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

🚄 7-Day JR Pass

Whole-Japan rail pass — wins only on long routes since the 2023 hike. Run the calculator first, then reserve here.

🚉 Keisei Skyliner (Narita → Tokyo)

Fastest Narita transfer (~36 min). Discounted online vs the ticket counter — book the e-ticket ahead.

📶 Japan travel eSIM

Solo phone with eSIM support → cheapest data. Install before you land — QR delivered instantly.

💳 Welcome Suica (no deposit)

No iPhone / can't add mobile Suica? Grab the tourist IC card — pick up on arrival, tap trains & konbini.

🚇 Tokyo Subway 24/48/72h Pass

4+ subway rides a day staying central → this beats tapping IC. Reserve the voucher, redeem at the airport.

♨️ Hakone Free Pass

One loop (train + ropeway + pirate ship + Shinjuku round trip) already beats per-leg fares. Book the pass.

🐒 Snow Monkey day tour

From Tokyo it's a ~12h, ~¥22,800 DIY trek — a guided tour removes the transfers. Reserve a dated slot.

🌇 Shibuya Sky (sunset slot)

The rooftop sunset window sells out first and costs more at the counter. Book the timed slot ahead.

🧮 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. Runs in your browser.

⭐ How much does a week in Japan cost? (real 2026 budget)

Start here: ¥8–12k/day budget, ¥15–25k mid, ¥30–50k+ luxury — so a week is ~¥56k–350k (no flights). The tier gap is almost all sleep + dinner. Plus the hidden costs that blow it.

⭐ The 10 WORST money mistakes tourists make in Japan (with the math)

Start here: the defaults that quietly cost the most — paying in your home currency, the ¥50,000 JR Pass on autopilot, ¥20,000+ day trips. Fix the top 3 and save ¥20,000–30,000.

Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it in 2026?

The point: since the 2023 hike (~¥50,000), it only wins on long routes — add up your shinkansen legs first.

Narita & Haneda to central Tokyo — cheapest vs fastest

The point: from Haneda take the train (~¥500); from Narita, Skyliner for speed, N'EX for the round-trip deal, bus to save.

Kansai Airport (KIX) to Osaka & Kyoto — cheapest for tourists

The point: south Osaka → Nankai ~¥930; Umeda → JR Rapid ~¥1,210; Kyoto → Haruka + the ICOCA & HARUKA tourist discount. Pick by where you're staying.

Fukuoka Airport → the city for ¥260 in 5 min (Japan's closest)

The point: subway to Hakata ~5 min / Tenjin ~11 min, ~¥260 — skip the taxi. Catch: the subway's at the domestic terminal (free shuttle from international).

Cheapest Tokyo ⇄ Osaka — the ¥3,000 night bus vs Shinkansen vs LCC

The point: the overnight bus (from ~¥3,000) is cheapest and saves a hotel night; the sub-¥5,000 flight isn't, once you add far airports + bag fees.

Osaka Amazing Pass (¥3,300) — worth it? The break-even

The point: ~40 attractions + unlimited subway. Wins only if you do 2–3 paid sights + subway in a day; loses on an eat-and-walk Dotonbori day.

That ¥3,000 "Kobe beef" probably isn't Kobe beef

The point: Kobe beef is a certified brand (Nojigiku seal + 10-digit ID). Real dinners are ~¥10,000–30,000; cheap "Kobe" is usually generic wagyu. Eat certified, go at lunch to cut the price.

Where to stay in Tokyo to save money (without losing time)

The point: the cheapest room far out costs more in daily fares + time; sweet spot = Ueno/Asakusa/Nippori/Ikebukuro on the Yamanote line.

Japan's 4 peak-price windows — when everything spikes

The point: Golden Week, Obon, New Year & cherry-blossom peak surge flights/hotels/trains and sell out. Shift ±1–2 weeks to save a lot.

Suica / PASMO for tourists — Welcome Suica vs mobile

The point: iPhone? Add Suica to Apple Wallet — no card, no deposit. No phone? Grab a Welcome Suica at the airport.

Leftover money on your Suica when you leave? Get it back

The point: regular Suica = ¥500 deposit + balance − ¥220 (JR East only); Welcome Suica refunds nothing; small balance → just spend it to zero.

