Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 20:50     Subject: How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Japan can be really cheap once you get there. While I didn't stay here, lots of people endorse Dormy Inn as a clean, safe, and inexpensive Japanese hotel chain.

I'm a foodie, but my second fave meal after the insanely expensive two Michelin star meal was an $8 omurice from a famous spot.

The trains aren't very expensive either. People complain about the price of bullet train, but it's like 20% of the price of the Acela and a million times better.

Besides the plane tickets for ~$1,200 (I flew middle seat economy), it was a pretty inexpensive trip for me.


I strongly disagree with this...it's tough to find accommodations under $100/night. Ryokans are not exactly friendly to westerners that don't speak Japanese AND you have to be cool with sleeping on the floor. Meals will still be at least $50/pp. It's slightly cheaper than DC but only because of the currency difference.


Ryokans are traditional inns, NOT budget accommodations. The entire point is to have an experience from past centuries, to sleep in futon on tatami mats, and eat traditional meals seated on the floor served by wait staff in kimono! Often there are onsen (hot spring baths) attached. You pay for the experience: I love sleeping in a futon on tatami and the food is usually delicious. It's my favorite part of going to Japan.

Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 20:45     Subject: How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
Last time we spent a little less than 20K all told, for 4 people, in 2015. Sunrise Prince hotel in Tokyo, which is a prime activity spot but definitely for tourists. We spent a few days in Hakone, in a traditional ryokan. Didn't have time for Kyoto or Nara, but we'd done those previously. We had a packed schedule of family visits, and museum and shrine visits.

If you are at all a fan of the Ghibli movies, I HIGHLY recommend you visit the museum. Back then, they were only available by lottery months in advance, so please plan for that.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 20:39     Subject: How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
My hotel points with Hyatt and Marriott went really far in Japan and between two adults covered 10/12 nights lodging at nice places in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Perhaps look for a good credit card deal to max out points.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 20:12     Subject: How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Japan can be really cheap once you get there. While I didn't stay here, lots of people endorse Dormy Inn as a clean, safe, and inexpensive Japanese hotel chain.

I'm a foodie, but my second fave meal after the insanely expensive two Michelin star meal was an $8 omurice from a famous spot.

The trains aren't very expensive either. People complain about the price of bullet train, but it's like 20% of the price of the Acela and a million times better.

Besides the plane tickets for ~$1,200 (I flew middle seat economy), it was a pretty inexpensive trip for me.


I strongly disagree with this...it's tough to find accommodations under $100/night. Ryokans are not exactly friendly to westerners that don't speak Japanese AND you have to be cool with sleeping on the floor. Meals will still be at least $50/pp. It's slightly cheaper than DC but only because of the currency difference.


When was under $100 a night? Yeah, that's pretty cheap. I was finding places closer to $150, which I consider extremely cheap given that an awful hotel room in Manhattan is $400.

In any event, Dormy Inns aren't ryokans. They're like Japanese Holiday Inns. Depending on the season, you actually can find them at <$100 a night. But more often in the low $100s. And meals can absolutely be well under $50/pp. That's ridiculous. Ramen. Street food. Omurice. There are lot of options if you want to keep prices down. Personally, I enjoy indulgent meals and so mixed it up. But you could definitely stay under $25 for all your meals if you wanted to.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 20:02     Subject: How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We just came from spending time in Tokyo and Osaka last week. I only have a few recommendations, but to be honest, I didn't find it that expensive. In fact, we found food to be much cheaper there than here at home.

As for recommendations, set a price alert on Google and watch flight prices. Also, we found it cheaper to book the flight there and home separately, which is unusual. We ended up American the entire way but on two separate reservations.

We've been to Tokyo twice. The first time we stayed at Hotel Groove Shinjuku, which was an amazing hotel with an awesome view, but there weren't that many places to eat, especially with kids, in walking distance.

This past time, we stayed at Karaksa Tokyo Station Hotel, which had a ton of stuff within walking distance, especially in Tokyo Station itself. We much preferred the location. We even let our 15-year old teenagers go walk around the neighborhood and Tokyo Station on their own to get food, go to 7/11, shop at Character Street, etc.


You let your 15 year old kids walk around Tokyo without you? Did you at least have armed personal security with them? What a wild life.


Ha ha! I love this
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 19:58     Subject: How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
Children far younger than 15 take subways without adults. Yes, Iwas shocked and amazed. But it is very safe there.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 17:45     Subject: How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
Anonymous wrote:This is not a cheap trip...


This.

