Money Saving Travel Tips for Japan

One of the main reasons why Japan is on so many people’s bucket list yet never gets crossed off the list is the cost associated with traveling to Japan. Japan can be very expensive. But it’s more accurate to say that Japan is as expensive as you choose to make it.  There are many money saving travel tips for Japan to help keep the cost down as you travel.

Japan isn’t as expensive as it once were or as people tend to think it is.  But it definitely isn’t a place you’d want to go if you have little to no extra spending money once you get there.  If you are going to Japan, chances are you want to experience its uniqueness of the history, culture and food.  The temptation to want to spend money will be high.  You will want the flexibility to splurge, sometimes!

Use the following tips to stretch your dollars (or whatever currency!) in Japan. Just a note that I don’t mean literally take your dollars to Japan, since Japan does not accept any currency other than Japanese Yen!

Related article:  What you need to know about using your debit or credit card abroad.

Avoid peak travel seasons

Accommodation and airline ticket prices are noticeably higher during the peak travel seasons in Japan, if you are able to make the reservation at all.  Avoiding the following peak travel seasons might help in reducing costs:

• New Year – It is a high travel season domestically in Japan. Not to mention many stores, restaurants and tourist attractions are closed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
• Cherry Blossom – While many people do visit Japan just to experience the magnificent cherry blossom season, it is one of the busiest times, thus the most expensive times to travel in Japan.
• Golden Week – A national holiday that spans the days surrounding April 29 to May 5 of each year. 
• Obon week in August – This festival commemorating ancestors is observed in mid-August (dates slightly vary each year).

Transportation

• From many cities in the U.S., flying direct to Japan is typically more expensive.  While it might take longer to get there, going through Korea or flying out of Canada (if you are close enough to drive there first) could save some of money.
• Find some great tips to finding cheap flights on this site!
• If you are planning to travel through Japan, consider getting a Japan Rail (JR) Pass.  Read this article to see if getting a JR Pass makes sense for you.
• Look into purchasing a local bus or subway passes.  Many cities offer daily or weekend passes that you can purchase to get the unlimited use for the specified duration. Check out the travel agencies, such as JTB, inside of major train stations within the city to see if they have any information about these passes.
• If you decide not to get a JR Pass, you can save money on transportation by selecting the non-express train option.  It does take longer to get to your destination, but you might be able take in more of the scenery.  Buy some ekibento (boxed lunch sold at train stations) and a drink and make a relaxing travel day out of it.
• Stick to public transportation such as buses and trains.  Taxis and limousine busses are one of the more expensive ways to travel.
• If you are traveling from a major city to another city, consider taking night coach buses to save money on the transportation.  Since you are traveling overnight, you can save money on the hotel cost too!

Accommodation

Accommodations typically end up being the largest portion of your budget.  A nice hotel or ryokan in Japan is one thing that you should splurge and experience at least once.  But there are ways to reduce accommodation costs traveling in Japan:

• For the cheapest accommodation option, stay at capsule hotels or hostels.
• For the most part, don’t hesitate to book cheaper accommodation in Japan. It will be spotlessly clean as a rule and possibly a better standard than what you might be used to from low-budget accommodations.
• If the hotel is labeled a “business hotel,” it tends to be the no-frills hotel option.  Most of them are not luxurious by any means.  But they cover the basic needs.  And many of them do offer free breakfast.
• Select a hotel that offers free breakfast.  It’s another way to save cost on the food.  And typically the food is fantastic.
• Stay away from the hottest spots.  But stay close to the train station, especially a train station or two away from the major city centers might be most ideal.  If you have a JR Pass, remember to stay on the JR Line.
• Consider AirBNB for longer stays.  Service fees and cleaning fees might increase the average daily costs for shorter stays. 

Dining

• Stay away from heavy, tourist areas.  The food, including the street food, prices are inflated.
• Buy from convenient stores and grocery stores.  Buy boxed meals, bread, or onigiri from the grocery store for lunch for the day to take with you.  Especially if you are headed out to a heavy tourism area, where the food will be expensive. Buy in the morning of or the night before.  If you are super concerned about spoilage, take a smaller bag and a freezer pack. Note the hours of operation; the grocery stores often do not open early if you are planning to stop by before you head out for the day.
• Grocery stores’ fresh prepared foods and breads get marked down a couple of hours before the closing time.  Selections are smaller but you can save as much as 50% off the price.
• Train stations and shopping districts tend to have more affordable restaurant options.
• Fast food restaurants for breakfast or lunch.  It doesn’t need to be the traditional, American brands.  There are specialty food stores such as noodles, curry or donburi (bowls) shops that have fast and cheap meals.
• Many restaurants offer lunch deals which typically comes with a main dish, a salad and a drink.  Look for these “combos” on the menu.

Sightseeing

• Shrines and temples, especially the local or less touristy ones tend to be free.
• Castles and other historical landmarks have reasonable entrance fees.
• Check out hiking trails, walking trails or local parks.  You’ll get to experience how beautiful countryside and rural Japan can be, and many local parks have flower gardens or ponds that are simply stunning.
• Use free guide services.  Many larger cities offer this service staffed by local volunteers. No need to tip them but be sure to bring small gifts to give the guide. 

Related article:  See what these gifts could be and other useful things to carry with you in Japan.

Shopping

• Deja Vou. Stay away from tourism hot spots.  Unless you have to have something that’s specific to that region or location, you can usually find something similar elsewhere but a lot cheaper.
• Daiso is a chain store you can find throughout Japan.  They are also referred to as “hyaku-en” (100 yen) shops and most items are around 100 yen (plus tax).
• Don Quixote is another chain discount store that is popular among the foreign travelers.  These stores are pretty big and offer so many unique items.  So, don’t get sucked into spending more than you planned!
• Department stores in larger cities are great place to check out, especially in the everyday goods or traditional ware sections.  Shop where Japanese go to buy their daily-use goods.
• Grocery stores are also a great place to check out for souvenirs, even cheaper than the department stores.  Grocery stores’ first floor and basement tend to be all food related.  But many of them have upper floors that sell everyday goods, including clothing or crafting products, that could make cheap and great mementos to take home.

I hope you find any of these money saving travel tips for Japan helpful!  Please let us know how you may have saved money in Japan using any of these or other tips!

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