Last reviewed: · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.
These are rough planning ranges based on typical prices, not quotes. Costs vary by city, season and exchange rate. Use our budget calculator to model your own trip.
Accommodation
- Hostel dorm / capsule hotel: often a few thousand yen per person per night.
- Business hotel (double room): commonly around ¥8,000–¥20,000 per room; much more during peak seasons and in Kyoto/Tokyo centres.
- Mid-range or boutique hotel: roughly ¥15,000–¥35,000 per room.
- Ryokan with dinner and breakfast: varies widely, often from around ¥15,000 to well over ¥50,000 per person.
- Luxury hotel: commonly ¥60,000+ per room.
Most cities add a small local accommodation tax per person per night.
Food
- Convenience store breakfast: a few hundred yen.
- Casual lunch (ramen, udon, curry, set meals): roughly ¥800–¥1,500.
- Izakaya dinner with drinks: roughly ¥3,000–¥6,000 per person.
- High-end sushi or kaiseki: from ¥15,000 to ¥40,000+.
Transport
- City trains and subways: typical short rides cost a couple of hundred yen; a busy sightseeing day might total ¥800–¥1,500.
- Shinkansen: Tokyo to Kyoto one way is roughly ¥14,000 for a reserved seat.
- Long-distance buses and domestic budget airlines can be much cheaper than trains for long distances.
Sightseeing
Many temples charge a few hundred yen; museums roughly ¥500–¥2,000; observation decks and theme attractions ¥2,000–¥4,000; theme parks considerably more. Parks, shrines and many neighbourhoods are free.
Sample daily totals (per person, excluding flights)
| Style | Approx. range | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ¥8,000–¥14,000 | Hostels, convenience stores and casual meals, local trains, mostly free sights |
| Mid-range | ¥18,000–¥35,000 | Business hotels (shared room cost), sit-down meals, some paid attractions |
| Luxury | ¥50,000+ | Upscale hotels and ryokan, fine dining, private tours and taxis |
Ways to save
- Lunch sets (teishoku) are often far cheaper than dinner at the same restaurant.
- Supermarkets discount bento and sushi in the evening.
- Travel outside cherry blossom, Golden Week, Obon and New Year.
- Choose regional rail passes or night buses.
- Base yourself in Osaka rather than Kyoto for cheaper hotels.
Official sources & further reading
Rules, prices and schedules change. Confirm details here before you travel: