How much does a trip to Japan cost? Budget breakdown

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If you’re thinking about traveling to Japan, this is probably one of the first questions you’ll ask yourself: How much does it cost to travel to Japan? The truth is that there are a thousand different answers to that question depending on the type of traveler you are and the many factors involved. In this post, I’ll share the approximate expenses for a 15-day trip to Japan so that you can estimate your own budget based on your preferences and needs.

This article was updated after my last trip to Japan in 2026

On this post you will find:

My real budget for 2026

In 2026 I traveled to Japan for the second time and these were some of the expenses:

• Flight: 650€ (Barcelona-Brussels-Tokyo)

• Accommodation: 100€ x night in double rooms

• Food: 375€. 18,75€ per person per day. I always ate at local restaurants.

• Transport: 412€ (including train and bus trips between cities and internal transport by subway or bus).

• Attractions: 75€ (as this was my second trip, I didn’t visit as many popular attractions or museums as my first trip to Japan).

Important: about this Japan travel budget

I’ll give you three budget levels for each expense detailed in this guide: budget (low), mid-range, and high-end. At the end of the post, you’ll find a comparison table with the total for each budget type so you can choose the one that best fits your needs and travel style. All the prices I mention are approximate and will help you calculate roughly how much to spend on a 15-day trip to Japan.

These are updated prices for 2026, but it’s always important to check the current exchange rate. If you’re traveling during peak season, some prices may be significantly higher, so always check based on your travel dates.

Is it expensive to travel to Japan?

A trip to Japan can be as expensive as you want it to be. Every traveler is different, and each person can decide how costly their trip will be. Speaking in general terms, I’d say Japan is not an expensive country to travel in. There are plenty of accommodation options for all budgets, eating out is very affordable compared to other countries, and many activities are free or inexpensive. For all these reasons, I believe Japan is not as expensive as people often think.

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FLIGHT TO JAPAN

The cost of your flight can vary a lot depending on your city of departure, which is why it’s NOT included in the total budget estimate here. However, it’s one of the biggest expenses of a trip to Japan, so I recommend the first thing you do is check skyscanner.com to get an idea of prices from your location.

On average, a round-trip flight from Spain to Japan costs 800€–1000€. It’s also possible to find direct flights from Madrid to Tokyo for around 600€, mainly during low season. If you travel during cherry blossom season, expect to pay over 1000€.

Airlines that fly to Japan include Emirates, Qatar, Iberia, Air France, Swiss, ANA, Latam, and more. Most international flights land in Tokyo, where there are two airports: Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT), though many flights also arrive in Osaka.

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ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is another major expense when planning a trip to Japan. Here are some approximate prices so you can estimate your budget. Keep in mind that hotel rates can vary a lot depending on the time of year and how far in advance you book, so always check prices for your specific travel dates. Prices below are per night in a double room:

• Budget (around 80€/night): Stay in 2–3 star budget hotels, such as Hotel MYSTAYS Ueno Inaricho. Rates are usually 60€–100€ per night.

  • TOTAL (14 nights): 1120€ / double room – 560€ per person

• Mid-range (around 150€/night): Stay in 3–4 star hotels, such as THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku. Prices can vary widely, but on average expect €100–€250 per night.

  • TOTAL (14 nights): 2100€ / double room – 1050€ per person

• High-end (around 300€/night): Stay in 4–5 star hotels, such as Shiba Park Hotel. Prices can go higher, but as a reference, expect €200–€500 per night.

  • TOTAL (14 nights): 4200€ / double room – 2100€ per person

If you’re planning to stay in a ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn), expect to pay 200€–300€ per night. These are more expensive but usually include dinner and breakfast, offering a deeper cultural experience. I stayed at Mount View Hakone and loved it—it’s definitely worth trying at least for one night.

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FOOD

Eating in Japan is surprisingly cheap. It was one of the things that impressed me most during my trip.

• A bowl of ramen costs around 6€.

• A drink from a vending machine (which are everywhere!) costs 1€.

• Eating at a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant (kaiten sushi) costs about 8€–10€.

• Sushi omakase can cost 20€–40€ per person.

Of course, you can also dine in more upscale restaurants, including Michelin-starred ones, but if we consider “normal” restaurants, eating in Japan is very affordable.

