Budget Tips for Hotels, Transportation, Eating, and Activities in Japan

Japan travel tips are often centered around one theme: how to save money. While you get what you pay for, Japan is an expensive destination when compared to other options such as China and Southeast Asia.

Japan is a fascinating, stimulating place to travel with enough culture, sights, and incredible food to keep you tantalized for as long as your budget permits, which may not be very long given the exorbitant prices for hotels and transportation.

A little bit of budget-traveler strategy goes a long way. Use these Japan travel tips to enjoy the Land of the Rising Sun without breaking the bank!

Japan Travel Tips for Accommodation

Accommodation in Japan, particularly in big cities, is pricey. Here are a few tips for finding the cheapest options:

• The word ‘hotel’ is rarely used unless it’s in reference to ‘business hotels’ which tend to be mid-range. Rooms are small, typically suitable for one person; however, they are clean and have amenities to cater to the many business travelers. Business hotels target Japanese travelers rather than tourists, so don’t always expect English-speaking staff.
• Minshuku are budget inns that often offer the best accommodation for travelers on a budget. Ryokan are the more expensive version of Japanese inns.
• Capsule hotels provide an unusual, interesting way to stay on a budget in big cities, as long as you don’t mind staying in a place straight out of The Matrix movie. Similar to hostels, individuals get a ‘capsule’ with a privacy curtain, small desk, light, power outlet, and single bed. Capsules are stacked in rows two high; showers, toilets, and workspaces are all in shared common areas. Not all capsule hotels accept women.
• If you don’t mind sleeping in bunk beds crammed into cramped quarters, hostels are a viable option in Japanese cities.

Budget Travel Tips for Transportation

• If you plan to move around frequently, either within Tokyo or throughout Japan, consider purchasing a Japan Rail Pass. While an initial investment, you will save time and money in the long term. The Japan Rail Pass also works for buses.
• If your trip coincides with a school holiday, the Seishun 18 ticket may be a cheaper option than the Japan Rail Pass. This ticket allows five days of unlimited train travel on local trains during certain months.
• While bullet trains are fast and exciting, they are significantly more expensive for long-distance travel compared to slower long-distance buses.
• Each city has its own version of a transportation card; ask at stations when you first arrive to maximize your pass usage. For example, in Osaka, the Osaka Unlimited Pass allows for travel on subways and offers discounted entrance into museums and tourist attractions.
• Overnight ferries provide a slow-yet-economical way to move around Osaka, Kyushu, and other interesting places. Sleeping on the ferry also saves you a night of expensive accommodation.

Japan Travel Tips for Eating and Drinking

Tokyo has a mesmerizing array of neon signs advertising everything under the rising sun that can be eaten. Don’t be intimidated; walk inside and enjoy incredible food!

• As with other countries, eating street food from carts and in food halls is a cheap, delicious way to enjoy local culture and cuisine. Conversely, dining in your hotel is often the most expensive and unauthentic way to sample Japanese food.
• No trip to Japan is complete without trying a lot of authentic sushi, which is considered more as a snack than a meal. Kaiten-zushi chains (the conveyor-belt type of sushi places) are often the most economical way to try various sushi. Just remember that you’ll be charged at the end of the meal based on what you took from the belt!
• If you’re comfortable with convenience store food, chains like 7-11 offer plenty of affordable snacks and meals. These stores provide an easy and budget-friendly alternative.
• Gyudon restaurants offer beef bowls with rice that make for a cheap, filling meal.
• Supermarkets are a good choice for quick, budget-bento boxes to-go. You will often find affordable eateries in the basements of department stores in large malls where employees enjoy their meals.
• Izakaya are the Japanese equivalent of dive bars or pubs, often denoted by red lanterns hanging at the entrance. Many offer all-you-can-drink specials for a fixed amount of time, as well as inexpensive pub snacks.

Other Budget Travel Tips for Japan

• Seniors over age 60 often get discounts on transportation and entrance fees; keep your passport handy for proof.
• Golden Week, occurring at the end of April and start of May, is the busiest and most expensive time to travel in Japan. Therefore, plan your visit around this period to save money.
• Shopping is generally cheaper outside of Tokyo; consider delaying your souvenir hunt for items like kimono until you visit markets in Osaka and Kyoto.
• Take advantage of free activities. You can explore the impressive Tokyo Skytree, enjoy beaches, and visit numerous beautiful gardens without spending a dime.
• If you plan to visit many museums in Tokyo, consider a Grutt Pass for discounted entry to most locations.
• Tipping is not customary in Japan and could be offensive in certain situations. Familiarize yourself with local customs to avoid uncomfortable moments.