Wildly unlike anywhere else in Asia, Japan merits a special kind of traveler, willingly to expand both their wallet and their stomachs for a fantastic tour through history, harmony and heart. Whether it’s the tantalizing shops in Shibuya or the breathtaking hike up Mount Fuji that have you plotting a trip, the wholesome and happy people of Japan make any time spent here memorable.

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine (Orange Temple), Kyoto

Why Travel To Japan

We were captivated by everything in Japan: their food, their preservation of nature, their standards of cleanliness, their massive high rises, efficient railways, underground anime libraries, above ground capitalist corners—the list barrels on. It’s a fascinating country to explore as an outsider looking in and the best way to do it is through your stomach. In all corners of Japan, the food is some of the most creative and strangest there is. With each new city we had fun losing ourselves in the open markets and peering behind Shoji paper doors to find new food. Though the country is rather expensive to explore, the amount of parks, monuments, temples, and museums you can visit for free offer a small opportunity for backpackers to get a taste of the island.

The Nitty Gritty Facts

127 million people live in Japan, 9.27 million of them live in Tokyo, the capital.

The National Language of Japan is Japanese.

The Japanese name for Japan is “Nippon” which means “sun origin.”

Japan is made up of 6,852 islands.

The highest point in Japan is Mount Fuji, which stands at 3,776m high (12,388ft).

Sumo is the National sport of Japan.

Our Route

Tokyo — Kyoto — Osaka

Roughly a seven-hour journey from Tokyo to Kyoto by bus and costs $30.

Roughly a 1.5-hour journey from Kyoto to Osaka by train was included in our Japan Railways Pass.

Traveling throughout Japan is easy because everything is so well connected and their public transportation is top of the line. It can be affordable as well if you're putting in the effort to sort out the best option. Checking out the bus options rather than the bullet train is a good way to save some money. It's also worth exploring the different budget airlines to try and score an affordable domestic flight.

Budget airlines for Japan include

The Rugged Budget

The national currency in Japan is the Yen 110 Y = $1 USD

All Day Subway pass $6—$10 USD

Single Fare Subway ticket .50—$4 USD

Local buses $2—$10 USD

Accommodation in a 8 bed mixed dorm $14—$27 USD

Private room in a 4 star hotel start at $80 USD

Beer at a bar $6 USD

Beer from a shop $2 USD

Street food $3—$6 USD

Sit down restaurant $9— $18 USD

A pack of 20 cigarettes $3—$5USD

Japan From The Scratch My Pack Lens

Helpful Hints For Traveling In Japan

It's more economical to travel by bus, but it does take more time. If you have a limited amount of time to travel through the country the Japan Rail Pass may be the best option for your trip. There are plenty of different options depending on the length of your travels, regions, and how you want to travel that make the Rail Pass flexible. You can buy a passes valid for 1 day up to 2 weeks and for the entire country or just for selected regions. We chose to take the bus from Tokyo to Kyoto (as it was much cheaper than the train ticket), but then decided to buy the rail pass for the regions of Kyoto and Osaka. We purchased a 7-day pass that allowed us to travel on any train between the two cities, and within the cities, as much as we wanted for a 7-day period.

Japan is definitely known as an expensive country to travel in, but it can be done on a budget. The food in Japan is delicious on any budget. Eating well in Japan doesn't always mean breaking the bank. You can walk the markets to get squid on a stick, buttered oysters, fresh prawns or gyoza (pot-stickers) all under $6. The sushi is good everywhere, so don't be afraid to pop into a kitschy side shop rather than a sit down proper restaurant to feed your appetite for good sushi.

You don't have to stay in Shibuya in order to enjoy its craziness. There's more affordable accommodation outside of the intense crossroads of Tokyo that are easily walkable and the metro can take you anywhere in the city. It may be crazy and confusing but it's a lot of fun to master.

Buy beer from the local shops rather than the bars or restaurants to save a bit of extra cash.

Japan uses the same power plug as in the United States. I.e. any plug from the US will work in Japan. The voltage is 100v whereas the US is 110V - so it may take a little longer to charge your devices.

