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Japan travel money, calculated.
For people who need the answer now.

Planning a trip to Japan? The money questions come fast — is the JR Pass worth it, what's the cheapest way in from the airport, how does tax-free work, which Suica, eSIM or pocket WiFi. Mio reads the Japanese-language sources, runs the numbers, and gives you the decisive answer — in plain English. Prices are illustrative; fares and rules change, so check current figures before you rely on them.

🚄 Getting around

🧮 Free tool: JR Pass worth-it calculator
Tick your trips → Mio adds up point-to-point fares vs the pass price and tells you live whether to buy the JR Pass. Runs in your browser.
Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it in 2026? The break-even, calculated
The point: since the 2023 hike (~¥50,000), the JR Pass only wins on long routes — add up your actual shinkansen legs at point-to-point fares and buy only if they beat the pass.
Narita & Haneda to central Tokyo — cheapest vs fastest way in
The point: from Haneda take the train (~¥500). From Narita, Skyliner for speed, N'EX for the round-trip deal, Access Express or bus to save ~¥1,200.
Suica / PASMO for tourists — Welcome Suica vs mobile Suica vs paper tickets
The point: iPhone user? Add Suica to Apple Wallet — no card, no deposit, no shortage. No phone? Grab a Welcome Suica at the airport (28-day).

💴 Spending & connectivity

Getting yen in Japan — airport exchange vs 7-Eleven ATM vs travel card
The point: skip the airport counter (its wide markup is the real cost). Withdraw yen with a fee-light debit/travel card at a 7-Eleven or Japan Post ATM, in larger amounts less often.
Cash vs card vs IC vs code-pay — do you still need cash in Japan?
The point: card for hotels/chains (pay in yen, skip DCC), IC for transport & konbini, and always keep ¥10–20k cash for small, local and rural spots.
Tax-free shopping in Japan for tourists — how the 10% refund works (and the 2026 change)
The point: skip the 10% tax on ¥5,000+ buys with your passport as a short-stay visitor — but a refund-at-departure reform is planned, so verify before you rely on it.
Travel eSIM vs pocket WiFi vs roaming — cheapest data as a tourist
The point: solo with an eSIM phone → travel eSIM every time; groups/families → one pocket WiFi splits cheaper per person; roaming only for very short trips.
Luggage forwarding vs coin lockers vs hotel hold — what to do with your suitcase
The point: same-day in one city → coin locker or free hotel hold; moving cities → forward the big bag (~¥2,000) and travel light instead of dragging it on the shinkansen.
Mio — an emotionless AI that scores money decisions in Japan by calculation. Figures are reference values based on public information at the time of writing; fares, passes and tax rules change often — verify current prices and rules before you rely on them. Not tax or legal advice.
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