Best Japan itinerary for low budget trip may not be for all travelers. Yet if you wonder how to spend 8 days with around $1,100 you must read this post. Airline ticket around $300 (depends on where you departing from), hotels around $250, transportation around $100, Mount Fuji trip around $60, Tokyo skytree ticket around $20, and $370 for eat, etc. This itinerary will bring you to the top 3 destination in Japan: Tokyo (mount Fuji, Kawaguchiko, Gotemba), Osaka and Tokyo.
Here’s some details on your best Japan itinerary for low budget trip:
- Airline ticket (return), $300 (book a promo from skyscanner, trip, cheapoair, hotelscombined or other online travel agency you like).
- Hotels, $250, you can even share if you are traveling with a friend.
- Bus from Tokyo-Osaka-Tokyo, $100
- One day trip to Mount Fuji-Kawaguchiko-Oshino Hakai-Gotemba Premium Outlet, $60
- Ticket for Tokyo Skytree, purchase from tiqets, $14
- Cash (exchange $370)
The total budget for Japan itinerary is $1,100. What may cost you more is the airline ticket from your country to Japan.
Japan Itinerary for Low Budget Trip
Day 1 – Best Japan Itinerary for Low Budget Trip
Arrive at Narita Airport.
Take a bus to Tokyo. You will see a bus shelter once you are exiting the Terminal 2, Narita Airport. You can purchase ticket on the spot for 1.000 Yen. The bus will stop at the cross of Tokyo Station. From this place you can easily reach Tokyo Metro (the subway) or Tokyo Imperial Palace by foot. If you are hungry, you must try Soba Udon in the Tokyo St. for 400 Yen. Spend the night at Smile hotel in Asakusa.
Day 2 – Best Japan Itinerary for Low Budget Trip
Smile Hotel in Asakusa (book hotel from skyscanner, cheapoair, hotelscombined or other online travel agency you like). Take breakfast at food seller nearby.
- Take a train (around 45 minute) to Meiji Jingu Shrine. Explore the shrine for 1 hour.
Location is near to Harajuku Station. The shrine entrance can easily be spotted from the station’s exit. An old temple, built in 1920, surrounded by tall trees of Yayogi Park garden covering an area of 7000 m2. The hallmark of this temple is the big and tall Torii Gate, a photo spot for visitors.
- Take a walk to Yayogi Park and explore it. Spend about an hour (100 meter from the shrine).
- Take a walk to Harajuku (15 minute)
- Explore Harajuku, Takeshita Street, and Togo Shrine (1 hour)
Out of Meji Jingu, you can walk to Takeshita Street. The road is not too wide but very busy shops are on the side walk. Lots of fashion and knick-knacks shops for girls. Here you will find many Japanese girls who wear typical Harajuku-style clothes.
- Explore Shibuya, Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya city center, Shibuya 109, Shibuya Niku Yokocho (place for food) (1 hour).
Shibuya crossing might be one of the icon for Japan. The busiest intersection on the planet. How to reach it? From Takeshita Street take a walk 500m to Shibuya Crossing.
- Head to Hachiko Memorial Statue (30 minute)
Have you ever watched the movie Hachiko: A Dog’s Story in 2009. The story of this loyal dog was immortalized in Shibuya. Located on one side of Shibuya Crossing (opposite to Starbucks).
Souvenirs
If you want to buy a souvenir, visit Mega Don Quijote in Shibuya. The shop located near the Hachiko Memorial Statue (5 minute walk). If you spend around 5000Yen, you can have a tax refund by showing your passport.
- Take a train to Shinjuku Gyoen (30 minute)
- Explore the Shinjuku Gyoen park (1 hour)
- Walk to Tokyo Metropolitan building (25 minute)
- Enjoy the scenery from the Tokyo metro building (1 hour)
If you want to see Tokyo from above for FREE, you can come to this place. Located in Shinjuku, take the Yamanote Line from Shibuya Station to Shinjuku Station. From Shinjuku Station, walk 10 minutes to this building. The queue to reach the top might be long, but the wait is fast. When you’re here, you have to try the sophisticated binoculars, you can see the past, present, and future views of Tokyo by directing the binoculars.
- Walk to Omoide Yokocho (15 minute)
From the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, you can walk for 1 km (15 minutes) to Omoide Yokocho Shinjuku. It is a narrow alley where food sellers are. It is said that this place has existed since ancient times.
- Eat some food at omoide Yokocho (1 hour)
Exiting Omoide Yokocho, walk a bit right at the intersection, there’s a drug store called WELCIA (the building is just across the street), where you may find a super delicious Onigiri for 90Yen. If you want a cheap eat, this Onigiri is a must to try.
