Current Events > Japan trip question (first international trip)

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I plan to do a 10 day stay total in japan. about 2 days in oksaka and 2 days in kyoto.

How much currency I should exchange before I go? I plan to check out all the common popular tourists things, and also buy more gundam there.

Is $1500 good enough if we don't plan to try out expensive things? Should I bump it up to $2000?

Did you check the exchange rate? When I went last year the Dollar was worth about 10% more than the Yen.
Guess it depends on what you want to do. If you just want to sight see and eat at some restaurants, 1500 will probably be plenty.

Most stores will take credit card, I typically just used that pretty much everywhere. There are definitely some shops that are cash only - especially food stands, family run businesses, things like that. But in general, I didn't need tons and tons of cash. A hobby shop (for Gundam) would most definitely take credit cards, as do museums, major restaurants, hotels, etc. Honestly even $1000 would be more than enough.

Unless you are trying to avoid using credit cards completely, at which point yeah maybe a couple thousand would be needed.

Get a Suica card when you get there. Those things were super useful for transport and other things when I was in Tokyo.

Also I used Revolut for overseas ATMs and it worked like a charm.

Budget in Japan:
https://youtu.be/SkY1DiyCqTU
(a bit outdated but still has good tips)

Things to do in Japan:
https://youtu.be/faJM9iQZMbQ

$1500 should be good enough. If you ever need to get more then you can visit any seven eleven they'll have atms.

I do plan to use a credit card. Thanks all.

Just want to make sure I have enough cash for when I need it. But I will mainly use credit card.

tag since I'm going to Japan later this year >_>

If you're even slightly frugal, you can easily keep your eating expenses under $60 a day.

$10 or less for snacks, drinks, etc.

$5 or less for a light breakfast at convenience store

$10 or less for lunch (stuff like ramen, udon, donburi (rice bowls), obento places, 100 yen sushi)

$25 or less for a decent sit-down meal at a restaurant (you should have lots of options if you look things up beforehand)

That leaves you $90 a day. I think that's plenty if you're not doing expensive things every day or taking taxis everywhere.

I'm assuming that things like hotel rooms are not included? Because if you also have to pay for your hotel, that changes everything.

Oh, don't forget to wear clean socks. I had to take my shoes off at most sit down restaurants

If your bank doesnt charge for international ATM withdrawals, maybe $100-200 dollars. The ATMs in Japan charge almost nothing (~$1.20?) for withdrawals. Meanwhile the currency exchange places have rates that are criminal. I took basically $1,000 worth of yen and regretted wasting my money on the currency exchange. All of the 7-11s and Family Marts have ATMs and English is an option.

I say go nuts if you can. How often are you gonna be in Japan? Dont be too frugal and miss out on unique experiences

You should use a credit card as much as you can (you don't need cash for much anymore, even small rural stores are taking cards now). If you want to get some yen go to a bank. Those places at the airport are an absolute ripoff. I live in rural Japan and probably use about 20,000 yen in cash a month. Everything else is done with a card, and honestly a lot of that cash is for bills needing cash, so it wouldn't be relevant for you.

SpiritSephiroth posted...

Get a Suica card when you get there. Those things were super useful for transport and other things when I was in Tokyo.

I would argue PayPay is the most useful electronic money you can use now. It's also an application on your phone, so it's very convenient.

action52 posted...

If you're even slightly frugal, you can easily keep your eating expenses under $60 a day.

$10 or less for snacks, drinks, etc.

$5 or less for a light breakfast at convenience store

$10 or less for lunch (stuff like ramen, udon, donburi (rice bowls), obento places, 100 yen sushi)

$25 or less for a decent sit-down meal at a restaurant (you should have lots of options if you look things up beforehand)

That leaves you $90 a day. I think that's plenty if you're not doing expensive things every day or taking taxis everywhere.

I'm assuming that things like hotel rooms are not included? Because if you also have to pay for your hotel, that changes everything.

hotel not included in that budget. The $1500 is mainly for shopping and food. I might be spending more on food though.

ssjevot posted...

You should use a credit card as much as you can (you don't need cash for much anymore, even small rural stores are taking cards now). If you want to get some yen go to a bank. Those places at the airport are an absolute ripoff. I live in rural Japan and probably use about 20,000 yen in cash a month. Everything else is done with a card, and honestly a lot of that cash is for bills needing cash, so it wouldn't be relevant for you.

I was planning to just go to a current exchange place before I arrive to Japan (NYC has some places like that). And then carry $500 USD in addition to that just in case for emergencies.

FFfreakXD posted...

I was planning to just go to a current exchange place before I arrive to Japan (NYC has some places like that). And then carry $500 USD in addition to that just in case for emergencies.

Look into setting up a Wise account and then transfer money into your account into yen. The fees are minimal and you can order a wise card for use as an ATM/debit card when you're there. Probably a better option than going to a currency exchange.

I would bump it up to $2k to be safe. A lot of expenses will go to trains and eating out.

Edit- I didnt see you didnt include hotels yet. Yeah bump that up to $2k at least minimum. Are you splitting the costs with anyone?

--Zero- posted...

I would bump it up to $2k to be safe. A lot of expenses will go to trains and eating out.

Edit- I didnt see you didnt include hotels yet. Yeah bump that up to $2k at least minimum. Are you splitting the costs with anyone?

Hotel costs will be split, and its separate from the $1500. This $1500 is just for my own spending.

I spent like 5000 USD total when I was there for a week. But I stayed in a more expensive hotel. Plane ticket alone was like 1200.

Want to go again this year.

EDIT: thinking back it might have been closer to 4000