Published 30 June 2026 | Updated 26 October 2026 by Kate Acaster
Japan budget travel is more achievable than most UK visitors expect. The exchange rate’s moved in the pound’s favour over recent years, making food, transport, and accommodation noticeably cheaper than they were a decade ago. Return flights from London are cheapest in winter, the food’s some of the best anywhere in the world, and Japan’s easy to navigate even without speaking Japanese.
This is part of a wider series. Browse all of Flight Tribe’s destination guides for more UK budget travel advice.
Direct return flights from London Heathrow to Tokyo are cheapest in off-peak months, and specialist operators sell week-long packages including flights and a hotel in Tokyo. Browse Japan holiday deals or search live prices below.
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Japan’s most iconic sights
Cherry blossom season, Japan: sakura peaks late March to mid-April
Japan’s sakura season is one of the most sought-after travel experiences in the world, and with good reason. For 7 to 10 days in late March or early April, parks fill with pink and white blossom. Tokyo’s Ueno Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, and the Meguro River are the classic spots. Kyoto’s Maruyama Park and Philosopher’s Path are quieter and arguably more beautiful.
Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto
The thousands of bright orange torii gates at Fushimi Inari snake up a mountain south of Kyoto. It’s one of the most photographed places in Japan, but it’s still worth the visit. Go early (before 8am) or after 5pm to beat the crowds. The full hike to the summit takes about two hours; most visitors turn back at the main viewing points after 45 minutes.
Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion
Kinkaku-ji is one of Kyoto’s most visited sights and it’s easy to see why. The top two floors of the pavilion are covered in gold leaf, and its reflection in the surrounding pond is one of those images that looks exactly like the photographs. Tickets cost ¥500 (about £2.40) and are sold at the gate, so arrive for the 9am opening to beat the coach parties. Budget 45 to 60 minutes for the site itself.
Nara’s deer park
Nara is 45 minutes by train from Kyoto and makes an easy day trip. Around 1,450 sika deer roam freely through the park and surrounding streets. They’re used to people and will approach you looking for deer biscuits (sold at stalls near the park entrance for ¥200). Todai-ji temple, home to a giant bronze Buddha, is a five-minute walk from the main park area and well worth the entry fee.
Things to do in Japan
- Walk Shibuya Crossing at night. It’s one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world and it’s more impressive than photos suggest. Stand on the second-floor Starbucks for the best view.
- Take the shinkansen to Kyoto for a day trip. Tokyo to Kyoto costs around ¥14,000 (about £67) each way on the fastest service. You can’t visit Japan and not see it.
- Visit Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast. The famous tuna auction moved to Toyosu Market in 2018, but the outer market’s still the best place in Tokyo to eat fresh sushi and seafood in the morning.
- Spend an afternoon in Senso-ji temple, Asakusa. It’s Tokyo’s oldest temple and one of the most visited in Japan. The approach through Nakamise shopping street sells traditional crafts and food.
- Climb to an observation deck. Tokyo Skytree (634m) is the tallest structure in Japan. Tokyo Tower (333m) is more atmospheric. Both offer remarkable views on clear days.
- See autumn foliage in Kyoto. The koyo season (mid-November to early December) rivals cherry blossom for colour and attracts fewer visitors. Tofuku-ji and Arashiyama are the best spots in Kyoto.
- Take a day trip to Hakone. Hakone is 90 minutes south-west of Tokyo and on clear days you’ll get the best views of Mount Fuji from the lake. Stay overnight for a traditional ryokan experience.
- Eat your way through Osaka. The city’s food culture holds its own against Tokyo’s. Takoyaki (octopus balls), okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes), and kushikatsu (fried skewers) are the essentials.
- Wander Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, Kyoto. It’s crowded but it’s still worth it. Go before 8am if you want it to yourself. The surrounding area has excellent temples, a boat rental, and a monkey park on the hillside.
When is the best time to visit Japan?
Broadly, autumn and winter are the best value months, while cherry blossom season in spring costs the most and books up first. See our full month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Japan for the exact weeks to book, the weeks to avoid, and how rainy season and typhoon season factor in.
Airlines flying to Japan from the UK
British Airways and Japan Airlines (JAL) both fly direct from London Heathrow to Tokyo Haneda, taking around 14 to 15 hours. ANA (All Nippon Airways) also flies direct from Heathrow to Tokyo Haneda. Our Japan flight deals hub compares their fares with one-stop options. Return economy fares are lowest in winter, rising to £700 to £900 during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons. Premium economy offers meaningfully more comfort for around £1,200 to £1,600 return on the direct carriers.
Indirect options via Amsterdam (KLM), Helsinki (Finnair), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), or Dubai (Emirates) are often £50 to £150 cheaper, at the cost of an extra 4 to 7 hours. Finnair via Helsinki is particularly popular with passengers travelling from Manchester and Edinburgh. For current entry requirements and the latest tourist tax information, see the official Japan tourism website.
