2.5 Weeks in Japan Trip Cost: How Much We Spent for 18 Days

Japan had been at the top of my travel bucket list for years, so when we finally booked our 18-day trip, I wanted to make sure we made the most of it!

We didn’t travel on a super tight budget, but we also didn’t splurge on luxury hotels, fancy dinners, or guided tours.

Instead, we found a comfortable middle ground that let us see a lot, eat well, and stay in nice hotels while still keeping our Japan trip cost within our budget.

In this post, I’m breaking down exactly how much money (USD) we spent for 18 days in Japan for two people, including flights, bullet trains, local transportation, food, coffee, shopping, accommodations, travel insurance, phone plans, laundry, and more. 

If you’re planning your own trip to Japan and trying to figure out how much you might spend, I hope this gives you a realistic starting point to help you budget your own trip.

Quick Japan Trip Overview

• Trip Length: 18 days (2.5 weeks)
• Trip Dates: Late May through the middle of June
• # of Travelers: 2 adults (my husband & I)
• Travel Style: Mid-range. We used points for hotels, paid extra for upgraded seats on our long-haul flights, mostly ate at local restaurants, only used public transportation, and did a few activities and some shopping.
• Where We Went: Tokyo (6 nights) → Kyoto (3 nights) → Osaka (3 nights) → Koyasan (1 night) → Hiroshima (3 nights) → Tokyo (1 night)

2.5 Week Japan Trip Cost Breakdown (in USD)

Here’s a full breakdown of our 18-day Japan trip cost for two people:

Type of Expense	Total Cost for 2 People
Flights to Japan (paid more for Premium Economy seats on the long-haul portions)	$3,153.18
Accommodations (6 nights paid, 12 nights on credit card points)	$751.41
Shinkansen Bullet Trains (3 train rides)	$624.52
Public Transit (Buses, subways, and local trains within cities)	$272.39
Food (Restaurants & Food Stalls)	$824.55
Convenience Store Runs (Food & Drinks)	$140.74
Coffee Shops	$122.76
Shopping & Souvenirs	$253.30
Activities	$201.77
Phone Plans	$226.28
Travel Insurance	$163.00
ATM Withdrawals (Cash for local spending – mostly spent on food)	$145.81
Laundry (2 loads)	$18.13

💰 Total for 2 people: $6,897.84

💵 Cost per person: $3,448.92

📆 Cost per Day per Person: $191.61

Now let’s break down these costs in detail so you can see exactly where the money went and what to expect for your own trip to Japan.

Flights to Japan: $3,153.18

Flights were by far our biggest single expense, and this will most likely be the same for anyone taking a long-haul flight to Japan.

We flew roundtrip from Indianapolis (IND) → Tokyo (HND) on United, with a layover in San Francisco on the way there and Chicago on the way back.

We decided to pay extra for Economy Plus seats on the long-haul flight going to and from Japan. For a 12+ hour flight, the extra legroom space was worth the money to us due to the additional comfort it provided us.

It cost us an extra $217.99 per person on the way there and $229.99 per person on the way back.

If we did not make those upgrades, our total flight cost would have been $2,257.22, so Economy Plus added about $900 total. For us, it was worth it for the long haul, but if you’re trying to save money, regular economy seats also work just fine!

💡 Tip: We booked our flights using Google Flights. It is my favorite tool for searching flexible dates, comparing airlines, and tracking price drops. I also use Daily Drop and Going (their free versions) for deal alerts on flights and credit card point redemptions, which I highly recommend.

When to Book: I recommend booking international flights to Japan about 3-6 months in advance for the best deals and so that you can start booking your accommodations.

Accommodations: $751.41 (Plus 142,000 Credit Card Points)

The reason our total hotel cost is so low for a 2.5 week trip is because we used credit card points for 12 of our 18 nights, which probably saved us over $2,000.

We use the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card for our everyday spending and had saved up points for about two years. We ended up transferring most of those points to Hyatt (which transfers 1:1) and used them to book our hotels in Japan.

