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If you’re planning a trip to Japan and want to make your money go further, then check out our list of the country’s most affordable cities.
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Intro
There’s a misconception that visiting a country as beautiful and spectacular as Japan will require every penny of your life’s savings! We’re pleased to tell you that this isn’t the case. In fact, Japan is very affordable to visit right now and at JR Pass, we’ve conducted our own research into the most budget friendly cities for international travellers to help you plan your stay. Read on to find out more.
Top Five Budget Friendly Japanese Cities
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- Nara
The most affordable Japanese city on our list and a destination to rival Kyoto for history, culture, and serenity, (with the bonus of free-roaming deer) Nara is a truly special place. If history, wildlife, scenic views, and temples and shrines are your thing then Nara is the destination for you. It’s also easily accessible from Kyoto and Osaka and an ideal day trip from both cities if you have a JR Pass and you’re combining a visit with a stay elsewhere. Nara is relatively small and most of its historic attractions, as well as its famous free-roaming deer, are also located within the 660 hectare Nara City Park, which makes it easy to navigate. Although lesser-known than many of Japan’s bigger cities, Nara has become more well known thanks to the unique attraction of deer roaming its picturesque city park. There’s a lot more to see and do than deer however and the good news is it’s all very affordable. Start with a visit to the Heijo Palace site, which is a remnant from the time when Nara was the Capital of Japan and is now a World Heritage site. From here, go to the city centre for a visit to Kohfukuji and its three story pagoda. This is one of the most famous pagodas in Japan. Next, it’s only a five-minute walk to the Nara National Museum, which houses a magnificent collection of Buddhist art and historic national treasures. After lunch head east through the deer park to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, known for the many stone lanterns donated by worshippers, a profound atmosphere of calm can be felt. After visiting the shrine, take a walk through the forest and soak in the peaceful atmosphere surrounding the place. The last and most famous of our recommendations is Tōdai-ji - the crown jewel of Nara. This Buddhist temple complex houses the Great Buddha and its guardians. Even though it was completed in 752 A.D., it remains as one of the national masterworks of Japan.
Alongside being one of the most affordable cities in Japan, Nara is also an excellent day trip from bigger cities like Kyoto and Osaka as we mentioned earlier. To reach Nara from Kyoto station, simply take the JR Nara line bound for Nara (it’s that simple!). Meanwhile, from Osaka take the JR Yamatoji line, also bound for Nara. Both options are covered by the JR Pass.
2. Chiba
Located just 40km from Tokyo, Chiba is one of Japan’s more underrated cities but has a number of major attractions, including two Disney theme parks and Kujukuri Beach, Japan’s longest sandy coastline. If that’s not enough, it’s also one of the most affordable cities in Japan to visit, scoring highly for the value of its accommodation and rail travel. Look out for landmarks such as Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple, National Museum of Japanese History, and Inohana Castle Ruins, as well as natural wonders such as the towering Mt. Nokogiri, and seaside parks such as Inase Seaside Park and Makuhari Seaside Park. Chiba can be reached using the JR Keiyo Line from Tokyo Station. It’s a relatively short journey and covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
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3. Kumamoto
A hidden gem if ever we saw one, the lovely city of Kumamoto on the southern island of Kyushu, is the next most affordable city on our list. Sitting right near the centre of the island, those who visit Kumamoto find themselves in a friendly city full of culture and nature. Although the city isn’t particularly well-known to overseas travellers, those who do make the journey to Kumamoto won’t have reason to grow bored. Whether you’re looking for history, spirituality or some gorgeous scenery, the best things to do in Kumamoto have you covered. The city’s most famous attraction is Kumamoto Castle whose origins date back to 1600. We would also recommend a visit to Suizenji-jojuen. These gardens were built by the local Hosokawa clan who ruled Kumamoto and centre around a tranquil lake surrounded by palms and hydrangeas. The Suizenji gardens are particularly noteworthy for being designed to represent the ancient road between Tokyo and Kyoto, complete with miniature models of Japan’s iconic landmarks like Mount Fuji. Kumamoto is set within quite a dramatic landscape with some major mountains surrounding it. To fully appreciate the city and the scenery of this part of Kyushu you’ll want to take a walk up Hanaokayama, just near the train station. There’s not much on the hill besides a small shrine, but after a 15 minute walk you’ll be rewarded with a superb view. On a clear day you’ll not only see the city in front of you but also the mountains out around Mount Aso. You’ll find that if you’re travelling through Japan with a Japan Rail Pass that reaching Kumamoto is pretty straightforward. Kumamoto sits along the route of the Kyushu Shinkansen which travels from Fukuoka to Kagoshima, with the Sakura and Tsubasa services stopping at Kumamoto station. If you’re travelling from Osaka or Hiroshima, you’ll first need to take the Sanyo Shinkansen to Hakata Station in Fukuoka and connect to the Kyushu Shinkansen from there.
