Japan Budgeting Made Easy: A Guide for First-Time Travelers
Planning a trip to Japan? Learn how to create a realistic travel budget for a 2-week vacation. From flights and accommodation to activities and food, this guide offers tips and tools to help you plan your perfect Japan adventure while staying within your budget.
Starting your Japan Travel Budget
When planning any trip, it’s always good to have a budget in mind, but sometimes it’s difficult to come up with a budget that is realistic for you. Much of my research involved reading accounts of people discussing incredibly low budgets where they would stay in hostels and eat mostly convenience store food. And although that information is helpful for people wanting the same experience, it was not what I wanted out of my vacation.
I want to share how I came up with my realistic 2-week Japan trip budget that works well for the average person or couple traveling to Japan.
Japan Travel Expenses: Cost Breakdown
Categorize the larger costs that make up a trip. My categories were:
🛫 Flights
🏨 Accommodation
🚆 Transport
🍜 Food
🎡 Activities
🛍️ Souvenirs
🧳 Miscellaneous (Insurance, SIM cards, etc.)
How Much Does a Trip to Japan Cost?
Do a quick search of how much these items tend to cost and come up with a total budget estimate that you would be comfortable with. I emphasize this ‘comfortable budget’ as this is where each person differs. If you’re looking to go to Japan using a non-budget airline and staying in hotels that cost over $100 a night, expect a higher estimate compared to someone who is okay with staying in capsule hotels and flying Jetstar.
Here’s an basic cost breakdown estimation based on different travel styles:
💰 For us, our comfortable budget for a 2-week trip was between 6,500-7,500 AUD.
🔗 Helpful Tools: Check out Kanpai Japan’s Japan Budget Estimator, a quick way to refine your cost expectations.
Create a Budget Spreadsheet
Now that you have an idea of what your budget might look like, the best way to track everything is with a spreadsheet. It doesn’t have to look pretty—mine didn’t—but it helps you add or subtract costs as they come up.
Visualizing your budget can help you decide if you want to cut down on certain areas or allocate more funds to experiences that matter most to you.
I used Google Sheets and divided the information into categories. I also calculated a minimum and maximum expected cost so I could average them for a realistic estimate.
📊 Tip: Consider adding columns for daily spending limits, unexpected costs, and actual versus estimated expenses to keep your budget on track.
🔗 Free Download: Japan Travel Budget Template Use this template to begin your budget planning!
Japan Travel Budget Breakdown
Flights
This will be very dependent on which airline you choose. But if you’re between a few, here’s what to consider:
Arrival Location: Although it might be easiest to arrive at one of Tokyo’s airports, think about starting your trip in a different city as it may be cheaper (e.g., flying into Osaka instead).
Seasonality: Flight prices fluctuate based on demand, so consider traveling in the off-season.
Budget airlines: Sometimes it’s worth sacrificing checked luggage for a cheaper fare.
💰 Our Expense Example: We flew from Perth to Tokyo with Singapore Airlines for $1,200 AUD per person, which included checked luggage and meals, and a 2 hour layover in Singapore.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary greatly depending on the location and type of lodging:
Staying farther from central city areas can be cheaper but may require longer transit times.
Airbnb options often provide more space and amenities for the same price as hotels.
Business hotels are a great mid-range option with reasonable rates and good locations.
Time of year impacts pricing—expect higher prices during cherry blossom season and holidays.
💰 Our Expense Example: We stayed in Airbnbs in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, averaging $110 AUD per night, with kitchenettes and laundry facilities.
Activities
Knowing what you want to do before your trip can help you budget more accurately and avoid unexpected expenses. Researching entry fees and ticket prices ahead of time ensures that you won’t be caught off guard by costs. Here are some sample activity costs:
🎢 Tokyo Disneyland/Sea – ~90 AUD per person
🎡 Universal Studios Japan – ~100 AUD per person
🚂 Sagano Scenic Railway – ~9 AUD per person
🗼 Tokyo Tower – ~20 AUD per person
🎥 Toei Kyoto Studio Park – ~25 AUD per person
⛩️ Temple & Shrine Entry Fees – ~5 AUD per site
With that in mind, plan on leaving some budget for spontaneous activities—on our trip, we ended up visiting two aquariums ($25 AUD per person each) that weren’t originally planned.
