Japan has long held the distinction as being one of the world’s most expensive travel destinations. Many of my friends and family have expressed their long-held desire to visit me since I’ve moved here, but many seem to hesitate when it comes down to the question: “How much will it cost?”
This guide has a number of tips for budget backpacking and long term travel in Japan. My suggestions won’t always give you the most comfortable trip. They are geared to the backpacker, vagabond crowd with a loose itinerary. However, some of the information will benefit all travelers, and those foreigners already living here. I’ve broken it into three sections: transportation, accommodations and food.
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If you’re trying to see Japan on the cheap, forget those images of eating sashimi in small tatami rooms surrounded by rice paper doors. The traditional kaiseki, dining experience, is something even modern Japanese pay dearly for. Chances are you’ll find yourself in restaurant/bars called izakayas, family restaurants, and noodle shops being served by either a grumpy old woman or helium voiced 20-something rather than the diminutive Geisha.
A common problem is that the coolest restaurants and quaint izakayas often don’t have English menus. Even modest izakayas aren’t cheap, and if you’re ordering based on the recommendations of the staff, you could be in for a shock when the bill arrives. Be careful. Bars and izakayas often slip in seating charges for complementary food served with drinks, but sometimes they let the charge slide for foreigners.
When I travel, I eat at a combination of eating places – noodle shops specializing in ramen, soba (buckwheat noodles), and udon (thick flour noodles), family style restaurants like Coco’s or Denny’s, and convenience and grocery store bento boxes. It may not sound glamourous to eat at a 7-eleven, but if you include these in the meal rotation, you can save money to splurge on nicer meals and drinks at night. This is basically the way Japanese people eat out, sticking to noodle shops and family restaurants mostly, socializing with friends in izakayas. Stick with these, you’ll be living like a local.
Here are some common foods to look for with prices to give you an idea how to budget.
The key to an enjoyable, cheap trip in Japan is to be flexible. Remember, paying more doesn’t always ensure additional comfort or enjoyment. I’ve stayed in shoebox business hotels and spacious love hotels for the same price. I’ve scarcely whetted my appetite at izakayas for 5,000 yen and been stuffed at a noodle shop for 1,000. For a true Japanese experience, whatever this image is for you, realize that in modern Japan, wonderful people and quirky experiences are lurking around every corner, from the hole-in-the-wall bar to the perfect hillside camping spot. There is no place like Japan. Regardless of how much you shell out, it will be unforgettable.
