How Much Does a Trip to Japan Cost?

Japan has a reputation for being an expensive country. That’s partially true, but not everything in Japan is expensive. You can make your stay and meals in Japan as cheap or as luxurious as you want. In this article, I’ll break down the typical costs in Japan so you can get a good idea of how much your trip will cost.

1. Flights

   Actually getting to Japan is one of the biggest expenses of your trip. The price of a plane ticket depends on your preferences. Want a direct flight with no layovers? Expect to pay around € 1200,- for a round trip.

   
   

   We personally don’t mind having a layover. Our maximum preferred travel time is about 22 hours – usually a 12-hour flight, a layover of up to 4 hours, and then another 5 to 6-hour flight. The prices for these types of flights vary a lot because there are so many options. It also depends on the time of year you go – flights tend to be more expensive in the summer months. If you search well, you can often find a round trip for no more than € 800,- per person. If you’re lucky, it can be even cheaper: in 2024, my sister flew with LOT Airlines to Japan and back for just € 500,- per person.

   
   

   Please note: flight prices are based on flights departing from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands. This may differ if you're traveling from anywhere else.

   
   

2. Accommodation

   Another major expense: accommodation. You’ll likely be staying in hotels or Airbnbs. A basic double room in a hotel will cost between € 80,- and € 120,- per night. Keep in mind that hotel rooms in Japan are often very small – just enough space for a double bed and maybe a tiny bedside table.

   If you’re willing to spend more, you’ll get more comfort and better facilities. You can make it as affordable or as luxurious as you want. Japan has some absolutely beautiful hotels, but the average cost for those is significantly higher.

   
   

   Staying in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) is usually more expensive – often several hundred euros per night.

   
   

3. Food

   This is where Japan becomes surprisingly affordable. Compared to prices in the Netherlands (or most Western countries), eating out in Japan is very cheap. Here are a few random examples:

   
   

   - A bowl of ramen: around € 8,-

   - Conveyor belt sushi: between € 1,- and € 3,- per plate

   - Tonkatsu curry with rice: € 7,-

   - An onigiri from 7/11: about € 1,-

   - A pastry from a bakery: between € 1,- and € 2,-

   - Gyukatsu with rice and sides: € 9,-

   
   

   Of course, these are all budget-friendly examples, and you probably won’t be eating at a 12-course omakase restaurant every night. There are exceptions, especially for fancy dinners or if you’re eating premium meats like wagyu. But even then, Japan is relatively inexpensive compared to the Netherlands.

   
   

4. Public transport

   You’ll be using the metro and trains a lot in Japan. The metro is quite cheap. You pay based on distance: for trips up to 6 kilometers, the fare is ¥180 (about €1,10). We rarely traveled farther than that by metro.

   
   

   The shinkansen (Japan’s high-speed train) is more expensive. A one-way ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto costs at least € 80,- for a second-class seat. If you’re traveling to several cities by shinkansen, those costs will add up quickly. How much you’ll spend in total depends heavily on your itinerary.

   
   

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I hope this gives you a better idea of what to expect cost-wise in Japan! Of course, there are always exceptions – so don’t hold me to these prices too strictly. But this is roughly what we usually spend on flights, accommodation, food, and public transport when traveling in Japan.