Travel to Japan on a budget
People tend to believe that Japan is not a destination for small budgets. However, the archipelago can easily be visited at a lower cost. Between its bucolic gardens that can be visited for just a few yen, its more than affordable street restaurants, and its cost-effective transportation with our rail passes, discover Japan without breaking the bank with Japan Experience!
Budget-friendly tours in Japan with Japan Experience
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How to travel in Japan without breaking the bank?
Lanterns in Tokyo
© Audrey Mari
From Tokyo to Kyoto, passing through Tsuwano, our rental houses welcome you at an affordable price. Starting at €53 per night and per person, they are an attractive alternative for travelers wishing to optimize their budget. Equipped with a kitchen and a washing machine, they allow you to reduce concierge costs and limit restaurant meals.
Do you still prefer a hotel stay? Our team of advisors will find the rare gem among our selection of budget accommodations, suitable for all wallets. Don’t wait any longer! Contact Japan Experience now to find the travel solutions that suit you.
Local train tracks
© Ryutaro Tsukata
While transportation can be expensive when traveling across the archipelago from end to end, our rail passes allow you to visit Japan at a lower cost.
- The JR Pass offers you the possibility to travel in peace across the entire JR network, the largest railway network in the country!
- With our regional passes, explore in depth the most beautiful regions of Japan: discover the hidden treasures of Tohoku, enjoy a sunny break on Kyushu Island, or travel across Kansai, from Kyoto to Ise-Shima, at your own pace while saving money.
- Prefer to limit your trips? Japan Experience provides you with train tickets. To save time during your stay and avoid paying for an unnecessary pass, we can supply train tickets in advance, according to your preferences: date, schedule, carriage – we book tickets based on your criteria. Depending on availability, we can even reserve a seat with a view of Mount Fuji for your trips to Kansai!
- Note that we also offer a car rental service, ideal for our self-guided tours.
Tokyo tower
© Evgeny Tchebotarev
Optimize your stay in Japan thanks to our expert advice. Our travel advisors are at your disposal to help create your dream trip.
- While cherry blossom season is ideal for discovering Japan, it is also the most expensive. To travel without overspending, we recommend going in mid-November or early December to avoid the holiday season and enjoy the momiji season when the maples turn red. Only available in summer? Choose early June: you’ll avoid the rainy season and benefit from better rates than in July or August.
- Zen garden in Kyoto, lively park in the heart of the capital, majestic temple in the Japanese countryside – our team will recommend the best sites to visit according to your desires and budget, in any season.
- We will also suggest the best addresses in each city to eat well without overspending.
- Our on-site 7/7 assistance will be happy to answer your questions throughout your stay and help you if needed.
- That’s not all! We also offer over 150 activities, suitable for all ages and all budgets, to discover Japan in a different way.
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Frequently asked questions from our travelers
With over 40 years' experience serving travelers to Japan, we offer a variety of tours: tailor-made itineraries, small group tours, and self-guided packages. If these don't suit your needs 100%, our team of experts is on hand to help you plan the trip of your dreams! 4 advantages to booking a tour with Japan Experience:
- Expert advice: Our team of advisors will help you design the ideal itinerary, or suggest one of our pre-designed itineraries.
- Reliable assistance: If you have any problems during your trip, our bilingual Japanese team based in Tokyo is there for you. With no outside intermediaries, we'll be able to help you efficiently 7 days a week, even via WhatsApp.
- Saving time: Planning a trip to Japan isn't always easy. Thanks to our optimized itineraries and the answers we can provide to your questions, you'll be able to enjoy Japan to the full, without having to worry about organizing your trip.
- Unique experiences: Thanks to our local team, we have a unique network of activities, accommodations, restaurants and memorable places to see on our itineraries. As our team is always on the lookout for new things to discover, this network is constantly growing!
At Japan Experience, our tours are prepared and supported all by the same team driven by a single passion: making your dream trip to Japan a reality. This makes us the ideal partner for your trip to Japan
- The best insight. We focus 100% on travel in Japan. We know the country inside out and have our own team of experts based in Tokyo. What's more, our Paris team is made up exclusively of passionate people who have lived or traveled in Japan. Activities, hotels, train tickets...
