8.3 inches per month. September is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 8.3 in. January is typically the driest time to visit Japan when rainfall is around 2.0 in.

Temperature in Japan by month

Plan your trip to japan by taking into account the average temperature totals by month..

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Japan, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, August is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 80.6 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 42.8 F).

Reviews of airlines servicing Japan

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to japan. read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to japan. reviews last updated agosto 22, 2024., read reviews from past customers who have flown united airlines, eva air and zipair from usa to japan. users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process..

Entertainment

First time on starlux. I was pleasantly surprised. Exceeded my expectations.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from usa to japan. access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more., what airports serve usa to japan flights.

Travelers who are going to Japan from the USA will have many different options. Some of the airports that offer flights to Japan include Los Angeles International Airport, O’Hare International Airport, and Detroit Wayne County Airport. Wayne County Airport is located in a suburb of Detroit and is one of the largest airline hubs in the USA. The airport has four primary runways, two crosswind runways, two terminals, and 129 gates. The most common destination from Detroit into Japan is Tokyo Haneda Airport. This airport is nine miles from Tokyo and a hub for Japan Airlines, StarFlyer, Air Do, and other airlines.

Which airlines fly directly from the USA to Japan?

For travelers who are going into Tokyo, there is an assortment of direct flights available. Kona Airport in Hawaii offers nonstop flights to Tokyo Narita Airport that last around 10h 15m-11h 55m. Direct flights into Tokyo are also found in Chicago through Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, and American Airlines. Nonstop flights going to Osaka can be found at Seattle / Tacoma International Airport which goes through Delta Airlines or travelers can leave through San Francisco Airport to Osaka Kansai Airport through United Airlines or All Nippon Airways. In most cases, direct flights to this destination will be much more expensive than stopover flights.

What are the stopover options between the USA to Japan?

If you are traveling from San Francisco International to Kansai Airport, there are also dozens of stopover flights that touch down at least once during the flight. Many of these flights go down in locations including Seoul Incheon International Airport, Taipei Taiwan Taoyuan Airport, or Shanghai Pu Dong Airport. Plenty of stopover flights also exist to Tokyo. From San Diego International Airport, these flights may make a stop in Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, or Seattle / Tacoma International Airport. These flights can be as short at 13h 55m and as long as nearly 27h 00m.

Do I need a passport or visa to fly from the USA to Japan?

Going to Japan from the USA by air requires both a passport and proof of a return ticket. You will not need a visa to travel on these flights and your passport only needs to be valid for the length of your stay.

Which airports in the United States have sustainability practices and what are they?

If you’re looking to fly to Japan from the US, you will be happy to learn that several US airports that handle these flights have measures to ensure your travel is sustainable. A good example is Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) which was one of the facilities to receive the LEED accreditation. This is a widely-used green building certification and it involves aspects like the generation of energy using wind turbines and the installation of heat-reflecting roofs.

How can I help reduce my carbon footprint when traveling from the US to Japan?

A great chunk of carbon emissions arises when aircraft are taking off or landing at an airport. Therefore flying direct from the USA to Japan would be the first step to help you reduce your carbon footprint. You should also travel light whenever possible, as this would help reduce fuel consumption by the aircraft. Additionally, avoid single-use plastics and prioritize flying with airlines with newer aircraft.

Which airlines offer eco-friendly flights on this route?

When flying from the USA to Japan, you’ll emit approximately 6000 kg of carbon, but this varies depending on your origin and destination city. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, ZIPAIR, and Air Canada have some of the most sustainable flights on this route. Flying with any of these airlines will help you cut your carbon emissions by about 33% to 36%.

Can I find flights from USA to Japan for under $600 on Cheapflights?

Yes, there are multiple flights from USA to Japan for under $600. The cheapest flight booked recently is on Multiple Airlines for just $523, but on average you can expect to pay $591.

Are there nonstop flights from USA to Japan for under $600 on Cheapflights?

Cheapflights has at least 20 direct flights from USA to Japan under $600. A good price for a nonstop flight from USA to Japan is less than $643.

Are there last-minute flights available from USA to Japan for under $700?

There are currently 20+ open flights from USA to Japan within the next 7 days for less than $700.

What does LAX to KIX mean?

