How much does a family of five actually need to spend to travel around Japan?
Not the backpacker budget. Not the luxury Japan budget. And definitely not the “we-don’t-look-at-the-price-because-this-is-our-dream-vacation” budget.
I wanted to know what it would cost our regular family who likes nice things but doesn’t want to spend $400 on a hotel room just to sleep in it.
So I did what I do best: I researched the absolute hell out of it.
And now that we’ve actually done it, I’m going to show you what we spent—airfare, hotels, food, transportation, activities and all the random stuff that somehow finds its way onto a vacation credit card- because you may be wondering, too.
Our total surprised me.
But before we get to the money, here’s where we went.
TOKYO
What we did: Tokyo was our first stop, and we pretty much hit the ground running. We did all the touristy stuff: Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, Shibuya Crossing, Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Street, Odaiba, Meiji Shrine, Akihabara, Harajuku and Takeshita Street.
And you know what? I’m glad we did.
What we loved: We loved Disney! We are a Disney family, and Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea totally lived up to the hype. This was a favorite adventure for sure, and we would go back in a heartbeat.
We’re also glad we didn’t skip out on the other touristy destinations. I had seen pictures of Shibuya Crossing a hundred times, so I wasn’t sure it would actually feel like a big deal. It did. And you can’t miss … You just can’t.
What I would skip: I don’t need to go back to Akihabara. Don’t come at me. I know people love the area, but we just aren’t interested in anime, manga or tech.
Where we stayed: We stayed at Under Railway Hotel Akihabara, which had a great bunk room for our family of five. And yes, it really was underneath the trains. They ran day and night, but somehow they never bothered us while we slept. At Disneyland, we stayed at the Disney Ambassador Hotel, which was definitely a splurge but truly a treat for us!
We also spent a couple of nights at the Disney Celebration Hotel. It was more in line with our budget but a bit of a letdown after staying at the Ambassador.
Total spent: $2024.96
The verdict: Tokyo was busy, chaotic, enormous and completely worth it. We could have spent much longer here, but we were trying to squeeze a lot into our 17 days.
KYOTO
What we did: We took the Nozomi bullet train, fast, and very briefly saw Mt. Fuji, beautiful. We ate at Nishiki Market, and visited Yasaka Shrine, Ninenzaka, and Higashiyama. We explored the Bamboo Grove and Arashiyama and took an evening stroll along the Kamogawa River.
What we loved: Monkey Park. Yall, it is a hike straight up a very tall hill (mountain?). It’s tough. But, if you can make it, I think you will agree that it was worth the blood, sweat and tears. And after Monkey Park, treat yourself to dinner at Chao Chao Gyoza. Even if there is a line down the sidewalk, just be patient- it’s worth it. And last, Teamlab Biovortex. Don’t research. Don’t watch videos. Just go.
What I would skip: I know it’s Instagram-worthy, but so does the rest of the world, so for me, Fushimi Inari is one place I don’t need to visit again. Yes, it’s beautiful, but it is SO touristy and crowded, so crowded.
Where we stayed: We had a Deluxe Twin Room at BON Kyoto Kiyomizu, which had a fold-out couch bed, making it the perfect size for the five of us. The hotel was incredibly clean and the staff graciously allowed us to check in early. We were within walking distance to many attractions, but the bus and train were easily accessible, too.
Total spent: $1051.54
The verdict: I had a strong feeling Teamlab Biovortex would be a highlight for us, and I was right! What I didn’t know was how much we would enjoy Monkey Park. Overall, this city is definitely stop worthy, so make sure to reserve a couple of days on your itinerary.
NARA
What we did: We explored Naramichi Old Town and stopped at Nakatanidou for mochi. We visited the Kasuga Taisha Shrine. And we spent way too much time in the gacha shops and on the claw machines. But we had a great time, so it was all worth it!
What we loved: Of course the deer are cute, but that wasn’t our favorite part. We LOVED our hotel! If you’re looking for an authentic Japanese experience, check out Onyado Nono Nara Natural Hot Springs. I loved it for the spa…. The kids loved it for the free popsicles. Go figure.
What I would skip: We did not give treats to the deer, and for us that was the right call. They are so aggressive and have no problem biting people and their clothing when trying to get treats. Yes, it’s worth it to visit the deer; just skip the treats.
