This is how much you pay for your Japan trip It definitely won't be cheap!

Japan may not be the cheapest travel destination. But the actual travel costs can be quite manageable - depending on where exactly you are going, what standard you want to travel in and what you want to do. In the following, we will go into all the details from arrival to transport to accommodation. Of course, there are also useful tips so that you can get the most out of your yen. Because Japan is beautiful - and its money is definitely worth it!

In a nutshell: You need around € 1700 for a week's holiday in Japan!

Let's now take a closer look at the individual elements:

Getting there

Flight prices vary depending on the season, airline, stopovers, days of the week and many, many other factors. You can get return tickets for as little as € 450 - or pay up to € 1200 in economy class! We have the top tips for you here so you can find the most affordable flight tickets:

Be flexible!

The less you depend on certain dates, the higher the probability that you can snag a flight bargain. Tip: Flight booking sites like Checkfelix and Momondo allow you to set the arrival and departure dates separately. This allows you to experiment well with different dates. Returning on Tuesday instead of Monday could save you over 100 euros, for example! Tip: You can also "watch flights" and then get a notification as soon as the corresponding flight becomes significantly cheaper.

Think about how many stopovers you're willing to accept

Flights with many stopovers - and possibly long layovers - are usually much cheaper than direct flights. However, you may be on the road for over 20 hours. For example, I now prefer to pay € 50 - € 100 more if I can fly nonstop.

Book in advance

If you start looking for good flight deals early, you can then strike when you see an attractive offer. If you want to book at the last minute, then you are dependent on - probably more expensive - remaining seats.

Tokyo HANEDA (HND) or Tokyo NARITA (NRT)?

Tokyo Narita is the main airport in Tokyo. Flight deals there are usually cheaper than to Tokyo Haneda. But it's worth considering both airports when searching for flights.

My experience:

1. ECONOMY December 2017 FRA => HND & HND => FRA 581,76€ *¹
2. ECONOMY August 2018 FRA => HND & HND => KIX => FRA 860.33 € *¹
3. ECONOMY December 2018 FRA => HND & FRA => HND 834.28€ *¹
4. ECONOMY November 2019 FRA => HND & FRA => HND *¹

• FRA > Frankfurt am Main Airport
• HND > Tokyo Haneda Airport
• KIX > Kansai Airport (Osaka)
• *¹ including taxes

Accommodation

Of course, there is a wide range of accommodation in Japan, from luxury hotels to simple hostels. Accordingly, prices also vary greatly.

Average overnight costs per person for overnight stays in a double room: Around € 60 per night

Average accommodation prices

• Bed in a dorm in hostels: around € 20
• Private double room in a hostel : between € 55 and € 75
• Double room in a Ryokan : from € 110; can be very expensive depending on the Ryokan (up to € 400)
• Double room in a hotel : from € 110

Accommodation options

Airbnbs

This is unfortunately no longer an alternative. A Japanese legal reform has ensured that over 80% of the offered accommodation had to be deleted. As a result, around 30,000 travelers who had booked rooms via Airbnb were suddenly left without accommodation!

Hotel

Normal hotels in Japan cost around 110 euros/night. Hotels with few outlets are usually cheaper than large hotel chains, and the further you are from the center or from very touristy areas, the cheaper it gets.

Compare hotel prices on Booking.com

Affiliate Link: If you buy a hotel through this link, we will receive a small commission. This supports us and our blog. There are no additional costs for you. Thank you and have fun traveling (^_^)

Ryokan

A Ryokan is a traditional Japanese guesthouse. The rooms are also decorated in Japanese style. Overnight stays at the Ryokan typically include both dinner and breakfast. The Ryokan is perfect for immersing yourself in the Japanese lifestyle.

Minshuku

A Minshuku is also a traditional Japanese accommodation, comparable to a bed and breakfast. Minshukus are usually family-run.

Tatami-Matte vs. Western-Style-Room

Ryokans and Minshukus usually don't have "normal" beds, but are equipped with a Tatami mat and a mattress on the floor. Rooms with western beds are slightly more expensive than Ryokans.

Capsule Hotels

These simple hotels offer privacy in the hostel dorm. The individual "capsules" usually even have a TV. There are communal bathrooms and lockers for valuables.

Temple

Tourists can also stay in Buddhist temples in individual cases. The price of the overnight stay often includes two vegetarian meals. Travelers can also participate in the morning prayers.

Transport

Per day you should average around € 35

Japan Rail

A cheap solution is the Japan Rail Pass if you want to see as much of the country as possible. This is available from € 245 (so € 35/day) for 7 days. We have a very detailed article about the Japan Rail Pass for you here.