You’re probably spending a good amount of $$$ to fly there. I’m all for saving a buck, but if you’re taking a 12+ hour flight and your fare is probably at least $1500, why skimp on the rest of the trip? Might as well enjoy yourself.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 17:34     Subject: How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
The only thing we found to be easy to save money on was food. À lot of attractions have entrance fees and hotels are not cheap - especially if you’re traveling with older children that need there own beds. If you are in that category, look at the Mimaru chain. We were able to get family suites where the kids could have their own beds and we had a little kitchenette, which was helpful for meals.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 17:26     Subject: How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
Don't have recommendations on accomodations, but food can be extremely cheap. Meals were definitely cheaper than 50/pp unless we chose to go to a nicer place. DS begged for Onigiri from 7-11 or Family Mart for lunch almost every day and I think that came out to $2. And was surprisingly good.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 17:20     Subject: How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
Anonymous wrote:Japan can be really cheap once you get there. While I didn't stay here, lots of people endorse Dormy Inn as a clean, safe, and inexpensive Japanese hotel chain.

I'm a foodie, but my second fave meal after the insanely expensive two Michelin star meal was an $8 omurice from a famous spot.

The trains aren't very expensive either. People complain about the price of bullet train, but it's like 20% of the price of the Acela and a million times better.

Besides the plane tickets for ~$1,200 (I flew middle seat economy), it was a pretty inexpensive trip for me.


I strongly disagree with this...it's tough to find accommodations under $100/night. Ryokans are not exactly friendly to westerners that don't speak Japanese AND you have to be cool with sleeping on the floor. Meals will still be at least $50/pp. It's slightly cheaper than DC but only because of the currency difference.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 17:15     Subject: How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We just came from spending time in Tokyo and Osaka last week. I only have a few recommendations, but to be honest, I didn't find it that expensive. In fact, we found food to be much cheaper there than here at home.

As for recommendations, set a price alert on Google and watch flight prices. Also, we found it cheaper to book the flight there and home separately, which is unusual. We ended up American the entire way but on two separate reservations.

We've been to Tokyo twice. The first time we stayed at Hotel Groove Shinjuku, which was an amazing hotel with an awesome view, but there weren't that many places to eat, especially with kids, in walking distance.

This past time, we stayed at Karaksa Tokyo Station Hotel, which had a ton of stuff within walking distance, especially in Tokyo Station itself. We much preferred the location. We even let our 15-year old teenagers go walk around the neighborhood and Tokyo Station on their own to get food, go to 7/11, shop at Character Street, etc.


You let your 15 year old kids walk around Tokyo without you? Did you at least have armed personal security with them? What a wild life.


I'm not the PP and my 15 year old also wandered around alone. I traveled extensively as a young person in Japan and it's wild how safe it is. The Japanese carry thousands in cash on them without fear of robbery. A cop once helped a friend search for his bike for 3 hours that someone "borrowed" and they actually found it. But that's how little a cop has to do and how big of a deal a missing bike was...


I think that PP you are replying to was referencing another thread on South Africa where private security came up. Everyone knows Tokyo is one of - if not THE - safest city in the world.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 16:33     Subject: How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
Japan can be really cheap once you get there. While I didn't stay here, lots of people endorse Dormy Inn as a clean, safe, and inexpensive Japanese hotel chain.

I'm a foodie, but my second fave meal after the insanely expensive two Michelin star meal was an $8 omurice from a famous spot.

The trains aren't very expensive either. People complain about the price of bullet train, but it's like 20% of the price of the Acela and a million times better.

Besides the plane tickets for ~$1,200 (I flew middle seat economy), it was a pretty inexpensive trip for me.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 16:12     Subject: Re:How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
Anonymous wrote:Food can be really cheap but good quality. I went to Yoshinoya often. Less than $5 for a meal and they give you a coupon for $1 equivalent discount for your next meal if you go again within a couple of days.

There are lots of different Japan rail passes that you can buy to suit where you plan to travel. In Tokyo, get the 72 hour unlimited metro pass.

Visit Kyoto at least in addition to Tokyo.

Stay in really small hotel rooms, that have laundry facilities in the room. Don’t bring big suitcases, they won’t fit.

The most expensive item will be airfare.





Also I stayed in Suidobashi my first time in Tokyo (cheaper, and quiet esp at night, but not central) and Shinjuku the second time (more expensive, but close to shopping, stores, attractions, really buzzing at night). If time is an issue, stay near Shinjuku or Tokyo station.


Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 16:05     Subject: Re:How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
Food can be really cheap but good quality. I went to Yoshinoya often. Less than $5 for a meal and they give you a coupon for $1 equivalent discount for your next meal if you go again within a couple of days.

There are lots of different Japan rail passes that you can buy to suit where you plan to travel. In Tokyo, get the 72 hour unlimited metro pass.

Visit Kyoto at least in addition to Tokyo.

Stay in really small hotel rooms, that have laundry facilities in the room. Don’t bring big suitcases, they won’t fit.

The most expensive item will be airfare.



Anonymous
Post 01/03/2026 15:54     Subject: How to cut costs on vacation to Japan?
Food at a 7-11 in Japan often is much better than in other countries.