How Much Things Cost in Japan

When it comes to travelling around Japan, there is a big difference between it and Australia. Let's have a look at the cost difference between some food and activities in Japan and Australia.

Australia vs Japan

In this table, we have a comparison of some things you might do in Japan. The prices are approximate and can change city to city within Japan.

Expense	Cost in Australia	Cost in Japan
Breakfast with Coffee	$25AUD	$25AUD
1 full week of public transport (MyKi)	$43AUD for a MyKi Pass	$46AUD
Full priced Movie ticket	$23AUD	$20AUD
Museum Entry	$28AUD	$8AUD (some are free!)
A pint of beer	$9AUD	$7.50AUD

To find the best places to buy JPY, you can read our guide here.

The answer to this question really depends on the type of holiday you're planning. Will you be backpacking and staying in hostels? Will you be living it up at a fancy hotel in Tokyo? If you want to do it on a budget, you easily can or you can splurge and go on a luxury holiday.

It all depends on what you're doing, where you're staying and how long you're planning to travel.

Here we have listed an estimate of what you'd need, per person, per day depending on your holiday.

Budget holiday: Up to $100AUD

Middle of the range holiday: Up to $250AUD

Luxury holiday: Up to $550AUD

Public transport within major cities is relatively inexpensive in Japan. For example, you can get a day pass for the subway in Tokyo for less than $10AUD.

It does get expensive however, when you look at travelling between major cities using public transport. But this can be a fast, and scenic way to travel between different cities while you're on your holiday. You can follow this link to find out all the different passes you can purchase, but generally a week long pass to travel throughout Japan will set you back about $300AUD.

Public Transport in Tokyo

Tokyo has a number of public transport options. Train is the main way to navigate the city but there is also an underground railway and buses to compliment the other services. If you're staying in the city, a day pass will set you back less than $10AUD to access all public transport for that 24 hour period.

Taxis and Ride Sharing

Minimum fare of $5 - $9AUD.
Uber and ride sharing is less common in Japan and can be more expensive than a regular taxi.

Utilising tours is a great way to meet other travellers and learn about the area you're in. If you're looking to have a completely guided tour, you could consider looking into companies like Intrepid, Topdeck or a Contiki tour. But even on a smaller scale, you can often find walking tours in major cities run by locals! Usually, you can find out about these online or through your hostel.

The great news is that many of Japans museums and galleries are free or relatively cheap to enter!

Examples of some other popular tours you might consider in Japan They will all have different prices, depending on the tour inclusions and length.

Day tour of Tokyo $120AUD
Day trip to Mount Fuji from Japan $170AUD
Kyoto and Nara Day Trip $180AUD
Hiroshima and Miyajima Day trip from Osaka $440AUD
1-Day Pass to Tokyo Disneyland $90AUD

If you're a fully licensed driver in Australia, it'll be relatively easy to hire a car in Japan. Just remember it could be a bit more expensive if you're hiring a car while you're under 25.

You will need to be have a valid Australian drivers licence and have a valid international drivers permit (IDP). If you're Japan for more than a year you will need to get a Japanese drivers licence to continue driving.

Price of a Rental Car in Japan, per Week:

Budget: $400AUD per week for a budget car that will comfortably fit two people and luggage
Mid-range: $650 – $850AUD for a mid-range car that will easily fit four people and luggage
High-end: $1200 – $1700AUD for a high end car such as a convertible, large SUV or luxury vehicle

Rental Car Companies

You can really be flexible about how much you spend on accomodation when you get to Japan. If you're keeping it low key and don't want to spend much, there are hostels in most major cities, or you could live it up! Below are some rough guides to how much you can expect to pay.

Accomodation on a budget, like hostels cost about $25 to $90AUD a night.

Mid-range accomodation like a double room in a 3 star hotel will probably cost between $100 and $200AUD a night.

A double luxury hotel room will cost between $250 to $600AUD per night.

Using the following sites will give you an even better idea of how much the accomodation you're after will cost you.

Tipping is not customary in Japan. And because of the culture in Japan, you may even find that your tip is refused. This is almost definitely the case with hospitality and service workers, who offer outstanding service regardless. Having said this, there are some instances where tipping is accepted (although still not expected):

Tour guides and interpreters. Often a small gift is better received than a monetary amount.
When you are staying at a Ryokan, which is a traditional Japanese inn.

In both instances, there is correct etiquette to follow when it comes to tipping. You should not give the money directly. Placing clean notes into an envelope and handing it over with both hands is the most polite way to do it.