When Japan finally opens its doors to vaccinated tourists on October 11, many travelers will find great deals.
The yen has lost about 20% of its value against the dollar this year, making hotels, meals and attractions very affordable for visitors using the US currency. At the same time, inflation has remained mostly under control, although the country is starting to see price increases for the first time in a generation.
After keeping from Japan The border closed mostly to tourists since the start of the pandemic, the island nation is eager for an economic boost, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida saying he wants those incoming visitors to spend 5 trillion yen ($34.5 billion) annually .
All prices below are converted at the current exchange rate of ¥144.80 to the dollar. travelers you may get a worse deal from your bank or credit card provider, plus other fees. Prices include sales tax but do not include gratuity. Tipping is not expected anywhere in Japan.
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Food, Drinks
Tokyo boasts many Michelin stars restaurants, but — as anyone who has visited the country knows — you can find cheap, quality food everywhere. A well-made bowl of ramen starts at $5.20, and even refined versions with all the fixings top out at around $10. A comparable bowl at New York’s Totto Ramen costs $16.
Omakase sushi courses can start around $35, and you can have a decent meal with drinks for about the same amount. At Sushi Katsuei in New York, described as good and reasonable, omakase starts at $65, excluding tip or service charges.
A couple of hours of beer, highballs or chu-hai at an izakaya bar along with a decent amount of nibbles will rarely cost more than $40-$50 in central Tokyo, at least a third less than the equivalent amount of food and drink (probably lower quality) in New York.
Stay
A double room in a three-star hotel can be booked for less than $55 a night in Tokyo, while the best deals on similar rooms in Manhattan start at $180. Budget travelers who don’t mind sharing a bathroom can stay at a capsule hotel in central Tokyo for as little as $21, less than half the cheapest. shelter-style options in New York City.
For all-Japanese luxury accommodation, a night in a traditional ryokan can cost around $175 per person, including dinner and breakfast. Again, this is less than half the price of similar luxury accommodation in New York.
After keeping Japan’s border almost closed to tourists since the start of the pandemic, the island nation is eager for an economic boost (Source: Bloomberg)
About $600 for two is the ceiling for a ryokan experience with stunning views of the vibrant Japanese city. autumn leaves and open-air hot spring baths in Hakone, a resort town less than two hours by train from Tokyo.
Make laps
For about $102, Nozomi’s super-express bullet train takes travelers to Osaka from Tokyo in about two and a half hours. Covering the same distance of 514 kilometers (319 miles), roughly from Boston to Philadelphia, quickly by plane would cost about $170 on average, according to Kayak.
Tokyo’s extensive subway network charges more the further you go, but most trips between the city’s central stations will cost no more than $1.40, less than the New York $2.75 flat subway fare.
Strict ride-sharing regulations mean that the city’s taxis have been able to maintain their prices. A 15-minute daytime ride between Tokyo Station and Roppongi will cost about $14, about the same distance and cost as a taxi ride from the West Village to Times Square in New York.
experience
Tokyo Disney Resort’s adult day pass starts at $54.60, about half the starting price of $109 for a single-day park ticket at Walt Disney World in Florida. For a family of two adults and two children under 10, these passes will start at $176 in Tokyo versus $426 in Florida.
To view the city from the towering Tokyo Skytree, a combined ticket for an adult starts at $21, a bargain compared to $77 to take in the view from the top of the Empire State Building.
In a pinch, tourists can find a change of clothes at one of Japan’s Uniqlo stores, where a men’s dress shirt will cost around $21. In the US, the clothing retailer charges $39.90 for similar shirts (Source: Bloomberg)
Most museums, temples and attractions in Tokyo and the ancient capital of Kyoto are free or charge at most the equivalent of $15.
Clothes, goods
In a pinch, tourists can find a change of clothes at one of Japan’s Uniqlo stores, where a men’s dress shirt will cost around $21. In the US, the clothing retailer charges $39.90 for similar shirts.
A medium-sized suitcase at Bic Camera in Tokyo will cost around $113, while a product of similar size and quality at Empire Luggage in Manhattan can cost $250.
Snacks and sundries at any of Japan’s ubiquitous convenience stores will seem like a bargain to travelers, with prices generally 20% to 30% cheaper, in dollar terms, than in a big US city.
A lost or broken pair of glasses doesn’t have to leave travelers squinting for the rest of their trip. They can walk into one of the hundreds of branches of discount lens chains like Jins and Zoff, and get a new pair in as little as 40 minutes. Total for basic frames and lenses is $38 including exam, can be less than half the cost at a Walmart or similar vision center in the US.
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