If you’re looking for extreme cost saving tips like “buying the department store food at the end of the day before it expires” or “take the overnight bus and be uncomfortable all night long to save money” type of advice, then this blog post is not for you.
These are my (self-proclaimed) reasonable ways to still have a full, memorable and good quality holiday in Japan – just by knowing a bit more before you go.
1. Eat out at lunch instead of dinner.
I’m not saying skip dinner or anything crazy like that – but if you have a personal bucket list of all the Japanese dishes you want to try then move the big ticket items to lunch.
For example – in my Kobe with Kids article I mention one of my recommended Kobe Beef restaurants. Their lunch is approximately 6000 yen per adult – while, if you go for dinner – dinner courses start at 10,000 yen.
Or in my Shibuya with kids post I speak of Kinka Sushi who serve omakase sushi lunch for 1200 yen while their omakase dinner options range from 2,200-5000 yen.
Or Tempura Tsunamachi in my Shinjuku with kids post has the most incredible high end tempura lunch sets for 2500 yen , which dinner prices start at double that amount.
There are a few reasons that lunch prices are much less over dinner.
The quality and standard of the meal is high. However, lunch is considered to be a much lighter meal in Japan – which is why “sets” -as in a “lunch set” (or “teishoku” if you’re in a traditional Japanese restaurant) are so popular. The portions are often a little smaller and the meal comes with sides such as a small salad and rice and bread.
Lunches are, in business hubs, also a great way for restaurants to serve a large portion of customers quickly. Restaurants know that customers will want to eat good quality meals in a more casual lunch setting – in the hopes that they will return again for a slow, lush and boozy dinner with their colleagues or family at a later date.
So, the clever way to keep an eye on your food budget is to eat the expensive dishes at lunch and then go for a more casual izakaya (Japanese style pub where everyone shares lots of small affordable dishes) or use dinner time to up your salad and veggie quota for the day with salads, soups or ramen etc. Dinner is also a great time to try out casual rice bowl chain restaurants like Yoshinoya or Matsuya or even curry rice chain Cocoichibanya. Or how about a Standing Gyoza and Champagne bar? (I have suggestions in my Akasaka with kids guide and also my write up on Kyoto with kids.)
2. Bring a water bottle and refill using the MyMizu app
This app shows you all the public spaces and restaurants that are happy for you to fill up your water bottle when passing by.
3. Make sure you mix in free options and entry fee options
Here, for example, is a list of my favourite free things to do in Tokyo
4. Don’t fall trap to thinking that a Japan Rail Pass will save you cash (without checking first)
5 years ago, anyone who DIDN’T take advantage of a Japan Rail Pass was crazy. It used to be the easiest way to jump on and off bullet trains (and JR local trains) without having to think about the cost. Nowadays, the price has gone up significantly, and it is rarely cost effective to use a JR Pass anymore unless you are moving around A LOT within a short amount of time. To find out a definitive answer as to whether or not you will be saving money with a JR pass, you can enter your travel plans into a JR Pass calculator (google “JR Pass calculator” to find this easily.) I’ve written about JR passes in Japan in detail here.
5. Travel outside of high season
This will save you a lot of money – particularly on accommodation. If you can – avoid March-May (including Golden Week). I have written all of my tips regarding when to travel to Japan with kids here.
6. Take public transportation over taxis
I mean, duh. This is the case for most countries but especially so for Japan as the public transportation is just so reliable and well thought out (which is why most people who live in Japanese cities don’t even own cars.) That being said, when travelling with children – it is a good idea to keep taxis as an option in the back of your mind for when kids are tired or everyone just needs a quick escape. I explain here how to estimate how much a taxi ride will cost so you can work out if it’s worth just throwing money at the situation to make a particular part of your day easier when travelling in Japan with kids.
7. Take the Airport Limousine Bus instead of a Private Transfer from Narita Airport
Haneda Airport is close enough to easily get into central Tokyo but Narita is far. Most people are, understandably, gobsmacked at the cost of a private transfer from the airport for their family. We use the Airport Limousine Bus for this reason – it’s just as quick too!
