Budget Tours to Japan
Imagine walking around Shinjuku at night, taking pictures of Tokyo Tower from the peaceful gardens of Zojoji Temple. Take a boat ride on Kawaguchiko Lake, where the perfect cone of Mt. Fuji reflects in the still waters. Visit the interesting Toyota Museum in Nagoya, and walk through Kyoto's mystical bamboo forest, where light and nature collide. Japan doesn’t have to cost the earth.
10 best Budget Japan tour packages
Compiled by
SteffJapan travel expert at TourRadar
- Japan Adventure 13 Day
- Japan Winter Classic 11 Day - One Life Adventures
- 8 Days Top Japan Mini Group Tour with Max 6 People, 3/4 Stars Hotels
- 8 Day Japan on a Budget Small Group Tour Package
- 10 Days Japan Mini Group Tour with Max 6 People and 3&4 Stars Hotels
- Essential Japan Explorer - 13 Days
- Japan Highlights by Bullet Train: Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka | 8 Days
- Japan In Depth - Footsteps of the Shogun
- Osaka Hiroshima Snapshot 6 Day - One Life Adventures
- Spirit of Japan
Japan Adventure 13 Day
401 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It was worth every cent, the hours of my time spent booking it, and getting travel insurance.”
Zechariah, traveled in December
This comprehensive tour costs approx. $220 per day, covering accommodations, 11 breakfasts, bullet train travel, and cultural activities like sushi-making and samurai training. Nights are spent in traditional ryokans and temples.
Duration 13 days Destinations Tokyo, Nagano, Hakone, Fuji, Osaka, Koya-san, Kyoto Age Range Ages 18-49 Price Per Day $246 Operator INTRO Travel From
- US$3,199
Japan Winter Classic 11 Day - One Life Adventures
32 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“I definitely wouldn't have seen or experienced some of the things we got to had I booked the trip on my own.”
Cory, traveled in January
For approx. $200 per day, this tour includes 10 nights accommodation, 9 meals, and transport costs. Highlights feature private sushi-making classes and Kendo training, plus free time in Tokyo's Akihabara and Kyoto's historic districts.
Duration 11 days Destinations Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagano Age Range Ages 18-59 Price Per Day $227 Operator One Life Adventures From $2,775
10% Off- US$2,498You save $278
8 Days Top Japan Mini Group Tour with Max 6 People, 3/4 Stars Hotels
13 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Agate tour service is very dependable and professional. Wonderful experience. Highly recommend.”
Drake, traveled in July
Costs around $730 per day, with 3-star hotels like Keio Presso Inn Kayabacho and all entrance fees to sights included. Bullet trains connect Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka with affordable public transport options. Kuromon Market offers budget-friendly authentic local street food worth checking out. Small group size capped at 6 people keeps the experience personalized throughout.
Duration 8 days Destinations Tokyo, Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima Age Range All Ages Welcome Price Per Day $432 Operator Agate Travel From
10% Off- US$3,459
Priced at approx. $120 per day, this tour includes visits to Tokyo's Senso-ji Temple and Mount Fuji's 5th Station. Transportation via bullet train and centrally located hotels are included, with optional airport transfers.
Duration 8 days Destinations Tokyo, Kawaguchiko, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Nara Age Range All Ages Welcome Price Per Day $184 Operator Tourist Journey From
10% Off- US$1,471
10 Days Japan Mini Group Tour with Max 6 People and 3&4 Stars Hotels
11 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The tour was just as planned with good tour guides and well planned itineraries. Having all the transportation planned was great!”
Maureen, traveled in September
Priced at around $420 per day, accommodation includes 3-star hotels like Keio Presso Inn Kayabacho in Tokyo and Hotel Keihan Kyoto Hachijoguchi. Bullet train and express bus tickets between cities come included, plus daily breakfast at your hotel. Entry fees to major attractions like Kenroku-en Garden, Osaka Castle, and Miyajima Island ferry are covered in the price. Public transportation throughout Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka keeps costs low and getting around stays convenient.
Duration 10 days Destinations Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Shirakawa Age Range All Ages Welcome Price Per Day $443 Operator Agate Travel From
10% Off- US$4,429
Essential Japan Explorer - 13 Days
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It is an active tour and really gives you a chance to see everything in southern Japan. Lots of free time and definitely worth the price!”
Kathleen, traveled in March
Costing approx. $270 per day, this tour provides Japanese hostels and guesthouses. Highlights include sushi-making classes in Tokyo, meditation sessions in Kyoto temples, and public transport between cities. Karaoke and other optional activities allow flexible spending.
Duration 13 days Destinations Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Kyoto, Arashiyama, Hiroshima, Miyajima Island, Osaka Age Range Ages 18-55 Price Per Day $240 Operator On The Go Tours From $4,465
30% Off- US$3,126You save $1,340
Duration 8 days Destinations Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka Age Range All Ages Welcome Price Per Day $316 Operator Wanderful Holidays LLC From $3,199
21% Off- US$2,527You save $672
Japan In Depth - Footsteps of the Shogun
37 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The food experiences and opportunity to stay in traditional Japanese guest houses were excellent.”
Gillian, traveled in September
At approx. $520 per day, this package includes 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 3 dinners of local cuisine. Accommodations alternate between 8 standard hotels and 3 traditional ryokans, with walking tours of Nagasaki's historic districts and airport transfers from Haneda or Narita.
Duration 12 days Destinations Tokyo, Fuji Hakone Izu National Park, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Sasebo, Hirado, Fukuoka Age Range Ages 16+ Price Per Day $524 Operator Explore! From
21% Off- US$6,290
Osaka Hiroshima Snapshot 6 Day - One Life Adventures
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Nice balance of activities and freetime.”
