Japan's Most Affordable Destinations

Intro

Paradise doesn’t have to cost the earth. It is more affordable than you might think to find your perfect place to stay in Japan and here at JapanDen, we can help. From hotels and ryokans to destination guides, it's our aim to help you find the most affordable locations and budget friendly cities to visit, stay, and eat. There’s a common misconception that visiting a country as beautiful, exotic, and special as Japan will require your life’s savings, but it simply isn’t true. Japan is actually at its most affordable right now as our sister website JRPass.com - the largest and most trusted online retailer of Japan Rail Passes - recently discovered after commissioning some research into the subject. If you’re planning a stay in Japan and you’re keen to make your money go further, read on. We’ve got the latest, most up-to-date information on the most affordable destinations, accommodation, restaurants, and activities in Japan to make your next stay even more special. 

Japan’s Five Budget Friendly Destinations

Good news everyone! Japan is currently ranking highly among the world’s most budget friendly destinations for international travellers. Due to a decrease in the value of the yen in recent months, a visit to Japan is as good value as it’s ever been. This was confirmed in a holiday money report by the Post Office recently which named Tokyo as the fourth most affordable holiday destination in the world based on value for money. Inspired by this recent shift towards affordability, our sister website JRPass.com decided to identify Japan’s best cities for budget friendly travellers based on factors including travel and transport, accommodation, food and drink, and more. They analysed 18 Japanese destinations and worked out the top five places to stay across the country for those looking for an affordable (yet still absolutely brilliant) stay. As an added bonus, we've included transport recommendations for reaching each budget-friendly destination by train since it's the most cost effective way to explore multiple locations in Japan if you've purchased a Japan Rail Pass for unlimited rail travel. Finally, after you’ve read the list below, head straight over to our Hotels page to select from over 4,800 hotels, ryokans, and resorts, across Japan, for every budget. From the contemporary to the traditional, family friendly to solo stays, chilled out to exciting, whatever you’re looking for, it’s our pleasure to help you find your perfect place to stay.  

1. Nara

The most affordable Japanese city on our list and a destination to rival Kyoto for history, culture, and serenity, (with the bonus of free-roaming deer) Nara is a truly special place. If history, wildlife, scenic views, and temples and shrines are your thing then Nara is the destination for you. It’s also easily accessible from Kyoto and Osaka and an ideal day trip from both cities by train and you’re combining a visit with a stay elsewhere. Nara is relatively small and most of its historic attractions, as well as its famous free-roaming deer, are also located within the 660 hectare Nara City Park, which makes it easy to navigate. Although lesser-known than many of Japan’s bigger cities, Nara has become more well known thanks to the unique attraction of deer roaming its picturesque city park.

There’s a lot more to see and do than deer however and the good news is it’s all very affordable. Start with a visit to the Heijo Palace site, which is a remnant from the time when Nara was the Capital of Japan and is now a World Heritage site. From here, go to the city centre for a visit to Kohfukuji and its three story pagoda. This is one of the most famous pagodas in Japan. Next, it’s only a five-minute walk to the Nara National Museum, which houses a magnificent collection of Buddhist art and historic national treasures. After lunch head east through the deer park to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, known for the many stone lanterns donated by worshippers, a profound atmosphere of calm can be felt. After visiting the shrine, take a walk through the forest and soak in the peaceful atmosphere surrounding the place. The last and most famous of our recommendations is Tōdai-ji - the crown jewel of Nara. This Buddhist temple complex houses the Great Buddha and its guardians. Even though it was completed in 752 A.D., it remains as one of the national masterworks of Japan. Alongside being one of the most affordable cities in Japan, Nara is also an excellent day trip from bigger cities like Kyoto and Osaka as we mentioned earlier and a simple, affordable journey, especially traveling by train with a JR Pass. When it comes to places to stay, we’ve got a wide range of accommodation options for you to choose from within easy reach of Nara on our Hotels page, from contemporary hotels to traditional ryokans. 

2. Chiba

Located just 40km from Tokyo, Chiba is one of Japan’s more underrated cities but has a number of major attractions, including two Disney theme parks and Kujukuri Beach, Japan’s longest sandy coastline. Look out for surfers, stunning sea views, and spectacular cliffs, near this attractive and bustling coastal cities. 

If that’s not enough, it’s also one of the most affordable cities in Japan to visit, scoring highly for the value of its accommodation and rail travel. Look out for landmarks such as Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple, National Museum of Japanese History, and Inohana Castle Ruins, as well as natural wonders such as the towering Mt. Nokogiri, and seaside parks such as Inase Seaside Park and Makuhari Seaside Park. Chiba can be reached using the JR Keiyo Line from Tokyo Station. When it comes to places to stay in Chiba, we’ve got your covered with thousands of hotels and ryokans to choose from on our Hotels page.

3. Kumamoto

A hidden gem if ever we saw one, the lovely city of Kumamoto on the southern island of Kyushu, is the next most affordable city on our list. Sitting right near the centre of the island, those who visit Kumamoto find themselves in a friendly city full of culture and nature. Although the city isn’t particularly well-known to overseas travellers, those who do make the journey to Kumamoto won’t have reason to grow bored. Whether you’re looking for history, spirituality or some gorgeous scenery, the best things to do in Kumamoto have you covered. The city’s most famous attraction is Kumamoto Castle whose origins date back to 1600. The castle is one of the finest in Japan and well worth a visit if you're staying in the area. We would also recommend a visit to Suizenji-jojuen. These gardens were built by the local Hosokawa clan who ruled Kumamoto and centre around a tranquil lake surrounded by palms and hydrangeas.

