Japan: How expensive is it really?
 

As we plan for our early spring trip to Japan next year, I'm curious what others think as to the overall pricing in Japan.

I keep hearing horror stories from friends at social events who've been recently and say things like 'take your entire food budget for the 2 weeks you were in Bali and that's 2 days in Japan.'

I know it's expensive, but is it really that prohibitively expensive?

I expect hotels to be in the $300-400 range for Tokyo, but once we get outside of Tokyo, can we expect to pay that much at a decent ryokan/hotel?

I'm starting to get a bit concerned that this trip is going to break the bank.

Comparing Bali to Tokyo is the old apples to oranges thing.

You can get a King Room at the Hyatt in Tokyo where I stay for around $220.00 US per night for two people year round and very nice. Many, many, many cheaper options abound in Tokyo. Of course you can pay $500.00 to 650.00 per night at the Park Hyatt,Four Seasons, Peninsula or the Ritz but that is standard worldwide with these hotels.

Here is a listing of budgets in Japan that might help you get a better picture than the ones your friends are painting for you.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2410.html

You don't have to<i> break the bank</i> with a trip to Japan <b>especially</b> with all the fodorites around here to help out, but you already know that.

Have you come up with a itinerary yet, just curious? ;)

Aloha!

I have stayed in Tokyo three times and paid $180 per night for both the Incontinental Tokyo Bay and the Park Hotel Tokyo. I paid $140 for the Villa Fontaine Mita.

We found Tokyo cheaper than Paris and Rome for quality food, and cheaper than NYC and Boston for drinks, if that helps.

A ryokan will set you back $100-250 per person but they often include kaiseki meals or outrageous buffets that would cost much more in a restaurant.

We find Japan cheaper than travelling in the USA and Europe.

Actually one of the Four Seasons(there are two in Tokyo) is having a special where you pay $440.00 per night and get the third night free so you average out to $290.00 or thereabouts per night.

Can't compare to Bali at all (yet!), but we paid about $120/night for the Shinagawa Price Hotel and 130/night for the Shinjuku Citadines this past Feb. Keep an eye on the hotel promotions, as the Shinagawa chain had multiple different promotions in the several months before our trip.

In Kyoto we stayed in a townhouse on homeaway.com that was about $130/night.

We didn't have any big dinners out and had a few meals at home while we were in the townhouse, so food wasn't a bank breaker.

Where money did fritter away was on transportation - this bus pass here, this subway there, etc. We had the JR 7 Day pass for the trip and got a day pass for one day in Kyoto, but the little trips outside of those added up for a family of 4.

I also found it really easy spend a pocket full of 100 Yen coins.... I miss the coffee vending machines!

The Shinagawa Prince Hotel is currently offering free buffet breakfasts with our room booking (we booked for the first week in June). We found it came out cheaper than Hotel Pacific Tokyo (fka Le Meridian) next door which doesn't include breakfast.

There are very expensive restaurants as well as cheap, inexpensive diners, just like any other metropolis around the world.

We're going to Tokyo and Kyoto in July. Prices vary by time of year, day of week, and also the restrictions on the reservation (eg, refund policy). There are also extra charges for a second person everywhere I've looked - up to almost 1/3 more, even without breakfast. Tax and fees are adding 15.5% to our lodging charges.

I've booked carefully as DH is tall - 6 ft 4 in. There are less expensive rooms everywhere we've booked but the beds are shorter. (They have bed sizes published at a lot of hotels.)

It is definitely turning out to be one of our more expensive trips. The dollar is bad vis-a-vis the yen, as well.

We are staying in very good hotels. Kyoto is going to average us just over $300/night, including tax and breakfast. (Blended rate of a special festival and holiday wkend and lower wk rate) We had very few choices in Kyoto due to it being a holiday and booking about 3 months in advance. I looked at several less expensive hotels and they were already booked. If you want choice, and are coming at a popular time, book early.

For Tokyo, I got a good rate our first night by pre-paying and accepting a non-refundable rate - again just over $300 for one night. I got a second hotel for the end of our trip that is not as conveniently located, but I love their website and the comments about them on tripadvisor - for just over $200/night(so friendly!).

Hope this helps. We do not normally stay in such expensive hotels. The ryokans I looked at cost more. This is our first trip to Japan. Next time, we may feel more at ease booking differently, and I will hopefully have enough lead time to book well in advance.