. There are also convenience stores like 7-Eleven or Lawson with really good takeaway food, perfect for breakfast or a quick lunch. A sandwich costs 1.6€, an onigiri 1€, and a salad 1.8€

• Budget option (15€–22€ per person per day)

This budget is based on eating from convenience stores and cheap restaurants such as sushi or ramen chains.
TOTAL for 15 days per person: 225€–330€

• Mid-range option (22€–30€ per person per day)

This budget is based on a mix of all kinds of restaurants and meals. This is what I personally spent on my trip to Japan. We ate in many ramen or sushi restaurants where we spent less than 10€ per person, other days we ate omakase sushi for 20€–30€ per person, and for lunch we often opted for a picnic with food from convenience stores. We also went to many specialty coffee shops where coffee costs 3–4€.

TOTAL for 15 days per person: 330€–450€

• High-end option (30€–70€ per person per day)

This budget is based on eating at mid- to high-end restaurants every day. Starting from this base, you could also end up spending much more.
TOTAL for 15 days per person: 450€–1050€

TRANSPORT

The cost of transportation depends a lot on how many cities you visit during your trip to Japan. The most common way to travel between cities is by Shinkansen (bullet train), which works wonderfully. A Shinkansen ticket in a non-reserved seat costs 65€–80€, depending on the distance. There are short distances, like Osaka–Kyoto, where a ticket costs around 10€.

To get around within the cities, a bus or subway ride costs approximately 1.5€ per trip.

Here are some typical Shinkansen route prices:

Usually, tickets are purchased at the train station on the same day before boarding. Trains run very frequently, so it’s not necessary to book in advance. However, if you prefer, you can buy tickets online through Klook, although they charge an extra service fee. Japan Rail Pass – conviene?

Another option instead of buying individual train tickets is to purchase the JR Pass, a pass that includes unlimited train travel throughout Japan. It gives you access to JR trains, buses, and ferries. You can choose a pass for 7, 14, or 21 days.

JR Pass prices in 2026:

The JR Pass is a very convenient option, but it’s not worth buying unless you plan to visit many cities in a short period of time. In my case, it wasn’t cost-effective, so I bought individual train tickets for each journey.

Considering a trip with a classic route visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and making day trips to places like Nara or Kobe, we estimated around 300€ per person for Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets and 100€–120€ for local transportation within each city.

TOTAL TRANSPORTATION: 400€–420€ per person

ATTRACTIONS

This cost is very personal and will depend on which activities you choose to do during your trip to Japan. Many activities, such as visiting temples, are free or very inexpensive.

Here are some prices for attractions and museums in Japan:

• Temples: 3€ to 6€ (many of them are free).
• Teamlab Borderless Museum: 23€
• Tea ceremony in Kyoto (with kimono): 75€
• Skytree Observation deck: 18€
• Universal Studios Japan: from 60€
• Osaka Castle: 7€
• Shibuya Sky ticket: 18€
• Nintendo Museum: 20€
• Disneyland Tokio: from 50€

• Total low budget: 100€ per person

Considering visits to temples and some paid attractions.

• Total mid-range budget: 210€–220€ per person

Considering visits to temples, viewpoints, a tea ceremony in Kyoto, and entry to Universal Studios. This is what I spent on my trip to Japan.

• Total high-end budget: 300€–350€ per person

Considering all visits to temples, museums, attractions, as well as organized tours or guided visits.

TRAVEL INSURANCEIt is not mandatory to have travel insurance to visit Japan, but it is highly recommended. It’s always good to have medical assistance in case you feel unwell or have any issues. A basic Iati Insurance plan costs around 50€ for a 15-day trip to Japan, and if you purchase it through my link, you get a 5% discount.

ESIM CARD

Another cost to consider is purchasing an eSIM to have internet connection at all times. This is essential for traveling in Japan since you’ll use your phone from the moment you arrive at the airport for Google Maps, searching for information, translating signs, buying tickets, etc. Having mobile data at all times is really useful when traveling, so I recommend getting an eSIM card.

The HolaFly eSIM for 15 days in Japan costs 47€, and with my code “POSTCARDSFROMIVI” you get a 5% discount, making the total 44.56€.

Total budget for a trip to Japan per person

*Does not include flights or extra expenses on shopping

With all this information, you can now calculate your budget for traveling to Japan. Keep in mind that all prices are approximate and can vary greatly depending on the time of year you travel, especially accommodation. That’s why I recommend checking the websites I linked throughout the post to see the most up-to-date prices.

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Need more tips for visiting Asia? Check out these posts:

• Tips for visiting Japan for the first time
• Things to do in Tokyo in 5 days
• What to wear in Japan in summer
• Where to stay in Tokyo: best areas and hotels
• Things to do in Osaka in 3 days
• What to do in 3 days in Bangkok
• Tips for planning a trip to Thailand
• Info & Tips to plan a trip to Singapore

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