🏯 How much does a trip to Japan cost? 🇯🇵
Think Japan is insanely expensive? Don't believe the rumors! 😅 Yes, airfare is the biggest expense, but the rest of the trip can be planned quite affordably. The key is to choose the right dates and budget wisely.
🍂 When to go to save?
Peak season (holidays, cherry blossoms) – prices double.
Concerts and major events (like BTS dates) can quadruple the price.
☝🏼Optimal periods: October–November (maples are red, there's almost no rush) or February–March (weather is changeable).
✈️ Airfare
Buy tickets six months in advance, monitor sales, and consider flights with transfers (via China or Uzbekistan). It's convenient to create a route "to one city and from another" (for example, arriving in Osaka and departing from Tokyo).
I always fly from Moscow. That's why the prices are lower — that's where I'm based 😁. If, like me, you don't live in Moscow, add the cost of travel to Moscow.
Average roundtrip price: 50,000–60,000 rubles per person ($660).
Budget option: from 40,000 rubles ($445) (inconvenient transfers or special offers).
💸 Cost: per person: from 40,000 to 60,000 rubles ($445–$660); for two: from 80,000 to 120,000 rubles ($890–$1,320).
🏨 Accommodation
Accommodation in Tokyo is significantly more expensive than in Osaka: the latter city offers a much better price-quality ratio.
Options:
1. Budget (hostels, shared shower): from 2,000 rubles/night per person (Tokyo, Asakusa or Ikebukuro) ($22).
2. Comfort (private shower/toilet, breakfast included): from 6,000–7,000 rubles/room ($67–78).
3. Osaka (good hotel near the metro): about 3,000 rubles/night ($33).
4. Onsen (hot springs): about 30,000 rubles/night for two ($333).
☝🏼 By the way, you're probably wondering why I don't recommend staying in the famous Japanese capsules as a budget option? In practice, it's not that cheap, and it can also make you feel claustrophobic 😂.
For a 10-day trip (5 days in Tokyo + 5 days in Osaka), you can budget for the following minimum:
Tokyo: 5 nights x 2,000 rubles x 2 people = 20,000 rubles ($222);
Osaka: 5 nights x 3,000 rubles = 15,000 rubles ($167).
💸 Total: minimum budget for accommodation for two starts at 35,000 rubles ($389); if you want to use an onsen for at least one night, add another 30,000 rubles ($333) to your budget.
🛜 Communications
This is the easiest and cheapest option! Buy an e-SIM on trip.com.
The price per person starts at 300 rubles for 10 days. Depending on your daily internet needs, 2 GB per day is ideal.
💸 Amount: per person from ~300 rubles ($4)
🍜 Meals
You can eat inexpensively at eateries or choose restaurants.
Economy option: ~2,000 rubles/day per person ($22) (rice with chicken - from 400 rubles, onigiri - 100 rubles, water - 100 rubles).
Comfort option (delicious and varied food): ~5,000 rubles/day per person ($56).
💸 Amount for 10 days:
Economy: per person 20,000 rubles ($222); for two (economy) 40,000 rubles ($444);
Comfort: 50,000 rubles per person ($556); for two (comfort): 100,000 rubles ($1,111).
🚇 Transportation
The JR pass is often not worth the cost. It's better to buy a Suica card at the airport and top it up as needed.
Metro and commuter trains: ~800 rubles per person per day ($9).
Shinkansen (bullet train): 9,000 rubles one-way per person ($100).
Suburbs (Kamakura, Yokohama, Nara, Kyoto): ~700 rubles one-way ($8). A trip from Tokyo to Fuji is more expensive — 2,000 rubles ($22).
Approximate route (Tokyo → Kamakura/Yokohama; Osaka → Nara/Kyoto; plus Fuji).
💸 Cost for 10 days (excluding long-distance travel):
per person metro + shinkansen ~17,000 rubles ($189); plus long-distance travel ~9,600 rubles ($107).
Total cost for two with routes ~53,200 rubles ($591).
📄 Visa and fees
Visas are free for Russians, but there are additional costs:
· consular fee: ~1,000 rubles;
· document delivery or travel to Moscow: calculate individually.
💸 Cost: per person from 1,000 rubles.
🎌 Attractions
Many free attractions, but museums and palaces cost from 200 rubles.
Daily budget for museums: ~1,000 rubles/day per person ($11).
Universal Studios or Disneyland: ~5,000 rubles per person ($56).
💸 Total for 10 days: per person from 10,000 rubles ($111); for two from 20,000 rubles ($222); plus one major park per person +5,000 rubles (for two: +10,000 rubles / $111).
🛍️ Shopping
This is always individual, but it's best to budget at least 10,000 rubles per person as a minimum.
💸 Total: per person from 10,000 rubles ($111); for two from 20,000 rubles ($222).
🔻🔻🔻
💰 Summary and final costs
The most budget-friendly option for 10 days
(budget accommodation and meals, minimal paid attractions, no major parks, 1 night in an onsen):
Per person ~108,000 rubles ($1,200).
Per person ~216,000 rubles ($2,400).
👀 But honestly! You can go even more budget-friendly if you don't eat much and don't like buying junk, but that's impossible in Japan; it's delicious and there are tons of cute things 😂
Comfortable option
Per person from 150,000 rubles ($1,600) up to infinity
Remember: prices may vary depending on the season, promotions, and exchange rates. If you plan your trip wisely and avoid peak dates, Japan will be quite affordable—and definitely unforgettable! 😍🗾