Japan is a Bargain • Discount Airline • Have Japan to Yourself

Japan is a Value

Whenever I tell people I’m going to Japan, they assume it’s going to cost a fortune. However, contrary to popular opinion, Japan travel is a tremendous value. Unless you are eating at $300 per person sushi places, you can eat and drink extremely affordably, and well, in Japan. Now is the perfect time to go because the yen is weak compared to the US dollar and other world currencies.

Compared to Los Angeles, where I’ve lived most of my life, eating in Japan is an absolute bargain. The best local ramen shop in LA costs $16.50 (before tax and tip) for the classic pork ramen. In Tokyo, at Ichiran, a very famous and highly regarded ramen shop, the most expensive pork (tonkotsu) ramen is 1,320 Yen or $8.84 as of 11/8/23, and includes a second serving of noodles (kaedama). Plus, you never tip in Japan. So, in Japan, for a bigger serving of better ramen, you will end up paying half the price you would for an inferior ramen in Los Angeles.

The same values exist for sushi, curry rice, Katsu curry, sandwiches, and even McDonalds. The only area where you will almost certainly pay more is for fresh fruit. But I still recommend getting some fresh fruit in Japan as the quality is unreal.

Alcohol is also significantly more affordable. The average price of a draft beer in Los Angeles is $9, while the average cost of a draft beer in Tokyo is 578 yen or $3.87. I love getting my beer at almost 60% off. And again, no tipping!

Discount Airline

Zipair is a new discount airline that flies from several US cities (Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose) to Japan. I haven’t had a chance to fly them yet, but since they are a subsidiary of JAL, and I’ve read good things about them, I can’t wait to give them a shot. Try them out if you’re looking for a cheaper way to get to Japan.

Have Japan to Yourself

Japan is an extremely popular travel destination. If you want to experience a less touristy and less crowded adventure, go in the off-season and spend less time in Tokyo and Kyoto, and more time in Osaka, Kobe, Fukuoka, Kanazawa, and other cities.

By traveling this way, you will increase the odds of having more unique and serendipitous experiences. Someone in Kobe or Kanazawa is going to be much more interested in why you are there than someone from Tokyo being curious why you’re in Tokyo. By being just slightly off the beaten track, your likelihood of having local people invite you on all manner of adventures multiplies significantly.

If you do choose to take this approach, definitely learn a bit of Japanese before you go. This will also greatly improve your luck in terms of interacting and befriending local Japanese people, as many Japanese people in these cities do not speak much English.