How Much Does Japan Cost
10-day budget for Tokyo and Kyoto
💰 Budget Traveler
| Item | Per Day | 10 Days |
|---|
| Hostel | ¥3,000-5,000 | ¥30,000-50,000 |
| Food | ¥2,000-3,500 | ¥20,000-35,000 |
| Transport | ¥1,000-1,500 | ¥10,000-15,000 |
| Attractions | ¥1,000-2,000 | ¥10,000-20,000 |
| TOTAL | ¥7,000-12,000 | ¥70,000-120,000 |
USD (¥1=$0.0067): $470-800 | Per day: $47-80
BRL (¥1=R$0.035): R$ 2,450-4,200 | Per day: R$ 245-420
💎 Mid-Range
| Item | Per Day | 10 Days |
|---|
| Business Hotel | ¥8,000-15,000 | ¥80,000-150,000 |
| Food | ¥4,000-7,000 | ¥40,000-70,000 |
| Transport | ¥2,000-3,000 | ¥20,000-30,000 |
| Attractions | ¥2,000-4,000 | ¥20,000-40,000 |
| TOTAL | ¥16,000-29,000 | ¥160,000-290,000 |
USD: $1,072-1,943 | Per day: $107-194
BRL: R$ 5,600-10,150 | Per day: R$ 560-1,015
💡 Money-Saving Tips
- Convenience store meals: ¥300-600 (surprisingly high quality!)
- Ramen shops: ¥800-1,200 complete filling meal
- Sushi conveyor belt: ¥100-300 per plate (budget sushi!)
- JR Pass 7 days: ¥29,650 worth it for Tokyo-Kyoto round trip (saves ¥10,000)
- Free temples/shrines: Most are FREE! (Meiji Shrine, Sensoji, Fushimi Inari)
- NO TIPPING: Never tip - already included + considered rude
- Vending machine drinks: ¥120-150 vs ¥300+ at cafes
📍 Regional Costs
- Tokyo: Expensive - ¥8,000-15,000/day budget
- Kyoto: Moderate - ¥7,000-12,000/day
- Osaka: More affordable - ¥6,000-10,000/day (best food value!)
- Rural areas: Cheaper - ¥5,000-8,000/day
- Mount Fuji area: Moderate - ¥7,000-11,000/day
🎫 JR Pass - Worth It?
- 7-day Pass: ¥29,650 ($200)
- Break-even: Tokyo-Kyoto round trip = ¥26,640
- Verdict: YES if doing Tokyo-Kyoto. NO if staying one city
- Coverage: ALL JR trains including Shinkansen (except Nozomi/Mizuho)
- Buy before arriving: Must purchase outside Japan (slightly cheaper)