Here are the hotels we stayed at using credit card points:

• Hyatt Regency Tokyo: 7 nights (105,000 points) – We loved this hotel so much! It was recently renovated, super clean, and spacious. The rooms were comfortable, the gym was the biggest I’ve ever seen at a hotel, and there is a 7-Eleven right downstairs – super convenient!
• Hyatt Place Kyoto: 2 nights (17,500 points) – Another great stay! Super clean, comfortable beds, and in a good location.
• Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka: 3 nights (19,500 points) – This hotel had a fun, retro vibe that fit Osaka perfectly. The lobby restaurant had good food and coffee as well!

For the other nights, we paid cash – totaling $751.41 for 5 nights:

• Luck You Kyoto: $150.54 for one night – A traditional-style ryokan. Worth trying for the experience (and the super friendly service and free breakfast!) but personally, I didn’t love sleeping on the floor and the smaller bathroom. I am definitely more of a hotel person!
• Ekoin Temple in Koyasan: $323.72 for one night – This Buddhist temple stay in Koyasan was a highlight of our trip! It included dinner, breakfast, an afternoon meditation session led by a monk, and a morning prayer & fire ritual. You can read more about my experience here!
• The Knot Hiroshima: $277.15 for 3 nights – Budget-friendly and comfortable enough but a bit dated. The carpets and walls could use an update, so I probably wouldn’t stay here again, but it worked for our budget and the bathroom and bed were clean!

💡 Tip: Most hotels in Japan are generally clean and offer great value for the price. Even budget hotels often feel nicer than comparably priced hotels in the United States. If you’re paying entirely with cash, you can find nice double rooms for around $70-$150 a night, especially if you book early. I recommend checking out Sotetsu Fresa Inn hotels in Japan because they have good reviews and are affordable. Just keep in mind the rooms are quite small which is typical in Japan.

Transportation in Japan: $896.91

🚅 Shinkansen Bullet Trains: $624.52

🚇 Public Transit (Subway, Local Trains, & Buses): $272.39

Getting around Japan is pretty easy once you get the hang of it, and honestly, navigating the trains and buses is part of the fun of exploring!

Japan’s public transit is super clean, efficient, and surprisingly easy to figure out after a few rides.

🚇 Public Transit Etiquette

• If the train is crowded, offer your seat to someone who might need it more than you.
• Wear your backpack on your front so you don’t accidentally bump into people.
• Don’t talk on the phone.
• Keep your voice down when talking. Most people stay quiet or speak very softly while on the trains.

📱 Use Google Maps for Directions

Before your trip, be sure to download Google Maps for public transit directions. I don’t recommend using Apple Maps in Japan since it’s not as accurate regarding public transit.

However, Apple Maps works fine for walking directions.

Google Maps is very accurate for train and bus directions. It shows you exactly which station to go to, which platform number to be at, what train line to take, and when the next train leaves. 

It made navigating public transit in Japan so easy for us!

🚉 Paying for Public Transit

For local trains, subways, and buses (everything except the Shinkansen bullet trains), you’ll want to have a Suica Card or a similar IC card (like Pasmo).

If you have an iPhone, I highly recommend setting up a Suica Card in your Apple Wallet before your trip. It’s super easy:

• Open your Apple Wallet
• Tap the + in the top right
• Select Transit Card (the green bus icon)
• Search for Suica and add it (it’s the green-and-white card with a penguin)
  

Once it’s added, you can load money onto it using a credit card already in your Wallet. The minimum load is 1,000 yen (about $6-$7 USD).

To use it, you will just tap your phone when you enter and exit stations or buses. Super easy!

No need to carry a physical card or line up at the ticket machines to reload. You can add more money to your card in seconds right in the Wallet app whenever you need to.

If you don’t have an iPhone, you’ll need to get a physical Suica card when you arrive in Japan. That works too, but I definitely found the digital version way more convenient!

💡 Tip: If you have leftover money on your Suica Card at the end of your trip, you can also use it at 7-Eleven, vending machines, and many other stores to use up your balance.

🚌 Local Transit Tips

We relied 100% on public transit inside each city and never took a taxi or Uber. 

