Dreaming of Japan but worried it’ll drain your wallet? You’re not alone.
Tokyo’s neon lights, Kyoto’s temples, and Osaka’s food scene can sound expensive, but Japan doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
With a little planning, you can eat well, sleep comfortably, and see the best of the country without breaking the bank.
Here’s your complete 2025 guide to travelling Japan on a budget practical, honest, and full of money-saving tricks that locals actually use.
1. Find Affordable Flights
Flights from the UK to Japan are not as expensive as they used to be.
Use Skyscanner or Google Flights to find deals, set up price alerts, and compare airports like Tokyo (Narita or Haneda) and Osaka (Kansai).
Avoid school holidays and Japan’s Golden Week in late April.
If you can travel in March, October, or early December, you’ll usually get cheaper fares and fewer crowds.
💡 Average return flight: around £650 / $810 if you book early.
2. Decide If You Need the Japan Rail Pass
The Japan Rail Pass can be great value if you’re going from city to city, like Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka to Hiroshima.
If you’re staying mainly in one region, local trains or buses will save you more money.
Quick guide:
7-day JR Pass is about £200 / $250
A Tokyo to Osaka return ticket is around £160 / $200
If you plan two or more long train journeys, the pass is worth it. Otherwise, get an IC card such as Suica or Pasmo. You can top them up easily and use them on trains, subways, buses, and even vending machines.
3. Sleep Smart
Japan is famous for clean, safe, and stylish budget stays.
Capsule hotels: Small pods with Wi-Fi, lockers, and pyjamas. Around £20–£30 / $25–$38 per night.
Business hotels: Compact rooms, spotless bathrooms, and often free breakfast.
Guesthouses or Airbnb: Great value outside major cities.
💡 Tip: Prices rise on weekends in Tokyo and Kyoto. Try staying in nearby towns like Nara, Uji, or Kawagoe and take the train in each morning.
4. Eat Like a Local
So many of Japan’s best experiences are free or very cheap.
In Tokyo, stroll through Asakusa and visit Senso-ji Temple, or enjoy the free skyline view from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
In Kyoto, the Philosopher’s Path and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove are both beautiful and free.
In Osaka, take a night walk through Dotonbori and watch the lights reflect in the canal.
Most temples and gardens cost only £2–£3 / $2.50–$4 to enter.
You can even join free walking tours led by friendly locals.
5. Enjoy Free Attractions
So many of Japan’s best experiences are free or very cheap.
In Tokyo, stroll through Asakusa and visit Senso-ji Temple, or enjoy the free skyline view from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
In Kyoto, the Philosopher’s Path and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove are both beautiful and free.
In Osaka, take a night walk through Dotonbori and watch the lights reflect in the canal.
Most temples and gardens cost only £2–£3 / $2.50–$4 to enter.
You can even join free walking tours led by friendly locals.
6. Shop Smart
Souvenirs don’t need to be expensive. Visit Don Quijote, Japan’s discount megastore, or Daiso, where most items cost about £1 / $1.25.
For clothes, check out Uniqlo or GU for affordable Japanese style.
And remember to show your passport for tax-free shopping to save 10%.
7. Shop Smart
Japan is full of little things that make travel easy and cheap.
Tap water is clean and safe, so bring a refillable bottle.
Every station has lockers for storing bags.
100-yen shops have everything from phone chargers to umbrellas for under a pound.
Public toilets are free, spotless, and everywhere.
It’s a country that quietly makes life easier for travellers.
8.One Week in Japan: What It Really Costs
Here’s a quick look at what a comfortable seven-day trip to Japan might cost:
- ✈️ Flights (UK return): £650 / $810 — book early for the best price
- 🚄 Transport: £200 / $250 — JR Pass or local trains
- 🏨 Accommodation: £180–£240 / $225–$300 — budget hotels or capsules
- 🍜 Food & drink: £120–£160 / $150–$200 — plenty of great cheap eats
- 🎟️ Attractions: £30–£60 / $38–$75 — temples and museums
- 🛍️ Shopping & extras: £80 / $100 — souvenirs, Wi-Fi, coffee
Total: about £1,260–£1,500 ($1,580–$1,880)
If you travel light, eat local, and skip a few extras, you can do it for around £900 / $1,130.
Japan doesn’t have to be expensive to be amazing.
You’ll find the magic in small things, a warm bowl of ramen, the quiet of a temple garden, or the sound of a train rushing past Mount Fuji.
Travel smart, stay curious, and say konnichiwa to adventure.
What you’ll bring home isn’t just photos, but memories that last much longer than your budget.
WanderPath Travel 