Get sick as a tourist? Japan's cheap healthcare isn't for you

The point: visitors pay 100% (not 30%), usually upfront — ER ¥20,000–50,000+. Get travel insurance; and from April 2026 an unpaid bill can bar re-entry.

Renting a car? No International Driving Permit = no car

The point: get the paper 1949 IDP before you fly (card/app versions don't count); Belgium/France/Germany/Monaco/Switzerland/Taiwan need an official Japanese translation instead.

Your JR Pass does NOT cover the fastest bullet train

The point: Nozomi & Mizuho need a ~¥4,960 supplement each way. The free Hikari is only ~30 min slower Tokyo–Osaka — paying ~¥9,920 round trip to save an hour rarely makes sense.

Shinkansen reserved vs non-reserved vs Green Car

The point: off-peak solo → non-reserved; peak/luggage/family → reserved; Green Car only for 3h+ where you value calm.

The Shinkansen ¥1,000 luggage trap (the 160cm rule)

The point: a suitcase over 160cm total (H+W+D) needs a free reserved oversized-baggage seat on the Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu lines — skip it and it's ¥1,000.

Is the Tokyo subway pass worth it?

The point: 4+ subway rides/day staying central → the 24h pass; mixed JR or light use → just tap an IC card.

Getting yen — airport exchange vs 7-Eleven ATM vs travel card

The point: skip the airport counter (wide markup). Withdraw with a fee-light card at 7-Eleven/Japan Post, larger amounts less often.

Cash vs card vs IC — do you still need cash?

The point: card for hotels/chains (pay in yen, skip DCC), IC for transport & konbini, keep ¥10–20k cash for small/local/rural.

Tax-free shopping — how the 10% refund works (and the 2026 change)

The point: skip the 10% tax on ¥5,000+ with your passport — but a refund-at-departure reform is planned; verify first.

That ¥400 dish you didn't order isn't a scam — it's otoshi

The point: izakaya charge a ¥300–500/person cover (otoshi) as a small appetizer — legal, locals pay it too. Budget ~¥500pp; skip it at ramen/teishoku/family restaurants.

Do you tip in Japan? (No — and why trying can be awkward)

The point: no tipping culture — pay the listed price; leaving cash can confuse staff. Rare exception: enveloped cash for a private guide.

Konbini vs drugstore vs 100-yen — where to buy cheap

The point: konbini for convenience only; drinks/snacks/toiletries at drugstores (bulk + tax-free), gear at 100-yen, meals at supermarkets.

Travel eSIM vs pocket WiFi vs roaming — cheapest data

The point: solo eSIM phone → travel eSIM; groups → one pocket WiFi splits cheaper; roaming only for very short trips.

How much eSIM data do you actually need for Japan?

The point: maps/messaging sip data, video/tethering gulp it — a week of sightseeing is often ~5–7GB. Don't overpay for "unlimited" (it throttles).

Luggage forwarding vs coin lockers vs hotel hold

The point: same-day one city → locker/hotel hold; moving cities → forward the big bag (~¥2,000) and travel light.

Peak-season hotel prices — when to book to dodge the spikes

The point: sakura, Golden Week, Obon, autumn & New Year run 1.5–3× off-peak. Book 3–6 months ahead or use shoulder dates.

Japan's hotel tax (宿泊税) — the charge that isn't in your booking price

The point: per person, per night, collected at check-in and usually not in the online total. Kyoto now runs up to ¥10,000/night from Mar 2026.

Why that "¥25,000" ryokan is actually ¥50,000

The point: ryokan rates are per person, not per room — but that's half-board (kaiseki dinner + breakfast + onsen + yukata). Add the ¥150 bathing tax.

Tokyo skyline for ¥0 — or ¥3,700 (which deck is worth it)

The point: the Tocho observatory is 202m and free. Pay for Shibuya Sky's rooftop or the Skytree's height only if that's the point — not just for a view.

Shibuya Sky tickets: the ¥3,700 sunset slot & the trap

The point: ~¥3,000 day / ~¥3,700 sunset online, on-the-day counter costs more and sells out. The sunset rooftop slot goes first — book the timed slot ahead or miss it.

