How to Plan a Trip to Japan on a Budget

Japan is a top destination for travelers in 2025. And while some of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences — whether that’s savoring exquisitely prepared nigiri at a Michelin-starred omakase restaurant, staying at one of the best five-star hotels in Tokyo, or relishing a luxurious private onsen experience — do cost a pretty penny, a memorable trip to the Land of the Rising Sun doesn’t have to break the bank (especially considering the weak yen, which fell to a 38-year low this past July). Even in pricier cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, there are plenty of affordable activities, accommodations, and places to eat. And if you venture beyond the main tourist hubs, the prices get even more reasonable. 

Here’s how to plan a trip to Japan on a budget.

Planning Your Trip

Cherry blossom season (late March to early April) is the most popular time to travel to Japan. In March 2024, the country welcomed 3.1 million international visitors, and most came in hopes of seeing the pretty pink flowers. The trouble with this time of year? Not surprisingly, it’s incredibly crowded and expensive. Another potential problem? According to Todd Fong, a Japan travel expert, photographer, and writer, planning your trip around the blossoms is “an iffy strategy at best” as climate change has made things extremely unpredictable (so you might end up paying a fortune and miss the cherry blossoms). “If you are dead set on visiting during the peak period, I recommend coming a bit earlier or later than the traditional sakura season to miss the bulk of the crowds. In destinations in northern Honshu (Tohoku) and Hokkaido, you can still catch some amazing blooms well into April.” Plum blossom season is also exquisite and occurs in February, which is still off-peak. 

It’s worth noting that domestic travel in Japan is focused around three major holidays: Golden Week (typically the first week of May), Obon (Aug. 13 to 16), and the New Year holidays (roughly Dec. 30 to Jan. 4). Fong urges travelers to avoid these times whenever possible as transportation and accommodations are usually packed with domestic travelers on top of normal overseas visitors. Shinkansen tickets and flights can be particularly hard to come by during these times, too.

Autumn is also quite popular for viewing colorful foliage, but it’s generally not too busy. “Keep in mind that fall colors tend to start later than most people imagine. Think: early November rather than mid-October,” says Fong. Aside from ski resorts and snow-capped hot springs towns, winter tends to be a bit slower, so it’s easier to snag a deal (outside of the holidays, of course). 

How to Save Money on Flights

With the highest-ever volume of tourists coming to Japan, finding cheap flights can be a challenge. The shoulder seasons — spring (outside of Golden Week) and fall — offer the best chances for affordable flights.

International travelers might also want to consider a stopover to cut costs. On average, flights departing from Los Angeles or San Francisco are about half the price of New York, so it might be worth doing a long weekend or a pitstop on the West Coast before jetting off. 

How to Find an Affordable Hotel

The weak yen has made finding a bargain on a four-star hotel relatively easy.  A quick Google search yields some very wallet-friendly results; for example, rates at Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa start at $72 a night, and you can get a room at YOTEL Tokyo Ginza in Tokyo for as low as $155, including breakfast. Travelers who prioritize savings over space should look into capsule hotels, which supply enclosed beds and basic amenities and are common in bustling urban neighborhoods such as Shinjuku and Shibuya. The average cost to spend the night is around $20. 

Transportation in Japan

Japan is famous for its safe and efficient Shinkansen trains which offer an extensive railway network. Ticket prices vary depending on the route and fare class. From Tokyo, passengers can reach Kyoto in two hours and 15 minutes (approximately $100 one-way) and Osaka in two hours and 30 minutes (approximately $85 one-way). Planning to travel around Japan extensively? It might be worth investing in a JR Pass, which buys you unlimited rides on JR trains for seven, 14, or 21 days. “Because the price of the JR Pass has increased significantly, it’s no longer a no-brainer decision to buy one,” says Fong. With that said, regional passes to specific areas of Japan still exist and can still be valuable tools for travelers looking to explore a specific part of Japan. The seven-day Hokuriku Arch Pass, for example, provides an alternate route between Tokyo and Osaka through the beautiful Hokuriku region along Honshu’s north coast.

In major cities like Tokyo, the subway is the fastest and most efficient way to get around. The Tokyo Metro and Toei Transportation both offer discounts on unlimited single-day passes. Travelers can also purchase rechargeable Suica cards, which are a prepaid form of electronic money and work for the metro as well as shops and restaurants, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to use the funds on your trip. 

Eating on a Budget

Yes, there are Michelin-rated omakase dining experiences that cost hundreds of dollars, but that’s just a sliver of the culinary scene. Eating your way through Japan doesn’t have to cost a lot. “The standard of quality for dining out in Japan is one of the highest in the world, so don’t be afraid to try out a place that looks good or has many locals,” says Fong. Cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka have seemingly endless choices. “At individually run spots with just a handful of seats, you will generally find good quality meals at affordable prices. In lesser-touristed locations, the cost of living keeps the price of a meal down.”

“Lunches represent the biggest value meal around Japan. The lunchtime competition between restaurants in the urban areas is fierce, so expect to see prices around $10, tax included, no tip necessary,” notes Fong. 

Whether you’re hungry for sushi or soba, markets and nighttime streets lined with yatai (food stalls) remain ​foodie paradises for the budget-conscious. “Izakaya are the more permanent versions of these stalls found throughout Japan.”

Konbini (Japanese convenience stores) are ubiquitous. The big three chains — 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson — are famous for inexpensive and tasty prepared food. Popular picks like onigiri (rice balls) and egg salad sandwiches cost around $1 and $2 respectively. Most stores have hot food such as katsu, steamed buns, and korokke (croquettes) for a buck. 

Free and Low-cost Activities

Parks are lovely free spaces to spend some time in nature and maybe enjoy a picnic with goodies from a nearby konbini. Gardens and public museums are good low-cost activities as well. If you don’t want to pay for admission to a museum, consider a gallery. “Many boutiques in Ginza and Omotesando have free galleries. Fujifilm Square at Tokyo Midtown offers an ever-changing collection of photography from all genres,” according to Fong.

Popular, big-name sights tend to be priced to match. Instead of shelling out 3,500 yen per person for a view from Tokyo Sky Tree, Fong urges travelers to soak in the sightlines from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Floor for free. 

Japan is very safe and pedestrian-friendly. Another way to immerse yourself in a new destination that doesn’t cost a thing? A long walk. “You’ll get a better understanding of Tokyo’s culture from a two-hour amble than a week spent hitting all of the tourist sites by train and taxi,” says Fong

More Money-saving Tips

While the temptation for most visitors is to follow the well-trodden tourist route, there are many advantages to getting off the beaten path — especially when it comes to stretching your yen. 

Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka tend to be the most expensive. “Even when hotels are at max capacity in major hubs, interesting cities like Nagasaki, Matsuyama, and Kanazawa have plenty of hotel rooms and much cheaper rates,” explains Fong. “Okinawa’s beauty rivals that of Hawaii at a fraction of the cost — and Amami Oshima​ a fraction of that.”

That’s not to say you should skip Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. It’s just about being smart and employing strategies to save money such as looking for hotels outside the center. If you’re willing to commute in, it’s much easier on the wallet.  For travelers looking to stretch a buck even further, Fong suggests staying in Yokohama, just 30 minutes away from Tokyo. Kobe constitutes a tremendous value in comparison to Kyoto and Osaka.