Practical Info-Budget Travel-Affordable

• COSTS FOR TRAVELLING IN JAPAN

  The price chart below is designed to give an idea of what you can expect to pay for a variety of everyday and travel-related items in Japan. The prices in euros and sterling are the yen costs converted so you can see what it equals in your currency.
  

  Food & Drink	JP¥	EU€	GB£
  Cola (350ml)	120	0.95	0.83
  Mineral Water (500ml)	130	1.00	0.90
  McDonald's Hamburger	100	0.80	0.68
  Cup of Coffee (short at Dotour)	200	1.60	1.38
  Beer (pint)	500	3.95	3.43

  
  
  

  Restaurants	JP¥	EU€	GB£
  Conveyor Belt Sushi	100	0.97	0.78
  Tachigui (one dish eg. soba noodles)	280	2.71	2.18
  Izakaya (casual Japanese style pub eg. Watami course menu including 3 hours of drinks)	3,500	33.90	27.30
  Yoshinoya beef bowl	380	3.68	2.97

   
  
  
  

  Accommodation	JP¥	EU€	GB£
  Youth Hostel (per person eg. Tokyo Central YH)	3,360	26.50	22.90
  Business Hotel (single room eg. Toyoko Inn in central Tokyo)	6,480	51.13	44.13
  Western Style Hotel (mid range, double room)	15,000	118.35	102.20
  Japanese Inn (per person eg. ryokan in Hakone area)	9,000	71.00	61.30

  
  
  

  Transport & Tours	JP¥	EU€	GB£
  Japan Rail Pass - 7 Day Pass	28,300	223.27	192.77
  Underground Fare (single ride on Tokyo Metro)	160	1.26	1.08
  One day underground pass	710	5.60	4.83
  Guided Tour (half -day Tokyo sight seeing tour)	5,000	39.42	34.05
  Night bus fare (Tokyo - Kyoto eg. on Willer bus)	3,000	23.65	20.42
  Domestic air fare: JAL 'Yokoso Japan Airpass' (one sector, incl taxes)	10,500	82.84	71.55
  ANA Experience Japan Fare (any where in Japan, incl tax)	10,500	82.84	71.55

   
  
  
  

  Amusement / Entertainment	JP¥	EU€	GB£
  Sumo (2nd floor, section C, reserved seat)	3,600	28.41	24.53
  Karaoke (2 hours)	600	4.73	4.09

  
  
  

  Shopping	JP¥	EU€	GB£
  100¥	100	0.80	0.68
  T -Shirt (UNIQLO)	790	6.23	5.38
  Yukata (cotton Kimono eg. UNIQLO)	2,990	23.60	20.37
  New iPad (from an Apple store)	42,000	331.50	286.20
  Japan Times Newspaper (published in English)	180	1.42	1.22

  Prices are correct as of 6 February 2013 based on the exchange rate of £1 = 146 yen and €1 = 126 yen.

• DINING OUT

  Dining out in Japan doesn't have to be expensive. Restaurant dining in Tokyo for example is certainly no more expensive than in most other world capitals and is often better value for money. Wherever you travel, restaurants in popular tourist areas will always cost more. Follow the locals and you will generally find both lower prices and more authentic Japanese cuisine. Avoid restaurants that don't list their prices outside the door. The people who can afford to eat in these places don't need to know how much they will have to pay. Budget dining can usually be enjoyed at more casual establishments such as Izakaya (Japanese pubs), Shokudo (general eating places, often with set meals), and Okonomiyaki restaurants ('Japanese pizza' places).
  
  For more information on Japanese food please see this link.
  

• TRANSPORTATION

  If you are flying to Japan with one of the country's national carriers, Japan Airlines (JAL) or All Nippon Airways (ANA), and intend to take a domestic flight during your stay, it is worth buying your domestic ticket in conjunction with your international ticket. Both JAL and ANA can offer considerable savings on the cost of internal flights purchased in this way. Contact JAL or ANA for further details. See the transportation section of this site to find out more about discounts on domestic airfares.
  
  With the Japan Rail Pass, foreign visitors to Japan can enjoy discounted travel on nearly all services of the extensive JR Transportation Network, including the Shinkansen or 'bullet train'. There are also a variety of other rail passes, which offer significant reductions on rail travel in Japan. Long distances buses and local train services are other low-cost transport options.
  
  Taxis in Japan are expensive so long taxi rides are best avoided. Fortunately Japan's efficient and affordable local transportation networks mean that taxis are rarely required.
  
  For further information on transport within Japan please see this link.
  

• ACCOMMODATION

  The cost and quality of accommodation in Japan is comparable with that of most other developed countries and there is something to suit every taste and wallet. Budget options include the Welcome Inn Group, the Japanese Inn Group, the Japan Economy Hotel Group, the Japan City Hotel Association and Youth Hostels. Brochures for each these organisations are available from your nearest JNTO Office.
  
  Japanese Inn Group
  Japan Economy Hotel Group
  Japan City Hotel Association
  Youth Hostels
  
  Reasonably priced accommodation can also be booked on-line at:
  Japan Travel Bureau
  Nippon Travel Agency - Japan Hotel Pass
  Holders of the Japan Rail Pass are entitled to a 10% discount on accommodation at any of the JR Group of Hotels. There are 30 JR Hotels across Japan.
  JR Hotels across Japan
  
  For more information on accommodation please see this link.
  

• SIGHTSEEING

  There are currently nine cities/regions in Japan that offer a discount "Welcome Card" service. Welcome Cards entitle foreign visitors to reductions on attraction and museum entry fees, meals, souvenir shops and accommodation, and are available for the following areas:
  
  Aomori Prefecture (Northern Honshu)
  
  Kagawa Prefecture
  
  Narita City (and surrounds)
  
  Mt Fuji (including the Hakone and Izu regions)
  
  Fukuoka City
  
  Kitakyushu City
  *The Tokai Region (including the Aichi, Gifu, Mie and Shizuoka Prefectures, and Nagoya City)
  
  The Tokyo Museum Pass (for discounts on entry to 46 facilities including museums, art galleries, zoos and aquariums in Tokyo)
  
  Most of the Cards are available free of charge when you present your passport at Tourist Information Centres (TICs) or local tourist information offices ("i" Information Centres). Other cards are internet based and are available at the links provided above.
  
  For more information on Welcome Cards or contact your nearest JNTO Office.