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Asia

Japan

A pagoda at the end of a lantern-lit street in Kyoto at dusk

Temples before breakfast, neon after dark, and trains that leave on the second.

Japan is easier on a budget than its reputation suggests. Capsule hotels and hostels are spotless, convenience store meals are genuinely good, and a rail pass turns the whole country into a day trip.

Most first trips follow Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, but the mountain villages of the Japanese Alps and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea are where it gets quiet.

Good to know

Time zone
GMT+9
Plugs
Types A and B, 100V
Emergency numbers
110 police, 119 ambulance and fire
Tap water
Safe to drink
Traffic drives on the
Left
Tipping
Not expected and can cause confusion, as good service is part of the price.
SIM cards
A tourist eSIM with 10GB of data costs around 3,000 yen, or pick up a data SIM from a vending machine at the airport.

When to go to Japan

Best months to go: March to May and October to November. Pick a month to see what it’s like.

Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.

September

Still warm, with the highest typhoon risk of the year.

Daytime high
27°C
Rainfall
225 mm
Crowds
Quiet

What Japan costs

Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.

How do you travel?

Dorm beds, street food and public transport.

14 days

$910for 14 days, about $65 a day (¥137,000 in total)

Bed$25$350
Food and drink$18$252
Getting around$12$168
Things to do$6$84
Everything else$4$56

Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.

What things cost

  • Bowl of ramen¥1,000, about $6.67
  • Onigiri from a convenience store¥180, about $1.20
  • Can of beer from a convenience store¥250, about $1.67
  • Hostel dorm bed¥3,500, about $23
  • Capsule hotel¥4,500, about $30
  • Tokyo Metro single ride¥180, about $1.20
  • Temple or shrine entry¥500, about $3.33
  • Shinkansen, Tokyo to Kyoto¥14,000, about $93

Routes through Japan

Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.

14 nights, 5 stops

The classic first trip along the main shinkansen line, from Tokyo to Hiroshima with a night in the hills.

Find a tour to join on the way

  1. Tokyo

    4 nights

    Shibuya crossing, Asakusa temples and late nights in Shinjuku.

  2. Hakone

    1 night

    Hot springs, a lake cruise and views of Mount Fuji on a clear day.

  3. Kyoto

    4 nights

    Fushimi Inari at dawn, Gion in the evening and a day trip to Nara.

  4. Hiroshima

    2 nights

    The Peace Memorial and the floating torii gate on Miyajima.

  5. Osaka

    3 nights

    Street food in Dotonbori and the best nightlife in the country.

Getting around

  • Train

    $90–100 for Tokyo to Kyoto by shinkansen

    Fast, spotless and always on time. Since the 2023 price rise the JR Pass only pays off for long, busy itineraries.

  • Bus

    $30–60 for an overnight highway bus

    Night buses between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka save a night of accommodation and cost a fraction of the train.

  • Ferry

    $5–15 for a short island hop

    The easiest way to reach Miyajima and the Seto Inland Sea islands.

  • Bicycle

    $5–10 a day to hire

    Kyoto and Naoshima are flat and made for cycling. Park only in marked bike areas.

What to eat and drink

  • Ramen

    Noodles in rich broth, from pork tonkotsu to light shoyu. Order from the ticket machine at the door.

    ¥1,000, about $6.67

  • Kaiten-zushi

    Conveyor-belt sushi, priced by the plate. Cheap, fun and very fresh.

    ¥150, about $1

  • Okonomiyaki

    A savoury cabbage pancake cooked on a hotplate. Osaka and Hiroshima each have their own style.

    ¥1,000, about $6.67

  • Takoyaki

    Octopus balls in batter, covered in sauce and bonito flakes. An Osaka street snack.

    ¥600, about $4

  • Onigiri

    Rice balls wrapped in seaweed, the backbone of any convenience store breakfast.

    ¥180, about $1.20

  • Highball

    Japanese whisky and soda, sold on tap in every izakaya.

    ¥400, about $2.67

Say it like a local

A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.

  • Hello

    こんにちは

    kon-nee-chee-wah

  • Thank you

    ありがとうございます

    ah-ree-gah-toh go-zai-mass

  • Excuse me

    すみません

    soo-mee-mah-sen

  • How much is it?

    いくらですか？

    ee-koo-rah dess-kah

  • Where is the station?

    駅はどこですか？

    eh-kee wah doh-koh dess-kah

  • The bill, please

    お会計お願いします

    oh-kai-kay oh-neh-gai-shee-mass

  • Delicious

    おいしい

    oy-shee

  • Cheers!

    乾杯！

    kan-pai

Places to go in Japan

  • Mount Fuji behind a red pagoda at dusk

    Fujiyoshida

    A town at the foot of Mount Fuji, on the Fuji Five Lakes, with the famous Chureito pagoda viewpoint.

    Mid-range

  • Neon signs and traffic at a busy Tokyo crossing at night

    Tokyo

    Japan’s capital: neon, shrines, tiny bars and some of the best food in the world at every price.

    Mid-range

Tours in Japan

See all tours in Japan

Questions travellers ask

Is the JR Pass worth it?

Only if you are covering a lot of ground in a short time. For a simple Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka trip, single tickets and night buses usually work out cheaper.

Do I need cash?

Less than before, but small restaurants, temples and rural guesthouses still take cash only. Convenience store ATMs at 7-Eleven accept foreign cards.

Can I go to an onsen with tattoos?

Many public baths still ban visible tattoos. Look for tattoo-friendly onsen, cover small tattoos with a patch, or book a private bath.

Why are there no bins?

Public bins are rare, so carry a small bag for rubbish. Convenience stores usually have bins by the door for things bought there.

How do I travel light between cities?

Use takkyubin luggage forwarding from your hostel or a convenience store. Your bag arrives at the next stop the following day for around 2,000 yen.

Stories from Japan