Karoline, traveled in July
For approx. $180 per day, this tour offers bullet train travel, 5 breakfasts, and 2 dinners. Highlights include a Koyasan temple stay with monk-prepared meals, plus guided tours of Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Osaka's Dotonbori district.
Duration 6 days Destinations Osaka, Wakayama, Hiroshima, Miyajima Island Age Range Ages 18-59 Price Per Day $209 Operator One Life Adventures From $1,395
10% Off- US$1,256You save $140
Duration 7 days Destinations Tokyo, Odawara, Hakone, Arashiyama, Fushimi, Kyoto Age Range Ages 18-39 Price Per Day $159 Operator TruTravels From $1,595
30% Off- US$1,117You save $479
What people love about Budget Tours in Japan
Our tour with INTRO Travel was fantastic, especially thanks to our tour leader Lachlan Fleming. He was truly amazing: very involved, caring, and always willing to help. Everything was perfectly organized, and you could really tell that he genuinely cared about the group. Thanks to Lachlan, this tour was an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended!
Japan Adventure 13 Day
This trip through Japan was truly an experience of a lifetime! The itinerary was a perfect balance of culture, adventure, and relaxation, allowing us to explore the best of Japan while also taking in its quieter, more traditional side. Our guide, Daan, was absolutely fantastic! His energy, knowledge, and passion for Japan made everything so much more immersive. He always made sure we were having a great time, and his enthusiasm was contagious. Traveling with him and our amazing group made this adventure even more memorable. One of my personal highlights was exploring the backroads of Yudanaka. Walking through the snow-covered streets of this charming little town felt like stepping into a postcard. The onsens were the perfect way to unwind—soaking in the warm waters while surrounded by the crisp winter air was pure magic. Beyond the amazing places, what made this trip truly special was our fantastic group—it felt like traveling with old friends. I highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to explore Japan in a fun, immersive, and well-organized way. And if you’re lucky enough to have Daan as your guide, you’re in for an even more incredible adventure!
Japan Winter Classic 11 Day - One Life Adventures
A really good tour! The team were so helpful organising extra days after the tour for us to explore on our own and everything was well organised and laid out for us. The team also were flexible around our requirements (changing days to suit our slightly different schedule and such like!) Our tour guide in Osaka was particularly amazing - we would highly recommend Yoshi as she had a really friendly aura and knew a lot about the cities we visited and offered cultural and historical context. Our guide in Tokyo was lovely and helped guide us around the city, although we did spend what felt like a very long time just on trains getting around the city and figuring out what trains to take. The day in Fuji was cloudy but would have been perfect otherwise. Thanks for a great trip :) Japan is beautiful and we will for sure be returning to explore more!!
8 Days Top Japan Mini Group Tour with Max 6 People, 3/4 Stars Hotels
What our customers ask about Budget Tours to Japan
When is the most affordable time to visit Japan on a budget tour?
Late autumn (November) and winter (December-February) offer the best value for money in Japan except during New Year celebrations. You'll find lower rates at hotels in key areas like Tokyo's Shinjuku and Kyoto's Gion. Prices tend to spike during cherry blossom season in spring and summer festival periods. A TourRadar traveler noted "Visiting in November allowed us to see the beautiful autumn colors at places like Arashiyama Bamboo Forest while enjoying lower prices on accommodations and fewer crowds."
What type of accommodation can I expect on a budget tour in Japan?
Budget tours typically combine shared hostels basic hotels and traditional ryokans. In Tokyo you might find yourself at places like Sakura Hotel Nippori with dormitory-style rooms. Kyoto offers traditional stays such as Matsubaya Ryokan where you'll sleep on futons laid on tatami floors. As one TourRadar traveler mentioned: "The accommodation was basic but clean and well-located and the traditional ryokan stays were a highlight of experiencing real Japanese culture."
How much should I budget for meals not included in the tour?
Set aside 25-40 USD per day for meals outside your tour package. You can eat well at conveyor-belt sushi spots in Tokyo's Shibuya for 8-15 USD or grab filling ramen in Osaka's Dotonbori district for 7-12 USD. A TourRadar traveler mentioned "We found great value at local ramen shops and convenience stores which helped keep our daily food costs around 30 USD while still enjoying authentic Japanese cuisine."
Are entrance fees to attractions included in budget Japan tours?
Standard tours cover entry to main sites like Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo and Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. Extra activities such as the Robot Restaurant (80 USD) or teamLab Borderless (30 USD) usually cost extra. According to a TourRadar traveler: "While main temple entrances were covered I spent about USD 100 extra on optional activities like the Ghibli Museum and samurai experience throughout the 10-day tour."
What are the best budget-friendly areas to stay in major Japanese cities?
Look for accommodations in Tokyo's Asakusa Ueno or parts of Shinjuku for better rates while staying connected to main attractions. The APA Hotel in Asakusa offers good value. Kyoto Station area and Southern Higashiyama provide affordable options. Osaka's Namba district features budget-friendly stays near popular spots. A TourRadar traveler mentioned: "Staying in Asakusa saved us money and gave us a more local experience compared to expensive areas like Ginza."
What's the best way to save money on transportation during free time in Japan?
While most tours include a Japan Rail Pass for longer trips local travel becomes cheaper with a prepaid IC card like Pasmo or Suica (20-30 USD initial charge). These cards work on metros and buses throughout major cities. As one TourRadar traveler advised: "Getting a Pasmo card saved both money and time plus our guide showed us how to use the efficient subway system in Tokyo which helped cut costs on taxis."
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