March 24, 2026 — 5:00am
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Japan is a popular destination for Australians, partly because of a favourable exchange rate, which nets us 25 per cent more yen than it did five years ago.
Still, the best tuna, elaborate kaiseki meals, stays in posh ryokans, cocktail-lounge evenings and taxi rides can cost you a fortune, and Japan’s high-priced premium fruit is legendary. On a tight budget, you can avoid them all.
You’ll want to ride a bullet train once for the experience, but for cheaper long-distance travel consider the budget airlines Jetstar Japan, Peach, Skymark, Spring Airlines and Zipair. Japan Airlines and ANA also offer special deals on domestic flights.
Japan’s trains are so renowned that it’s easy to overlook much cheaper long-distance buses from companies such as Willer Express, especially good value to and from Tokyo. Meanwhile, overnight buses will save you a night’s accommodation if you’re the type that can sleep upright.
The railway JR Pass is pricey – JPY 50,000 ($444) for seven days – so work out whether buying individual tickets makes more sense. Regional passes proliferate and are better value if sticking to one area. For example, the Hokkaido Pass is JPY 20,000 for seven days, the All Shikoku Rail Pass JPY 20,500.
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High-end accommodation is expensive, and you’ll pay a premium for overseas brands. If you really want to save, consider capsule hotels, which are a cultural experience. A real sweet spot? Three-star business hotels, which have small, basic but clean and functional rooms with breakfast included.
Chains to look out for include APA Hotels, Super Hotels and Toyoko Inn. Budget chains such as Welcome Inn and Japan City Hotel Association also abound. Expect to pay about $130 a night.
Research on booking websites, and you’ll find some neighbourhoods much cheaper than others: no need to stay in popular Marunouchi in Tokyo when Akasaka does just as well. Avoid the high season, which includes Golden Week in late April to early May, cherry-blossom time and Silver Week in mid-September.
For better value dining, head up to the upper floors or basements of tower blocks and eat lunch before 2pm, since cheaper eateries tend to close in the afternoons. Many upmarket restaurants offer cheaper lunch menus.
Noodle, yakitori and donburi outlets are bargain priced. The latter feature one-bowl meals of rice topped with various ingredients such as beef, pork cutlet or tempura. Local markets, too, offer cheap set menus.
Neighbourhood corner stores serve all manner of pre-prepared snacks and meals and even supply a microwave if you want them heated on the spot.
More upmarket are the food halls in the basements of department stores, from which you can assemble dazzling meals from bento boxes, cooked salmon, sushi, dumplings, confectionery and much more. If you can wait, the food is all discounted just before closing time at 8pm.
Last good news about your holiday budget in Japan: entrance fees to attractions are low, and you won’t have to tip anywhere. No wonder we love it.
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