Forgot to add, I found the rates lowest when I directly booked through the hotel. This is difficult for some of the non-international hotels, though. It was hard to navigate some of their websites. Some of the hotels are just huge, and you'd read somewhere to book in this or that tower or annex, or above a certain floor, and it took a lot of time to figure this out, going through webpage after page, and sometimes the info wasn't all there. A lot do provide bedsize in centimeters, and I had to convert to inches, plus measure our own beds, as I had no idea what we were used to.

I was telling DH, if we were going to Europe, I wouldn't be looking so hard at all the details, but I feel like we are going somewhere really different, and I want to have as many bases covered as possible before we walk into this land where communications could be a challenge. (Somehow, in Europe, it never is. Enough speak English, I can read all the signs, and I know a bit of a few other languages- enough to get by, plus body language is similar. Japan seems very exotic to me. I'm sure this trip will make it seem a lot easier and I am already thinking about planning future trips to Asia.)

I'm from NYC and I really didn't find the food/restaurant prices in Tokyo to be outrageous at all. Plenty of small local places to eat ramen, sushi etc for very reasonable prices.

As for hotels, my one caveat would be to at least splurge for a hotel with a concierge. I am normally a DIY type traveller, and like figuring things out on my own. But in Tokyo it was very helpful to have a concierge print out a map of where to go and label/highlight it etc. Otherwise it would be next to impossible to find a precise street + building number on your own.

One of the many things I love about Japan in general and Tokyo in particular is that you don't forsake cleanliness and neighborhood safety when you go from a $350/nite room to a $100/niter. Instead, the difference is in room size, room appointments, hotel facilities and staff, and toniness of neighborhood. I paid about $120 for the large room at the Sutton Place a few mos ago, and I'd challenge anyone to find a comparably nice room in a comparably decent neighborhood in NYC, Paris, London, or Venice. (OK, I might know some places in Paris in the 14th, but they wouldn't have the Toto and a good-size flat-screen tv.)

For food, an astounding amount of money can be paid for the presentation of food. The difference between a sushi dinner that will cost $250 at fancy sushi restaurant like Roku Roku (at the Hyatt in Roppongi) and the sushi dinner that will cost $35 at a modest place like on of the Sushi Zanmai shops is largely in the ambience of the dining room, the presentations, and the skill level of the sushi chef. The quality and freshness of the fish will be excellent in either place.

FW-thanbks for starting this thread. Japan is definitely on our radar, but we have price concerns as welll. It sounds like it is affordable, but one needs to pay careful attention to details.

We have been to Japan three times now and are planning our fourth visit this fall. We find the cost the same or cheaper than traveling here in the US. We live in Northern CA. I can eat in Japan a lot cheaper than I can eating out here at home.

Please remember that when you book a ryokan at $200.00 per person that does include your lodgings plus a kaiseki dinner and breakfast that would cost you an arm and a leg if bought in a fancy restaurant. Also included in your price is the use of the hot springs and baths in which everything is supplied for you(ie soap,shampoos, towels, toothbrush,sleep wear). The baths in the $200.00 range of ryokan are like country clubs here in the States, believe me. All you need to bring to a ryokan is the clothes you are wearing and a change of underwear if you want. They supply the rest so all in all we find it a bargain to stay in a ryokan for all that is included in the price.

We have stayed at the Citadines in Tokyo and loved it at $180.00 per night.

http://www.citadines.com/en/japan/tokyo/shinjuku.html

The other poster covered the hotels pretty well.

For restaurants, I felt there seems to be a tiered system not obvious to the visitors. There seem to be restaurants for those who pay for their own meals and the restaurants meant to impress others using expense accounts. The former are similar to the U.S.; cheap fast food, business decent meals, nice family out restaurants, and special occasion high end restaurants. I have stumbled into some in probably the expense account mostly category. The maitre d' usually indicated to me in very oblique ways that I did not belong there. I followed their lead and got a heck out of those places. One of my colleague told me he did not get the hint and had a miserable expensive experience.

The transportation is expensive. Take advantage of the savings provided by various regional passes. Additionally, the ticket offices don't always accept credit cards, so the cash was flying out of my wallet.

For hotel, maximum you will pay is 300$ per night maximum, i paid that last for Royal Park exec floor with huge breakfest for 2 persons. Meal are cheaper than in NY ou Boston. Stay out of the tourist restaurant and it will be cheap and good. A must is a Japan Rail pass, cheap and efficient system.

Have a good trip

An alternative to restaurants is to buy pre-prepared foods (or whole meals) in the foodhalls of department stores (generally the basement). The range of food was great and certainly cheaper than eating out all the time. I was like a kid in a lolly shop - I didn't know what to try next!

Make sure you always have some cash on hand as credit cards are less common than we are used to in the west.

