Is Tokyo Expensive to Visit? My Budget Breakdown for 3 Days in Tokyo 2026

Before I booked my trip, I was pretty convinced that Tokyo, and Japan in general, was going to be expensive. Hotels, transport, activities… and sushi every day, obviously. In my head, it all added up very quickly, and I spent a lot of time wondering what a trip to Tokyo would realistically cost.

After actually visiting Tokyo and spending almost a full week there, my perspective shifted a bit. Yes, Tokyo is one of the more expensive cities in Japan, especially when it comes to hotels and certain activities. But from my experience, it’s also a city where you can adjust your spending really easily. You can travel Tokyo on a smaller budget, enjoy it comfortably in the mid-range, or go all out with luxury, it just depends on your choices.

Now that I’ve been there, I have a much clearer picture of where my money actually went, what felt worth it, and where I maybe spent more than I needed to. Some things were cheaper than I expected, while others definitely added up faster.

In this article on ‘Is Tokyo expensive to visit?’, I want to break down exactly how much I spent during three days in Tokyo and what you can realistically expect to budget for your own trip. The goal isn’t to give you a perfect number, but to help you plan with a rough, honest idea of costs, so you’re not surprised once you’re there.

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Is Tokyo Expensive to Visit? My Budget Breakdown for 3 Days in Tokyo 2026

Is Tokyo Expensive to Visit – My Experience

I went into my Tokyo trip fully expecting to spend quite a bit of money, and I made sure to budget for it upfront. Tokyo, and Japan in general, felt like a once-in-a-lifetime kind of destination for me. I’m a backpacker at heart, but in Tokyo I didn’t want to feel like I had to constantly cut back or miss out because of money.

That doesn’t mean I was chasing luxury experiences. I just wanted to stay in a decent hotel, do the activities I was genuinely excited about, and eat good food. For me, that was the right balance.

Our hotel cost roughly $200 USD per night, so about $100 per person. There are definitely cheaper options out there, but also plenty that are far more expensive. I visited in November, and I imagine prices are even higher during peak seasons like spring, especially around cherry blossom time.

My second biggest expense was definitely the food, mostly by choice. I wanted to enjoy sushi omakase, eat good ramen, grab drinks in bars, and generally not hold back. I usually ate out at least twice a day, and my daily food spend probably ranged somewhere between $40 and $100 USD, depending on the day. If you’re not a big foodie or don’t care as much about trying standout meals, this is an easy area to save money.

One thing that surprised me was how reasonable activities in Tokyo actually are. Observation decks, immersive experiences like teamLab, and similar attractions were cheaper than I expected. There were also plenty of great free things to do, exploring neighborhoods like Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Asakusa, visiting shrines, and walking through the fish markets didn’t cost anything at all. I even found a free viewpoint overlooking Shibuya Crossing, which I’ll mention later.

Overall, I had an amazing experience in Tokyo, and I wouldn’t change how I did it. I chose a nicer hotel and went all out on food, and it was worth it for me. That said, I’m convinced Tokyo is absolutely doable on a much smaller budget, it just comes down to priorities and what kind of trip you want to have.

How Much Does a Trip to Tokyo Cost Per Day?

To give you a realistic idea of daily costs in Tokyo, I broke my spending down into hotels, transport, food, and activities, added everything up, and then averaged it out. I didn’t include shopping or personal expenses, and I rounded numbers slightly to keep things simple.

I’d personally put myself in the mid-range category. For the low-budget and luxury estimates, I combined my own experience with realistic research to give you a solid idea of what you can expect to spend per day. As always, these numbers can vary a lot depending on your travel style, but they’re a good baseline for planning.

Low Budget in Tokyo ($75–150 per day)

Tokyo is surprisingly doable on a low budget if you’re flexible.

Accommodation: Dorm beds in hostels start at around $25–40 per night, especially outside peak season. Capsule hotels can also fall into this range.
Food: This is where you save the most. Convenience store breakfasts (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) are cheap and genuinely good. For lunch and dinner, noodle soups, curry, gyudon, and casual local spots keep food costs very low.
Transport: Public transport is efficient and affordable, especially if you plan your days by area and avoid unnecessary back-and-forth.
Activities: Many of Tokyo’s best experiences are free like exploring neighborhoods like Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Asakusa, visiting shrines, walking through Tsukiji Outer Market, or spending time around Odaiba’s waterfront.

Mid-Range Budget in Tokyo ($150–250 per day)

This is where I’d personally place my own trip.