• Tokyo: Mostly underground subways.
• Kyoto: Lots of buses in addition to trains.
• Osaka: We barely used transit here since many places were walkable but used the subway when needed.
• Hiroshima: Mostly buses and streetcars.
• Miyajima Island: To get there, we took a ferry from Hiroshima. The Suica Card worked for the ferry too, which was super convenient!

We typically used public transit at least twice a day, sometimes more or less depending on what we were doing. If something was under 1.5 miles, we would walk there, but if over that, we would use public transit.

If you don’t visit Koyasan (which involves extra trains and a cable car), your overall transportation costs will likely be about $30 per person lower than ours.

Bottom line: Japan’s public transit is clean, on time, and easy to use once you get the hang of it and having a Suica Card on your iPhone makes it even simpler.

🚅 Using the Shinkansen Bullet Trains

The Shinkansen is the best and most convenient way to travel between cities over longer distances in Japan.

The trains are fast, comfortable, and truly part of the quintessential Japan experience!

For our trip, we took the Shinkansen on these routes:

• Tokyo → Kyoto
• Osaka → Hiroshima
• Hiroshima → Tokyo

In total, those bullet trains cost $624.52 for two people. These were for reserved seats in the normal cars, not first-class.

We always bought our Shinkansen tickets in person at the station for the next available train and never had any trouble getting reserved seats together. I recommend doing this instead of booking online. It’s very straightforward and less stressful if plans change.

💡 Tip:  If you’re departing from Tokyo, you’ll use Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station. Both are fine, but Shinagawa is a little smaller and easier to navigate. I would just go to the one that is closer to you.

Depending on your itinerary, a Japan Rail Pass might be worth considering. However, if you’re not traveling constantly between cities, buying individual tickets is often cheaper.

To help decide what is the best option for you, you can use this online calculator where you enter your travel route to compare the total cost of individual tickets vs. the Japan Rail Pass. In most cases, due to the recent price increase, buying tickets individually will save you money.

For our 18-day trip, our travel route took us from Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka → Koyasan → Hiroshima → Tokyo, and it was less expensive to purchase tickets individually vs. buying the Japan Rail Pass.

Food & Drinks ($1,088.05)

🍽️ Restaurants & Food Stalls: $824.55

🏪 Convenience Stores: $140.74

☕ Coffee: $122.76

Food in Japan was honestly one of the best parts of the trip, and it was surprisingly affordable!

Most mornings, we grabbed breakfast at convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Family Mart or Lawsons. I would usually get the teriyaki chicken and egg sandwich and tuna onigiri from 7-Eleven, and it was so good! I miss it daily 😢.

Most days, we went to lunch and dinner at ramen shops, gyoza restaurants, and conveyor belt sushi spots.

I would say on average our meal for two people would range from $20 to $25, sometimes even closer to $15.

Our fanciest and most expensive meal was at Wagyu Idaten in Osaka, and it still only cost $48 for two people. It was delicious melt-in-your mouth wagyu beef, and I highly recommend it!

We stopped for coffee almost daily (sometimes twice!) at local coffee shops, chains like Tully’s, and at 7-Eleven which has surprisingly good iced lattes.

💡 Tip: Japan has fewer breakfast spots than you might expect and many spots don’t open until 9 or 10 am. Convenience stores save you money and time if you’re heading out early.

Shopping & Souvenirs: $253.30

We didn’t do a lot of shopping. We just purchased a few clothes, Pokémon cards (my husband is a huge Pokémon fan), and small souvenirs. I got the cutest wooden postcard at a shop in the Haneda Airport!

Lots of people bring an empty suitcase or buy one while in Japan to bring back snacks, gifts, and electronics, so plan for extra space if shopping is a priority for you.

💡 Tip: Many stores in Japan offer tax-free shopping for tourists when you spend about 5,000 yen, which is around $34 USD. Be sure to bring your passport to claim the discount.

Activities: $201.77

One of the best things about visiting Japan is that most of the popular sights and experiences are free or very affordable.

Many of the highlights, like temples, shrines, and gardens do not cost anything to enter or require a small cash fee of about 500 to 1,000 yen per person.