Some prices of various food items from various outlets (Nov 2009):

Y210-Y245 - premade sandwiches from Lawsons
Y179 - 2 litre bottle of water
Y105-Y147 - bottled softdrink/soda (~500ml) from Lawsons
Y472 - 3 x yakatori chicken skewers from Takashimaya
Y150 - bagel from Bagel & Bagel
Y138 - Meiji chocolate bar
Y160 - ice cream from vending machine
Y290 - prawn/shrimp burger from McDonalds
Y120 - large flavoured rice cracker from street vendor
Y500 - 8 x 'octopus balls' from street vendor, Miyajima Island
Y735 - hot noodle, cabbage omlet type dish from food hall
Y346 - chicken meatballs from Daimaru foodhall
Y293 - small salad from Daimaru foodhall

The convenience stores also sell packs of plastic cutlery quite cheap and small (~100ml) bottles of soy sauce. I bought one to use in the hotel room on my foodhall dinners.

I mistakenly bought a bottle of Aquanus drink instead of water one day. It wasn't very nice and definitely not thirst quenching.

One tourist past time in Japan is specialty Kit Kat hunting. There are many different types, which can vary from region to region and also season to season. Avoid the 'carrot and apple' flavour - not nice. The 'Ginger Ale' flavour was surprisingly nice. It had a bit of a sherbie taste with a mild hint of ginger.

Also Pepsi put out a new flavour about once a year for a limited time. When I was there it was Azuki Bean flavour. It was different, but not awful. It didn't really taste like Pepsi, just some other flavoured soft drink.

About 13-15% more expensive than when I went (yen is at 90; was at 103-106).

Load up breakfast foods at Vie de France -- less expensive and better than Au Bon Pain or similar US chains, found at most of the major train stations.

Oakwood residence hotels = less than $200/night.

Agree with Speckles re: department store basements -- there are some really good ones near the major train stations. KitKat hunting is a good pastime outside the US because of its unique manufacture: in the US, KitKats are made by Hershey's under license from Nestle; in the rest of the world, they are Nestle confections and Nestle tries to cater to local tastes (Hazelnut in Poland was excellent). That said, Japan has a wide range of them.

In Tokyo, we stayed at a nice Toyoko Inn in Asakusa for about $100 a night double including taxes and a simple breakfast.

We booked accomodations too close to Cherry Blossom season to have a lot of selection, but we ended up in a very pleasant ryokan (Sawaya Honten) in Kyoto for 23,000 yen a night with private bath and breakfast.

At that price it obviously was not an upper end ryokan with meals served in your room (which we wouldn't want anyway), but it gave us a taste of the ryokan experience at any rate. Service was cheerful and efficient and the location was fine.

We only got the private bath because it didn't cost a lot more to avoid having to get up in the middle of the night and leave the room in case nature called. Just FYI--we also stayed in a couple of places on our trip that did not have private bathrooms, and we found them to be uniformly clean and not overrun with guests. In fact, we usually did not encounter other guests at all when using the facilities.

Greg's post on the restaurant experience (being in the wrong one) reminded me of an experience I had checking out hotels in Tokyo. Just for grins, I priced out one of the new Tokyo hotels, the Shangri-La. They are up there with the Peninsula, and others you will read are five-star. Somewhere on their website (I think it was "Hotel Fax") they say that it is a business hotel and guests are expected to dress appropriately. I don't remember exactly how they put it, but it was clear that capris, tees and daypacks - typical tourist clothes, were NOT okay. I was quite taken aback by that. I x'ed out that entire category of luxury hotels when I read that. Actually, we got a great rate at the Strings Intercontinental for our first night (That's the hotel where I accepted a "no refund" rate - yikes! Plane better not be delayed!), so we'll be in one hotel that is pretty high up there. We're only breezing in fairly late in the evening and leaving in the morning, so I'm not too worried about what I'll be wearing in their public spaces. I hope it's not a snooty one, though.

I'll do a trip report when we get back and let you know if we got the look anywhere. We're staying at the Granvia in Kyoto, which isn't cheap but they are used to tourists so I can't imagine they are snooty. (crossing my fingers!)

We're staying at the Hotel Niwa in Tokyo our last night. Check out its website, also tripadvisor comments. Sweet. It's a bit of a walk from the train station but I figure we'll be more comfortable getting around by the time we get there. Our rate there with tax is just over $200/night. We got the larger sized beds, again, due to DH's height, so there are less expensive options. (And no, I'm not fat like an orca - I'm actually trim. I just like orcas)

I've stayed at several Shangri-La hotels and all have been welcoming to me as a leisure traveler. Could you be more specific about what you saw on the web site, Orcas?

