How Expensive is it to Travel in Japan? Budget Breakdown

We break down what we spent during our 30-day backpacking trip around Japan in 2018 and update those costs for a comparable trip in January 2025. We compare accommodation, JR passes, daily spending, activities, buses, and different itinerary lengths, including two- and three-week trips. We also share ways to save money, such as cooking, using buses, carrying some cash, and getting an IC card for transportation and convenience stores.