Here are the paid activities we did during our trip:

• Miyajima Ropeway ($15.28 one-way): This cable car takes you up and down Mount Misen on Miyajima Island, offering beautiful views of Hiroshima Bay. We hiked to the top of Mount Misen using the Daisho-in Trail and rode the ropeway back down.
• Tokyo Yakult Swallows Baseball Game ($116): If you’re visiting during baseball season, catching a game is a great way to experience Japan’s unique baseball culture. The fans are lively, energetic, and always chanting and cheering together, which makes the atmosphere really fun. We got our tickets for a Yakult Swallows game directly through their website, and the outdoor stadium was a great place to watch the game. You can get significantly cheaper tickets than the ones we got as well.
• Okunoin Cemetery Night Tour in Koyasan ($67.70): We joined a guided night walk through Japan’s largest cemetery in Koyasan. It was peaceful, interesting, and ended up being one of my favorite memories. If you’re also visiting Koyasan, you can book the guided cemetery tour here.
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum ($2.79): This museum gives powerful insight into Hiroshima’s history. Tickets for both of us were under $3 (USD), and it is a must-visit if you’re spending time in Hiroshima.

A couple other popular activities in Japan you might want to add to your list are:

• teamLab Planets Tokyo: A digital art museum where you walk through rooms filled with lights, mirrors, and water. It’s truly immersive and a super popular activity to do while in Japan. I recommend booking tickets in advance, which you can do through Get Your Guide.
• Shibuya Sky: An open-air observation deck high above Shibuya Crossing with panoramic views of the city. Try to go around sunset for the best views. You can book tickets here.

Phone Plans: $226.28

Staying connected in Japan is important for using Google Maps, making calls, and keeping in touch while you’re exploring. 

There are a few ways to do it, and we chose what was probably the most expensive option which was paying for an international plan with our regular phone providers.

I have Verizon and set up a one-time international pass at a local store before we left. It lasted for one month and cost $80 (normally $100). If you’re taking a shorter trip, Verizon also has a $10 daily pass, which is cheaper for a few days but adds up fast on longer trips.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the main options to stay connected in Japan:

Option 1: Pocket Wi-Fi

A Pocket Wi-Fi is a small portable device you pick up at the airport and return when you leave.

You can read more about the Pocket Wi-Fi here.

Pros:

✔️ No setup needed before your trip – just have to reserve online ahead of time

✔️ Provides internet for multiple devices

✔️ Fast and reliable connection

Cons:

❌ You have to carry it around all day

❌ Everyone sharing it needs to stay close together

❌ You need to remember to pick it up and drop it off

Option 2: E-SIMs (Ubigi, Airalo)

An eSIM is a digital SIM card you can install on your phone before or during your trip.

Ubigi and Airalo are two of the most popular eSIM options I came across when researching how people stay connected in Japan.

Pros:

✔️ Easy to set up since no physical card needed

✔️ Usually cheaper than your phone carrier’s international plan

✔️ Works as soon as you land

Cons:

❌ Some eSIMs don’t include calls or texts through your usual number (many travelers use WhatsApp instead)

❌ Your phone must be compatible and unlocked so be sure to check with your carrier

Option 3: Use Your Own Phone Provider’s International Plan

This is what we did which is just paying extra to use your regular phone plan abroad.

Pros:

✔️ Seamless since you get to keep your regular number and service

✔️ No SIM swaps or new apps to manage

✔️ Usually includes calls, texts, and data

Cons:

❌ Usually the most expensive option

❌ Data speeds can vary depending on your provider

Each option has its trade-offs, so pick what fits your budget and how convenient you want it to be. 

For us, having our usual numbers and full service was worth the extra cost!

Travel Insurance: $163.00

We always get travel insurance when traveling internationally because it’s a smart safety net that offers protection beyond what most travel credit cards provide. 

Even if your credit card includes some coverage, travel insurance can fill in important gaps and give you peace of mind.

For our trip, I purchased a policy through Allianz. You can easily download their app, log in, and check your coverage anytime on your phone.