Where we stayed: The Onyado Nono Nara Natural Hot Springs Hotel was a highlight of our trip for all of us. Unfortunately, we had to get two rooms, but it was still worth it for us as we loved the onsen, the tatami-mat flooring, free laundry, free Yonakisoba, free popsicles and everything else about the hotel. The kids still talk about this one.
Total Spent: $284.99
The verdict: Nara is a must-do, and we were so glad we stayed the night instead of making it a day trip. Not only would we go back, but we would do it all over again exactly the same way.
OSAKA
What we did: Once again, we tried to hit all of the highlights, and I think we did a pretty great job. Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori, Shinsekai, Kuromon Market, Fluffy Pancakes at Cafe Annon, Umeda Sky Building, Cup Noodles Museum, Tennoji Mall… This felt like a pretty decent overview of Osaka.
What we loved: The Umeda Sky Building was a huge win for us! We arrived before opening in order to beat the crowds, had the elevator to ourselves on the way up and were the first people in. This gave us completely unobstructed views of the city. This was a FREE EXPERIENCE, and totally worth our time! And of course the kids loved the Cup Noodles Museum. The museum itself isn’t much, but decorating the cup and creating your own concoction was exciting for them.
What I would skip: Sadly, the fluffy pancakes were a miss for us. This was our most expensive breakfast by far, and just did not live up to the hype.
Where we stayed: We had a HUGE room at BON Osaka Namba East! It truly was so much space for the five of us. With a small kitchenette, we were able to eat in our room a couple of times, plus we were SO CLOSE to Shinsekai, which had lots of food options.
Total spent: $772.98
The verdict: Osaka definitely needs to belong on your itinerary as well. There is so much to see and do, so plan to spend at least two solid days there.
OKINAWA
What we did: We flew from Osaka to Okinawa and rented a car so we could explore more of the island. We spent a lot of time just driving around and trying to get a good feel for the area. There are some incredibly beautiful beaches, including 21st Century Forest Beach and Emerald Beach, and we enjoyed a quick taco rice lunch at Fukuji Tree Road. Mashiki Market was fun to walk through, but quite touristy, and Shurijo Castle Park is worth the stop. Be prepared: If you’re from the United States, you will be driving on the other side of the road, which can be a little intimidating. And, don’t forget that you will need an International Driving Permit.
What we loved: Seeing the whale shark and giant manta rays at Churaumi Aquarium was a bucket list experience for me, one I don’t think I will soon forget. And don’t miss out on taco rice while you’re in Okinawa. It is now in our regular dinner rotation!
What I would skip: American Village was one of our least favorite stops on this vacation. It just felt cheesy and overpriced, plus the traffic and time it took to get there made it a “no” for us.
Where we stayed: We split our stay between Motobu and Naha so we could see more of the island. In the north (Motobu), we stayed at Churaumi Terrace. And in the south (Naha), we stayed at the Novotel Okinawa Naha in an Executive Twin Room with Lounge Access. The lounge access was great for our family, and there were a couple of times we counted the evening hors d’oeuvres as dinner, which always helps with the budget! The free breakfast was an added bonus.
Total spent: $1367.45 **Note: This includes our flight from Osaka to Okinawa on Peach Air plus our car rental, International Driving Permit, and all other vacation expenses incurred in Okinawa.
The verdict: Okinawa is beautiful, and the Churaumi Aquarium made it 100% worth the time and expense to visit. If I were to go back, however, I would spend more time researching beaches and other things to do.
AND THE GRAND TOTAL FOR 17 DAYS IN JAPAN FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE…
$6637.28
Yep. That’s what we spent for five people for 17 days traveling around Japan. And yes, that includes our flights.
Here’s the slightly complicated part: Because we have this card, we were able to use miles to get from Seattle to Tokyo, so we only paid $165 out of pocket for our five tickets. Our flights to Taiwan from Japan cost $795.36, but that’s a story for another day.
Someday I’ll write about using miles for travel, but here’s the short of it… If you can be responsible with your credit usage, credit cards are a great way to save money when traveling!
We’re not a family with an unlimited vacation budget. We like nice things, we want to have an epic time, and we’re willing to spend money on experiences that matter to us, but we’re not interested in blowing the budget just because we’re on vacation.
And honestly?
Mission accomplished.
Seventeen days. Five people. Five different stops. Disney. Bullet trains. Okinawa. Plenty of good food. A few misses. A lot of memories. And we did it for $6637.28.