Accommodation: Comfortable hotels or private rooms averaging around $80–150 per night per person.
Food: A mix of casual meals and a few standout experiences: ramen, izakayas, and maybe one sushi omakase or special dinner.
Transport: Trains and metros add up a bit more if you’re moving around a lot, but still reasonable.
Activities: Paid attractions like observation decks, teamLab, museums, or guided experiences, mixed with plenty of free exploring.

Luxury Trip to Tokyo ($250+ per day)

At the higher end, Tokyo can get expensive very quickly, but it does it well.

Accommodation: High-end hotels, ryokans, or premium rooms in central locations.
Food: Frequent fine dining, sushi omakase, cocktail bars, and tasting menus.
Transport: Taxis instead of trains, private transfers, or guided tours.
Activities: Exclusive experiences, private guides, and premium tickets.

Cost of Accommodation in Tokyo

For me, and I think this will be true for a lot of people, accommodation was easily the biggest expense in Tokyo. As much as I love the city (and Japan in general), the value for money when it comes to hotels in Tokyo just isn’t great.

I stayed in hotels that cost around $200 USD per night, and even at that price point, the rooms were very small. I understand that space in Tokyo is limited, but from my experience, it often felt like I was paying a lot for something that’s just fine. Not bad, not special, just okay. If you want a genuinely nice room with more space or better amenities, prices jump very quickly.

Because of that, I felt like I had to spend quite a bit just to get a comfortable stay, and going cheaper usually meant making noticeable compromises. I’ve had some fantastic budget stays elsewhere in Japan, but Tokyo is different. You don’t get the same “bang for your buck” here, especially in central areas.

That said, there are good options at every budget level, you just need to adjust expectations and be a bit strategic about location and room size.

Best Cheap Hotels in Tokyo (Under $100 per Night)

At this price point, expect small rooms, hostels or capsule hotels. Comfort is basic, but it’s absolutely doable if you plan to spend most of your time out exploring and just need a clean place to sleep.

Click Here: Hotel Tomos Asakusa

Click Here: Hotel Wing Tokyo

Best Mid-Range Hotels in Tokyo ($150-$250 per Night)

This is where most travelers will land and this is basically the type of hotel I stayed at. I had fantastic hotel rooms at this budget, they were clean, comfortable with great service. However, the size of the room was barely enough to open my suitcase. From my experience, mid-range hotels in Tokyo are about functionality rather than luxury.

Click Here: Hotel Gracery Shinjuku

Click Here: Shibuya Tokyu REI Hotel

Best Luxury Hotels in Tokyo (Over $250 per Night)

Luxury hotels in Tokyo are genuinely impressive, but prices rise fast. This is where you’ll find larger rooms, great views, top-tier service, and standout amenities. If comfort and space are a priority, this is the category where Tokyo really starts to shine.

Click Here: Hotel Indigo Tokyo

Click Here: Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo

Cost of Transport in Tokyo

Japan is known for being modern and efficient, and Tokyo’s public transportation really lives up to that reputation. For me, getting around the city felt a bit like New York in terms of coverage and frequency, but without the downsides. The metro in Tokyo is incredibly clean, well-organized, safe, and surprisingly affordable.

I used the subway every single day while I was in Tokyo, and honestly, I wouldn’t do it any other way. Yes, you could hire private drivers or rely on taxis, but you’d end up stuck in traffic and paying a small fortune. The metro is faster, more reliable, and gets you exactly where you need to go.

What really was amazing to me is how safe and stress-free it feels. There are no sketchy situations, stations are clearly signposted, and everything just works. A single ride usually costs around $1–2 USD, which is insanely cheap for a city of this size.

My tip: I relied on Google Maps the entire time. It tells you exactly which line to take, which platform to use, and even which exit to leave from. I followed it blindly and it was spot on every time.

How Expensive is Food in Tokyo

I’ve already hinted at this above, but food was a big part of my Tokyo experience. I was eating out two to three times a day, and I had a pretty good mix overall.

I had L\lots of ramen (which is considered a budget-friendly meal in Tokyo), the occasional egg sandwich from 7-Eleven, but also proper sushi dinners and a few drinks at bars. Because of that balance, my food spending usually landed somewhere between $40 and $100 USD per day, depending on how indulgent the day was.

Low Budget for Food ($20–40 per day)

On a low budget, you’ll mostly be eating simple, affordable meals like cheap ramen, curry rice, gyudon, and convenience stores food. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing at all. From my own experience, 7-Eleven food in Japan is genuinely good, the sandwiches, onigiri, and even the coffee are surprisingly tasty.

It might not be the most nutritious way to eat every single day, but it’s absolutely doable, filling, and very budget-friendly.

