Budget: How much does it cost to go to Tokyo Japan?

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How much does it cost for a trip to go to Japan? Is Tokyo or Japan expensive? Maybe not when you compare Tokyo with Singapore, London or New York City. I believe if your Tokyo Japan trip is planned carefully, money can be very well spent. I have dedicated this blog post to the overall planning and budgeting for your first trip to Japan. Compare Tokyo to Manhattan, Paris, or London, the cost of visiting these modern nation cities could easily exceed the amount spent in Tokyo, Japan.

Apple store in Ginza Tokyo

The flight ticket prices in the months of shoulder season have been more stabilized. I have found ticket price around 700 USD (LAX to Tokyo.) Because of the reasonable flight ticket prices and great currency exchange rate (1 USD to 110 Yen), I recommend booking flights and hotels as early as possible.




- To read about my recommendations of affordable, Reasonable, Convenient hotels in Tokyo, visit: Affordable Cheap Reasonable Hotels in Tokyo

- To read about my recommendations of affordable and reasonable hotels in Osaka, visit: Osaka Reasonable Affordable Hotels

- To read about my recommendations of reasonable, affordable, and convenient hotels in Kyoto, visit: Kyoto reasonable, affordable, and convenient Hotels

- To read about how to plan your trip to Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, visit: Planning your trip to Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe in Japan

Flights to Tokyo Japan

Booking a good flight to Japan can save you hundreds of dollars from North America

There are huge price differences on flights between high and low seasons. High season is usually when the weather is warm in North hemisphere, and when many of the travelers are able to use their vacation time. "High season" is usually between the months of June and August, and part of December.  The price for flights are typically much more reasonable during shoulder season and other months. "Shoulder season" is usually in the months of April, May, September, October and November. The price differences could be as much as 50% of the low season airfare.

Round trip ticket prices to Tokyo Japan
Prices are found on popular travel sites (Tripadvisor or Skyscanner) for flights in the the months of shoulder seasons in 2019. The prices are shown in US dollars. The currency exchange rate is approximately 1 USD to 110 Japanese Yen. (prices vary so I suggest readers to search and compare on travel sites directly)

I have listed prices of both direct and connecting flights (mostly only one stop) for many cities; Prices are usually cheaper for flights with one or more stops.

NORTH AMERICA
- Los Angeles: Direct flight ~$ 724 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 567 Round trip
- San Francisco: Direct flight ~$ 906 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 635 Round trip
- San Jose: Direct flight ~$ 939 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 758 Round trip
- San Diego: Direct flight ~$ 756 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 670 Round trip
- New York: Direct flight ~$ 902 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 563 Round trip
- Newark: Direct flight ~$ 937 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 849 Round trip
- Chicago: Direct flight ~$ 1666 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 877 Round trip
- Dallas: Direct flight ~$ 1887 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 1046 Round trip
- Houston: Direct flight ~$ 1977 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 878 Round trip
- Seattle: Direct flight ~$ 1165 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 949 Round trip
- Honolulu: Direct flight ~$ 669 Round trip
- Vancouver: Direct flight ~$ 897 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 653 Round trip
- Toronto: Direct flight ~$ 1126 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 851 Round trip

EUROPE
- London: Direct flight ~$ 1476 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 878 Round trip
- Paris: Direct flight ~$ 1294 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 714 Round trip
- Frankfurt: Direct flight ~$ 1169 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 868 Round trip
- Dusseldorf: Direct flight ~$ 1294 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 932 Round trip
- Munich: Direct flight ~$ 670 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 541 Round trip
- Berlin: Connecting flight ~$ 617 Round trip
- Amsterdam: Direct flight ~$ 734 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 551 Round trip
- Copenhagen: Direct flight ~$ 821 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 602 Round trip  
- Stockholm: Connecting flight ~$ 628 Round trip
- Madrid: Direct flight ~$ 767 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 491 Round trip
- Rome: Direct flight ~$ 842 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 511 Round trip
- Zurich: Direct flight ~$ 828 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 503 Round trip  
- Geneva: Connecting flight ~$ 629 Round trip
- Dublin: Connecting flight ~$ 562 Round trip

ASIA, AUSTRALIA
- Singapore: Direct flight ~$ 504 Round trip
- Kuala Lumpur: Direct flight ~$ 321 Round trip
- Manila: Direct flight ~$ 239 Round trip 
- Jakarta: Direct flight ~$ 487 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 301 Round trip
- Hong Kong: Direct flight ~$ 164 Round trip
- Bangkok: Direct flight ~$ 365 Round trip
- Taipei: Direct flight ~$ 216 Round trip
- Seoul: Direct flight ~$ 183 Round trip
- Ho Chih Minh City: Direct flight ~$ 657 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 317 Round trip
- Sydney: Direct flight ~$ 793 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 506 Round trip
- Melbourne: Direct flight ~$ 840 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 395 Round trip
- Auckland: Direct flight ~$ 849 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 630 Round trip

SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA, OTHER AREAS
- Mexico City: Direct flight ~$ 987 Round trip
- Sao Paulo: Connecting flight ~$ 877 Round trip
- Rio de Janeiro: Connecting flight ~$ 1070 Round trip
- Buenos Aires: Connecting flight ~$ 1178 Round trip
- Cape Town: Connecting flight ~$ 690 Round trip
- Dubai: Direct flight ~$ 933 Round trip
connecting flight ~$ 696 Round trip
- Riyadh: Connecting flight ~$ 781 Round trip

Tokyo Hotel Cost

Park Hyatt Hotel, Tokyo.