- Walk to Kabuchiko (15 minute)
- Explore Kabuchiko, Godzilla head, shopping, etc (3 hour)
A must visit if you are in Shinjuku at night. Kabukicho is the biggest nightlife district in Shinjuku, very busy from bars, restaurants, karaoke, place for games, robot restaurant, and also Godzilla head.
Tips: Do not stop standing in front of a bar/karaoke/restaurant for a long time, the waiter will pull you in and you won’t be able to go out before you buy/spend some money. That is why many bar/karaoke waiters are standing in the middle of the street offering to passersby.
- Return to hotel. Shinjuku Station – Asakusa Station by train (30 minute)
- Walk to your hotel from Asakusa Station (15 minute)
- Take a rest.
Day 3 – Best Japan Itinerary for Low Budget Trip
The itinerary for the third day is Mount Fiji, Kawaguchiko, Oshino Hakkai, Gotemba Premium Outlet. Such an itinerary is a safe bet because of the difficulties in the transportation. You may buy the trip from cheapoair/activities for around $89 – $95.
Purchasing this trip is not so bad, you just need to sit tight on a bus. The only disadvantage is that you only have a short time for each visit. A guide is available in English language. The meeting point for this trip is in front of JR Ueno station.
- Mount Fuji
A visit to Mount Fuji is a bit tricky. The weather is unpredictable. Cloudy clouds may appear in a sunny day.
- Kawaguchiko
If you love nature, this place is amazing. You will visit Kawaguchiiko Lake. You should see Mount Fuji as the background (if weather permit).
- Oshino Hakkai
Oshino Hakkai will display geyser flow from Mount Fuji. The water is clear and inhabit many fish. If you reach this place, you must try Ice Cream Pure Matcha for around 200Yen.
- Gotemba Premium Outlet
Book this trip, you only have 90 minutes to explore this huge premium outlet.
That’s what you got if you purchase the trip for around $89-$95. You may ask about lunch, the trip provide a package with / without lunch. If you decide to include a lunch, the food will be provided during your visit to Kawaguchiiko (the Lake).
Day 4 – Best Japan Itinerary for Low Budget Trip
At this itinerary you may do the check out, put your luggage in the locker at the Asakusa station. Your trip will include Sensoji Temple – Umeda – Tokyo Skytree – Shinjuku Station – Osaka (by bus). You can walk from hotel to Tokyo Skytree.
Here’s some detail (7.30am – 9pm):
- Eat breakfast around the hotel (30 minutes)
- From hotel, Walk to Asakusa Station (30 minutes)
- From Asakusa Station, Walk to Sensoji Temple (55 minutes)
- Explore Sensoji Temple (55 minute)
This temple is one of the oldest in Japan. The temple was built in 1649. You should try OMIKUJI when visit this place. Put in a coin of 100Y into a box, shake it, take OMIKUJI paper from a closet based on the number you get after shaking the box. If you get a good luck, you can take it home. If not, you can hang it there.
You may find Debouin street from one of the entrance of this temple. It is the center of traditional craft since the Edo Era. Unique item such as Zori or Geta (traditional Japanese sandal) available here.
- From Sensoji Temple, walk to Nakamise Shopping Center (3 minutes)
- Enjoy Nakamise Shopping Center (1 hour)
- Take a walk to Simeda Park (15 minute)
- Explore Simeda Park (45 minutes)
- From Simeda Park, walk to Tokyo Skytree (15 minute)
- Explore Tokyo Skytree and take a lunch (2 hour)
Tokyo Skytree is a must visit place when you are in Asakusa Japan. The Sytree is one of the talest tower with 634 meter height. Tips: purchase entrance ticket from tiqets,, it’s cheap and has a deal if you pay with credit card. Once you purchase it, you just need to print it at ticket machine by scanning the barcode. Avoid the queue.
The skytree connected to the Solamachi Mall, Station and food court. A cheap Udon can be found for 300Yen.
- Go to Ueno park by train (30 minutes)
- Exlpore Ueno Park (1 hour)
- From Ueno Park, walk to Akihabara (15 minutes)
- Explore Akihabara (1 hour)
- From Akibahara, go to Asakusa Station by train (to take your luggage) (30 minutes)
- Take some rest at Asakusa Station (30 minutes)
- From Asakusa Station, Go to Shinjuku Station (30 minutes)
- Explore Shinjuku Station surroundings, take a stop at Shinjuku Express Way Bus (2 hours)
- From Shinjuku Station, take a bus to Osaka, take a rest on your bus trip (9 hour)
The trip by bus is a cost saver. The bus has a toilet inside, you can take some rest while waiting for your next trip for the price of a ticket bus. Check the bus schedule, if you depart at 9pm you may arrive at 6am the next morning.