The Suizenji gardens are particularly noteworthy for being designed to represent the ancient road between Tokyo and Kyoto, complete with miniature models of Japan’s iconic landmarks like Mount Fuji. Kumamoto is set within quite a dramatic landscape with some major mountains surrounding it. To fully appreciate the city and the scenery of this part of Kyushu you’ll want to take a walk up Hanaokayama, just near the train station. There’s not much on the hill besides a small shrine, but after a 15 minute walk you’ll be rewarded with a superb view. On a clear day you’ll not only see the city in front of you but also the mountains out around Mount Aso. Kumamoto sits along the route of the Kyushu Shinkansen which travels from Fukuoka to Kagoshima, with the Sakura and Tsubasa services stopping at Kumamoto station. If you’re travelling from Osaka or Hiroshima, you’ll first need to take the Sanyo Shinkansen to Hakata Station in Fukuoka and connect to the Kyushu Shinkansen from there. Find out more about Kyushu on our Destinations page and find your perfect place to stay on our Hotels page.

4. Okinawa

The second largest city on Okinawa, a sub-tropical prefecture consisting of 150 islands, Okinawa is a popular destination for sun worshippers and watersports enthusiasts due to its white-sand beaches, crystal waters, and coral reefs. It’s also surprisingly affordable, scoring highly for its places to eat and accommodation. There’s also plenty to see and do with attractions including Churaumi Aquarium showcasing the region’s incredible sealife, Shuri Castle, Okinawa Zoo & Museum, and much more, as well as the prefecture’s aforementioned beaches and diving sports. We’ve got an extensive range of hotels, ryokans, and beach resort accommodation to consider in Okinawa over on our Hotels page so be sure to enter your chosen dates and we'll find you the best options.  

5. Hiroshima

Hiroshima is one of the top destinations of Japan, with a vibrant local culture and a wide variety of tourism highlights, from landmarks such as the Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Dome, Hiroshima Castle, and Miyajima, to more off the beaten path sights and sounds, and, as an added bonus, it’s also very affordable. This value for money only gets better for JR Pass holders who visit the city. Hiroshima is unique in that it has a special sightseeing bus, ferry and city rail lines that are all included in the pass. Not only that, but due to its location, the city is a great base for many fun day trips, which also adds extra value to any visit. For example, Hiroshima is perfectly located to explore the Sanyo area, with some of the best hidden gems Japan has to offer. Think of the old castle town of Iwakuni, try authentic Ramen in Onomichi or visit Tomonoura, the town that inspired the Ghibli film Ponyo on the cliffs. Unique to Hiroshima, the city operates a variety of sightseeing buses around the city that are entirely covered by the Japan Rail Pass. The stops are at many of the important sightseeing spots, including the Atomic Dome, Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima castle, Hachobori (downtown) and Hiroshima station. The bus departs conveniently from Hiroshima station, all you have to do is show your pass to the driver when boarding. A normal fare is ¥200 per ride, which certainly adds up when sightseeing for a full day. If that’s not all, Japan Pass holders visiting Hiroshima also get a bonus at one of the city’s most famous attractions for international travellers - the famous floating torii-gate of Miyajima. Using the Japan Rail Pass, travel to Miyajima is fully covered. First take a local train from Hiroshima station to Miyajima-guchi, from there it is a 5-minute walk to the JR Ferry to the island. A local train return ticket normally costs ¥840, while the ferry is ¥360 for a return. As well as being great value, Miyajima is also a very special place to explore and stay. You can visit Itsukushima shrine, feed the roaming deer, take the cable car up Miyajima mountain or explore one of the many hiking trails, then finish the day by trying some local foods on offer. 

The World’s Most Trending Cities

Japan’s cities have been in the news for several other positive reasons this year as well as their affordability. Did you know that three out of the world’s top ten most trending cities are in Japan? Pretty impressive, right? Tokyo, Osaka, and Sapporo were all named in the top ten and rightly so - they’re incredible cities with a huge amount to offer international visitors and unique identities of their own. You can discover more about Japan’s cities and regions on our Destinations page. 

Useful Links 

We love Japan just as much as you do and we’re excited to help you find the perfect place to stay while visiting this unforgettable country. Alongside our carefully curated selection of hotels and ryokans, we hope to provide everything you need to plan your dream visit, from in-depth travel guides to 24/7 customer assistance, as well as our upcoming community forum. We can also point you in the right direction for the most cost-effective and enjoyable transport, portable Wifi devices, and partner services to make your stay in Japan extra special:

• For the perfect place to stay, visit our Hotels page and choose from more than 2,800 hotels and 1,800 traditional ryokans.

• Meanwhile, if you want to learn more about Japan’s regions and prefectures so you can decide the best place to visit, you should check out our Destinations page. 

• If you’re looking to explore Japan then the country’s famously efficient trains are the way to go. Japan’s railways are renowned as being the fastest, cleanest, and safest in the world. The country’s rail network is so vast and interconnected that it can help you reach almost any corner of Japan you’d like to visit. Furthermore, with a Japan Rail Pass you can enjoy unlimited travel on the majority of the country’s trains, including the famous Shinkansen ‘bullet trains’. The JR Pass is by far the most cost effective and flexible way to get around Japan. Find out more by visiting our partners at www.jrpass.com today.

• Want to use Google Translate to support your language skills? Or Google Maps for live train updates? What about posting photos to social media or keeping in touch with home? For all this and more, you’ll need a PocketWifi device like those from Ninja Wifi. With unlimited data, support for five devices simultaneously, the ability to share your Wifi with your travel companions, and more, renting a PocketWifi is highly recommended. Our Pocket WiFi guide has everything you need to know.   

• If you’re looking for information about Japan and want to speak with expert travellers who have been there and done that, then you should join our Community. This welcoming and friendly forum is the place to go to share stories, knowledge, and experiences about Japan, ask questions, make new connections, and find travel inspiration.