Tokyo Disney: the ¥10,000 ticket that becomes ¥20,000

The point: passport ¥7,900–10,900, but Premier Access (¥1,000–2,500/ride; Fantasy Springs ¥2,000–2,500) can double it. Free passes are gone — buy DPA for just 2–3 must-rides.

Tokyo street go-karts: the ~¥15,000 licence trap

The point: ~¥10,000–22,000, and you need the paper 1949 IDP (obtained before you fly) or you're turned away. No Mario costumes anymore (Nintendo won).

Sumo: that "¥38,000" seat is for FOUR people

The point: masu boxes are priced per box of 4 (~¥8,500–15,000pp); a chair seat starts ~¥3,500. Sumo is 6×/year in 4 cities and Tokyo sells out — book ahead, don't gamble on same-day.

Tokyo has TWO teamLabs — book the right one

The point: Planets (barefoot/water, closes 2027) vs Borderless (dry/wander). Both sell out — book a weekday timed slot (~¥300–400 cheaper than weekends).

Kyoto kimono rental: the cheap price is bait

The point: low headline plans exclude hair + accessories (+¥1,100–1,650). Book an all-in plan from ~¥3,300, not the cheapest ¥2,000.

Arashiyama: the ¥0 bamboo trap vs the ¥880 train worth booking

The point: the bamboo grove is free, so people skip the Sagano Romantic Train (~¥880, sells out) — the best-value add-on. The Hozugawa boat (~¥6,000) is optional. Book the Torokko ahead.

There's no train to Shirakawa-go — reserve the bus

The point: highway bus only (Takayama ~50min, Kanazawa ~1h15), and most buses need a reservation — book ahead on Japan Bus Online. Autumn & the winter light-up sell out.

Snow monkeys: ¥800 to get in, but a ¥23,000 day from Tokyo

The point: entry is ¥800, but from Tokyo it's a ~12-hour, ~¥22,800 round trip. From Nagano the ¥5,100 Snow Monkey Pass (train+bus+entry) wins. Book dated entry ahead for winter (2026 rule).

Kyoto's ¥700 bus day pass is GONE — what to buy now

The point: the ¥700 bus pass was abolished (Sept 2023) — old guides are wrong. Now ¥230/ride or the ¥1,100 subway+bus pass (break-even ~5 rides). For 2–4 rides/day, just tap an IC card.

Miyajima's floating torii is nearly free — the ¥21,000 is getting there

The point: on the island it's under ¥800 (ferry ¥180 + new ¥100 visitor tax + ~¥300 shrine), but day-tripping from Osaka/Kyoto is a ~¥21,000, ~10-hour Shinkansen day. Base in Hiroshima instead.

Do kids pay for trains in Japan? The child-fare rules tourists miss

The point: under 6 free (up to 2 per adult), 6–11 half, 12+ full — but reserve a seat for a free toddler and you owe the child fare.

Chubu Centrair (NGO) to Nagoya — skip the ¥1,430 μ-SKY?

The point: μ-SKY is ¥1,430 (all reserved). A regular Meitetsu Ltd. Express non-reserved car is ¥980 — same line, ¥450 saved.

New Chitose (CTS) to Sapporo — do you need the U-Seat?

The point: JR Rapid Airport is ¥1,230 unreserved (~33–37 min). The reserved U-Seat adds ¥800–1,000 for the same ride — skip it.

Naha (OKA) airport to the city — the ¥270 monorail

The point: Yui Rail to Kokusai-dori is ~¥270 (~13 min), direct from the terminal. Skip the ¥1,000 day pass unless you'll ride 4+ times.

Hiroshima Airport (HIJ) to the city — there's no train

The point: HIJ is ~50 km out with no rail link. The airport limousine bus is ¥1,500 (child ¥750) to Hiroshima Station in ~50 min — don't wait for a train or take the ~50 km taxi.

Tokyo to Mt Fuji (Kawaguchiko) — the ¥2,200 bus beats the ¥4,200 train

The point: The highway bus from Busta Shinjuku is ~¥2,200 and ~1h45 (~every 30 min); the direct Fuji Excursion train is ~¥4,200 / ~2h / ~4 a day. Cheaper AND faster is the bus — book ahead in peak.

