What a Good Japan Trip Actually Costs (Honest Numbers)
Japan is both more affordable and more expensive than people expect — depending on what you want. Here's what a well-done trip costs at different levels, with real numbers.
Japan surprises people in both directions. It's cheaper than expected for food — genuinely. ¥1,200 for a bowl of ramen that's better than anything you'd find in most Western cities. ¥800 for a tonkatsu lunch that earns it. Street food and standing bars are not compromise options; they're their own category of excellent.
It's more expensive than expected for accommodation, particularly if you want the kind that makes the trip worth talking about afterward. And flights from the US or Europe are what they are.
Here's what a well-done Japan trip actually costs, with real numbers.
Flights
Business class from the US East Coast to Tokyo: ¥600,000–¥900,000 ($4,000–$6,000) per person at retail. ANA and JAL both fly nonstop from JFK; United and Delta from various hubs.
The trip is 14+ hours. Arriving in a flat bed makes the first two days of the trip work. Arriving cramped does the opposite.
Points redemptions: ANA business on United miles is one of the better values in frequent flyer programs — 88,000 miles round trip when available, and availability does exist if you plan 10–12 months ahead.
Accommodation
This is where the range is most dramatic.
| Type | Price range per night |
|---|---|
| Good business hotel (APA, Dormy Inn) | ¥12,000–¥25,000 |
| Mid-range ryokan | ¥30,000–¥60,000 |
| Top-tier ryokan (Tawaraya, Hiiragiya) | ¥80,000–¥200,000 |
| Aman Kyoto | ¥150,000–¥400,000+ |
The nights that matter most: the ryokan stay(s) and wherever you're based in Tokyo. The nights in transit — arriving late, leaving early — are fine at a good business hotel.
Two ryokan nights in Kyoto, five nights in a good Tokyo hotel for a seven-night trip comes to roughly ¥350,000–¥600,000 in accommodation for two people. That's the real range for doing it properly without going all-in on Aman pricing.
Dining
The most interesting part of the Japan cost calculation is that the range is enormous and both ends are genuinely worth experiencing.
| Meal type | Cost per person |
|---|---|
| Ramen, tonkatsu, soba lunch | ¥800–¥2,000 |
| Mid-level restaurant dinner | ¥5,000–¥12,000 |
| Omakase counter (serious) | ¥20,000–¥50,000 |
| Top-tier (Saito, Yoshitake) | ¥60,000–¥80,000 |
A useful approach: plan three or four meals you're genuinely excited about — one omakase, one tasting menu, one specific counter you've read about — and let the rest happen as it comes. The unplanned meals in Japan are often as good as the planned ones.
The weak yen
As of early 2025, the yen remains well below its historical average against the dollar and euro. A trip that would have cost substantially more in 2019 costs considerably less now in real terms. This affects accommodation and dining more than flights.
It won't last indefinitely. If Japan is on your list, the current exchange rate is a real argument for going sooner.
The number
A ten-night trip to Tokyo and Kyoto, done well — business class flights from the East Coast, two nights in a genuine ryokan, three or four serious meals, good hotels for the rest — runs $15,000–$22,000 for two people.
That's the honest range. It can go lower if you skip business class and stick to mid-range accommodation. It can go considerably higher if you stay at Aman and eat at Saito. The version in the middle — the one where you fly comfortably, sleep somewhere worth sleeping, eat a few meals you'll still be talking about — is the one this site is aimed at.
A note on sources — The information in this article reflects a mix of personal experience travelling in Japan and research from publicly available sources. Prices, hours, and availability change — always verify directly with restaurants, hotels, or operators before making plans.