Activities That Won’t Scratch Your Budget

Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo: Free

Shibuya is a lively district of downtown Tokyo that by night is an incredible show of people and lights. Join the thousands of fascinated pedestrians taking in the awe of light and sound by walking the Shibuya Crossing, often referred to as the Time Square of Tokyo.

Takeshita Street, Tokyo: Free

There's so much going on in the Shibuya area, but Takeshita road is a concentrated microcosm of everything typically, and strangely, Japanese. It's several blocks of crazy shops, karaoke, arcades, candy, and of course anime. It's aesthetically entertaining to take a walk along side locals and tourists alike.

Shinjuku, Station, Tokyo: Free

This is Tokyo's busiest station serving more than two million passengers a day and it's worth a visit. The surrounding area of Shinjuku is a less commercial version of Shibuya. It features some of Tokyo's tallest buildings and you can visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office and their observatory floors for free for a fantastic view of the whole city.

Sensoji Temple, Tokyo: Free

This is an ancient buddhist temple built in the traditional Japanese tradition. A beautiful example of Japanese history.

Imperial Palace, Tokyo: Free

The Palace is surrounded by an enormous park with different gardens and grounds that visitors can stroll through for free. Owned by the Royal Family, the palace itself is only open two times a year, but you can view the castle from the park. The view from the bridge doesn't disappoint.

Asakusa, Tokyo: Free

The entire area of Asakusa is filled with shops selling everything you can imagine. There are lots of street stalls and restaurants, bars, art, music, and temples. This is a fun place to get lost for a day.

Osaka Castle, Osaka: 600 YEN ($5.50USD)

You only have to pay if you want to go inside. The inside of the castle is impressive. It's a pristine museum, but the view from the roof is what makes the $5 worth it. It's a 360 degree view of the city.

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine (Orange Temple), Kyoto: Free

This was one of our favorite activities. The two hour walk from the Inari Temple up Inari mountain is a beautiful stroll through the forest. Of course the biggest draw are the hundreds of torii, traditional Japanese gates, that make up the path way and lead visitors to the temple at the top. It’s a sea of orange archways that’s often crowded by tourists, however, we found that the farther up the mountain you walk, the less tourists we came across.

Nishiki Market, Kyoto: Free

Who doesn't love a good street market. Personally, this one has been one of our favorites. It’s an expansive one that stretches at least 10 blocks. Here you can find lots of local flare, fresh seafood, traditional drinks, desserts, clothes, souvenirs, and of course mini temples tucked in varying alleyways.

Where Did We Stay (Accommodation We Recommend)

Obi Hostel, Tokyo $18/night for an 18 bed mixed dorm

This was our favorite hostel in Japan. The hostel is located in a quieter neighborhood, which meant we were some of the only tourists around (at the time that's exactly what we wanted). The staff was awesome, the hang-out area was relaxing, the dorm rooms were huge and every bed was pod style, complete with privacy curtains, a light, and electric socket in each one. There were plenty of lockers, clean bathrooms, and a washer and dryer. We extended our stay here because we enjoyed it so much.

Guesthouse Origami, Kyoto $14/night for an 26 bed mixed dorm

Pretty average hostel. Nice beds, rooftop hangout area, great location and seemed to attract really cool fellow backpackers. The owner seemed to have lots of information about the city and kept the hostel really clean. The only drawback was check-in was not until 4pm.

Hostel Wasabi Osaka Bed & Library, Osaka $18/night for an 18 bed mixed dorm

This is a super cool design for a hostel. The main floor of the hostel (reception) is filled with books. All the walls are bookshelves completely packed with books from all over the world. There are even secret hang out rooms halfway up the bookshelf you can climb into and hang out and lounge. The bathrooms were 5 star. They were immaculately clean, with granite counters, vanity style chairs and makeup area, hair dryers, mouthwash, soap, slippers, towels, and lots of showers. Both the men and the women’s had a washer and dryer. The dorm rooms were large with lots of beds, and each pod had a privacy curtain, a light, and electric socket which made them comfortable. They also offered free hot or cold drinks and free Miso soup which made the hostel even more cozy.