Choosing a budget for traveling to Japan
- Published on : 11/11/2025
- by : Phoebe
- Youtube
Travelling in Japan
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Plane tickets, hotels, restaurants... Japan has a reputation for being an expensive destination. However, with a few tips and by adapting your choices to your budget, exploring the archipelago can turn out to be more affordable than you might imagine. Here's Japan Experience's advice on how to plan your trip to Japan with peace of mind.
Choosing your flight
The price of a flight from France to Japan varies greatly according to your preferences (direct or stopover flights, dates, etc.). Before booking your flight, here are a few useful pointers:
- Direct flight London - Japan : allow 13 to 14 hours for a direct flight, with one or two meals on board. The average price of a direct flight is 1,200 EUR / pers. in regular season.
- Stopover London - Japan : allow 16 to 20 hours flight time with transit and waiting time. The average price of a flight with stopover is around 800 EUR / pers. in regular season.
- Discount flights London - Japan: expect evening or early morning flights, as well as long waiting times in transit (from 4 to 8 hours, or even more!). On the other hand, the price will be attractive, around 600 EUR / pers. in regular season.
JAL
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Our expert advice
- Fly mid-week
- Choose low-cost Chinese carriers with connections to France, such as China Eastern's Shanghai-Marseille, or Gulf carriers with connections to major French cities like Nice or Lyon.
- Travel in the low season (January-February, excluding New Year and late May-June). January and February account for only 5% of our departures, while 20% of our customers leave in October. The end of August is also worth considering if you don't mind the heat.
Accommodation
There are several types of accommodation in Japan.
Renting a house
Ideal for families or travelers seeking autonomy, renting a house or apartment allows you to experience total Japanese immersion. A solution that's both economical and comfortable, Japan Experience offers it for as little as 60 euros a night in several Japanese cities.
Hotels
Hotels offer a wide range of accommodation in major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka but more limited in the countryside.
- Standard hotel: from 8,000 yen per night
- Superior hotel: between 15,000 and 30,000 yen per night
- Luxury hotel: over 60,000 yen per night
Ryokan
The traditional inns with their tatami and futon rooms are an experience not to be missed on a trip to Japan. We love their traditional kaiseki meals and onsen (sometimes private). Expect to pay between 20,000 and 30,000 yen per person (including meals).
A ryokan in Japan
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Minshuku
These B&Bs will immerse you in a friendly atmosphere. Mainly found in the countryside, they are a great way to save money while enjoying the charm of typical Japanese accommodation. They cost between 6,500 and 8,500 yen per person, half-board.
Guesthouses
Perfect for those on a budget or looking to meet new people, guesthouses are a great way to save a few yen. Communal areas are shared, and there are (generally) two room options: dormitory with bunk beds or single room. From 3,500 yen per night in small towns.
The capsule hotel
If you're traveling alone and you're not claustrophobic, the capsule hotel is an unusual option for a low-cost stay in Japan. Numerous services are included (shared bathroom, dining room, sometimes spa and library), from just 2,000 yen a night.
Capsule
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Good to know: for our tour customers, Japan Experience can send your luggage to your next destination!
Discover our houses for rent all over Japan!
Getting around
By bus, train or rental car getting around Japan is child's play!
The JR Pass and regional passes
Ideal for getting around the archipelago, the JR Pass allows you to travel freely on the entire JR network. Despite a post-covid price hike, it's still a great way to save money if you're planning to visit several regions of the country.
Alternatively, regional passes allow you to take full advantage of a region at a lower cost. Think about it!
Want to explore the archipelago? Consider the JR Pass and regional passes!
Train tickets
With the depreciation of the yen buying train tickets is an interesting choice for those who prefer to concentrate on just a few cities during their trip to Japan.
Rental cars
Little affected by inflation, car rental remains the best way to explore Japan's isolated regions (mountains, countryside, etc.) without breaking the bank.
Domestic flights
Sometimes more cost-effective than train travel if booked in advance, domestic flights operated by low-cost airlines such as Peach or JetStar enable you to link very distant cities at lower cost.
Food and drink
Contrary to popular belief, eating in Japan often costs half as much as in Europe. Here's how to enjoy Japanese gastronomy on a budget:
Low budget
- Japanese fast food: chains such as Sukiya, Yoshinoya and Matsuya offer Japanese dishes such as curries and katsudon (breaded meat) for less than 1,000 yen per person.
- Kaiten-zushi: these rotating sushi dishes allow you to eat a lot for less. From 100 yen a plate.
Kaiten Zushi
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Standard budget
- Teishoku: these traditional meal trays allow you to enjoy a full meal without breaking the bank. We particularly recommend the inexpensive Ootoya and Yayoi.
- Izakaya: perfect for a meal on the run, these traditional bars offer a variety of dishes in a friendly atmosphere.
What to do in Japan
Between traditional gardens (between 300 and 500 yen admission per person), the sento (Japanese public baths) and the curiosity that will lead you to get lost in the streets, there are plenty of inexpensive things to do in Japan!
To enhance your stay, we also offer more than 180 activities to suit all budgets. Our recommendations? The Shinjuku night walk (36 euros per person), our night walk in Kyoto's Gion district district of Kyoto (32 euros per person), or a washi paper a washi paper-making workshop in Tokyo (12 euros per person).
Japan Experience extras
To help you discover Japan easily, we also offer e-sims at ultra-competitive prices: less than 3 euros per day, for a connection anywhere in Japan!
If you have any problems, our team in Japan is available free of charge, 6 days a week.
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Nanzen-ji (Kyoto)
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