There is wifi on board, the driver puts your bags under the bus, a toilet on board. We take the Airport Limousine Bus to the closest stop to our accommodation and then either walk or take a short cab ride. I explain more about taking the Airport Limousine Bus (and I have photos too) here. It can save a family more than 40,000 yen if they take the Airport Limousine Bus over a private transfer.
8. Take advantage of Japanese clean, yet smaller rooms, in Business Hotels
I have a list of hotels that I love but are cost effective (particularly if you are only sleeping there) but are also safe and clean. Please take note that I don’t recommend going for tiny rooms with toddlers, babies who need cots/ pack’n’plays or families with teens as it’s just too squishy. It can be a cost effective way for bigger families if you organize for connecting rooms. I explain more about these hotel options here.
For those who are already thinking it – no, I rarely find airbnb in Japan to be more cost effective as it rarely means more space or cheaper rooms (once you’ve added in the cleaning fees etc)… it also means that you’re often in a less convenient spot for travelling around with kids and you also are giving up language support if there is a natural disaster or someone in your family needs urgent medical care. I speak in detail about airbnb in Japan here.
9. Choose to visit the Tokyo Disney Parks over Universal Studios
Tokyo Disney Parks are some of the cheapest Disney options in the world. Children under 4 are free!
I visited Disney a few months ago and it cost AU$270 dollars for myself and my two children and we went to Universal Studios the following week and it was AU$1200 dollars! That’s a big difference! The reason USJ is so much more expensive is because of those express passes. Can you go without express passes? Yes. Would I ever ever go to USJ without express passes – absolutely 1000% no. It’s just too much waiting and you can miss out on whole sections of the park. I explain in more detail here.
Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea have more options for children anyway.
10. Don’t bother with the Green Cars on the Bullet Train
Taking the bullet trains in Japan is so amazing. So convenient and efficient. There isn’t any need to “upgrade” to the Green Car. I especially never take the green car with kids – there is just too much pressure for kids to be completely quiet. There is a tiny bit more space and you can order a couple of food items via QR code but that’s the only difference. The ordinary carriages have way more space than place seats. You just buy treats on the platform or at the station for the ride anyway – save that money for more Japan things – it’s not worth it. I explain more here.
11. Stay out NEAR Disney but not at an official Disney Hotel
We have been lucky enough to stay at a few of the official hotels – they are fun and lovely. But not cheap!
They can be 6-7 times the cost of a hotel that is just in the disney area. So we mostly just choose a hotel NEAR Disney instead and we make sure that hotel has a free shuttle to and from the parks. It feels like your Mum has come to pick you up at the end of a big day! We love it!
Here are the hotels near Disney that we recommend. We have lots of pictures too.
12. Remember to make use of Japanese supermarkets and bakeries – not just convenience stores.
Japanese convenience stores are already so cost effective (here is a list of my favourite convenience store treats, by the way) but did you know that the supermarket prices are even better ? And even more bento and ready cooked meal options. Most large supermarkets also have an in-house bakery too!
In my basket I have bite-sized inari, paper spring rolls with salad and shrimp & a satchet of sweet chilli, 2 x premade margherita pizzas (these are from the fridge not freezer section.)
Speaking of bakeries a Japanese panya-san (bakery) also is a lovely way to have an affordable meal out as a family. Take your bakery goodies back home or to a small park nearby for a little picnic.
Another suggestion – A convenience store x supermarket hybrid
Lawson 100 is a convenience store and grocery store – where everything is 100 yen! I like to pop in here for some affordable fruit and vegetables. It is open 24 hours a day.
If you like it here, no matter what city you’re in – google “Lawson 100 near me” for other options. When I was a student living in Japan, I would shop here first and then use the normal supermarket for the rest.
13. Make use of all-you-can-eat options that don’t scrimp on quality in Japan
This is especially useful when dining out with hungry teenagers. Sukiyaki & Shabu-Shabu places like Syabu-Yo and Momo Paradise are especially incredible for this.
Hotel breakfast buffets are also incredible for this reason.
As are Sizzler Japan (although not the cheapest at first but if you eat enough to get your money’s worth it all works out.)
