How Expensive is Japan Really? My 2 Weeks Travel Cost Breakdown
Introduction
Hi there, I’m Robi and this is Wander Frame. Let’s talk about the real cost of a two-week trip to Japan!
If you’re planning your own adventure, this breakdown will give you a realistic idea of what you might spend—and where you can save a bit if you want.
Flights & Accommodation
Let’s get the big stuff out of the way first: flights and hotels.
Flights: We didn’t get the best deal — should’ve researched more or picked different dates, but hey, life happens. We paid 1300 euros per person for Bucharest-Tokyo (with a 4.5-hour layover in Doha, both ways).
Tokyo (Ginza): 3 nights at The B Ginza hotel – 450 euros
Yamanouchi: 1 night at a ryokan (onsen + dinner included) – 125 euros
Kyoto: 4 nights at The OneFie Kyoto Shijo – 250 euros
Osaka (Shinsekai): 4 nights at Hotel Wing International Premium – 525 euros
Tokyo (Shinjuku): 1 night at Sotetsu Fresa Inn Higashi Shinjuku – 150 euros
Total for flights + accommodation: ~4100 euros / 2 pers
Food & Dining Costs
Food in Japan is a whole adventure by itself. Here’s how it added up for us:
Breakfast: 7-Eleven, Family Mart, or any conbini nearby. 3–6 euros per person, per day.
Lunch: Restaurant meals ranged from 5–30 euros per person. We averaged around 15 euros per meal — didn’t really hunt for the cheapest spots, just went for what looked tasty.
Universal Studios splurge: Add about 50 euros for burgers and snacks.
Dinner: Restaurant or conbini again, about 10 euros per person per day.
Desserts & snacks: Another 5 euros per person per day.
Total food cost: ~490 euros per person for the whole trip.
But honestly, you could do it for as low as 250 euros, or splurge up to 750 euros if you want to eat fancier every day.
Transportation Costs
Getting around Japan is super easy, but it does add up:
Local trains, buses, subways: 0.5–2.5 euros per trip. We spent about 50 euros total on these.
Interregional trains/Shinkansen: About 20 euros per trip for short hops (we did 6), plus 4 bullet train trips (~300 euros).
Regional Kansai-Hiroshima JR Pass: 100 euros.
Total transportation cost: 400–500 euros.
Activities & Sightseeing
This is where your own itinerary can make a huge difference, but here’s what we spent:
Temples & shrines: 4 with entry fees, 4 free. About 5 euros total.
Osaka Castle: 5 euros
Museums, Aquarium, Fuji TV, Umeda Sky: 3–6 euros each, about 25 euros total.
TeamLab Borderless: 25 euros
TeamLab Planets: 25 euros
Osaka EXPO 2025: 50 euros
Universal Studios: 60 euros
Other small fees: About 50 euros
Total for activities: ~260 euros
Miscellaneous & Unexpected Expenses
This is where the little things (and the fun stuff) sneak up on you:
Souvenirs:
6 anime figurines – 100 euros
Chopsticks, pins, magnets, keychains – 100 euros
2 pairs of fancy chopsticks – 25 euros
2 umbrellas – 25 euros
Sweets – 25 euros
Universal Studios Merch (Mario hat, bracelet) – 55 euros
Harry Potter’s wand – 40 euros
5 T-shirts + 1 pair of shorts – 60 euros
Other small stuff – 50 euros
Portable WiFi router (unlimited): 40 euros
Luggage forwarding (so worth it!): 20 euros per transfer, 3 times = 60 euros / person
Total for souvenirs & extras: ~660 euros
Drinks & “Hidden” Costs
Beverages: We tried sake, beer, and more almost every day. Convenience store beer: 1–2 euros. Restaurant beer: 5–10 euros (most expensive was 15 euros!). Easily add another 100 euros / person here.
Agency & Guides
We booked through “Japan by Myself,” who arranged our itinerary, tickets, passes, hotels, and two days with guides (300 euros per day, so 600 euros total). The agency fee is included in our final cost.
Grand Total & Budget Breakdown
Our trip (without agency/guides): ~7500 euros (for 2 people)
With agency & guides: ~9000 euros (for 2 people)
Here’s a simple breakdown for different budgets:
| Type of Traveller | Estimated Cost (per person) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | 2500–3000 euros | |||
| Mid-range (us) | 3000–4000 euros | |||
| With agency/guides | 4000-5000 euros |
Final Thoughts & Tips
You can definitely do Japan for less if you want to — skip the agency, eat more at conbinis, and limit the shopping.
If you want more comfort, less stress, and some cool guided days, paying a bit more is totally worth it.
Luggage forwarding is a game changer.
Plan for souvenirs and leave space in your suitcase!
If you have any questions, want to share your own Japan travel costs, or have tips for saving money, drop a comment below!
Thanks for reading!
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