Japan on a Budget: How to Travel for Under $100 a Day

Japan has a reputation for being expensive, but it can be surprisingly affordable. Accommodation: capsule hotels offer clean, comfortable sleep for $30-40. Business hotels like Toyoko Inn provide excellent value at $60-80. For free accommodation, try temple lodgings on pilgrimages. Food: convenience store meals (konbini) are surprisingly good and cost $5-8. Ramen shops offer filling meals for $8-12. Grocery stores discount prepared food after 7 PM. Transport: get a JR Pass for long-distance travel, but for city hopping, local buses and trains are cheap. Walking is free and reveals the best hidden spots. Many temples and shrines are free to enter. Free WiFi is widely available, so skip the SIM card if you are careful.