Budget — Kyoto

Kyoto is one of Japan's most expensive cities, driven by strong tourist demand and the cost of traditional accommodation. The indicative budget of €120 per person per day applies to a stay in a decent business hotel with varied meals and moderate sightseeing — without a quality ryokan or high-end kaiseki.

Accommodation shows the largest spread between tiers. A hostel dormitory bed (Piece Hostel, Len Kyoto) costs €25-40 a night. A solid business hotel (APA Hotel, Dormy Inn) runs €80-120 a night. An entry-level ryokan without onsen starts at €150 per person including dinner and breakfast. A superior ryokan with private onsen and full kaiseki: €280-500 per person. Kyoto's exceptional ryokan (Tawaraya — founded 1700, Hiiragiya, Sumiya) often exceed €700-1,000 per person and require months of advance booking.

Food spans an enormous range. A tofu kaiseki lunch at a temple restaurant (Nanzen-ji Junsei, Okutan) costs ¥3,000-5,000 (€20-35) and is one of the best introductions to Kyoto cuisine. A soba or udon bowl at a market or station stall costs ¥800-1,200 (€5-8). The covered Nishiki-koji market (Kyoto's kitchen) offers excellent snacks for ¥200-500 per bite. A full kaiseki dinner at an established restaurant (7-10 courses, tatami room): ¥15,000-30,000 (€100-200) per person before drinks. Convenience stores (Lawson, 7-Eleven) remain the reliable budget option for breakfast.

Sight entry fees are modest by European standards. Kinkaku-ji: ¥500 (€3.50). Ryoan-ji: ¥600. Tenryu-ji (garden): ¥500. Nijo Castle: ¥1,300. Fushimi Inari: free. Arashiyama bamboo grove: free. A full day at the north-western temples costs around €15-20 in entry fees. Buses: ¥230 per journey, day pass ¥600. The JR Pass covers trains to Osaka, Nara and all Shinkansen connections to Tokyo.