Going to Japan has always been on my '30 things to do before 30' list and rightfully so, this country is one of the most laid-back and beautiful places you'll ever see. The people here are super generous and are always keen to help you. Tokyo is one of the most safest cities in the world and it is also a great place for your first solo travel.
Japan has mouth-watering food (who doesn't like sushi, right?), majestic temples and shrines, national parks and zen gardens, and great culture. It is so easy to fall in love with this country.
There is a myth that Japan is very expensive but that's not true. There are many economical ways to travel to Japan without spending a huge lumsum.
Japan Travel Costs
Accomodation: Most hostels will charge between 2,500-4,000 JPY (20-35 USD) per night for a dorm room. Capsule hotels cost between 3,000-5,500 JPY (25-50 USD) for a tiny little room (that’s really a pod). If you’re looking for privacy, expect to pay around 8,500 JPY (75 USD) for a double room at a budget hotel. The price of accommodation in the big cities is significantly higher than if you were to travel off the beaten path. A private apartment/home usually costs 8,800 JPY (75 USD).
Food: There are many cheap places to eat out in Japan from the ramen noodle shops to miso and soba noodles. These food options range from 250-1,250 JPY (2-11 USD). Buying groceries will cost you 3,700-5,000 JPY (35-45 USD) per week. Most restaurant meals cost around 2,000 JPY (20 USD). Mid-range restaurants can cost around 4,350 JPY (40 USD). Sushi trains cost between 125-620 JPY (1-6 USD) per piece. Fast food is around 800 JPY (7 USD). You can also go for the Kaitenzushi (Conveyor Belt Sushi Restaurants) and the prices range from 100-500 JPY (0.90 - 4.52 USD). You can also find plenty of cheap meals and pre-packaged items at 7-Eleven (that the locals actually eat).
Transportation: Transportation in Japan is incredibly expensive. Trains are the most convenient, but also the most expensive, way to travel. A train ticket from Osaka to Tokyo can cost around 20,000 JPY (165 USD)! Most of the city metro tickets cost 125-250 JPY (1-2 USD) for a single journey. In most major cities, you can buy a day pass, which gives you unlimited travel for 24 hours for around 600-800 JPY (5-7 USD) on select trains and buses. Inter-city bus tickets cost around 2,500 JPY (20 USD). You should buy Japan Rail Pass if you will be riding a lot of trains. JR passes come as 1, 2, or 3-week passes and give you free travel on JR lines. The pass can be up to 20% cheaper to buy online before you arrive.
Suggested Budgets
Japan can be an expensive place to visit. If you’re backpacking Japan, plan to budget between 8,000-9,000 JPY / $65-75 USD per day. This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel dorm (or couchsurfing) cooking some of your meals, eating at the cheap 100 yen or to go shop donburi shops, visiting free museums and temples, and using local transportation. Keep in mind if you are taking the high speed train, you’re budget will likely be closer to $75-85 per day.
On a more mid-range budget of 12,000 JPY / $100 USD per day, you can stay in nicer accommodations and private rooms, eat out more liberally, indulge in more drinks, visit more attractions, and, overall, just have some more breathing room in your travels!
Where to Stay?
Listed below are some of my favorite places to live in Japan.
Khaosan Tokyo Kabuki (Tokyo)
Backpackers K’s House Tokyo (Tokyo)
Jiyujin (Kyoto)
Gojo Guest House (Kyoto)
Backpackers Hostel K’s House Hiroshima (Hiroshima)
How to Get Around?
Metro – Most of the city metro tickets cost 100–200 JPY (1-2 USD) for a single journey. (The price varies by distance and may often be higher.) Fares were usually around 220 JPY (2 USD) to travel across Tokyo but less for shorter distances. In most major cities, you can buy a day pass, which gives you unlimited travel for 24 hours for around 800 JPY (7 USD).
Trains – The bullet train is awesome, comfortable, and super fast – but it’s not cheap. Individual tickets can cost hundreds of dollars. In order to reduce your train costs, get a Japan Rail (JR) pass. The pass is indispensable for travel in Japan.
