Japan's reputation as one of the world's most expensive countries is now a decade out of date. The yen has weakened against the dollar, euro, and pound; the country's deflation kept domestic prices flat for 30 years; and the sheer density of competition (especially in food and accommodation) pushed quality up and prices down. A 2-week Japan trip in 2026 costs roughly the same as 2 weeks in Spain or France, sometimes less. Here is what actually breaks down where.
The three tiers (per person, 14 nights, excluding flights)
Backpacker — €1,000–1,400
- Accommodation: Hostel dorms ¥3,000–5,000/night × 14 = ¥42,000–70,000.
- Food: Konbini breakfast, ramen lunch, izakaya dinner = ¥3,000–4,000/day × 14 = ¥42,000–56,000.
- Transport: Highway buses + city Suica = ¥40,000–55,000.
- Attractions: Free temples + cheap entries = ¥10,000–15,000.
- Total: ¥134,000–196,000 (~€790–1,150).
Mid-range — €1,800–2,800
- Accommodation: Business hotels + 1–2 ryokan nights ¥10,000–18,000/night × 14 = ¥140,000–252,000.
- Food: Mix of casual + sit-down + 1–2 nice dinners = ¥6,000/day × 14 = ¥84,000.
- Transport: JR Pass or regional + IC = ¥60,000–80,000.
- Attractions + day trips: ¥25,000–35,000.
- Total: ¥309,000–451,000 (~€1,820–2,650).
Comfortable — €3,500–6,000+
- Accommodation: 4-star hotels + ryokan = ¥25,000–50,000/night × 14 = ¥350,000–700,000.
- Food: Nice restaurants every dinner, kaiseki at ryokan = ¥10,000+/day × 14 = ¥140,000+.
- Transport: Green Car JR Pass + Haruka = ¥80,000–110,000.
- Attractions, private tours, premium experiences: ¥50,000–100,000.
- Total: ¥620,000–1,050,000 (~€3,650–6,180).
Where to splurge, where to skip
- Splurge on: one ryokan kaiseki dinner (¥18,000–35,000), one Michelin lunch (¥6,000–15,000 — cheaper than dinner at the same place), one really good ryokan night with private onsen.
- Skip: the JR Pass if you're only doing Tokyo+Kyoto (calculator on JR Pass page); Tokyo Skytree (free Tocho deck has the same view); breakfast at the hotel (depachika is cheaper and better).
- Free or near-free: Senso-ji, Meiji Jingu, Fushimi Inari, Kenroku-en, most temples in the morning, all parks. Convenience-store food is genuinely good.
The hidden costs
- Travel insurance — €40–80 for two weeks; mandatory.
- eSIM — €10–25 for 14 days unlimited (Airalo, Ubigi).
- Yamato Takkyubin — ¥2,000–2,500 per suitcase per move (worth it for hotel-to-hotel).
- Coin lockers — ¥400–700/day for day trips.
- Tax-free shopping — gives 8–10% back on purchases over ¥5,500 with passport at the till.
For specific money mechanics — IC cards, when to use cash, Visa vs JCB acceptance — see the cash vs. card guide.