Los Angeles Airport is LAX and Osaka Kansai Intl Airport is KIX. These codes are created by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and airlines use them to identify the departing and arrival airports in the flight routes they service. This flight route has multiple associated airports, so we think it might be helpful to learn the name and codes of them as well. They are Fukuoka Airport (FUK), Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT), Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND), Sapporo Chitose Airport (CTS), Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA).

Can I find deals for flights from USA to Japan that include extra baggage allowance?

The amount of baggage you can bring on your USA to Japan flight depends on the airline and the type of fare you've chosen. After entering your flight details, you'll be able to view the specific baggage policies for each deal in the search results. Keep in mind that certain deals may offer additional baggage allowance.

Can I find deals on flights from USA to Japan with specific airlines?

Yes, Cheapflights allows you to browse and filter USA to Japan flight deals by airline. After entering your origin and destination, use the available filters to view flights offered by airlines.

Can I find deals for flights from USA to Japan that include hotel bookings?

Yes. In addition to deals on USA to Japan flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

How can I find direct flights from USA to Japan?

After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from USA to Japan.

Can I find deals for business class flights from USA to Japan?

Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from USA to Japan by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

Can I find deals for flights from USA to Japan that allow pets onboard?

Many airlines flying from USA to Japan offer the option to travel with pets. After selecting a flight deal, you can find more information about the airline's pet policy on their official website or by contacting the airline directly. Please note that additional fees and restrictions may apply.

Can I find deals on last-minute flights from USA to Japan?

Yes, you can often find last-minute deals on USA to Japan flights on Cheapflights. However, these deals can vary and may not always be available. We recommend checking back frequently or signing up for price alerts for the most up-to-date deals.

How recently were the USA to Japan flight deals updated?

The USA to Japan flight deals you see on this page were last updated on 8/22.

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on cheapflights for your next trip., top 10 airlines flying from usa to japan, discover the top 10 airlines that operate flights from usa to japan. compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. over the last 7 days, cheapflights users made 2,719,686 searches. data last updated agosto 22, 2024., helpful tips for your next trip to japan, get useful tips and recommendations to enhance your travel experience on your next trip to japan. learn about must-visit attractions, local customs, transportation options, weather conditions, and other valuable tips to make your trip more enjoyable and hassle-free..

• When you’re flying from the US to Japan, you can look for sustainable information to determine if an airport has eco-friendly practices. The Airport Carbon Accreditation is a great starting point. It is an endorsed carbon management certification with a list of accredited airports.
• The generation and consumption of energy at airports are some of the main contributors to carbon emissions. Consider flying through Denver International Airport (DEN) which powers the terminal through solar panels installed in its farm.
• Most of the airlines flying from the US to Japan are committed to working in collaboration with the government to go 100% green by 2050. The airlines are working to achieve a neutral carbon status by investing in greener fuels and using aircraft with greater fuel efficiency.

Popular flight searches

Check out other popular destinations found by fellow travelers in 2024, search flights from usa to japan by cabin class, find flights from usa to japan, based on your preferred cabin class, be it economy, premium economy, business, or first class., book a flight to one of these trending destinations, user searches for flights to these destinations increased 20% or more in the past 90 days compared to other destinations, book with flexibility, travel smart.

$208 Find Cheap Flights from Japan to the United States

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a kayak user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from japan to the united states departing on 9/29. fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. click the price to replicate the search for this deal., search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to the united states.

Save 22% or more Compare multiple travel sites with one search.

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Good to know

Faqs for booking flights from japan to the united states, how does kayak find such low prices on flights from japan to the united states.

KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Japan to the United States.

How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Japan to the United States?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to the United States from Japan is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Japan to the United States?

Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to the United States with an airline and back to Japan with another airline.

What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Japan to the United States?

Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to the United States from Japan up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top 5 airlines serving from Japan to the United States

The seats are too small for international flights. I felt like cattle.

At Fukuoka, check in counter stuff was no experience , took long time and took out our preserved sheets to change to emergency exit seats without asking. The flight was late and we missed the flight to go back to SF. My luggage was broken. I had a terrible experience.

Boarding was quick and efficient. The food was very good and they had pictures showing you what options there were to avoid misunderstandings.

As my first experience in business class it was a great trip considering how long the flight is and how hard it usually is to sleep in economy

Boarding was fast and efficient. Not a cramped plane and good comfort. Food was great and attendants were very nice.

Crew was professional. Never enough leg room for 12 hour overnight flight.

The cabin temperature is warmer than I expected and there’s no other way for me to control the temperature. It’s centrally controlled so it’s consistent for everybody. There’s no air flow that I could direct to me if I’m hot. I also noticed people wearing sleeveless shirt. I’m not the only one who noticed that the temp is warm. In a crowded plane, temp should be a little colder, not warm. People can use sweater or use blankets. When it’s warm, there’s no other way to cool down. All 3 ANA planes that I’ve had this trip were all the same. It’s warm. It gets a little claustrophobic if there’s no air flowing or the temp is warm

I loved the Star Wars theme! Hearing C-3P0, R2-D2, and BB-8 was comforting and fun!

ANA was wonderful just needed to upgrade the food and the entertainment.

Crew were efficient and friendly. But my seat was very uncomfortable . Was seated at last row window seat 27. Too cramp

The self-baggage at Narita provided by JAL only worked for half my baggage, but the staff present at the counter were very quick to provide assistance. When I arrived in Vancouver, after waiting for ~25 minutes at the baggage carousel, a staff member with a JAL badge quite rudely came up and told me that there was no more baggage coming to the carousel, and I should double check that the baggage that wasn't mine, just in-case my baggage had somehow changed into a different one. After ~3-5 minutes more baggage came out onto the carousel, which included mine.

everything was great except for the plane itself looking worn out.

It was great, but the wifi service was very hard to pay and I barely could use it during my trip. The seats are also a bit tough for tall people (economy area). Other than that, it was a pleasant experience.

The airline was very clean, and the crew very kind and thoughtful.

Service is excellent - crew all so respectful and friendly. Airline comfortable - lots of legroom even in economy. Food was great even came with ice cream!

It was a quick and comfortable flight. There was no entertainment or food so I gave them poor marks. I wasn’t really expecting either so wish there was a NA option. Great flight with more leg room than my longer, overseas seating!

Just a little puddle jumper from Los Angeles to Vegas. Not much can be said, I had to go ask for some water.

WiFi inflight was not working. Then they told everyone they had no beef for the steak option. So that left just sea food and snacks. So all I ate for the 11 hour flight, was an ice cream sundae. Gave out Casper mattress pads, which are always so nice.

Wow they board very fast and very organized. We left late to to inbound flight but arrived early due to crew organized.

Management of serious allergens despite advance notice. Did not know ingredients contained in their own food. Went as far as to have parents try to ‘take a look at the food’ to ‘see if it was Ok’ since they did not know ingredients. Will inevitably have a passenger with a severe incident if they do not train better.

Had us delay to fix forward restroom only to have stop working so I had a line of people's rear. The entire flight.

Don't need the male flight attended lecturing. The whole plane on how to act when there was no problems.Other than that everything was great

My Flight was cancelled and there was no other options available for me to Travel on that date and my options for the next day was all connecting flights that would have me in the airports all day before reaching my destination

Other airlines were canceling flights but Delta got us home. Crew was friendly and professional. It would have been nice to have had a little more notice about the delays because we had already arrived at the airport when the first of several delays were communicated but I understand that storm forecasting isn’t simple and we were grateful that Delta didn’t just cancel the flight.

Not pleasant. We arrived several hours late and my friend and driver were waiting for me a long time at Tucson airport. At first we had to divert to phoenix due to shitty weather. Well, i guess I can’t fault anyone for that. But then when they refueled , they overfueled and we had to wait even longer for the plane to burn off excess fuel. So someone really screwed up there and should get fired. Human error is really inexcusable.

Left on time. Arrived on time. That’s all i ask.

Three adults, three children. They did not give us seats together. Two seats together, in row 23, one in 13, one in 14, one in 10, and one in 17. When we got on the plane, the crew tried to ask people to move but basically threw up their hands. One person moved so we had two pairs of seats together. The 1.5 year old sat on a parent's lap (despite having paid for his own seat).

Flight was changed from departing from Boston to departing from Detroit.

Flight was over 2 hours late which made us miss our connecting flight.

the fight attendants were great and i appreciated that they had season 1 of The Wire from HBO as a viewing option

Short and everyone communicated with me about the changes every step of the way.

The pairing of personal Bluetooth headset did not work, provided headset did not work, then the screen locked and therefore no in-flight entertainment was available.

Crew was good. Check-in and boarding was terrible. Family wasn’t seated together. Online check-in wasn’t available.

