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Japan Costs & Prices

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Japan Costs & Prices - the cost of living in Japan

Getting to Japan | Getting around Japan | Value for Money | Money Saving Tips | Currency Converter

Getting To Japan

Japanese costs.Airfares to Japan vary widely and flights from Europe and the USA can range from around US$600 with Aeroflot to over US$1000 with Air France, JAL, British Airways (BA), Virgin, Finnair, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, Austrian, Emirates, Alitalia, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Thai Air, Qatar, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Air and KLM.

Discounts on domestic air tickets are available from JAL, ANA and other domestic and international carriers.

Check for cheap flights to Japan

Information on cheap domestic flights within Japan

Jetfoil, Niigata Port. Car Ferry to Sado.

Ferries are a cheaper means of transport in Japan

Getting around Japan

Buy a specific Japan Rail Pass before you come. It entitles you to reductions on certain hotels.

All night buses run between the major cities, usually from the main railway station, and are an economical possibillity if you do not have a Japan rail pass.

Ferries are another cheaper though slower means of getting around. Alternatively, you could try hitch-hiking.

For car hire, count on paying around 7,000 yen per day from the major companies for a compact car such as a Honda Fit, Toyota Vits, Nissan March or Mazda Demio, which will come complete with a Satnav system. Cars with less than 1,000cc engine capacity (with yellow number plates) are cheaper but not ideal for long distances.

Japan hotel bookings

Value for money

Japan is a first-world economy. However, London has overtaken Tokyo as the more expensive city for certain goods and services. Deflation is now a fact of life in Japan; consumer prices are falling and continue to fall. Some things are cheaper than in many other countries, for example cigarettes and alcohol.

Japan does offer a high degree of service and efficiency for the money you pay.

For those on a tight budget, lunch set prices are cheaper than dinner; and a morning set breakfast in a chain restaurant or cafe can be good value.

Tipping in not a custom in Japan.

Use our Currency Converter for prices in your currency

Japan taxis. Japan taxi.

Taxis in Japan are not cheap unless you are a foursome

Japan Some Prices (2010)

Food & Drink

Japanese Yen banknotes.
Japanese Yen

Beer in a bar: 500+ yen.
Beer (Kirin lager 633ml): 340 yen.
Cocktail in a bar: 600+ yen.
Coffee & cafe: 600 yen.
Coke (Coca Cola 350ml/can): 120 yen.
Curry rice: 656 yen.

Hamburger/fries: 350 yen.
Instant Noodles: 108 yen.
Juice (sugar free 1L): 158 yen.
Kentucky Fried Chicken: 200 yen, large fries: 240 yen.
Milk (1000ml): 207 yen.
Ramen: 550 yen.
Snickers bar: 102 yen.
Steak in a top class restaurant: 5,000+ yen.
Sushi: (one serving) 1226 yen.
Mineral Water (2L): 128 yen.
Whisky (Red Label) (750ml) 1500 yen.
Gilbeys Vodka (375ml) 620 yen.
Starbucks cappuccino (short) 280 yen.

Other everyday items & services

Airport departure tax: 2040 yen (Narita).
Battery (1 set of 2 Alkaline AA battery): 98 yen.
20 cigarettes: 410 yen.
Cinema ticket (on the door) 1,800 yen.
English language paper: 120~180 yen.
Fuji film (24 exposures; 400 ASA x 3) 598 yen.
Film development (24 prints) 525 yen.
Gasoline 1 liter: 107 yen.
Hair Cut (men's): 1,600 yen.
Hilton Hotel, Tokyo (double) 46,000 yen.
Laundry (a piece): 221 yen.
Local phone call (10 yen for 3 minutes).
Public Baths :420 yen for adults, 180 yen for children, 60 yen for babies.
Sony MDs (3 pack): 528 yen.
Taxi flag fall (Kyoto): 570 yen.
Underground (subway) ticket: 220+ yen.

Tips for saving money in Japan

If you are on a tight budget consider some of the following tips:

  • Dispense with your duty free, cigarettes and and certain alcoholic items (but not single malt Scotch) are cheaper in Japan than tax-free in most airports.
  • Try to take advantage of emorning setf prices in Japan for breakfast. Eat well at lunch ? itfs cheaper than dinner.
  • If you are a student and passing a university at lunchtime wander into the college canteen for a subsidized feed.
  • If you want to get drunk, start the process in your hotel rather than drink exclusively in bars.
  • Look out for 1-day and longer travel cards for Japanese major cities
  • Avoid taxis unless you are in a gang of four. Film, batteries and blank CDs/tapes/DVDs are all cheap in Japan.
  • Consider camping. Try to avoid shopping in convenience stores, look for discount supermarkets and 100 yen stores.
  • Consumption tax is presently 5%, which can be reclaimed at the airport in Japan on goods bought in duty-free stores. Keep your receipts!
  • If you miss the last subway home in Tokyo or Osaka or have no money for a night in a hotel - here's what to do in Japan with no money.
  • For more details on making your yen go farther visit our Japan Travel Tips section.

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    *Disclaimer. Remember that prices vary and may change. Our listing of particular brands is in no way intended as an endorsement.

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