5 Tips to Plan a Budget Trip to Japan
Planning a trip to Japan is one of the most stressful things I’ve ever done. Japan is absolutely full of beautiful things to see and experience and the fascinating japanese culture leaves people excited to plan their trip there, at the same time as they feel really overwhelmed by everything that needs to be planned.
Choosing what to do and where to go in Japan is a huge task in itself, but trying to plan a trip there without breaking the bank is even more overwhelming. While planning my 8-month backpacking trip around the World, Japan was by far the most difficult country to plan. It took me weeks to get the hang of it and now I’m sharing all my best tips with you so that you don’t have to go through the same time-consuming process.
🚅 Don’t buy the JR Pass
Planning a trip to Japan is difficult for many reasons and, in my opinion, the main reason that will make you feel overwhelmed is trying to figure out the transportation you will need to take between the different places you want to visit.
Shinkansen tickets are expensive and many people get scared when looking up those prices, which leads them to consider buying the JR Pass to avoid ticket costs adding up. I have talked to so many people who traveled in Japan and made that mistake, which is why I want to explain to you why I think the JR Pass is not worth buying.
The current prices of the JR Pass are as follows:
319€ for 7 days
510€ for 14 days
637€ for 21 days
Since most people have the wrong idea that Japan is very expensive, they might assume these prices are worth paying and they end up buying the JR Pass. If you want to travel in Japan on a low budget, don’t make that mistake.
The JR Pass allows you to travel all over Japan on bullet trains, which is more than most people need. Many people keep to the main route of Tokyo – Kyoto – Osaka – Nara, so buying the national JR Pass really feels a waste of money. If you want to calculate if it’s worth it for you or not, use this JR Pass Calculator.
Read more about the Japan Rail Pass on Japan Guide
Here are some tips on how to travel cheaply in Japan instead of buying the National JR Pass.
First of all, if you really want to buy a JR Pass in order to travel a lot by train on your trip in Japan, make sure to check the Regional JR Passes. Many people don’t even know they exist, which is why they end up buying the national pass even though they don’t intend on traveling around the whole country. The regional JR Passes are cheaper and they might be a great option for you if you, like most people, are planning to stay in a certain region of Japan and don’t want to waste money on a Pass that covers more than they will use.
The Regional JR Passes are cheaper than the National JR Pass
An even better option if you are trying to keep your costs low in Japan are the Highway Buses. There are bus lines connecting all points of Japan and even though a bus takes way longer to travel in than the bullet trains, these bus lines are a great option for people willing to do a longer trip in order to save money. You can book a night bus from Tokyo to Kyoto for as little as 17€, for example. Check out Willer Express and Japan Bus Online to find the best deals on bus tickets in Japan.
✔️ Book your accommodations (a lot) in advance
If you are planning a trip to Japan, you will quickly realize that transportation and accommodation are the two things that will eat through your budget the fastest. Hotels and hostels are not outrageously expensive in Japan but they are definitely not dirt-cheap either and they sell out in advance.
I was there for Sakura season in Japan and for the Autumn season as well, which are the two main high seasons leading the accommodations to be more expensive and difficult to get. I was really disciplined for the Sakura season and booked way in advance, which allowed me to stay at great hostels for way less than I would pay if I booked last-minute. Not being as disciplined for Autumn season and trying to book as I go felt like an impossible task sometimes though.
I would recommend you to book your accommodations at least 3 months in advance if you can. It might seem exaggerated for many of the go-with-the-flow travelers but Japan is not a destination where you can go with the flow, believe me.
The good news are that there are many accommodation options in Japan if you are willing to spend some time planning. Hostels usually have great quality and there are even capsule hotels that give you some extra privacy for a fraction of the price of a hotel room.
Accommodations in Japan are great but need to be booked in advance to guarantee good prices
Here are some suggestions of good accommodations in Japan:
Hostel Wasabi Asakusa – I stayed at this hostel in Tokyo and really loved it! It’s centrally located, really clean and the beds are super comfortable
A16 Hostel Tokyo – this hostel in Tokyo is really well located as well and has great common areas
Plat Hostel Keikyu Minowa Forest – if you want a private room in Tokyo, this hostel has great options for you. The private rooms are stylish and comfortable and the common areas allow for some socializing if you’re feeling like it.
Hostel Sui – I stayed at this hostel in Kyoto and it was one of the best hostels I’ve ever seen! It’s really clean and comfortable, the staff is super friendly and it’s located in a calm area where you can take direct buses into the city center. Would highly recommend it even if it’s not the cheapest hostel in Kyoto!
Hotel M’s Plus Shijo Omiya – if you’re looking for a private room, this hotel is a great option in Kyoto. It’s very well located and it has great reviews from more than 3000 previous guests.
Hostel Osaka – if you’re looking for a great hostel in Osaka, this place is a great option for you. You’ll be pleased to know that the top bunks have real stairs to go up to them – backpackers will know what a blessing this is!