Buses – Buses are a less expensive alternative to the bullet train system in Japan, but they take more time. For example, the two-hour bullet train ride from Tokyo to Osaka becomes a ten-hour bus ride. The price for that seat is 4,500 JPY (40 USD), but at some point, you need to think about how much your time is worth. There are also bus passes available that offer unlimited travel and begin at 10,000 JPY (90 USD) for three non-consecutive days of travel. You can use these two websites to book your bus journeys:
Willer Express
Japan Bus Lines
Flights – In general, their prices are on par with bullet train tickets. ANA also offers a special last-minute 11,284 JPY (100 USD) fares via a hidden page on their website. It’s only available to foreigners and can sometimes be cheaper than the flights you find on Skyscanner, especially for longer routes around the country.
When to Go to Japan?
Temperature and weather varies drastically across Japan, meaning it’s always a good time to visit various parts of the country – just at different times. While most of Japan does have four seasons (including snowy, freezing winters in Northern Japan), Okinawa and the islands in the south are warm year-round. It gets cold in Tokyo, but it generally doesn’t snow.
Japan also gets a lot of rain and humidity, mostly in the summer months from mid June to mid July. It gets a little drier in August before picking up again in September. The driest months in Japan are from December-February, but you should prepare for rainy weather year-round.
My Top Picks for your First Trip
Tokyo
Tokyo is the city that reflects the colors of Japan. Tokyo deserves the top spot in your itinerary, thanks to its anime culture and world-class attractions. And if the historical sites don’t impress you much, the city has also got a great culinary scene!
Top Attractions:
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo DisneySea
Best Things To Do:
Spend an evening near the Tokyo Tower in Japan
Shop in Odaiba
Witness the grandeur of the Meiji Shrine
Places to stay:
Guest House Trace
Manga Art Hotel
Khaosan Tokyo Samurai
Places to eat:
Tapas Molecular Bar
Ise Sueyoshi
Sometaro
Kyoto
The city of shrines, gardens & palaces! Of all the major Japan destinations, the sacred city of Kyoto is one of the best places to visit in Japan in spring irrespective of whether you are holidaying with your family or your partner. The iconic temples, shrines, palaces, gardens, and the bamboo forests are a treat to the eyes, and you cannot afford to miss it on your first trip.
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Philosopher’s Walk
Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine
Best Things To Do In Kyoto:
Visit the Kiyomizu Temple
Explore the Nijo Castle
Visit the famous Kinkaku-ji
Places to stay:
Village Kyoto
Downtown Inn Kyoto
Santiago Guesthouse Kyoto
Samurai Juku
Sugarhill Kyoto
Saishuan Shiraki
How to reach: Osaka International Airport is the closest airport in Kyoto which is approximately 1 hour from the city.
Nara
Home to adorable deer, temples & more! No list of the top Japan attractions can ever be complete without including Nara in it. Home to many shrines, monasteries, museums, and the famous Nara Park, this city is where you need to be to get familiarized with the famed Japanese culture and traditions. It definitely features on the list of unmissable places to visit in Japan.
Top Attractions:
Nara Park
Kasuga-taisha
Ninja Museum of Igaryu
Best Things To Do:
Visit the Isuien Garden
Befriend the deers at the Nara-koen Park
Explore the Nara National Museum
Places to stay:
Smile Hotel Nara
Super Hotel Lohas JR Nara Eki
Guesthouse Nara Komachi
Places to eat:
Kameya
Kura
Tonkatsu Ganko Nara
How to reach: Kansai International Airport is the closest airport to Nara and it takes around 1 and half hours to reach Nara.
Mt. Fuji
The paradise for adventure seekers! Renowned around the world for offering the most thrilling experience in Japan, Mt. Fuji is the ultimate place to visit and definitely one of the most romantic places in Japan. While the official climbing season begins from July and ends in September, you can witness the beauty from a distance throughout the year. It is one of our most favorite places in Japan. Needless to say, this place ought to be on your list!
