When I initially planned our round-the-world trip on a budget of $50 per day, it seemed crazy to add Japan to the itinerary.
But we were so keen to see it that we decided to take the hit to our budget.
And while we went over our $50/day budget by about $10 a person per day, we actually found that Japan doesn’t have to be as expensive as people make it appear.
Here’s how we saved, and how you can, too.
1. Discounted sushi
I love sushi. The problem was, everything I’d read about Japan said that sushi would be expensive. Like, hella expensive. On my $50 a day budget, I didn’t know how much sushi I’d actually be eating.
But, after thorough research and a month gorging myself in Japan, I discovered how to get cheap sushi in Tokyo, and wanted to share my findings with fellow sushi lovers (that’s you!).
The three magical ways I saved on my sushi budget: buying discounted (but quality) sushi from supermarkets late in the day, having stand-up sushi meals for lunch, and gorging myself on conveyor belt sushi.
I’ve written an entire post that goes into detail on each of those so that, like me, you don’t have to skimp on the sushi!
2. Eat out for lunch
Us thoroughly enjoying shabu shabu hot pot in Tokyo.
By having your biggest meal of the day over the noon hour, you can pay lunch prices but eat dinner portions. Lots of restaurants run set meal deals for lunch, saving you tons.
For dinner, we’d pop into a supermarket (see the next point) and grab some discounted sushi or other pre-made sandwiches or meals for dinner.
3. Shop at supermarkets
In Japan’s big cities (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, etc.) finding a large supermarket chain will save you loads of money.
Seiyu (owned by Walmart!) was our go-to in Tokyo. In Osaka, it was Life! supermarkets. Japanese food hygiene is insanely good, so you can trust anything you can find in a supermarket, whether that’s sushi or a big ol’ salad.
After 6:30 or 7 p.m. these chains often begin to discount the day’s fresh foods, so if you go for dinner, you’ll get mad deals on delicious food.
4. Get a JR Pass… or don’t!
The Japan Rail (JR) Pass is a travel pass for foreigners only that lets you hop on and hop off Japan’s rail network, and even includes rides on the country’s famous bullet trains.
Here’s the skinny on the JR Pass: Not everyone should get one.
- If you are in Japan for a short period of time and plan to do a lot of travel between cities in a short amount of time, it will be worth it and can save you hundreds of dollars.
- If you are only visiting Tokyo and maybe one or two other day trip destinations or just one other big city, the JR Pass may not actually be worth it for you.
They’re an expensive upfront investment, so make sure you know which category you fall into.
You can buy a JR Pass with a 7-day, 14-day, or 21-day duration. If you decide you do need it, be clever with how you use it.
For example, if you’re going to Japan for 12 days, but are spending the first three in Tokyo, and the last two in Osaka, get the 7-day JR pass because you won’t need it during your time in those cities! Getting the 7-day vs. the 14-day pass will save you $180.
5. Walk when you can
The main street in Asakusa leading to the temple, taken on New Year’s Day.
Wandering the streets is not only a superb way to get a feel for a city, it also saves you loads of cash.
The cheapest metro ride in Tokyo costs 170 yen ($1.50). If you’re in Tokyo for five days and skip taking the metro once per day, assuming you would’ve spent $3.00 on a return trip, you’ll save $15 right there.
It may not sound like a ton, but if you’re on a tight budget, that money can go toward a souvenir or a few hot bowls of ramen!
6. Couchsurf
Accommodation can be the real kicker in Japan, especially for solo travelers. Cue, Couchsurfing!
Couchsurfing connects you to a global community of travelers. These travelers open their homes to other like-minded travelers, usually for free. It’s like Airbnb, but you actually stay with the host and get to know someone local.
The idea is that when you finish traveling, you might consider sharing your home with others. It’s like one, big beautiful network of very generous former or current travelers.
And in case you missed it, it’s free!
While we did end up spending about $60 per day in Japan, we didn’t get the chance to Couchsurf (due to it being the New Year’s holiday) and did splurge on some souvenirs.
You can definitely visit Japan for less than we did, and still experience the culture and food without sacrificing the good stuff.