I chose the basic plan, which covered both of us for 18 days. It included protection for medical emergencies, flight cancellations or delays, and lost luggage.

The total cost was $163 for two people, which I believe is well worth the peace of mind knowing that unexpected issues won’t derail the trip or create financial stress. 

Travel insurance is especially important when traveling internationally because medical care abroad can be costly, and credit card coverage may not cover everything.

ATM Withdrawals: $145.81

Most places in Japan accept credit cards these days, but it is still smart to carry some yen for smaller restaurants, street food stalls, markets, or temple entry fees that only take cash.

For our 18-day trip, we used about 20,000 yen in total, mostly at food markets and a small ramen shop. Everywhere else we went accepted cards.

I recommend waiting until you arrive in Japan to get cash. The easiest way is to use an ATM at a 7-Eleven, which usually offers one of the best exchange rates.

When the ATM asks if you want to be charged in yen or USD, always pick yen. You’ll get a better rate from your bank than from the ATM’s conversion.

Laundry: $18.13

I highly recommend packing light and sticking with carry-on only luggage if you can. If you need ideas, check out my blog post on carry-on packing tips to help you save space.

Getting around Japan with a big checked suitcase can be challenging. The trains and stations can get crowded, and you will almost always need to carry your luggage up and down stairs.

For our 18-day trip, we each packed one carry-on suitcase and a travel backpack as our personal item. Halfway through, we did laundry at a 24-hour laundromat near our hotel in Kyoto. It was clean, easy to use, and saved us from overpacking.

It cost $18.13 for two loads of laundry.

Packing light makes using public transit much easier and saves you time, money, and stress!

➡️ Be sure to check out my Japan Summer Packing List to see exactly what I packed for my 18-day trip to Japan!

When to Visit Japan for the Best Deals

When you visit Japan can have a big impact on what you’ll pay for flights and hotels.

Best Months to Visit Japan for Cheaper Flights:

• January to early March: Right after New Year’s and before cherry blossom season, flights and hotels are usually cheaper and popular places are less crowded.
• Late May to early June: After Golden Week and before the summer heat and humidity arrive. We visited during this time and found better deals and fewer crowds.
• October to early December: After summer holidays and before the Christmas season. The weather is pleasant and flights and hotels tend to be cheaper.

More Expensive Months to Visit Japan:

• Late March to mid-April: Cherry blossom season. It is a beautiful time to visit but you can expect bigger crowds and higher prices. Flights and hotels also book up earlier than usual.
• Late April to early May: Golden Week is one of Japan’s busiest travel times, usually from late April to early May, when several national holidays line up to create a weeklong holiday for many locals. Expect bigger crowds, busy trains, and higher hotel prices if you visit during this time. I would avoid visiting during Golden Week.
• Mid-July to August: Summer holidays bring families traveling while kids are out of school. The weather during this time is very hot and humid, which can make sightseeing less comfortable.

Tips to Save Money on Your Trip to Japan

✅ Use Credit Card Points

Start planning early and use a good travel rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred to earn points on everyday spending.

You can transfer points to hotel partners like Hyatt or to airline partners to cover big costs like flights and hotels.

We saved over $2,000 this way by using points for 12 of our 18 hotel nights.

✅ Book Flights in Advance

Try to book your flights about three to six months before your trip.

This gives you time to lock in better flight prices and book your hotels at more affordable rates too.

I use Google Flights to compare airlines and dates, then set price alerts so I get an email when there’s a drop.

Tools like Going and Daily Drop are great too! I use their free versions to get emails about both cash and points deals.

✅ Be Flexible with Airports and Dates

If you are flying into Tokyo, which is what most people do, you have two main airport options: Haneda Airport (HND) and Narita Airport (NRT).

Haneda Airport is usually the best choice because it is much closer to central Tokyo. It takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour on public transit to reach the city. This is where we flew into, and it was very convenient.

Narita Airport is farther away and usually takes about 2 hours on public transit to get into central Tokyo. If you want to reach the city faster and do not mind spending a little more, you can take the Narita Express or the Keisei Skyliner which are more comfortable and significantly faster.

