Guide to planning a cheap trip to Japan

Yes, it is possible to travel to Japan and not go bankrupt! Of course, like anywhere else, if you want to spend money, you can spend as much as you want in the land of the rising sun, but we at Hostelworld assure you that if backpacking is your thing, this country will surprise you in a very positive way. Here are our tips on how to save money during your trip.

Sleep in a ryokan or capsule hotel

For a 100% Japanese experience, we recommend spending one or more nights in a ryokan, which are Japanese-style inns that usually include breakfast and are much more affordable than Western-style hotels. These are Japanese-style inns, which usually include breakfast and are much more affordable than Western-style hotels – rest assured, the experience of sleeping on a futon on a traditional tatami mat and eating a traditional Japanese breakfast is priceless! In addition, ryokans will in most cases provide you with a pair of yukata (or sleeping robe) and a tea set so you can brew your own tea – all very Japanese!

On the other hand, if you don’t mind small spaces and don’t want to spend more than 15 or 20 euros a night, sleeping in a capsule hotel is another essential part of Japanese culture. We have a long list of both types of accommodation on Hostelworld, so get started on finding yours here!

If you’re travelling to Kyoto, feel free to stay at Nagomi-Ryokan Yuu (pictured above)

Eat well… on a budget!

Despite what most travelers think, food in Japan is very cheap and the amount of food is usually generous. Many Japanese choose not to shop at the supermarket and eat at a restaurant on their own because… it’s not worth it! Besides, there is a wide variety of delicious dishes and flavours on offer, most of which are very healthy. Two good places to get a bowl of good noodles or gyudon with eel and miso soup are the cheap restaurants of the Sukiya or Yoshinoya chains, which are like a Japanese-style McDonald’s but with unrivalled quality, variety and quantity, for as little as 500-600 yen (about 5 euros)! For this reason, it is very common for salaried men and ordinary people to eat here at any time of the day or night. Another advantage: there is always free water with the meal. Note that it has a light and pleasant ginger flavor – highly recommended!

Use the JR Pass and the Hyperdia website to travel around the country

don’t panic, getting around the Land of the Rising Sun is easier than it looks! If you want to plan a cheap trip, here are two tips: first, get the famous Japan Rail Pass, a customizable travel document that allows you to travel around the country or regions you’re interested in by shinkansen (or high-speed train) as much as you want, on the days that best suit your trip and budget (book it at www.japan-rail-pass.es). We can assure you it’s worth it, because one round trip between Tokyo and Kyoto… costs more than a seven-day JR Pass! Plus, the pass includes the city’s most important JR lines, like the Yamanote line (Tokyo’s circle line), so you’ll save big on the subway!

Once you have the JR Pass, the second tool we recommend is the Hyperdia website (available at www.hyperdia.com/en or as a mobile app), where you’ll have all the train and line schedules in the country at your fingertips. Remember that Japan is one of the most punctual countries in the world, so don’t be late for your train!

Buy your ticket well in advance

it doesn’t have to be a year in advance! The important thing is to have two or three months’ notice and try to avoid the busiest months such as June, July or August. We did a test and found return tickets between Madrid and Tokyo for less than 400 euros. If you have some flexibility on dates, we recommend apps like Skyscanner to help you find the best flight for your budget. What are you waiting for?

now you have no excuse not to head to the Land of the Rising Sun!

Thanks to Laura Núñez, the author of this article, and Andrés Nieto for the fantastic Flickr image.