The cost of hotel is likely to be the biggest variable of the cost for the trip. The cost of accommodation mainly depends on size and location. The bigger the room and the more convenient the location will put the hotel at a higher price. Shared bathroom and dormitory type of accommodations have been popular among budget travelers in the recent years. The specific cost of most of the accommodations are based on the number of occupants, and it is considered illegal to have more occupants than what is stated under the hotel reservation.

Hostel: Similar to youth hostel throughout the world. Dormitory style type of accommodation, where travelers share the same room space, bathroom/shower, and living room area. It is very popular among budget backpackers. Costs around 20 to 50 dollars per night/person.

Capsule Hotel: Small "coffin" size hotel, creation of Japan, costs about 30 to 50 dollars per night/ person in Tokyo.

Budget Hotel: Very small size hotel, perhaps 25% of the size of a typical hotel room in North America. It is one of my favorite type of accommodation in Japan with very good cost/performance ratio. Costs round 60 to 100 dollars per night/person in Tokyo.

Standard Hotel: Perhaps 50% of the size of a room at Holiday Inn in the US. Typically ranges from $120 to $280 per night per room.

Luxury Hotel: Hotels similar to Tokyo Park Hyatt Bill Murray stayed at in the movie "Lost in Translation." There are plenty of options for luxurious hotel in the most expensive city of the world. They typically range from $400 to $700 per night per room.





Tokyo Transportation Cost

Yamanote Train Line, Tokyo.

The cost of transportation for your trip in Tokyo could be kept under control if the expensive taxi is avoided and no side trips to other parts of Japan is carried out. If you are planning to visit Kyoto/Osaka/Kobe or Fukuoka, I would recommend using Japan Rail Pass.

Train: Above ground, with Yamanote loop line to be the most convenient train route, it is one of the most popular form of transportation in Tokyo. Most of the train rides within the city cost around $2 to $5 per ride depending on the distances to destinations.

Metro Train/Subway: Underground. It is perhaps the most established subway system in the world. Tickets cost from $2 to $5.

Bullet Train: Also known as Shinkansen. There is no need to ride the bullet unless you want to include Osaka/Kyoto/Hokkaido/Fukuoka in your trip. One-way ticket from Tokyo area to Osaka costs around $125. I recommend buying All-You-Can-Ride Japan Rail Pass if your trip itinerary includes areas outside of the Tokyo area.

Taxi: I do not recommend taking the taxi from Narita airport to the city center. It probably will cost $200 to $450 per ride. I supposed that it is good to ride the taxi when you are uncertain on how to find certain restaurants or hotels. I recommend taking the taxi only when the public transportation is not available after public transportation stops running at midnight.

Bus: I would only recommend taking the bus from Narita airport or Haneda airport to the city or when taking the city tour bus. Regular city bus routes might be too complicated for first time travelers to Tokyo. Airport bus costs around $30, city tour bus costs about 30 to 50 dollars.

Walking: Free, perhaps the best method to get around in Tokyo. It allows you to experience the city like a Tokyoite.







Food Prices in Tokyo Japan

Santouka Ramen, Tokyo/Shinjuku location.

The cost of food is another big variable of cost for the trip. Sushi can go from as cheap as $15 (10 plates at revolving Sushi bar) US dollars to 300 dollars per meal, depending on the type of restaurant you visit. They typically range from $20 to $40 per lunch/dinner set. McDonald's meals costs around  $7 to $10. Ramen is about $7 to $12 per bowl. Yoshinoya Beef bowl goes from $3 to $6. Curry rice (Japanese style) typically go from $5 to $12. Many of the restaurants have plastic model food display or pictures on the menu with prices shown, so you do not have to worry about ordering the wrong dish. Alcoholic drinks can costs from $2 (convenience store) to $12 (typical bar/club) In my opinion, ancient traditions and culture might be able to bring travelers to Japan for their very first time, but food and contemporary/pop culture will likely bring travelers back for their subsequent trips to Japan. 





Sightseeing Cost in Tokyo Japan

Mori Tower, Tokyo City View, Roppongi.

Entrance fee to shrines costs from $3 to $8. Ticket to Tokyo Disneyland costs about 60 dollars and Sanrio Puroland costs around 40 dollars. Tokyo City View observatory deck costs about $14 dollars.







How much does it cost to go to Japan???
Total Cost for your trip to Japan:

For a reasonable SOLO 7-day trip to Tokyo Japan, the total cost will be around $1884 to $2084 USD when you travel from Los Angeles in shoulder seasons in 2019.

Break down:
- Round trip flight from Los Angeles
$724
- Reasonable Accommodation: around $80 per person x 7 nights
$560 
- Total daily expense/spending money ($70-$100 per day x 7 days for food, sightseeing, and land transportation; assuming that you will be spending less than $20 per meal and spending less than 40 dollars per day on transportation and sightseeing)
$500 to $700 
- Souvenir shopping
$100



For a reasonable TWO-ADULT 7-day trip to Tokyo Japan, the total cost for two will be around $3248 to $4448 USD when you travel from Los Angeles in shoulder seasons in 2019.

Break down:

- Round trip flight from Los Angeles ~ $724 X 2 people = $1448
$1448
- Reasonable Accommodation: around $100 to $200 per hotel room for two people x 7 nights
$700 to $1400 
- Total daily expense/spending money per person ($70-$100 per day x 7 days for food, sightseeing, and land transportation; Assuming each of you will be spending less than $20 per meal and spending less than 40 dollars per day on transportation and sightseeing)
$1000 to $1400 ($500 to $700 per person)

- Souvenir shopping
$100 to $200 

How much are you planning to spend on your trip to Japan?