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4. Okinawa
The second largest city on Okinawa, a sub-tropical prefecture consisting of 150 islands, Okinawa is a popular destination for sun worshippers and watersports enthusiasts due to its white-sand beaches, crystal waters, and coral reefs. It’s also surprisingly affordable, scoring highly for its places to eat and accommodation. There’s also plenty to see and do with attractions including Churaumi Aquarium showcasing the region’s incredible sealife, Shuri Castle, Okinawa Zoo & Museum, and much more, as well as the prefecture’s aforementioned beaches and diving sports. For more on the latter, read our guide to Japan’s Best Beaches and Watersports Destinations. You’ll find Yonaha Maehama Beach on Miyako Island, Okinawa, on the list and several others.
5. Hiroshima
Hiroshima is one of the top destinations of Japan, with a vibrant local culture and a wide variety of tourism highlights, from landmarks such as the Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Dome, Hiroshima Castle, and Miyajima, to more off the beaten path sights and sounds, and, as our study discovered, it’s also very affordable. This value for money only gets better for JR Pass holders who visit the city.
Hiroshima is unique in that it has a special sightseeing bus, ferry and city rail lines that are all included in the pass. Not only that, but due to its location, the city is a great base for many fun day trips, which also adds extra value to any visit. For example, Hiroshima is perfectly located to explore the Sanyo area, with some of the best hidden gems Japan has to offer. Think of the old castle town of Iwakuni, try authentic Ramen in Onomichi or visit Tomonoura, the town that inspired the Ghibli film Ponyo on the cliffs. Unique to Hiroshima, the city operates a variety of sightseeing buses around the city that are entirely covered by the Japan Rail Pass. The stops are at many of the important sightseeing spots, including the Atomic Dome, Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima castle, Hachobori (downtown) and Hiroshima station. The bus departs conveniently from the backside of Hiroshima station, all you have to do is show your pass to the driver when boarding. A normal fare is ¥200 per ride, which certainly adds up when sightseeing for a full day. If that’s not all, Japan Pass holders visiting Hiroshima also get a bonus at one of the city’s most famous attractions for international travellers - the famous floating torii-gate of Miyajima. Using the Japan Rail Pass, travel to Miyajima is fully covered! First take a local train from Hiroshima station to Miyajima-guchi, from there it is a 5-minute walk to the JR Ferry to the island. A local train return ticket normally costs ¥840, while the ferry is ¥360 for a return.
As well as being great value, Miyajima is also a very special place to explore. You can visit Itsukushima shrine, feed the roaming deer, take the cable car up Miyajima mountain or explore one of the many hiking trails, then finish the day by trying some local foods on offer.
The World’s Most Trending Cities
Japan’s cities have been in the news for several other positive reasons as well as affordability. Did you know that three out of the world’s top ten most trending cities are in Japan? Pretty impressive, right? Tokyo, Osaka, and Sapporo were all named in the top ten and rightly so - they’re incredible cities with a huge amount to offer international visitors and unique identities of their own. You can read in-depth guides to each of these cities as part of our special 48 Hours In… series of blog posts. You’ll find articles about Tokyo, Osaka, and Sapporo.
Explore Japanese Cities by Rail
Japan’s major cities are connected by the country’s world-leading domestic rail network. The country’s clean, modern and super-fast trains and the unbeatable efficiency of its rail system is the envy of the rest of the world. It’s one of the many things Japan is famous for. Trains in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya are so efficient, many city dwellers do not own a car or even a driver’s licence. Read our Visitors Guide to Japan’s Trains and Railways for much more information. The Japan Rail Pass is your one ticket for all of Japan and provides unlimited travel on the entire national JR network, including the high speed Shinkansen bullet train lines. Travel at your own pace with unlimited freedom to explore Japan as well as free seat reservations, the best value travel, and the ability to upgrade to first class. Discover more about why a JR Pass is such a brilliant investment in our guide to Why The Japan Rail Pass Is Worth It. Here is a small selection of our recommended rail itineraries for seeing several major cities in Japan during one holiday with the Japan Rail Pass.
This 7-day itinerary was put together by our most experienced JR Pass advisors to offer the perfect 7-day itinerary with stops in three of Japan’s best cities.
This flexible itinerary has been designed to help you enjoy the best highlights Japan has to offer, bringing the modern, traditional and timeless together.
An extended round-trip itinerary starting and finishing in Japan’s capital, Tokyo.
Bonus Recommendations
Now that you know Japan’s cities are more affordable than you might expect, what are you waiting for? Time to plan that visit.
- For more on the subject of city destinations, read our in-depth guide to Cities in Japan - this comprehensive guide includes everything you need to know.
- Looking for cities more off the beaten path? Then our guide to The Less Frequented Japanese Cities You’ll Definitely Want To Visit is for you, with info on excellent but lesser known Japanese cities such as Kanazawa, Nikko, Beppu, Nagano, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, and Yokohama.
- Stay connected while exploring busy cities by investing in a PocketWifi device for constant internet access and high speed unlimited data. We highly recommended it.
- If you’re planning a visit to a Japanese city and it’s your first time in the country, why not make life easier by using our Meet & Greet service on arrival? It’s like having an expert on Japan as your personal assistant. We’ll take care of you from the moment you arrive.
