How much money do you need for a trip to Japan? Here's a full breakdown of independent travel costs for Japan — starting with planning your trip and adding up flights, accommodation, transport, activities, and food, you can enjoy 5 days and 4 nights in Japan for as little as NT$30,000.

Image source: freepik

How much did Taiwanese travellers actually spend on their Japan trips this year?

First, let's look at the average cost of independent travel to Japan. As of September 2023, data released by Japan's Tourism Agency under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism shows that Taiwanese tourists visiting Japan spent an average of ¥177,964 per person (approximately NT$37,570)

Let's break down the cost of independent travel to Japan category by category

The figure above doesn't yet include your round-trip flights. Choosing the right timing and destination also sets the floor for your overall trip cost — your departure date needs to account for peak vs. off-peak seasons, and destination prices vary slightly based on flight routes and distance. Here's a breakdown of flight prices for reference:

Flight costs

MonthBudget airline, one-wayFull-service airline, one-way
Off-peakMay, June4,000+~10,000
PeakJan, Feb, Jul, Aug~10,00010,000+
Unit: NTD

Accommodation costs

According to statistics released by Japan's Tourism Agency, Taiwanese travellers this year (through September) spent an average of ¥8,339 per day on accommodation (approximately NT$1,760) — lower than travellers from every other country, showing that Taiwanese travellers really know how to find affordable accommodation. Making good use of online booking sites to compare prices, booking early, and even choosing a hostel are all great ways to cut accommodation costs.

Food costs

Taiwanese travellers spend roughly NT$1,000–1,500 per day on food. Budget-conscious travellers can mix in convenience store meals with the occasional nice meal to keep costs down.

Activity costs

Taiwanese travellers spend roughly NT$200–300 per day on activities — though if your itinerary includes Disneyland or Universal Studios, this cost can jump significantly~

Transport costs

Here's a breakdown of transport options in Japan — daily transport costs run around NT$500–600

Transport methodPriceSpeedConvenience
JR (Japan Railways)★★★☆★★★★★★★☆
Japanese subway★★☆☆★★★☆★★★☆
Bus★☆☆☆★☆☆☆★☆☆☆
Taxi★★★★★★★☆★★★★

*Real-time updates matter a lot when navigating transport in Japan! You'll want a DJB Daijobu Unlimited Plus card

Shopping/souvenir costs

Aside from flights and accommodation, this is where Taiwanese travellers spend the most, averaging NT$1,800–2,200 per person per day. So when people ask "how much money do you need for a trip to Japan?" — the honest answer is that it varies from person to person, often heavily influenced by individual spending habits.

Image source: Tourism Agency, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

So how much money should you bring to Japan? At least this much

Of all the costs above, shopping has the most flexibility — if you're a lower-key shopper, you can save a substantial amount. Taking a common 5-day, 4-night itinerary as an example, and excluding extra shopping or souvenirs, adding up all the categories above, you can experience a budget-friendly Japan trip for just NT$30,000!

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