Here’s a complete breakdown of costs per person for all the ten days of our trip to Japan.
Where: Tokyo, Nikko, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Itsukushima Island, Nara, Nagoya
Transport: Airlines, Train, Bus
When: October 2014, for ten days
Who: Two backpackers
Currency: United States Dollar
Note: International flights in and out of Japan are NOT included in the costs.
All values in USD, unless otherwise mentioned, are approximate and based on the exchange rate at the time of publishing. Each cost is for one adult. The exchange rate at the time of publishing is assumed to be USD 1 = JPY 100.
Planning & Information
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Visa | $1 | Costs $1 |
| b-mobile SIM Card | $39.80 | ¥3,980 for a 1GB Tourist Card |
| Total Costs | $40.80 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $40.80 | Per person |
Day 1 – Tokyo
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Narita Express | $12.80 | ¥1,280. NRT airport to Tokyo Station. One way. |
| Taxi from Tokyo Station to Shinonome | $30.00 | ¥3,000 |
| Sushi at Tsukiji Market | $9.35 | ¥1,870 for two persons. |
| Taxi from Shinonome to Tsukiji Market | $19.70 | ¥1,970 |
| Metro train ticket | $15 | ¥1,500. One-day combination ticket usable on all Metro lines |
| Meiji Shrine | $5 | ¥500 per person |
| Souvenirs | $16.70 | ¥1,670: fridge magnets, flag, etc. |
| Water & snacks | $14.80 | ¥1,480. Coffee, biscuits, water |
| Total Costs | $123.35 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $164.15 | Per person |
Day 2 – Mt. Fuji, Tokyo
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Chisun Inn Asakusa | $75.00 | $75 per person, per night |
| Taxi to Hamamatsucho station | $25.60 | ¥2,560. One way from Shinonome area. |
| Japanican Mt. Fuji tour | $140.00 | ¥14,000 per person with no lunch and return by Shinkansen. |
| Lunch at Mt. Fuji | $9.35 | ¥1,870 for two persons. |
| Souvenirs | $9.50 | ¥950 |
| Metro train ticket | $7 | ¥700. Single journey ticket |
| Souvenirs | $16.70 | ¥1,670: fridge magnets, flag, etc. |
| Water & snacks | $15.60 | ¥1,560. Coffee, biscuits, water |
| Total Costs | $298.75 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $462.90 | Per person |
Day 3 – Nikko
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Chisun Inn Asakusa | $75.00 | $75 per person, per night |
| Tobu-Nikko Train | $26.40 | ¥2,640. Two way. |
| Kegon Falls | $5.50 | ¥550 per person |
| Lunch at Nikko | $9.80 | ¥980, per person. |
| Souvenir | $5.50 | ¥550. Fridge magnets |
| Tosho-gu Shrine | $13 | ¥1,300 per person |
| Rinno-ji Temple | $4 | ¥400 per person |
| Dinner | $16.70 | ¥1,670 per person |
| Water & snacks | $14.80 | ¥1,480. Coffee, biscuits, water |
| Total Costs | $170.70 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $633.60 | Per person |
Day 4 – Kyoto
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Hokke Club Hotel | $84.20 | $84.20 per person, per night |
| Post office stamp | $0.50 | ¥50 |
| Lunch at Fushimi Inari shrine | $12.60 | ¥1,260 for one person |
| Souvenirs | $15.50 | ¥1,550 |
| Water & snacks | $16.00 | ¥1,600. Coffee, biscuits, water |
| Italian dinner | $13.75 | ¥1,375 per person |
| Total Costs | $142.55 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $776.15 | Per person |
Day 5 – Kyoto
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Hokke Club Hotel | $84.20 | $84.20 per person, per night |
| Kyoto day-pass | $10.00 | ¥1,000 for one-day bus pass. Per person. |