I would only fly into Narita if the flights are significantly cheaper. Then, the extra travel time can be worth it.

Tip: If your itinerary includes Kyoto, Osaka, or the Kansai region, you can look at flying into Kansai International Airport (KIX) instead. It is about 45 minutes by train to Osaka Station or about 75–90 minutes to Kyoto Station. Sometimes flights into Kansai are cheaper and can save you from doubling back to Tokyo if you’re spending most of your time in western Japan.

✅ Rely on Public Transportation

Use Japan’s trains, buses, and subways instead of taxis or Ubers.

Public transit in Japan is safe, clean, very reliable, and much more affordable than taking a taxi.

During our entire trip, we never used a taxi or Uber. We used trains and buses even when carrying our suitcases to the next city. Just be mindful of others and keep your bag out of the way, especially on crowded trains.

Before you go, I recommend adding a Suica Card to your Apple Wallet. This lets you tap your phone to get on and off trains and buses without needing to buy tickets each time.

If you do not have an iPhone, you can buy a physical Suica card at the airport or any major train station when you arrive.

✅ Use a No-Foreign-Transaction-Fee Credit Card

Bring a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees to avoid extra costs on every purchase. This is a must-do!

I use the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card and highly recommend it!

✅ Skip Pricey Tours

Japan is one of the easiest places to explore on your own.

You really do not need big group tours for most sights because temples, shrines, gardens, and markets are easy to get to using public transportation and many are free or cost very little.

I recommend planning ahead by saving the places you want to visit on Google Maps. This makes it super easy to group things by area once you are there, so you can see more without wasting time backtracking across the city.

Final Cost Per Person for Our 2.5 Week Japan Trip

In total we spent about $3,448.92 per person for 18 days in Japan. 

This was not a budget trip but it was not luxury either. It felt like the perfect balance with comfortable hotels, great food, and a splurge on upgraded legroom seats for a more comfortable flight.

Could you spend less? Definitely. You can skip seat upgrades, use an eSIM instead of more expensive phone plans, choose budget hotels or hostels, and limit the number of Shinkansen rides.

Could you spend much more? Absolutely. Japan offers plenty of luxury experiences if that is what you want.

For us Japan was worth every penny. With some planning and prioritizing what matters most to you it is possible to enjoy a memorable trip without breaking the bank.

I hope sharing our Japan trip cost details gives you a realistic idea to help plan your own trip. 

If you have any questions about our itinerary, using points, or budgeting for Japan please feel free to leave a comment. I am happy to help!

Check out my other Japan blog posts to help you plan your Japan itinerary!

• Best Things to Do on Miyajima Island – Day Trip from Hiroshima
• Koyasan Temple Stay: My Experience at Ekoin (Is It Worth It?)
• Three Days in Osaka Itinerary: What You Can’t Miss!
• 2 Days in Hiroshima Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
• Our 4-Day Kyoto Itinerary: Everything We Did & Food We Loved
• What to Wear in Japan in June: My Summer Packing List and Tips
• 5-Day Tokyo Itinerary: My Favorite Sights & Eats
• 1-Day Kamakura Itinerary: Exploring as a Day Trip from Tokyo
• How to Plan a Day Trip from Osaka to Koyasan (Mount Koya)
• Osaka to Nara Day Trip Itinerary: How I Spent My Day
• Osaka vs Kyoto: My Honest Take After Visiting Both
• Where to Stay in Hiroshima: Best Areas & Hotels for First-Time Visitors
• Where to Stay in Osaka: How to Pick the Right Area for Your Trip
• Where to Stay in Kyoto: Choosing the Perfect Area for Your Trip
• Where to Stay in Tokyo: A First-Timer’s Guide Based on My Own Trip
• 22 Things to Know Before Traveling to Japan: What I Wish I Knew Before My First Trip
• 1-Day Kyoto Itinerary: How I’d Spend One Day If You’re Short on Time
• 1-Day Osaka Itinerary: What We Did in Osaka in One Day
• 3-Day Tokyo Itinerary: A Detailed Guide for First-Time Visitors