Japan on a budget: how much to plan?

The flight is the only real obstacle. From €353 return out of London, it often accounts for half the budget of a ten-day trip. The whole strategy follows: stretching the trip mechanically drives down the daily cost.

On the ground the country is affordable, and that is the surprise. A well-rated hostel runs €11 to €13 a night in all three major cities. A three-star costs €43 in Osaka, €54 in Kyoto and €86 in Tokyo: levels below most European capitals.

Eating costs little and eats well. It is one of the rare countries where cheap food is also good cooking. A bowl of ramen or a plate of gyudon runs €5 to €9, and convenience stores offer complete, decent meals for a few euros, without it being a fallback.

The line to anticipate is domestic transport. High-speed rail is excellent but expensive per journey. It is the one place where a rail pass can change the maths, provided you genuinely move a lot: on a two or three city itinerary, individual tickets often come out cheaper.

Spring and autumn are the reference seasons, at 13 to 17°C in April and October. They are also the most sought after, cherry blossom in April and autumn foliage in November, so the priciest and busiest.

Summer is hot and above all very humid, up to 26-28°C with massive rainfall: 164mm in June in Tokyo, 211 in Kyoto, and the rainy season runs June into July. September remains the wettest month, at 185mm in Tokyo. It is a reality often underestimated when planning a summer trip.

Winter is cold but dry and bright, around 4 to 6°C in all three cities, with rainfall down to 60-67mm. It is the cheapest and least crowded season, and Kyoto's temples under a clear sky are worth the trip.

The flight starts at €353 and varies noticeably by period: unlike European destinations, comparing dates is worth it here, a few hundred euros genuinely mattering on a ticket of that size.

Eating. One of the country's great pleasures, and among its cheapest. A bowl of ramen, a donburi or a noodle dish runs €5 to €9 at a neighborhood counter. Convenience stores, everywhere, offer complete meals for a few euros, at a quality unrelated to what the format suggests in Europe. Set lunches are often far cheaper than the same meal in the evening.

Getting around. In cities, the metro is dense, punctual and affordable, with a rechargeable card that also works in convenience stores. Between cities, high-speed rail is remarkable but expensive per journey. The national rail pass only pays off with intensive use: on a two or three city itinerary, do the maths before buying, individual tickets often win.

Sightseeing. Many major sites are free or cost a few euros, particularly Shinto shrines and numerous temples. National museums stay modestly priced. It is a country where you can fill whole days of discovery for very little, most of the budget going to travel and lodging.

Currency. The yen, not the euro. The country has largely opened to card payment, but cash remains useful at small establishments and some temples. Bring a card with no foreign transaction fee.

Language. Japanese. English is little spoken outside major hotels and heavily touristed areas, but transport signage is bilingual and translation apps work well. It is not a real obstacle to travel.

Domestic transport. This is the trip's main financial trade-off. The national rail pass should be bought with your actual itinerary in mind; it is not automatically advantageous. City rechargeable transport cards, by contrast, are useful from day one.

Customs. Tipping is not practised and can cause discomfort. Shoes come off at the entrance to many places, temples, traditional inns and some restaurants: easily removable shoes noticeably improve the trip.