The Strings is a much smaller hotel than the Shangri-La. During the week, you're more likely to see lots more people in businessman costumes than in tanks and backpacks, but I would expect the hotel staff to be equally accommodating and gracious to both.

Found it:

"Dress
Japan has hot summers and cold winters, so plan your wardrobe accordingly. A smart suit is essential for business meetings, and it is not advisable to go to a first-class hotel, a theatre or a restaurant wearing casual clothing."

La tee da. The only good thing about this is that it is hard to find on the website. Here is where you can find it:

http://www.shangri-la.com/en/propert...la/facts/dress

I'm hoping this is a sign of the Shangri-la trying to attract a certain type of clientele (business and snobs) and not reflective of all first class hotels in Tokyo, though this is how they phrase it. Maybe a cultural difference, or perhaps I am unfamiliar with the world of the rich and famous. In any case, not my cup of tea, and wouldn't be, even if I were rich and famous. Who knows? Maybe I am....(not!)

Orcas, I will read with interest your report about how you felt you were treated by the Japanese people after your return.

Put me in your snob category I guess because I do think that a smart suit is essential for a business meeting in Japan and would not wear casual clothes (shorts and a tee shirt) into a theater, restaurant or a first class hotel.

You are spot on about the cultural differences as it is all about <b>respect</b> in Japan not about being a snob at all. Being a snob in Japan would loose you a lot of face.

Wow--this is a lot of great stuff to chew on.

I have to say that planning for Japan has been slightly overwhelming so far...so, no, HT, I have not yet figured out an itinerary quite yet.

I've actually been pouring over a guidebook I bought a few weeks ago and it's all so overwhelming. Every major tourist area seems interesting (and has something worth seeing) and it's near impossible to see everything in 2 weeks. My head is spinning!

Usually I have a very clear idea of where I want to go and rarely have a hard time coming up with multiple itineraries for our trips...if anything it's a matter of X'ing things off the list, but it seems like anywhere is a possibility in Japan and coming up with even one proposed plan has been hard.

Hopefully this will get a bit easier. I think I could plan a trip to the wilds of Borneo entirely blindfolded easier than this.

hawaiiantraveler, Having read about Japan, I am not planning on shorts and tees, but, since it will be summer and I will be out and about in the heat and humidity, I am planning on capris and button up shirts with short sleeves. I am relegated to comfortable walking shoes or sandals, which will not fit the "business" look, either. I will have something like a fanny pack or backpack to carry my tour book, a light jacket for the ac, and the things I buy. Business attire for touring in the heat and humidity - no way.

I do appreciate what you are saying about respect, but I don't think a "smart suit" or the female equivalent, is appropriate for touring. So, the hotel is not for me, nor probably for most tourists who plan to be out and about walking for hours.

I just wonder how many other hotels expect this. It is definitely a different culture.

filmwill, I know what you mean. We have only a week, and finally decided to spend it all in Kyoto. I'm glad we did, as I am finding way too much to do at that single destination to do in the five full days we have there. I am planning on a couple of day trips, but trying to keep it simple and minimize travel between places. Some of the guidebooks have suggested two week itineraries, and there are also websites you could look at and see what the tours do. It is a huge country. I hear the distance north to south is almost like Maine to Florida, so you really will have to pick and choose. I figure we'll go back. Who knows? Once you start reading about it and getting into Asia, then you start thinking about other destinations. But, from where we live, nearly all flights go through Japan, so it's a good place to break up a trip.

(We're also going to Singapore this trip, but it seems real easy. DH is going on business - OMG - We're staying at a business hotel...a top one, in fact, but I'm not concerned. I'll look good enough. And they speak English, there are walking tours, and I know I will have no trouble getting around on my own while he is working. It feels real different than going to Japan - still very interesting, but less of a challenge. Plus it's a lot smaller, of course.)

On our last trip to Japan we found the hotel and restaurant prices to be exactly the same as LA or NY...The first time I was there I would say they were double or triple. A great improvement, but still nothing like Bali.

BTW, I know you were also considering Africa and abandoned that plan because of cost - I just arranged a safari for the whole family, and although prices are outrageous compared to SE Asia, there are deals to be had.

Orcas, I'm sorry but I don't think your getting the point of what I was saying. No one is saying you have to tour in a business suit in Japan but you. The hotel is just informing you of dress codes in general and not necessarily of their hotel. When they say not to go to a first class restaurant or the theater in casual clothing it does not mean you have to wear a suit. Just dress respectfully like you would at home. You don't need to wear a suit everywhere.