- The trip tailor-made for you! Of course, our team will be happy to share its wealth of confidential addresses. On our site, you'll also find over 5,000 articles of travel advice on Japan, and we offer the best prices. Thanks to our specialization in travel to Japan, we've built up a unique network of local partners based on mutual trust. We always negotiate the best deals directly with our partners, to avoid price-gouging middlemen.
- A safe and secure trip guaranteed Our different teams all work in-house to plan your trip. With over 40 years' experience, several offices around the world, more than 5,000 travellers who put their trust in us every year, countless partnerships, and more, Japan Experience is a leader in Japan travel. Oh, and we're also the world's leading seller for the Japan Rail Pass!
Japan Experience takes care of air tickets on request for its tours. Departure cities are therefore flexible and you can leave from wherever you like: Paris, Brussels, or elsewhere. On a self-guided tour, you choose the date of your flight. For a small group tour, departure dates are fixed. Interested parties are advised to book their flights according to the departure date of the tour.
Each tour combines must-see attractions with lesser-known spots to offer you a unique experience. Cosmopolitan cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, as well as historic sites such as Kyoto and Nara.
Other key destinations include:
- Hakone/Mount Fuji with gorgeous views of the countryside
- Kyoto, the former capital with timeless charm
- Okinawa, the tropical archipelago off the southern coast of Japan
- Nara, Japan's first permanent capital famous for its history and roaming sacred deer
- Hiroshima, a symbol of peace and resilience that is host to some of the Japan’s most historic sites
Simple and easy, just book directly online on our website:
(1) You choose the tour of your choice, your departure date and the number of participants. Several options are available.
(2) Pay a deposit of 35% of the total amount* online and confirm your booking.
(3) You receive an e-mail confirmation of your booking.
(4) You book your plane ticket, either with Japan Experience or by yourself (taking into account the times required for your tour to run smoothly).
(5) You pay the balance of your invoice up to one month before departure.
For more information about our tours or your booking, don 't hesitate to contact our advisers on + 44 (0)20 3514 6932 or contact@japan-experience.com. You can also visit us in our London office.
*travel insurance and options included
We typically suggest the following times to visit Japan:
Spring (late February - late May): Spring”s mild temperatures are ideal for all kinds of activities. This is, of course, also the time when the sakura (cherry blossoms) bloom.
Summer (June - August): The heat quickly takes over from the rainy season at the end of June. Despite the heaat, you can still enjoy the many fireworks displays and open-air matsuri (traditional festivals).
Autumn (September - November): Temperatures are pleasant during this season and the momiji (maple leaves) glow gorgeous colors
Winter (December - February): Discover gorgeous winter landscapes, such as the Zen Garden of Kanazawa under the snow. January is defined by numerous festivities and the winter sports craze!
The most popular travel periods are:
- Early January: for New Year's Eve, when many businesses and activities are closed
- February: the plum blossom season and the 10 days around Chinese New Year are a big draw for tourists from Asia
- Late March - early April: cherry blossom season
- Late April - early May: "Golden Week" is a period of many public holidays. Many people in Japan go on vacation
- Mid-August: during the Obon Matsuri
- Late November: for momiji viewing
To avoid the crowds, Japan Experience recommends:
- February: outside the Chinese New Year period
- Mid-May - early June: to take advantage of mild weather and more affordable prices just before the rainy season
- September - early December: to enjoy mild temperatures and autumn leaves
This depends on the tour you choose for your trip. Some include breakfast only, such as our self-guided tours, while others, like our group tours, include 3 meals. Inclusions can also vary according to stage, with dinner included for a night in a ryokan, for example.
The price varies according to the number of nights and participants. It will also take into account the number of visits and activities organized. Expect to pay between 750 and 2600 euros per person for our self-guided tours, and between 2000 and 6500 euros per traveler for our small-group tours. To find out more about our rates and what's included on each tour, please visit our Japan tours page.
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