💡 Tip: Some Cities offer Attraction passes which lowers the overall price especially if you’re interested in several attractions. (ex. The Osaka Amazing Pass)
💰 Our Expense Example: We spent around $600 AUD total on activities, including amusement parks, temples, and tours. Disney being the most expensive of them.
Transportation
Expect to spend about 800-1000 Yen (~8-10 AUD) per day per person when traveling within city centers. However, keep in mind that day trips can significantly increase costs:
Mt. Takao Transit – 860 Yen (~9 AUD) one way per person
Bus to DisneySea – 1000 Yen (~10 AUD) one way per person
Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Costs – Generally around 9,500 Yen (~95 AUD) per person for major routes.
💡 Tip: Consider flying between cities—it may be cheaper than the Shinkansen for longer distances.
💰 Our Expense Example: Within Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, we used Suica cards downloaded onto our Apple Wallet, spending $380 AUD (about $13 AUD per person per day). Our Shinkansen tickets cost $290 AUD overall, and we flew back to Tokyo from Osaka for $247 AUD. In total, we spent approximately $920 AUD on domestic transportation.
Food
Food prices can vary depending on whether you’re eating at convenience stores, casual restaurants, or fine dining establishments.
Most restaurant meals: 1,000-2,000 Yen (~10-20 AUD) per dish
Quick meals like ramen: 800-1,200 Yen (~8-12 AUD)
Convenience store meals: 500-800 Yen (~5-8 AUD)
💡 Note: Japan is not a place where sharing meals is common, and takeaway options may be limited. Plan accordingly!
💰 Our Expense Example: We spent about $60 AUD per day for two people, totaling around $850 AUD for two weeks.
Merchandise & Souvenirs
Be mindful of your purchases—Japan has a lot of tempting character goods and collectibles!
Instead of impulse-buying, make a list of the merchandise types you really want.
Prices vary widely between stores, so shopping around is key.
💰 Our Expense Example: We allocated $600 AUD for souvenirs, including anime merchandise, gifts, and local crafts.
Miscellaneous Costs
Some extra expenses to keep in mind:
SIM Card/eSIM or Pocket WiFi – 30-100 AUD for two weeks
Travel Insurance – 50-200 AUD depending on coverage
Coin Lockers – 300-800 Yen (~3-8 AUD) per use
💰 Our Expense Example: We spent $50 AUD on one eSIM that we shared and $120 AUD on travel insurance.
Step-by-Step Budget Planning Guide
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, follow this simple step-by-step guide to create your Japan travel budget:
Research Costs – Look up average prices for flights, accommodations, transportation, and daily expenses.
Set a Budget Range – Determine a comfortable spending range that works for you.
Break Down Expenses – Categorize your spending into major areas (flights, food, transport, etc.).
Use a Budgeting Tool – Create a Google Sheets document or use a travel budgeting app to track expenses.
Estimate Daily Costs – Set daily spending limits for food, activities, and shopping.
Plan for Unexpected Costs – Add a 10% buffer to your budget for emergencies or surprises.
Track & Adjust – Monitor your spending throughout the trip and adjust as needed to stay within budget.
Final Thoughts
Planning a trip to Japan can feel overwhelming, but having a solid budget makes everything more manageable. By breaking down your expenses, researching costs, and tracking your spending in a spreadsheet, you can ensure a stress-free experience without worrying about unexpected costs. Whether you’re traveling on a budget or splurging on unique experiences, knowing your spending limits will help you enjoy your trip to the fullest.
💰 Our Expense Example: Overall, we spent about $7000 AUD, which was very comfortable and aligned with our estimates 😊
💡 Key Takeaways:
Research average costs for flights, accommodation, and daily expenses before setting a budget.
Use a spreadsheet to track expected vs. actual spending.
Consider visualizing your budget with graphs to easily see where your money is going.
Be flexible—unexpected costs happen, so having a buffer in your budget is a good idea.
With a bit of planning, you can balance fun and finances while making the most of your trip. Happy planning! 🇯🇵✈️
❔Have questions about how to start creating a budget for your trip to Japan? Leave a comment below!
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