| Ginkaku-ji Temple | $5.00 | ¥500 for one person |
| Kodai-ji Temple | $6.00 | ¥600 for one person |
| Yasaka Pagoda | $4.00 | ¥400 for one person |
| Kiyomizu-dera Temple | $4.00 | ¥400 for one person |
| Sanjusangen-do Temple | $10.00 | ¥1,000 for one person |
| Lunch at Oblio | $5.25 | ¥525. One person |
| Gion Center | $25.00 | ¥2,500 per person |
| Water & snacks | $10.00 | ¥1,000. Coffee, biscuits, water |
| Indian dinner | $10.00 | ¥1,000 per person at Maharaja restaurant |
| Total Costs | $173.45 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $949.60 | Per person |
Day 6 – Hiroshima & Itsukushima Island
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Hotel Consort | $58.00 | $58 per person, per night |
| Peace Memorial Museum | $0.50 | ¥50 per person |
| O-Tori Shrine | $3.00 | ¥300 per person |
| Lunch | $12.30 | ¥1,230 per person |
| Water & snacks | $10.00 | ¥1,000. Coffee, biscuits, water |
| Dinner in Osaka | $10.00 | ¥1,000 per person |
| Total Costs | $93.80 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,043.40 | Per person |
Day 7 – Osaka
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Hotel Consort | $58.00 | $58 per person, per night |
| Osaka Castle | $6.00 | ¥600 per person |
| Train from hotel to Osaka Station | $1.40 | ¥140 per person |
| Nishinomaru Gardens | $2.00 | ¥200 per person |
| Shitenno-ji Temple | $8.00 | ¥800 per person |
| Lunch | $10.00 | ¥1,000 per person |
| Water & snacks | $10.00 | ¥1,000. Coffee, biscuits, water |
| Umeda Sky Building | $7.00 | ¥700 per person |
| Taxi from Umeda Sky Building to hotel | $14.20 | ¥1,420 per person |
| Postal Stamp of Osaka | $0.50 | ¥50 |
| Total Costs | $117.10 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,160.50 | Per person |
Day 8 – Nara
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Hotel Consort | $58.00 | $58 per person, per night |
| Todai-ji Temple | $8.00 | ¥800 per person |
| Train from hotel to Osaka Station | $1.40 | ¥140 per person |
| Kasuga Taisha | $5.00 | ¥500 per person |
| Nara National Museum | $5.20 | ¥520 per person |
| Lunch | $14.30 | ¥1,430 per person |
| Water & snacks | $10.00 | ¥1,000. Coffee, biscuits, water |
| Postal Stamp of Nara | $0.50 | ¥50 |
| Total Costs | $102.40 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,262.90 | Per person |
Day 9 – Nagoya
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Tokyo Yaesu Hotel | $53 | $53 per person, per night |
| Meguru Loop Bus | $5.00 | ¥500 per person for a day-pass |
| Nagoya Castle | $4.00 | ¥400 per person |
| Railway Museum | $10.00 | ¥1,000 per person |
| Nagoya TV Tower | $7.00 | ¥700 per person |
| Train from Railway Museum to Nagoya Station | $3.50 | ¥350 per person for one ride |
| Taxi from Osu Kannon Temple to Railway Museum | $26.80 | ¥2,680 per person |
| Lunch | $9.10 | ¥910 per person |
| Water & snacks | $10.00 | ¥1,000. Coffee, biscuits, water |
| Postal Stamp of Nagoya | $0.50 | ¥50 |
| Dinner in Tokyo | $19.40 | ¥1,940 per person |
| Total Costs | $143.30 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,406.20 | Per person |
Day 10 – Tokyo & out
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Lockers at Tokyo Station | $10.00 | ¥1,000 per person |
| Narita Express | $12.80 | ¥1,280. NRT airport from Tokyo Station to NRT. One way. |
| Water & snacks | $10.00 | ¥1,000. Coffee, biscuits, water |
| Miscellaneous | $50.00 | Souvenirs, temple stamps, etc. |
| Total Costs | $83.80 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,490.00 | Per person |