Japan Rail Pass - Costs

7 days

245€ (35€ per day) - for children between 6-11 years 123€ (17,57€ per day)

14 days

390€ (30€ per day) - for children between 6-11 years 195€ (13,93€ per day)

21 days

498€ (23,71€ per day) - for children between 6-11 years 249€ (11,86€ per day)

Long-distance buses

Similar to the Japan Rail Pass for trains, there is also the Japan-Bus-Pass for long-distance routes. This starts at 85 euros for 3 days, but can also be booked for longer periods.

Metro

A single journey on the metro in Tokyo or Osaka costs between € 0.80 and € 1.60.

Rental car

Translate driver's license - costs

For most parts of Japan you don't need your own vehicle, because public buses and trains will take you safely and quickly from A to B. But if you still want to rent a car, then you have to have your driver's license translated into Japanese. This costs around € 65 if you do it through this website , and takes 4 weeks. In Japan itself, you can have your driver's license translated for around 25 euros at the Japanese Automobile Federation. German and Swiss driver's licenses as well as international driver's licenses from Germany and Switzerland are not accepted in Japan - but the international driver's license from Austria is.

Rental car - costs

Rental car prices vary depending on the rental company, rental location and vehicle class. Basically, however, they are similar to rental car prices in Germany. You can rent compact cars from around € 40 for 24 hours.

Other fees

Tolls are also charged on Japanese expressways. Attention: There are also car ferries. They are usually quite expensive - so try to avoid them!

Taxis

Taxi rides in Japan are extremely expensive. In our opinion, they are only worthwhile if you can share the fare with some fellow passengers.

Food and drink

Food and drinks are relatively cheap in Japan. There is also a wide range here, from very cheap snacks to fancy restaurants. Especially practical: you usually get green tea and drinking water for free with your meal - so you can definitely save quite a bit of money on drinks.

For a breakfast or lunch you pay an average of € 3-10 . For a dinner you have to reckon with € 5-20 .

Sights/Attractions

Of course, sights also cost money in Japan. There are attractions that you can visit for free. On average, however, you have to reckon with fair entrance fees between € 5 and € 20. This can still add up if you visit many sights.

Internet connection

To stay online during your trip to Japan, you can use a practical pocket WiFi. These useful devices are still more scarce in Europe and the USA, but can be rented very easily in Japan. A pocket WiFi provides up to 15 devices with WLAN, is very small and handy and fits in any pocket. For a price between 5 and 10 euros per day you get several hundred gigabytes of internet. Here we have linked you an article in which you can find out exactly what a pocket WiFi is and can do!

Other expenses

Travel insurance

Highly recommended if you get sick during your trip. Travel insurance can be taken out online very easily before departure and costs hardly more than 2 euros per day. Recommendation: The travel insurance of the Hansemerkur .

Exchange fees

It is best to get a card before you leave with which you can withdraw money free of charge, for example the DKB-Visa-Karte . This way you save high exchange fees. Cash is the preferred method of payment in Japan, especially in the countryside.

Savings tips for your trip to Japan

Avoid Konbinis/Convenience Stores

These well-stocked mini-markets (e.g. 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson) offer a wide selection of food, snacks, ready-made meals and drugstore products. While they are extremely practical, they are also slightly more expensive than "normal" shops. So only buy the essentials there! You don't know exactly what Konbinis are? Then we have a post for you here:

Don't tip

That's simply not part of the culture in Japan! If you tip, you will offend the service staff.

Don't order drinks

In most restaurants you will be served water and green tea free of charge. Therefore, refrain from ordering drinks.

Buy transport passes

Whether JR Pass or long-distance bus pass: These transport passes can save you a lot of money if you travel long distances. However, calculate in advance how big the difference is to single tickets!

Visit noodle restaurants

Soba or Undon restaurants bring a large meal to the table for a cheap price. This saves you a lot of money when eating out.

Avoid fruit

Fruit is extremely expensive in Japan. Therefore, you should only buy what you absolutely want. A cheap snack is an apple in Japan, for example, but unfortunately not.

The longer, the cheaper

If you stay longer in the country, you will need less long-distance transport on a daily basis and the flight will also become cheaper on a daily basis.

Conclusion: How expensive is Japan really?

For an average week in Japan, you have to reckon with around € 800 to € 900. This is made up of daily costs for

• Accommodation: € 60
• Transport: € 35
• Food: € 27
• Attractions: € 20
• Internet: € 7
• Total: € 149

Add to that the flight, which is between 500 and 800 euros. So in total you should plan around € 1700.