Mt Fuji day trip: ¥5,000 DIY or ¥12,000 tour? (when cheap costs more)

The point: DIY bus to Kawaguchiko is ~¥4,000–5,000 round trip for one spot; a guided tour is ~¥6,000–15,000 but chains 3–4 spots public transport can't. Pick by how many Fuji spots you'll really chase.

Fuji-Q's "Free Pass" costs ¥6,000+ — the break-even

The point: entry is free; the Free Pass (~¥6,000–6,800) only beats pay-per-ride (~¥2,000/coaster) once you do 3+ big coasters. Ride 1–2 → pay per ride.

Kyoto to Nara — the ¥760 train, and why the ¥720 one costs you

The point: JR is ¥720 but JR Nara is ~15 min from Nara Park; Kintetsu's ordinary express is ¥760 to Kintetsu-Nara, ~5 min from the deer. Skip the ¥1,280 Limited Express unless you want a reserved seat.

Hakone Free Pass (¥6,100) — worth it if you do the loop

The point: Covers the Shinjuku round trip + the whole loop (Tozan train/bus, ropeway, pirate ship). One loop already beats per-leg fares. Skip it only if you go straight to a ryokan to soak; the 3-day is just ~¥400 more.

Tokyo to Nikko — the ¥1,400 Tobu train, not the ¥5,680 JR route

The point: Go Tobu from Asakusa: local ~¥1,400 or Limited Express ~¥3,050. The JR route (Shinkansen + transfer) is ~¥5,680 — nearly double. The ¥3,000 World Heritage pass ≈ the return fare but adds the shrine buses.

Tokyo to Kamakura — the ¥940 JR train, and when a pass beats it

The point: Kamakura-only from Tokyo? JR Yokosuka ~¥940 direct. Riding the Enoden 3+ times? The ¥800 Enoden day pass wins. Shinjuku base + Enoshima? The ¥1,640 Odakyu Freepass bundles it all.

Himeji Castle — the ¥1,520 Special Rapid, not the ¥3,000 Shinkansen

The point: From Osaka the JR Special Rapid is ~¥1,520 (~1h) vs ~¥3,000 by Shinkansen (~30 min) — about half the fare, no surcharge, free with a JR Pass. From Kyoto ~¥2,210 (~92 min).

Phone dying in Japan? Rent a battery (~¥165) — don't buy one

The point: Grab a ChargeSpot rental battery at any 7-Eleven/FamilyMart/station from ~¥165 and return it at ANY stand nationwide. Just return within 120h or you're charged ~¥4,080. The local move visitors don't know.

Raining in Japan? Rent an umbrella for ¥110 — stop buying ¥500 ones

The point: Instead of another disposable ¥500–700 konbini umbrella, use Aikasa: ~¥110/24h (caps ~¥550/month), rent & return at any of 1,600+ station/konbini stands nationwide.

The Japan Expressway Pass is GONE — what road-trippers use now

The point: The nationwide JEP/CEP toll passes are discontinued. Only 4 regional passes remain (Hokkaido/Tohoku/Kyushu/San'in-Setouchi-Shikoku); central Japan = pay per toll via a rental ETC card (~¥330–550). Get the pass for regional road trips; take the train in the Tokyo–Osaka corridor.

Taxi in Japan: use the GO app — but it isn't cheaper

The point: GO/DiDi get you a taxi in English, cashless, to your pin — but it's a metered taxi + ~¥100 dispatch fee. A train is ~¥150–320 vs ¥700–2,500 by taxi. Save it for late nights, luggage & groups; mind the 20% surcharge after 22:00.

Tokyo to Fukuoka: Shinkansen vs flight — the bullet train loses

The point: Nozomi is ~5h / ~¥23,390; a flight is ~1h45 and often cheaper (LCC from ~¥8,000). On this long route, fly.

Osaka to Kyoto: the ¥410 train, not the ¥580 JR

The point: Hankyu is ¥410 to central Kyoto (Kawaramachi) vs ¥580 JR to Kyoto Station — cheaper and closer to the sights, unless you have a JR Pass.

USJ tickets: the date you pick can cost ¥3,000+ more

The point: Universal Studios Japan uses dynamic pricing (~¥8,600 quiet vs ¥11,900 peak). Pick the date; add the ~¥10,800 Express Pass only on crowded days.