Japan on a Budget

When I arrived in Tokyo, I was a year into my travels in Asia and on the last stretch of my cash. I knew I would be returning home (wherever I decided that would be), and I needed money to stretch for my final two months in Japan.

I researched online blogs to garner some tips and advice, but they all had the same information and I aimed to spend little to no money. Eventually I learned from trial and error, and these were my primary life savers:

1). Hitchhike. Transportation is one of the biggest expenses in Japan and as much as the Japan Rail (JR) Pass is convenient, it is a money vacuum and not budget-friendly unless you have an extra thousand bucks lying around. You can buy them for 7 days, 14 days or 21 days but they must be used within that time and cost anywhere between $300-$700. Hitchhiking is free and Japan is probably the safest place to do so.

This method of travel requires more time, as Japan is a much larger place to cover than it seems on a map, but the experience is great and cost-effective. I recommend learning a few Japanese phrases along with carrying a small bit of cash to trade with hesitant locals. Most often you will find they are quite shy, but if you dress conservatively and offer a wide smile, you will be picked up.

Note: Pick routes closer to small towns and national parks for camping overnight. Big cities are harder to leave with complicated intersections and interchanging highways.

2). Camping. It is very easy to camp in city parks (even in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto) without any trouble. Set up your tent at night and leave by sunrise and no one will be waking you up rudely. Sometimes law enforcers let you sleep longer if you keep to a place less intrusive to others. Likewise, paying for a camping site is a great way to meet locals. A few favourites of mine were camping at: Lake Biwa, at the base of mountains in Hokkaido, and on farms. All significantly cheaper than the least expensive hostel in any city or town I was visiting.

3). Use onsens to shower. Between camping and wandering hours with a backpack in the humidity, I smelt pretty bad. But usually at mountain bases, in parks and all over cities there are cheap onsens (basically a hot tub, but with healthy minerals) to soak. It is encouraged to bathe before entering at a booth that provides soap, shampoo, conditioner and even a blow dryer. But make sure all your tattoos are covered and your hair is pinned back. Many Japanese people associate tattoos with the Yakuza and a lot of the cheapest onsens (in Kyoto and Osaka for instance) are brimming with elders, a generational and foreign gap that must be respected.

4). Carry and cook your own food. If you are camping, invest in a proper light-weight camping stove, basic utensils and a small pot (see “Simplified Packing List”). There are numerous outdoor shops in Tokyo to stock up, and thousands of 711s everywhere to buy anything from cheap nuts, to meal replacement bars, boiled eggs, instant miso soup packs, oatmeal, beans, rice, etc. It doesn’t have to weigh a lot, just grab what you need to get between towns or long nights.

If you are staying at a hostel, find one with a kitchen where you can cook a basic meal and store it in tupperware for a few days.

5). Eat and buy at 100 yen shops. You can find these all over town with a simple internet search. They’re the equivalent of dollar stores in the west and contain everything cheap you may need: canned food, toiletries, camping equipment, set meals, water etc.

6). Stay overnight at an internet cafe. This was a great surprise. In Sapporo I found myself without much money and needing a few days before my flight home. I decided to stay at an internet cafe where I could choose how many hours I needed to sleep: 3, 6, 9 etc. Each hour cost more and the total ended up reaching just under ten dollars, but it included: access to a hot shower, a private sleeping booth with a computer and internet, unlimited miso soup and ice cream, and tea and coffee. It felt quite luxurious and locker rooms keep my important stuff safe.

7). Get involved in a work trade. This one requires more time as most work trades encourage at least 2-4 weeks stay. I volunteered at a hostel in Tokyo as a housekeeper, as an English teacher in Sapporo and as a front-desk secretary in Kyoto. Each experience I was exposed to the locals way of life, was given a free place to live for months at a time (if I so wished), meals usually included and I met many friends. (See: “Best Work Trades for Long-Term Travel” for more information).

I’ve also heard that some hostels in Tokyo let you stay for free if you pay for your night stay in a day’s work. This is ideal for short-term travel, though I haven’t tried this myself.

8). Shop at thrift stores. Need a pair of hiking boots, a sweater or a bathing suit? Find a thrift store. Significantly cheaper than any discount fashion store, just watch out for the over-priced vintage shops pretending to be discount thrift stores.