For money savers
Following are the tips for lower budget travelers.

One of the most common complaints we hear from many visitors to Japan is the high prices of things.

Transportation costs, food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, entrance fees, the list goes on and on.

However, I believe that it is possible to travel around Japan more cheaply just by being a little more careful in your preparations and how you spend your money every day during your stay in Japan.

Here we have compiled some tips on how to travel to Japan cheaply.

I hope that these ways to travel to Japan without spending too much money will be useful for you, the traveller.

Spend money at Convenience stores

Convenience stores are the best place to buy breakfast and lunch to save money.
There are many stores within 5 minutes walk when you are in big cities.
If you can’t find it, ask young people “Where is Convenience?”.
“Convini” in Japanese is the shortened word and is more popular than “Convenience Store”.

Muffin, Sandwich, Pastry, Onigiri, Juice, Milk, Coffee, Tea, Snack, Fruits, Cup noodle, etc.
They supply hot water for your cup noodle.
Also, a microwave oven is available to use for customers.

Convenience stores are the best place to buy breakfast and lunch to save money.
There are many stores within 5 minutes walk when you are in big cities.
If you can’t find it, ask young people “Where is Convenience?”.
“Convini” in Japanese is the shortened word and is much more popular than “Convenience Store”.

Dining/foods

Muffin, Sandwich, Pastry, Onigiri, Juice, Milk, Coffee, Tea, Snack, Fruits, Cup noodle, etc.
They supply hot water for your cup noodle.
Also a microwave oven is available to use for customers.

 

Traveling

For long distance travel, Shinkansen is fast and convenient but expensive.

1. Use local train, not express
2. Use red-eye bus for long distance travel
3. Use JR Pass
4. Shinkansen / Super Express

Hitchhiking?? No! No! No!

There is a method of “hitchhiking” as a saving measure of transportation expenses, but it seems that it is better to stop thinking for the following reasons. Hitchhiking is not popular in Japan. It’s safe in Japan, so some Japanese students who want to save money do it from time to time, but we rarely see them on streets and highway entrances. It is difficult to get strange travellers who know they are foreigners. The driver of the car is so kind to get you a ride for talking with you on the long way, so the chances of foreign travellers who seem to be unable to speak Japanese words are very limited.

JR Seishun Jyuhachi Kippu (Seishun 18 Kippu)

Selling date	Usable date	Status
2024 02/20 – 03/31	2024 03/01 -04/10	Available
2024 07/01 – 08/31	2024 07/20 – 09/10	Plan
2024 12/01 – 12/31	2024 12/10 – 2025 01/10	Plan

These tickets are valid for JR local trains only and only one day.
5 tickets cost you 12050 Yen.
5 people can use one day or one can use 5 days.
You can use all local trains from a.m. 00 o’clock to midnight.
There are overnight trains operating by JR and they are very useful for you to use.
Consult with the JR timetable, you can go to Kyushu from Tokyo with 2370 Yen.
The selling period is limited;

JR Rail pass is another option.

One day pass for train and bus in city area

It is told that the cost of transportation in Japan is really painful. It is so expensive.

But one day pass is available in the following cities.

It is the decision point whether you want to walk or use public transportation.

Sapporo city

City area	Transportation	adult fare	child fare	Note
Sapporo	Subway	830	420
Sapporo	Subway	520	260	Saturday, Sunday & holiday

Tokyo

City area	Transportation	adult fare	child fare	Note
Toyko	Toei bus & subway	700	350
Toyko	Toei bus	500	250
Tokyo	Tokyo Metro	600	300
Tokyo	Toei subway & Tokyo Metro	800	400	Tourist only
Tokyo	Toei subway & Tokyo Metro	900	450
Tokyo	JR  (in 23wards only)	760	380
Tokyo	JR  Toei bus & subways & JR	1600	800	JR lines (in the 23 wards of Tokyo)
Tokyo	Toei subway bus & Tokyo Metro	3000	2000	Tokyo Starter Kit Tourisit only

Yokohama city

City area	Transportation	adult fare	child fare	Note
Yokohama city	bus	600	300
Yokohama city	Subway	740	370
Yokohama city	Subway & bus	830	420

Nagoya city

City area	Transportation	adult fare	child fare	Note
Nagoya city	Subway	760	380
Nagoya city	Subway and bus	870	430
Nagoya city	Subway and bus	620	310	Saturday, Sunday, holiday

Kyoko city

City area	Transportation	adult fare	child fare	Note
Kyoto city	Subway	800	400
Kyoto city	Subway and bus	900	450

Osaka city

City area	Transportation	adult fare	child fare	Note
Osaka city	Subway and bus	800	300

Fukuoka city

City area	Transportation	adult fare	child fare	Note
Fukuoka	Subway	640	320
Fukuoka	Bus	900	450
Fukuoka	Bus + Dazaifu Liner Bus	1500	750

Lodging

Inexpensive Japanese inn

There is no bed. You can experience the Japanese Futon mattress.
The employees may not speak English but will welcome you with warm heartfelt hospitality.
You can enjoy the different world from hotel life.
Here are some inns;

Hotel Judo
http://www.juyoh.co.jp/

From 3200 Yen

Sawanoya Ryokan
http://www.tctv.ne.jp/members/sawanoya/

From 4700 Yen

Guest house  B&B

These Guesthouses costs you around 3,000 – 5,000 Yen.　

 

Related Information

Money in Japan

General information about Japanese money (Japanese Yen).

Information about Accomodations