Budget — Japan

The reference budget of €130 / £110 per person per day in Japan reflects a comfortable couple's trip: a mid-range business hotel (Toyoko Inn, Dormy Inn, APA: ¥12,000–18,000 per double room, approximately £70–110), a sit-down lunch at a local counter restaurant (¥1,000–2,000/person), an izakaya or speciality dinner (¥3,000–5,000/person), local transport on an IC Card (¥500–800/day) and one or two temple or museum entries (¥500–1,500 each). The JR Pass (approximately £360 / €430 for 14 days) should be factored into the total — spread over a fortnight it adds around £25–30 per day.

A budget traveller can manage on £70–80 / €80–90 per day: hostel dorm (¥2,500–4,000/night), meals at gyudon chains like Yoshinoya or Sukiya (¥500–800 per meal) and konbini for breakfast, free jinja shrines for cultural content and careful pre-booking of any paid sights. Shinto shrines (jinja) are almost always free; it is Buddhist temples and their inner gardens and treasury buildings that charge admissions. The luxury end — a Kyoto ryokan with kaiseki dinner included (¥50,000–150,000/night), the Park Hyatt Tokyo, Michelin-starred kaiseki — clears £400–500 / €500–600 per day easily.

By spending category: accommodation (35–40%) from ¥3,000 capsule hotel through ¥10,000–18,000 business hotel to ¥40,000+ ryokan. Food and drink (25–30%): ¥600–900 konbini bento, ¥900–1,500 ramen, ¥3,000–6,000 izakaya dinner, ¥10,000–30,000 kaiseki. Local transport (15%): IC Card covering urban networks at ¥500–800/day. Sights (10%): ¥500–1,000 per temple, ¥600–1,600 national museum, ¥9,400 Disneyland. Shopping (10–15%): Japan is a paradise for electronics (Akihabara), ceramics (Kyoto), cosmetics (Shiseido, SK-II at Matsumoto Kiyoshi pharmacies) and kit — budget accordingly.

Key practical notes: cash is still widely preferred in Japan. Many traditional restaurants, rural ryokan and market stalls do not accept foreign cards, though the situation has improved markedly since 2020. Withdraw yen at 7-Bank ATMs (inside every 7-Eleven, available in English and French) or at Japan Post ATMs — both reliably accept Visa, Mastercard and Amex. Tipping is absent from Japanese culture and may cause genuine discomfort if attempted — do not tip at restaurants, taxis, hotels or ryokan. Finally, a few basic courtesy rules make a significant difference: remove shoes before entering a tatami-floored room, avoid speaking on the phone in trains and buses, and do not eat or drink while walking in most contexts. These are simple to remember and warmly appreciated.