How much money should I bring to japan?
 

I'm going on a two week trip to japan in a little while, and was wondering how much I should bring for food. It's a school trip, and I'm not planning to go to any fancy places, but enough to keep me going for the day, and maybe one meal in a moderately nice restaraunt?

Would 450$ be enough?:)

You get to go on a school trip to Japan?!

That's 32 dollars a day, and should be plenty. Are you doing a home stay?

No, just our middle school trip for those who study japanese. We are going to Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, and staying in multiple hotels.

Home stay sounds fun, though

:3

What will you need to pay for when you are there? Is accommodations all paid for? If so, 450 should be enough

Well, I need to pay for souveniers and food, as everything else gets payed for in advance.

I saved up souvenier money, but needed to know how much i should bring for food
So, yah, great!
I have enough then!

Even if you indulge in a Big Mac meal for every meal (and that's expensive for American standards), that would run you about $10 per Big Mac meal, so you should be fine. But just take some extra money for the "just in cases".... I know of no one who can go to Japan for 12 days and not buy souvenirs in whatever form (toys, candy, snacks, t-shirt, etc.) And don't forget your camera!

I am going on a trip and will be spending 50 to 80 a day at maximum.

I have to pay for everything so your budget is plenty :D

Okay, I'll bring a little extra, to make sure I can eat. (though I did pack a little too much money for souveniers, so most of that can go to my food fund)

It might be tight if you have to pay for food... 3 meals a day will definitely cost more than 30 bucks a day, and thats not a lot of money for food, unless you want to eat off convenience store food or ramen for all 3 meals every day

How much would you reccomend, then?

What kind of things do you need to spend money on? GIve a list of things thats paid for and a list of things that you think are not paid for and will need moeny for and i can give you a rough idea

I am going to recommend to budget for $50 a day for food, another 20 a day for souvenir.. or if you have a list of people who you must get things for, then do a count.....

What about entrance fee? Like to temples and such? ANd what about additional transportation (Do you see yourself going off course from the school group to do your own exploration)

Any museum you want to visit?

Transportation, fees, and everything else is payed for. the absolute ONLY thing I need is souveniers and food.


It's just a class trip, and I'm not planning on eating in five-star restaraunts every day, just enough to keep me going throughout the day, and maybe a bit more in Osaka since it's the home of the wonderful food,

My dad, who has been to japan ( I have but dont remember it) Suggested that I get onigiris for breakfast, bentos for lunch, and see how much I have left and let that determine dinner, but yah, I would like a rough estimate from whoever can give one

:3

Ok, if you really follow that, then yes, 30 a day may be enough for food. Souvenir, depends on how many people you need to get souvenir for, but I am going to say expect to spend anywhere between 5-15 for a typical sounvenir... and of course, all the little smaller cute things that you may want too..... so, prepare for about 40-50 a day won't go wrong...

Good advice for "Japan on the cheap" from your dad.

On a tight budget you can do a quick but decent breakfast out of convenience stores easily for about 500-600 円. A simple but good ekiben or similar might only set you back about 1000 円 plus about 130 円 for a drink out of a vending machine. Plan on needing some extra drinks during the day out of vending machines on occasion, at about 130 円 a pop. Then you can allocate the rest of your budget money to a good dinner.

best,

....................john

Ask your leader if you are staying in hotels that provide breakfast. I would be surprised if you are going to be literally eating out three meals a day.

Lunch sets are price fixed meals at restaurants almost everywhere running you about 800 and 900 yen, remember there is no tipping in Japan, it's a great way way of trying dozens of places.

McDonalds et all will run you the same price there as North America maybe a little more with the exchange rate.

I tended to focus on making lunch the big meal, breakfast I normally skip now and so it seems does most of Tokyo, the odd ones I had were around the 600 - 800 yen range.

As for dinner if you factor 2000 yen you should be good, you can do it cheaper or more expensive but I would say that's a safe number.

FOOD IN JAPAN IS CHEAPER THAN YOU THINK.

I'm not even joking, I spent, like, ten dollars a day. I got breakfast from 7 Eleven, or a local supermarket. They heat the food up for you and everything.

There's this really good place in Shibuya that was like, 200 yen per dish. It was fantastic. It's under a bridge and then down a alley. If you know your basics it's easy to order. That was my favorite food the whole time I was there.

Food is cheaper than you think in Japan. In Harajuku, just go down alleys. Don't go with to main street restaurants. Shintaka street (I think) had some small restaurants, but they were HEAPS more expensive than the small places. I spent $15 a day tops on food. And I always ate out, except for breakfast.

Lollies are cheap too.

No it's not, I could do New York on hot dog carts and cheap pizza slices and spend $15 a day but you miss the point and not to mention ... UGH !

For most of you Japan is going to be a once in a lifetime trip and as MMM has constantly stated "Why would you want to do it as a homeless/poor person ?"

This person is on a school trip and probably will not stumble across "It's under a bridge and then down an alley" places. Except every place I ate at was at a similar address.

I had a Big Mac in Tokyo because I wanted to taste a Big Mac in Tokyo, not because I could only afford 500 yen for food.

Combini food is better quality then your used to but it's still a crap meal when you think about it ;)

Polar said it all, but I want to second his opinion. After two days of conbini lunches, you will be ready for something different. Yes, they heat your cup-of-noodles for you. How many days in a row do you want to eat 200yen meals that are 50 cents in America (but you provide the hot water and chopsticks)?

If i am going on a trip where i need to strap myself in, then i might as well just stay home. Yes, I've done convenience store food for all 3 meals, and its cheaper than 10 a day, but its only good for one day....

