One-Day Tokyo Vacation Budget - Plan Ahead And Save On Trip Expenses

One-Day Budget for Tokyo Travel

While Japan has a reputation for being an expensive country to live in, much less visit, a trip to this island country doesn't have to break the bank!

If you know what prices to expect in advance and have some of your must-do activities figured out, you need not worry about your finances during your vacation. Read more to find out realistic expenses for one day of accommodation, food, and entertainment in the capital city.

Finding the Right Accommodations

Picture from A Guide To Budget Hotels, Ryokan And Accommodations In Japan

There are many unique and fun accommodations out there to choose from, everything from traditional Japanese ryokan inns to western-style major hotels and more. When choosing a place to stay, you will want to find a place that is both conveniently located and priced appropriately to meet your needs.

The average price of a stay in a three-star hotel is approximately 15,000 yen per night per person. Of course, by using various online services, you can find discounted rates as well, but this is a good average price to have in mind when planning your budget.

If you are looking for low-cost places to stay in Japan, business hotels, capsule hotels, guest houses, or youth hostels are strongly recommended. Be aware though, that these types of lodging facilities have limited services and may not provide room service or in hotel dining options, so while they are less expensive, you may find yourself needing to pay for more meals instead.

Check out our accommodation section to see all of the luxury, business, capsule and standard hotels, inns, guesthouses and hostels available on MATCHA.

Prices for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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After finding a place to stay, you'll next need to know what to expect when it comes to meals. There are restaurants and eateries of all kinds everywhere you look in Japan, and the prices of a meal can vary from a few hundred yen to tens of thousands of yen if you aren't careful.

Knowing just what sorts of food you'd like to eat, and where to find them, is one key way of making your budget work for you. If you stick to an average of 1000 yen per meal, you can easily keep both your wallet and stomach full, or if you play about with these figures, you can even afford to splurge on a nicer lunch or dinner.

Quick meals on the go and drinks can easily be picked up at a convenience store, while family restaurants like Jonathan's, Denny's, and Gusto have great menus that are sure to satisfy even the fussiest of eaters.

Cost of Transportation

Picture from Japan Rail Pass Or Discount One-Day Tickets? Why You Should Use Both

The Japanese public transportation system is one of the best in the world, and arguably one of the most user-friendly - if you are well prepared. There are numerous different train tickets, special discount tickets, and limited-time passes that you can use to make getting around Japan even cheaper.

Plus there are useful IC cards like the SUICA, which you can fill and use to move smoothly from train to train and from train to bus too. If you are going to be staying in the Tokyo area, a good general amount to have on your IC card is about 2000 yen a day - if you plan on traveling about the city a lot.

Souvenir Shopping and Sightseeing

Picture from Treat Yourself! 7 Funky And Useful Japanese Souvenirs

If you want to do some great shopping but still save money, pay attention to the sales, and, if you need to shop for many people at once, head to a variety store like Don Quijote to get the best value for your money. Generally speaking, if you are buying a lot of souvenirs for your family and friends, you can expect to spend from 2000-5000 yen on them for your entire trip.

Picture from Spend The Day Learning: The 6 Museums Of Ueno Park

There are literally thousands of places to visit in Japan, all of which have varying entry fees - the majority of which are under 1500 yen for an adult, and under 1000 yen for elementary school-aged children. If you want to see a lot of different places, you may want to try and plan your vacation for days when there are free entry events, just to save even more.

A Realistic Daily Budget for a Tokyo Trip

Factoring in accommodations, meal fees, transportation, entry fees, souvenir prices, the average tourist will spend around 20,000-25,000 yen for a day in Tokyo.

This budget can always be reduced by taking advantage of special travel tickets, hotel discounts and more, so make sure to research your trip ahead of time, and save your money for what you really want to do in Japan - have fun!