BESTIE by DOYANEN – if you’re looking for a cheap private room in Osaka, this option is great for you. The hotel is located slightly off the city center but there are great connections and the cheap price and good reviews make up for it.
Torifito Hotel & Pod Kanazawa – this capsule hotel in Kanazawa is one of the best accommodations I’ve seen in Japan and, surprisingly, it’s quite cheap! Sleeping in a capsule was such a cosy experience and the hotel even has an onsen (traditional japanese spa) that is open 24/7 and that you can use for free. There are also amenities like toothbrushes, shampoo and shower gel, sleepers and even pajamas. I just loved it there!
Torifito Hotel & Pod Kanazawa is one of my favorite accommodations in all of Japan
📍 Choose strategic places to be based in
When you are choosing your accommodations in Japan, you will quickly notice that some places are way more expensive to sleep in than others. Usually, the rural and more remote areas have fewer hotel options and therefore it’s more difficult and expensive to find accommodation there.
Those countryside areas are really worth a visit though and I really think anyone traveling in Japan should get a taste of the more remote japanese towns, so don’t let the accommodation prices deter you from going there!
A great solution to still have those places be a part of your itinerary, while not spending a ton of money on accommodations, is having strategic places where you are based. That’s because some cities are really well located and have plenty of accommodation options, which means you can stay in an affordable accommodation there and take day trips to explore the more remote areas where finding accommodation would break the bank.
There are some cities that are great spots for that purpose. For example, if you want to explore the Japanese Alps or the picturesque village of Shirakawa-go but hotel options aren’t ideal, you could stay in Takayama and take day trips from there.
If you want to explore the Koyasan region but don’t wanna spend a ton of money on the temple stays that are so famous to do around there, you can take a day trip to Koyasan from Osaka. It will be a long day but I’ve done it and I really believe it’s one of the best day trips to take from Osaka!
Koyasan is one of the best day trips to take from Osaka
🗾 Travel slowly
When you’re traveling in Japan, it won’t take long before you realize that transportation is one of your major expenses. Especially for tourists traveling by Shinkansen, the costs add up really quickly when they’re constanly moving from place to place.
That’s why one of my most important tips for people visiting Japan is to travel at a slow pace if possible.
The problem usually is that people have only 2 or 3 weeks to be in Japan and want to see a huge list of places, which means they need to move every other day. Those travel days are always the most expensive and if you’re trying to keep a low budget, it will hurt.
If you plan a longer trip to Japan and decide to stay for a month or more, you will notice that it’s way easier to keep costs down! You will be able to stay in each city for a longer time and enjoy yourself without spending a ton, because your expenses will basically be food and accommodation and that can be covered for a reasonable price.
🍣 Save good and cheap restaurants on Google Maps before you go to Japan
Food in Japan is delicious and it’s definitely not as expensive as people think! There are so many affordable food options in convenience stores and even in restaurants, so food expenses definitely don’t need to be a problem for your budget – but there’s a very important thing to keep in mind.
There are endless restaurant options in Japan and some of them, especially in more touristic areas, can be more expensive. For people who are willing to pay for gourmet food, that might not be a problem, but I’m guessing you’re not one of them if you’re reading this article.
The tip I usually give to people who are worried about food costs on their trip to Japan is to save every good restaurant recommendation on their Google Maps. That way, when they’re exploring a city, they can simply open their map and see which good restaurant is nearby instead of falling for tourist traps or having to pay for expensive restaurants because they’re starving and can’t be bother to look for cheaper options.
Food chains are always a good option to have marked as well, with Kura Sushi and Hamazushi being my absolute favorites. They’re conveyor belt sushi restaurants with really cheap and delicious sushi and other japanese food options, where water and green tea are for free.
Mark all the Kura Sushi and Hamazushi restaurants on Google Maps in the cities you will visit so that you never lack cheap and delicious food options
Another great place to eat sushi in Tokyo is Uogashi Nihon-Ichi. There are several of those restaurants in Tokyo, including one in Shinjuku and one in Shibuya, and some say they’re the best sushi restaurants in the city. I’ve eaten there so many times and can definitely confirm it’s the best sushi I’ve had in Japan! And the best part: it’s cheap, with prices starting from 150 yen for 2 pieces of sushi.
The sushi at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi is the best I’ve had in Japan and it’s really cheap
I hope this blog post showed you that it’s possible to plan a budget trip to Japan and, above all, that it helped to relieve the overwhelming feeling that planning such a trip can give you! A trip to Japan is the dream of a lifetime for many people and when it’s done right, it doesn’t have to be that difficult.
If you need more help and inspiration to plan your trip to Japan, don’t forget to check my free travel guides 👇🏼
Would you like to help this project at no extra cost to you or even get some discounts? Use these affiliante links when you’re planning your trips and you’ll be helping me more than you know 💗