The writers on the hotel website are being polite and English is a foreign language to them so you when you scrutinize their every written word you can miss their intended meaning. Again I am sorry for the misunderstanding and don't mean to sound condescending. Just trying to inform.

filmwill, Two weeks would give you time for a few days in Tokyo, a few days in Kyoto with day trips from both if you want and maybe two more cities, areas or towns to get the real taste of it all. You could fit in a couple of more places if you wanted to go faster as the transport systems(shinkansen) are fantastic and you can be somewhere else pretty darn quickly, but taking your time would be better the first time around. Don't worry about seeing it all your first time.....you'll be back,lol

Aloha!

btw you will be fine in the capris and button up shirts everywhere you go except a business meeting ;)

Aloha!

Thanks, Hawaiiantraveler, I do get your point. Also, I think your thoughts on the language issue are interesting - also cultural. That is part of what fascinates me about the upcoming trip. I'm really looking forward to it!

The Japanese inspire us with their decorum and dress sense. They dress so neatly, even in casual clothes (and as our Japanese friend puts it "relax wear.")

It's interesting that the original Japanese language page of the said section on Shangri-La simply says that for first class establishments, a jacket is recommended. It doesn't say you shouldn't wear casual clothing. So a summer attire of cotton pants, polo shirt and a light summer jacket is perfectly acceptable just about anywhere in Japan. Even capris and sandals etc would be entirely ok for going in and out of their hotel - just not appropriate in more formal settings like their high-end restaurants.

Interesting, Alec. So much is Lost in Translation, as they say.

Yes Orcas, lost in translation

I agree with the other posts. Let me add that my husband is 6'3" and has been challenged by several of the traditional Japanese hotels we have stayed at with our Japanese friends because of this. I am reminded of a stay several years ago where the onsen kimono just did not fit nor did the wrist bracelet for his locker key. There were many good-natured chuckles-all part of the joy of travel to different lands and experiencing their cultures. Same goes for the tatami mats and little plastic stools used to pre-bathe before using the onsen. He has been a very good sport about this.

You will not find Japanese men wearing shorts, even in the summer, humid months but suits are not necessary. My husband will usually change into khakis and a polo shirt. I have worn pants and capris when the weather is warm even in the most high-end hotels. Let's face it- everyone already knows you are western and in modern Japan it is accepted. You need to be certain that you can easily remove your shoes for temples and homes and should either be wearing socks or have a pair with you. Also, for ladies, bring along a small washcloth-handkerchief since most restrooms do not have paper towels to dry hands-they cause litter and are frowned upon. You can buy them in many department stores which have incredible selections since they are a very popular and necessary item for reasonable prices. They also make great gifts.

We travel to Japan nearly every year for the past 9 years. While we stay in the Ginza while in Tokyo because it is the most convenient for my husband's business, there are many affordable options. Remember that you don't tip in restaurants or just about anywhere, including hotels and taxis (maybe round up); you can eat relatively cheaply in ramen shops, chain sushi restaurants and food courts in train stations; buying a subway pass from the machine in the subway station will save you yen on multiple trips; get cash from ATM's which are much more prevalent now than in past years for the best exchange rate(they are also in post offices). You can spend a small fortune on meals and hotels but with a little research and a desire to interact more with locals, you can stretch your dollar. Unfortunately, the dollar has taken a beating against the yen. In September 2007, the yen was 121 to $1. It is now 92 yen to $1. Nevertheless, we love Japan, the people and the culture. We'll be there for 3 days in February.

We just returned from our 6th trip to Japan.We stayed this time for 33 days.I agree with MKK that we have never found anything not affordable in this wonderful country.If you go with the mindset that the yen is = to the dollar then it is no problem for us.

Even our Japanese friends say that when we go to tourist places the "salary men" are always in their suits. This trip my husband and our friend wore polo shirts and jeans. If you realize that a pair of Levis in Japan cost 15,000y($150+) you could look on them as higher end wear. I wore jeans the whole time.My tops were either polos or I found some wonderful japanese clothes.I'm short and its great to find something that will actually fit there. One word of advice and you will notice it when you get there the older women do not show alot of skin. Like sleeveless dresses are worn with a t-shirt or something under.Nothing very tight.

The ryokans are wonderful deals. Where can you go for $200-300 a night and get a wonderful Japanese experience and two meals? sometimes served in your room.

The country is clean and safe. Courteous and wherever we go if we say English please they go out of their way to communicate. Our friends always laugh at us because we look Japanese but don't speak it so people start rattling off at us and we have to explain that we're American and don't speak the language but we're learning.

We can't wait to go back.I wasn't ready to come home.