Top Attractions:
Mount Tenjo
Chureito Pagoda
Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine
Best Things To Do:
Go for skiing
Visit the Arakurayama Sengen Park
Enjoy the views of Mt. Fuji from the Subashiri 5th Station
Places to stay:
Hatago Ichiya
Bself Fuji Villa
Hotel Mount Fuji
Places to eat:
Hoto Fudou
Tempura Restaurant Ninja
Tetsuyaki
How to reach: The nearest airport to Mount Fuji is the Shizuoka Airport which is 83.5 km away. You can hire a cab or take bus to reach Mt Fuji.
Hokkaido
The abode of natural hot springs! Popular for its volcanoes, hot springs, and ski areas, this gorgeous Japanese island looks right out of a picture book. And it is because of its various attractions & experiences that it is an impeccable place to holiday with both your kids and significant other. Be it the beauty of the Blue Pond or the Zoo, you’d be left mesmerized. It is one of the most ideal places to visit in Japan during summer.
Top Attractions:
Asahiyama Zoo
Farm Tomita
Blue Pond
Best Things To Do:
Relax in the hot spring
Treat yourself with scrumptious seafood
Visit the famous national parks
Places to stay:
Yorkshire Farm
Hotel Park Hills Hokkaido
Puremiahoteru – CABIN – Obihiro
Places to eat:
Daruma
Hokkaido Cafe
Hokkaido Ramen Kyowakoku
How to reach: New Chitose Airport Sapporo is the closest airport to Hokkaido. You can find local taxis and cabs for a ride.
Ishigaki
The most trending travel spot in Japan! Despite its size, the island has no limit when it comes to offering unique experiences to its tourists, and glamming up their holiday in the Japanese land. It has been also voted as the best places to visit in Japan in cherry blossom season.
Top Attractions:
Kabira Bay
Taketomi Island
Ishigaki Limestone Cave
Best Things To Do:
Indulge in snorkeling
Relax on the beaches
Savour the Ishigaki Beef
Places to stay:
Ishigaki Guesthouse HIVE
Blue Cabin Ishigakijima
Ishigaki Seaside Hotel
Places to eat:
Sushi Taro
Usagiya
Akebono
How to reach: The Ishigaki Airport is the closest, just 18 km away. Local buses and taxis are available.
Sapporo
A haven for beer and ski lovers! With cities like Sapporo, ‘what to see in Japan’ would never be your top concern. The city not only helps you escape the heat and humidity but also help you discover your winter wonderland during its famous Sapporo Annual Snow Festival. If not the gardens, then the huge snow sculptures would definitely steal your heart! This is one of the best places to see in Japan!
Top Attractions:
Moerenuma Park
Former Hokkaido Government Office
Mount Moiwa Observation Deck
Best Things To Do:
Visit the Sapporo Beer Museum
Party in Susukino
Indulge in local delicacies at the Curb Market
Places to stay:
The Stay Sapporo
Relief Sapporosusukino Hotel
Tmark City Hotel Sapporo
Places to eat:
Gotsubo Oyster Bar
Hyousetsu No Mon
Sapporo Beer Garden
How to reach: New Chitose Airport Sapporo is the closest 53 km away.
Osaka
With the best shopping arcades, eateries that offer incredible food, and the top nightlife hotspots in the city, Osaka is one of the major places to go in Japan. Believe us, it would not only pamper the foodie or party lover in you, but also the die-hard tourist who loves witnessing the wonders of every place he or she visits. This is most preferred places to visit in japan for first timers!
Universal Studios Japan
Osaka Castle
Dotonbori
Best Things To Do In Osaka:
Visit the Kaiyukan Aquarium
Visit the Hozenji Temple
Go beer tasting and partying at night
Places to stay:
Hotel Taiyo
Hotel Fine Garden Juso
APA Hotel Osaka Higobashi Ekimae
Osaka Tacos
Giga Rabbit
Curry Yakumido
I hope with this post I was able to convince you to go to Japan. That's all for today and do let me know about your favorite places in Japan.
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