The flight was bumpy. No Breakfast or coffee was served, not even a bottle of water. The food was okay but odd. Rice with peas instead of couscous with some unknown green thing. United Airlines did not tell me that there was VERY LIMITED HANDICAP SERVICE IN NAPLES. De-plane via 20 aluminum steps. Taken to Van. You must walk into the terminal, find luggage, and then walk out to the rental car pickup spot that is 1 block from the terminal.

I flew basic economy, so it was what I expected. Crew was nice though, and flight was quick. Would recommend for flights under 6 hours, otherwise would upgrade to something with more leg room.

Crew did their best but the plane configuration is too tight if you're bigger than an average sardine. Controls for the entertainment system didn't all work. The aircraft hadn't been cleaned in awhile.

Charging and entertainment didn't work. The meal was horrible. They only came by with the drink cart one time for the 8 hour flight. They did come by with water a couple times.

We were traveling as a family of 5 and they refused to seat us together. There were entire rows open, and my 13 year old daughter had to sit alone. Ridiculous!

Never happened, because of the first delayed flight I lost the connection and had to wait overnight and take two flights to reach my destination.

Bad, they delayed my flight, lost my connection flight had to stay overnight for the next flight and missed a lot of important meetings. 1 day totally lost!

Sometimes, it is difficult to figure out which seats is window, middle and isle.

I wish the indicator on the side of each row was easier to decipher regarding which seat was the window, middle and row seat. Otherwise, no complains.

The counter/baggage counter was busy and so many people missed flights. We got stuck sitting on the plane over 2 hours at the gate while they were doing an inspection is wrong. Many of us missed our connecting flights because of it.

a321 seating in business class transcontinental - international not up to snuff, no foot rest, entertainment unexciting

First time flying internationally with AA and probably my last. Not military friendly at all. Didn't allow free checked bag for military family members (dependents) on orders like other airlines. We were charged $100 for baggage weight overage (5 lbs!)even though we had military orders allowing us extra.. Didn’t allow military members to board early. Inefficient and long wait time to board. Seats are smaller and more uncomfortable than other airlines.. no drink service for over 7 hrs of flight! After initial meal was served, the crew never offered a snack or drinks until the breakfast's was served 1 1/2 hrs before landing. Overall expensive and poor experience for the entire flight.

American Airlines should be ashamed of their performance on AA1506 on August 14th from DFW to IND. First of all, after we got to the originally assigned gate C7, we were notified with too little notice for a first-flight out situation that the flight would depart from gate A25 in an entirely different terminal -- not just a gate or two away from the original gate. That was the first hiccup that started our day off poorly. It just got worse. Let it be known that the flight crew and gate agents were all as helpful as they could be during all that followed. However, the flight was a horrible mess of an ordeal. The plane was warm and uncomfortable on a hot Dallas morning when we boarded. And apparently we had to get underway for the a/c to be powered up. There was no other explanation for why we had to sit there in the heat. But before we could power up, some paperwork had to be completed, if we heard the announcement clearly enough. Then a "minor" maintenance issue had to be fixed -- but it was enough of an issue that we all had to deplane while it was being fixed, apparently because it was "too warm" on the plane for us to sit there in case the "minor" issue took too long to fix. And after we all finally deplaned and were hanging around the counter for news about when we could reboard, then a flight attendant came up and notified the gate agent that there a passenger at the rear of the plane had caused a major spill of some sort getting up and out of the plane. Turns out that was a bigger and longer delay than whatever the initial mechanical issue caused. According the gate announcements, the mechanical issue had been fixed relatively quickly in due course. But a seat was soaked and had to be cleaned up by a spill. A subsequent announcement then said that the seat belts were affected by the spill and had to cleaned. Then, either the seats or seat belts or both had to be replaced. At each of these announcements, the phrase "we're trying to get maintenance here as soon as we can" kept coming up. Clearly the gate agents were as frustrated as the passengers. After all was said and done, a minor mechanical issue and a major cabin spill issue caused a 3+ hour delay in our flight. American Airlines should be ashamed of its performance on this flight.

Pilots were very conscious about giving us a smooth flight

Flight was delayed , waited in the tarmac for 3 hours and then came back and was cancelled

Late and next flight even later. Who leaves at 245 am and arrives at 330 am ? No wifi, 4 hr flight and one bag of pretzels? AA should be ashamed

Very good. Flight on time. Cabin crew were all really friendly.

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