Mid-Range Food Budget ($50–100 per day)

This is where I’d personally place myself. With this budget, I felt like I was eating really well without holding back. I had good-quality sushi (not ultra high-end, but definitely solid), plenty of ramen, casual izakaya meals, and convenience store breakfasts when I felt like it.

Eating this way felt very “Japan” to me, and I never had the feeling that I was missing out or compromising on quality.

Luxury Food Budget ($100+ per day)

If you’re traveling on a luxury budget, food in Tokyo can get as expensive as you want it to be. High-end sushi counters, premium fish, and omakase experiences can easily push your daily food spend well beyond $100, sometimes just for dinner alone.

Tokyo is one of the best food cities in the world, so if fine dining and exceptional sushi are a priority, it’s very easy (and very tempting) to spend a small fortune here.

How Expensive Are Activities in Tokyo Japan?

One thing that genuinely surprised me about Tokyo was how affordable activities were. I went in fully expecting attractions and experiences to be expensive across the board, but that really wasn’t the case. In fact, a big part of why Tokyo works so well on a budget is that you don’t actually need paid activities to have an amazing time.

I spent a huge amount of time just walking and exploring on foot, and honestly, that felt like an activity in itself. Wandering through Shinjuku and Shibuya, crossing the scramble crossing, exploring Asakusa, visiting Sensō-ji, Meiji Jingu, and walking around Tsukiji Outer Market, all of that was completely free. Some of my favorite moments in Tokyo didn’t cost me anything at all, which is something I really appreciated.

That said, there are a few paid activities I chose to do, and what surprised me most was that none of them felt outrageously expensive for what you get. Here’s a rough idea of what you can expect:

TeamLab Planets: One of my favorite paid experiences in Tokyo. Tickets are very reasonable for how immersive it is, but you’ll want to book in advance because it sells out quickly.
Tokyo Skytree: Not cheap, but fair for the views. On a clear day, you can even see Mount Fuji in the distance.
Shibuya Sky: Similar price range to Skytree, but the open-air rooftop makes this one feel extra special. I loved it despite the weather not being perfect.
Real-Life Mario Kart: Definitely touristy, but I had so much fun doing it. Pricey for a couple of hours, but worth it if you’re into unique experiences.
Sumo Experience: A great alternative if you can’t get tickets to an actual tournament. It was entertaining, interactive, and felt very “Tokyo.”
Day Trip to Mount Fuji: Costs vary a lot depending on whether you go independently or book a guided tour, but even guided tours are fairly reasonable for a full-day experience.
Tokyo Disneyland / DisneySea: Tickets aren’t cheap, but compared to other Disney parks worldwide, I actually found the prices pretty fair.

FAQs About How Expensive is Tokyo

How much does a trip to Tokyo cost?

It really depends on your travel style. From my experience, you can spend anywhere between $75 and $300 USD per day in Tokyo. Backpackers and budget travelers can keep costs low with hostels, cheap food, and free activities, while mid-range and luxury travelers can easily spend more on hotels, food, and experiences.

Is Tokyo worth visiting?

Absolutely. Tokyo is one of the most iconic cities I’ve ever visited. The food alone is reason enough to go, but on top of that, I experienced a serious (and very positive) culture shock. It’s exciting, overwhelming in a good way, and endlessly interesting.

Is Japan expensive to visit?

In the grand scheme of things, yes. Japan is definitely on the more expensive end, especially compared to many other Asian destinations. That said, the quality you get for your money is usually excellent, which makes the costs easier to justify.

Is Tokyo safe to visit?

Yes, 100%. Tokyo is one of the safest cities I’ve ever been to. I felt comfortable at all times, even late at night, and it honestly felt significantly safer than many large cities in the US.

How expensive is Tokyo compared to New York?

I’d put Tokyo and New York in a similar category overall. In both cities, you can eat cheaply or spend a fortune, and the same goes for accommodation. The big difference, in my opinion, is that Tokyo has more opportunities to travel on a budget without sacrificing quality, especially when it comes to food and transport.

Final Thoughts on How Much a Trip to Tokyo Costs

For me, I knew I wanted this trip to Tokyo to feel special. I was happy to spend a bit more so I could stay in a nicer hotel, eat really good food, and do all the activities I was excited about. With a daily budget of around $200–250 USD, I had an amazing time and never felt like I had to skip anything I genuinely wanted to do. It’s also worth noting that other cities in Japan are generally cheaper than Tokyo.

That said, I’m a backpacker at heart, and I truly believe Tokyo is still doable on a tight budget. There are plenty of hostels, cheap (and surprisingly good) food options, and loads of free things to do. If you value exploring over comfort and don’t mind keeping things simple, Tokyo can absolutely work on a backpacker budget too.