- Um, well.... I do kinda wanna get the taste of japan. I can't bring TOO much, but I could afford fifty dollars a day, and I don't wanna go anywhere under a bridge, cause this is a school trip and were not gonna be spending too much time under bridges ^^"

You'll be more then fine with $50

Breakfast at Denny's about 700 Yen



Lunch sets 800 - 900 Yen



Indian



Thai



Ramen in Yokosuka, again 800 Yen, rice and gyoza were about 300 Yen extra

I said 50 including souvenirs... that should average out nicely, there will definitely be days where you will spend less than 30 a day, and there will be days when you will spend more than 50...

40 a day then, but just don't expect to have much left for souvenir.. unless you really keep your budget down to not exceeding 30 a day on food.. and that will be difficult, you will see snacks you want to try, drinks you want to try..

Completely agree with godwine.

For souvenirs for your friends and family don't be afraid to check out the dollar stores i.e. 100 Yen stores. Japan loves it's 100 yen stores, heck there's even a TV show devoted to showing you what you can do/make with various purchases.

Green Peas is a big franchise to keep an eye out for.



As for souvenirs for yourself ... well I arrived with one suitcase and a backpack and left with two suitcases and a backpack :D

Similar experience... when I took my wife there in 2009 for our honeymoon, we brought 3 suitcase with us. One of them is actually empty. Not only we filled that up, we had to buy one more large suit case, 2 large size gym bag (large enough to fit football or hockey equipment) and we had boxes that was sent home through EMS...

Ah,now I'm interested. I was actually going to go to an Indian in Japan but I went to the pasta place instead. Indian stuff should be vegetarian actually.

Not true, there are non vegetarian Indian dish. Not all Indians are vegetarian. I had plenty of different kind of meat when I was in India.

Anyways, I've heard Indian restaurant in Japan are quite good, its very authentic. I've never tried it myself, every time I am there, the people that came with me refuse to have Indian food, so I have yet to try it

Indian place was in Shinjuku, owner speaks seven languages it's name is Jinnah ph# is 03-3349-1619.

Thai place was in Shibuya, had good timing as 10 mins after I sat down the place was full and a lined snaked up the stairs.

Thanks to my wife, who love to keep her things in order, here is a break down of our daily spending when we had our honeymoon there. I am only putting up the spending around food as reference. Sourvenir an anything else are not included, this is spending for the both of us, and we didn't eat high class either, so i think this should be a good starting point for you to think how much you will need:

These are all in YEN

Oct 24 - 2009
Breakfast - 1820
Drinks - 280
Coffee - 880
Lunch - 1910
Dinner - 3800

Total Day 1 - 8960 .

Oct 25 - 2009
Breakfast - 1180
Lunch - 1200
Snack - 1300
Dinner - 2180
Drinks - 1040

Total day 2 - 6900

Oct 26 - 2009
Breakfast - 2400
Lunch - 1350
Ice Cream - 500
Snack - 641
Dinner - 1125

Total Day 3 - 6016

Oct 27 - 2009
breakfast - 980
Lunch - 1520
Dinner - 11010

Total day 4 - 13510

Oct 28 - 2009
Breakfast - 1514
Lunch - 2520
Drinks - 430
Dinner - 1800

Total day 5 - 6264

Oct 29 - 2009

Breakfast - 694
Drinks - 294
Lunch - 350
Drinks - 120
Dinner - 2300

Total day 6 - 3758

Oct 30 - 2009

Breakfast - 731
Ice cream - 670
Lunch - 2150
Drinks - 300
Snacks - 800
Dinner 2058

Total day 7 - 6709

October 31 - 2009

Breakfast 1036
Snack 1760
Drink 950
Ice cream 600
Dinner 1251

Total day 8 5597

Nov 1 - 2009
Breakfast 1080
Snack 690
Drinks 150

Total day 9 - 1920

Nov 2 - 2009
Drinks 290
Coffee 390
Lunch 2450
Dinner 1843

Total Day 10 - 4973

Nov 3 - 2009
Breakfast 1173
Lunch 1400
Snacks - 439
Dinner 1780

Total Day 11 - 4792

Nov 4 - 2009

Breakfast 619
Drinks 270
Lunch 4510
Dinner 1375

Total day 12 - 6774

Nov 5,6, 7- none, paid for by my uncle

Nov 8 - 2009
Breakfast 3570
Lunch 852
Dnner 1750

Total day 16 - 6172

Nov 9 - 2009
Breafast 1072
Lunch 1290
snack 760
dinner 4988
drinks 356

Total day 17 - 8466

Nov 10 - 2009
Breakfast 1010
drinks 298
lunch 1860
dinner 5958

total day 18 - 9126

Nov 11 -2009
Breakfast 587
Coffee 1000
snack 750
dinner 1059

Total day 19 - 3396

Nov 12 - 2009
Breakfast 871
Lunch 3100
Dinner 5080
snack 1070

total day 20 - 10121

Nov 13 - 2009
breakfast 2699
lunch 2100
dinner 1080

total day 21 - 5879

Total on food for 21 days - 114360, average = 5445.7 per day for 2 people, and keep in mind, of the 21 days, 3 were paid for by my uncle, so really, the average should be base on 18 days making it an average 6353 yen per day for 2 people.

So, 30 dollars a day just for food is going to be really close,if you want to thrown in a souvenir or 2, you will at least need another 10-20 a day.... i also have a breakdown on what we spent total, but i don't want to bored everyone with that list

sorry i'm new here... but may I know where/who is Denny's? thank you :o

Denny's is a chain of low budget breakfast/lunch eateries in the U.S. and some foreign countries.