Japan
The rich country that got cheap. The yen remains far below where it sat a decade ago.
Slightly cheaper. The exchange rate moved +3.6%; local prices rose +2.2%.
- Lean
- $61
- Comfort
- $299
Ranked 11 of 65.
The short answerIn US dollars, as of November 12, 2026
Japan is 4.9% cheaper for US-dollar travelers than a year ago, after adjusting for inflation. A mid-range day costs about $131 per person, excluding international flights. The US State Department advisory is Level 1 (normal precautions), and it ranks 11 of 65 on the Trip Arbitrage Index with a score of 70 out of 100.
What your money buys there
30 monthsThe dashed line is what a currency converter shows. The solid line is the same thing after prices in both countries are taken into account. When they part, the solid one is telling the truth.
How the score is built
- Dislocation ×0.36
- 72
- Price floor ×0.30
- 33
- Safety ×0.20
- 100
- Ease ×0.14
- 100
Real price drop vs last year and vs the five-year norm
How low the daily cost is in absolute terms
From the current travel advisory
How well set up the country is for visitors
The full reading
| Real change, 3 months | +0.7% | Is the move still going, or already reversing? |
|---|---|---|
| Real change, 12 months | +4.9% | The headline: what your money buys versus a year ago. |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | +3.6% | What a currency converter would tell you. |
| Local inflation, 12 months | +2.2% | How much of that the destination's own prices took back. |
| Versus five-year average | +20.6% | Cheap or dear against its own recent history. |
| Advisory | Level 1 | Normal precautions |
| Ease of travel | 5.0 / 5 | Effortless |
- Flawless business hotels at $60–90
- Set lunches under $8
- A rail pass that still earns its price off the main line
Kyoto and Tokyo are crowded and hotel rates there have risen with demand. Value is in second cities and the countryside.
When to go
November is peak season- Janshoulder
- Febshoulder
- Marpeak
- Aprpeak
- Maypeak
- Junshoulder
- Juloff
- Augoff
- Sepoff
- Octpeak
- Novpeak
- Decshoulder
Safety and ease
- US State Department
- Level 1: Normal precautions · updated May 14, 2025
- Read the full advisory ↗
- Advisories are often regional. A country-wide level can hide both safe areas and no-go zones, and other governments may judge differently.
- Tourism infrastructure
- Effortless · 5.0 / 5
Japan, in five questions
Answers are generated from the index reading of November 12, 2026, in US dollars. To cite: “Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026.”
- How much does it cost per day to travel in Japan?
- As of November 12, 2026, a day in Japan costs about $61 on a lean budget, $131 mid-range and $299 in comfort, per person, excluding international flights. These are modeled estimates, updated daily for local inflation and the exchange rate.
- Is Japan cheaper to visit than a year ago?
- Yes. Over the past 12 months the exchange rate moved +3.6% for US-dollar holders while prices in Japan rose +2.2%, a net real change of +4.9% in purchasing power. Against its own five-year average, Japan is 20.6% cheaper.
- Is Japan safe to travel to right now?
- The US State Department rates Japan at Level 1: Normal precautions. Kyoto and Tokyo are crowded and hotel rates there have risen with demand. Value is in second cities and the countryside. Advisories are often regional and other governments may differ, so read the full advisory before booking.
- When is the cheapest time to visit Japan?
- The shoulder months, when the weather is workable and prices ease, are January, February, June, December. The best conditions, and the highest prices, come in March, April, May, October, November. November is peak season.
- How easy is Japan to travel around?
- Japan scores 5.0 out of 5 for ease of travel (effortless), a measure of transport, lodging, payments, wayfinding and access to healthcare. The rich country that got cheap. The yen remains far below where it sat a decade ago.
Dispatches on Japan
The falling-currency trap: why a weak exchange rate is not a cheap trip
The lira is down 19% against the dollar in a year, and Türkiye is 6.5% more expensive to visit. The gap between those two numbers is what this site measures.
Elsewhere in East Asia
Reading of November 12, 2026. In US dollars, Japan reads +4.9% over twelve months in real terms with a mid-range day near $131. Costs are modeled, not quoted: see the method.