Travel to Japan is often perceived as a significant financial commitment, but a Mumbai-based travel creator, Charmy, has demonstrated that meticulous planning can make the Land of the Rising Sun surprisingly affordable. She successfully completed a nine-day itinerary across major Japanese cities for approximately ₹1,25,000 (about $1,500 USD) per person, excluding personal shopping expenses.

The key to achieving this budget-friendly trip lay in strategic booking and optimizing costs across the major spending categories: flights, accommodation, and activities.

The Itinerary & Budget Summary

The traveler’s nine-day journey included major hubs, following a route of Mumbai → Tokyo → Osaka → Tokyo → Mumbai.

1. Air Travel (₹40,600):

The largest single expenditure was the round-trip airfare, which amounted to ₹40,600 per person for the multi-city itinerary starting and ending in Mumbai. This cost covers the entire route from India, connecting Tokyo and Osaka.

2. Accommodation (₹35,000):

The traveler utilized a mix of hotels and Airbnb rentals to manage lodging costs efficiently.

• Kyoto: An Airbnb was the most economical option, costing around ₹2,500 per night.
• Osaka: A hotel stay cost approximately ₹3,800 per night.
• Tokyo: Hotel bookings here were the most expensive part of the lodging budget, costing ₹5,600 per night.

By mixing different types of stays, the total accommodation cost for the nine days was kept to roughly ₹35,000 per person.

3. Sightseeing and Activities (₹32,200):

To avoid unexpected costs and save money, the traveler prepaid for all major entrance fees and excursions. This proactive approach accounted for ₹32,200 of the total budget.

4. Food and Local Transit (₹17,000 – ₹18,000):

This amount covered all internal travel within the cities and daily meal expenses. Keeping this category under ₹2,000 per day demonstrates a focused effort on economical dining and efficient use of public transportation.

The Budget Takeaway

According to the traveler, the perception of Japan being prohibitively expensive is often based on poor planning. The secret to her affordable adventure was strategic advanced booking—securing deals on flights and accommodations well ahead of time—and pre-booking activities to lock in prices and manage the cash flow effectively during the trip. This approach proves that exploring Japan’s rich culture and scenic beauty does not necessarily require a luxury budget.