Think Japan Is Too Expensive? It Doesn’t Have to Be Mark Silvester September 26, 2019 Asia, Budget Travel, International Travel, Travel Tips When you think about Japan, so many amazing things come to mind. Delicious food, whiz bang technology, rich culture and history, streets crammed with polite people, and — that it’s too darn expensive. Japan is such a magical destination and yet, a visit could cost an arm and a leg! True, Japan isn’t cheap — at least not by the standards of other Asian countries. But it doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive. You can actually experience everything Japan has to offer on a budget. Seriously! Follow these tips for the ultimate Japanese budget-friendly travel itinerary. Food When introducing yourself to a different culture, food is always a great place to start. The good news: food in Japan can be really inexpensive! Sure you can hunt down the fancy and shockingly expensive restaurants, but that’s true anywhere. In general, Japan caters to the penny-pincher in all of us. Japan specializes in deliciously cheap noodle restaurants and mouth-watering sushi trains. You can also pocket some extra yen when dining out because tipping in Japan is considered rude! Here are a few affordable food options in Japan: Eat at Convenience Stores Convenience stores in Japan are unlike their equivalents in other countries because the food here is both healthy and tasty. Here you’ll find a great selection of pre-cooked dishes such as bento boxes, and different options of rice balls with meat or fish filling, which are all very affordable. Board the Sushi Trains This one is hardly a tip because eating sushi while you’re in Japan is a bit of a no-brainer! So it’s a bonus that the sushi trains here are unbeatable for value. Sushi trains feature irresistible sushi and nori roll portions rolling past diners on conveyers belts. If you can resist the understandable urge to grab everything that passes by, you can usually get a very reasonably priced meal, with individual dished for as $2 a plate! Take Advantage of Baikingu Baikingu, or “vikings,” are all-you-can-eat buffets that locals enjoy on a daily basis. If you can find a good value viking — some can be expensive — then you’ve found the best dinner option out there! Expect to stuff yourself on as little as $20. Avoid Fresh Fruit Fruit in Japan is considered a luxury product and is therefore priced accordingly. Don’t worry though, just make sure to get plenty of vegetables at your next sushi train visit. Check Out Noodle Bars Noodle houses are possibly the best way to get a cheap and filling meal in Japan. Noodle houses offer big bowls of ramen, udon, or soba, and they can be found on almost every street corner. They also serve tea — hot or cold — for free! Be sure to slurp loudly as well — it’s a sign that you’re enjoying your meal. For more tips on mastering Japanese manners, read this. Accommodation With lots of people, limited space, and high housing prices, Japan can be pretty expensive in the accommodation department. And even though shelter will be one of your major expenses, it doesn’t mean that you’ll have to pay dearly for it. In fact, you’ll find a whole host of housing options that are ingenious, cheap, and uniquely Japanese — like a library hostel or a 24-hour internet café. Here’s how to sleep cheap in Japan: Recharge at a Capsule Hotel Not quite a hostel, and not quite a dorm, capsule hotels are perfect for savvy travelers who’re looking to cut costs. They are basically the most economical hotel ever, where guests sleep in tiny capsules and share facilities like bathrooms and common areas. Each capsule is quite cozy and comes with a reading light, outlets, and sometimes a small TV. You can expect to pay around $35 per night. (Really.) Crash at a Hostel Most people are already aware that hostels are a universally accepted means for cheaper accommodation. And if you don’t mind sleeping in dorms, then you can find hostels in Japan for as low as $20 a night. An extra incentive is that it’s not uncommon for hostels in Japan to let you stay for free if you clean for a few hours a day! Rest Easy at a Business Hotel If you’re a little…mature…to go the hostel route and prefer your own room, then stop by a business hotel. These hotels are frequented by business travelers that choose to spend a night at a hotel rather than go home after a late night at work. And while they’re nothing flashy, they are perfect for scrimping while also enjoying some level of comfort. Each room is clean, has a private bathroom and all the other traditional hotel amenities. You’ll have more price competition in the bigger cities, and you can pop by these hotels without reservation. A room can go for about $70 per night, but keep in mind that they don’t offer breakfast. (Microwavable noodles are a great way around that.) Transportation Renowned for punctuality, cleanliness, and reliability, the Japanese public transport system is one of the best in the world — and, unfortunately, one of the most expensive. Greatness surely comes at a price, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any shortcuts around the hefty price tag. With buses taking a lot of time and taxis completely out of the question, trains are by far your best option for getting about the country. They are fast, clean, easy to use, and, when you’re taking advantage of a rail pass, cheap! Get a Japan Rail (JR) Pass… If you plan on traveling around Japan, a JR pass is a must! A Japan Rail pass is a prepaid ticket that gives you almost unlimited use of the country’s extensive railway system. This pass is only available for foreign tourists, lasts for periods of 7, 14, or 21 days, and, although the starting price is high at $425, buying individual tickets is much more pricey. The JR pass is comparatively the easiest and least expensive way to see Japan. For example, the seven-day pass is roughly the same price as a round-trip train ticket from Osaka to Tokyo! Plus, the JR trains also serve local city areas so you can hop on and off whenever and wherever you please. So, do yourself a favor and buy a JR pass online before you leave. …or a Seishun Juhachi Kippu Pass Only available three times a year during school holidays, the “Seishun ju-hachi kippu” pass allows for rail travel at about half the cost of the Japan Rail Pass! Available for purchase at most JR stations for $108, the ticket gives you five days of unlimited, nationwide travel. The five days don’t have to be consecutive, and the pass is transferable, so it can be used either by one person for five days or be shared among five different people! Keep in mind that the pass doesn’t cover the Shinkansen (bullet) trains, so be sure to factor in slower travel time when planning your day. Check out these amazing Japanese castles you probably didn’t know about. Sightseeing No trip to Japan is complete without checking out some of its glorious temples, shrines, castles, gardens, and museums. And even though there is an abundance of cool things to do in Japan that don’t cost a single yen — such as walking through bustling public markets and city centers, and admiring contemporary architecture — the majority of temples and museums will have an entrance fee. This fee isn’t usually expensive — usually around $10 — but if you are after a complete Japanese cultural immersion, then those fees could add up. That said, there are ways to see it all while maintaining a budget-friendly travel itinerary. Time Your Visit to Occur During Bunka no Hi Book your cheap round trip flights to Japan so that you make there in time to celebrate Bunka no Hi, or “Culture Day.” On the 3rd of November, the entire nation commemorates this glorious national holiday which features free exhibitions, discounted or free entrance fees, and huge parades! So, if you happen to be in Japan on this day, take advantage and visit as many museums, concerts, and artisan workshops as humanly possible. Some of great ideas for specific places to visit during Bunka no Hi include: Edo-Tokyo Museum – The Edo-Tokyo Museum is solely focused on the history of Tokyo and is located in the Sumida City area Hakone – Every year for Bunka no Hi, the town of Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture hosts a reenactment of the feudal lord march, known as the “Daimyo Gyoretsu,” with over 150 actors in traditional costume and dress. Studio Ghibli Museum – The Studio Ghibli Museum in Tokyo Inokashira Park is dedicated to everything pertaining to the famed animation studio. All tickets for the museum need to be purchased in advance. Take Advantage of Free Guiding Services A great way to help friendly locals practice their English skills is by letting them take you on a guided tour. Volunteer guides provide free tours in major cities, and other than occasionally paying for admissions to sights or transport for you and the guides, they are completely free! It’s also nice (if you can afford it) to treat your new friend to lunch. Do you have any tips on how to travel to Japan on the cheap? Let us know in the comments below!
