Budget Breakdown: 16 Days in Japan

We had our honeymoon in Japan and visited Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Takayama and Nagoya. Hoping to catch the autumn colours, we booked our trip for November. But unfortunately, it was a little late and we missed most of the bright orange and red leaves. In fact, it even started snowing in Takayama just as we were leaving to catch the train!

Scroll on for the budget breakdown for our 16-day trip in Japan! The total damage to our pockets was less than $7.5k for the both of us.

Flights: S$1,087.40

We flew by Vietnam Airlines. There wasn’t any in-flight entertainment and it wasn’t the most comfortable flight, but it got us there safe and sound!

Accommodation: S$2,737.06

We stayed in a mixture of an airbnb, local chain hotels and a ryokan. My favourite stay was at the Ryokan Seiryu Hotel at Takayama!

Food: S$1,020.58

Urgh, Japanese food! Everything tasted so good!

We tried Jibune, a dish with gold flakes, at Kanazawa. And had very delicious croissants at Croissant Taiyaki. Of course, we also ate some onigiri and snacks from the convenience stores. And then, there were the piping hot bowls of ramen.

Mmm…

I feel like I didn’t eat enough ramen, one of my favourite foods ever. And I didn’t even manage to eat curry rice! The trip was too short to try everything I wanted to! Which… Is a very good reason for us to go back again. Soon.

Transport: S$741.88

We travelled from Osaka to Nagoya with short stays in between in Kyoto, Kanazawa and Takayama. We also took day trips to Nara, Arashiyama and Shirakawa-go.

Travelling within Japan is not cheap (and quite confusing)!

Admission Fees & Classes: S$562.24

This includes the 2 passes to Universal Studios Osaka (14,400JPY + an additional 10,400JPY for express passes) and admissions to some of the temples and shrines.

We also went to the newly opened Pokemon gym at Osaka and spent 3,000JPY (S$35.29) between the both of us. It was a bit of a disappointment though, and money not well spent.

Shopping & Gifts: S$1,115.04

The both of us bought some stuff from local stores like GU, ABC Mart, Tokyu Hands and 3 Coins. We also bought a bag each at Bag’n’Noun. WJ got himself an ultralight backpack, and I finally got myself a sling bag in black (24,600JPY – S$289.41 for both). They were not at all cheap, but I’m assuming (hopefully correctly) Japanese quality is awesome.

We bought quite a few plates and chopsticks at one of the 100JPY shops. Seriously, a plate for just S$1.18!? Of course we had to get them!

I bought a few Sarubobo dolls back as gifts and of course, we brought back loads of goodies to share! I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t like Japanese snacks!

Miscellaneous: S$153.81

Our first day at Osaka airport, we bought a SIM card from a vending machine. Thank goodness we only bought 1 to try first, because it was of the wrong size! So that was 3,000JPY (S$35.29) gone. Poof! We bought another 2 more (of the correct size this time).

We also washed our clothes there a few times as we wanted to travel light. The coin-operated washing machines were about 100JPY (S$1.18) each time. Turns out you shouldn’t fill the dryer too much! We found that out to our dismay when we returned with damp clothes!

WJ and I were quite unprepared for the weather in late November. We bought face masks so our faces wouldn’t freeze, and after the first week, we gave in and bought cheap gloves and beanies from Daiso (810JPY – S$9.53 for both of us).

The Breakdown

Flights: S$1,087.40
Accommodation: S$2,737.06
Food: S$1,020.58
Transport: S$741.88
Admission Fees & Classes: S$562.24
Shopping & Gifts: S$1,115.04
Miscellaneous: S$153.81

GRAND TOTAL: S$7,418.01 for the both of us!