What does a Japan holiday cost?
| Budget type | Daily spend | 7 nights (excl. flights) | What this gets you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | £55 to £80 | £385 to £560 | Capsule hotel or hostel dorm, convenience store meals and ramen shops, IC card for transport, free temples and public parks |
| Mid-range | £120 to £175 | £840 to £1,225 | Business hotel in city centre, restaurant meals twice daily, Shinkansen day trips between cities, paid attractions and museum entry |
| Comfortable | £250+ | £1,750+ | Boutique hotel or traditional ryokan with private onsen, kaiseki dinners, private guides, domestic flights between cities |
Tokyo: Japan’s most visited city
Tokyo is where most UK visitors start, and it’s easy to see why. The city’s vast, with around 35 million people in the greater metropolitan area, but it runs with a precision that makes getting around easy. The metro system is clean, frequent, and fully signed in English. The IC card system (Suica or Pasmo) works on almost every train, bus, and at many convenience stores and vending machines.
Getting around Tokyo
The Tokyo Subway Ticket costs ¥2,000 (about £10) for 72 hours and covers every Tokyo Metro and Toei subway line. For day trips to Nikko, Kamakura or Hakone, the JR Tokyo Wide Pass (¥15,000 for three days) covers the JR lines, though Hakone’s mountain railway and cable cars cost extra. You can buy both after you arrive. Taxis are clean and reliable but expensive; Uber operates in Tokyo, but it books licensed taxis at meter rates plus a fee, so it costs more, not less.
Where to stay in Tokyo
Shinjuku is the most practical base: it’s central, well connected, and close to Shinjuku Gyoen park. Shibuya suits younger travellers; Asakusa suits those who want to be near traditional Tokyo and Senso-ji temple. Business hotels in Shinjuku cost £80 to £140 per night. Capsule hotels start from £25 to £40 and are worth trying for the novelty as much as the price.
Tokyo tips for first-time visitors
Get an IC card (Suica or Pasmo) at the airport on arrival. Load ¥3,000 to ¥5,000 and tap in and out on every train and bus. It works across nearly all public transport in Tokyo and most of Japan.
Book restaurants in advance for anywhere you particularly want to eat, especially sushi counters and anything that’s appeared in a recent travel guide. Demand is high and many smaller places have limited seats.
Most ramen shops don’t take bookings, so expect to queue at the popular ones.
The Japan Rail Pass is only worth buying if you’re planning to travel between cities. For Tokyo-only trips, the city’s own transport passes are better value. Calculate your intercity journey costs before purchasing.
Tokyo’s very safe. Petty crime’s low, public spaces are clean, and lost property’s almost always returned. The main practical challenge is cash: many smaller restaurants and shrines still don’t accept cards. Carry ¥10,000 to ¥20,000 (around £50 to £100) in cash at all times.
Do I need a visa to visit Japan from the UK?
You don’t need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days in Japan. Your passport must be valid for the whole of your stay. Japan’s International Tourist Tax is ¥3,000 (about £14) per person and is added to the price of your flight home. Check the official Japan tourism website for any updated entry conditions before travel.
Japan: frequently asked questions
Here are the questions UK travellers ask most often before visiting Japan for the first time. For more detail, you’ll find specific guides linked above.
When is cherry blossom season in Japan?
Cherry blossom (sakura) peaks in late March and early April in Tokyo, and a few days later in Kyoto. Timing varies by about a week each year depending on winter temperatures. The blooms typically last 7 to 10 days. It’s the most popular time to visit and also the most expensive: flights and accommodation cost significantly more than off-peak.
How much does a trip to Japan cost from the UK?
A week in Japan costs around £1,300 to £2,000 including return flights from London, depending on the time of year and your travel style. Budget travellers can manage on £55 to £80 a day on the ground; mid-range travellers typically spend £120 to £175. January and February offer the lowest combined flight and hotel prices.
Is Japan expensive for UK travellers?
Less so than it was. The yen’s weakened significantly against the pound over the past decade, making Japan noticeably better value than its reputation suggests. Food’s particularly affordable: a bowl of ramen costs £6 to £9, a convenience store lunch under £4. Transport is efficient and cheap. The main expense is accommodation in central Tokyo, which costs £80 to £140 per night for a decent business hotel.
Which airlines fly direct from the UK to Japan?
British Airways, Japan Airlines, and ANA all fly direct from London Heathrow to Tokyo (Haneda or Narita). Flight time’s around 14 to 15 hours. Indirect routes via Amsterdam, Helsinki, Frankfurt, or Dubai typically cost £50 to £150 less but add 4 to 7 hours to journey time. Finnair via Helsinki is a popular choice for passengers travelling from northern UK airports.
How do I get around Japan?
The Shinkansen (bullet train) network connects all major cities. Tokyo to Kyoto takes 2 hours 15 minutes; Kyoto to Osaka takes 15 minutes. The 7-day Japan Rail Pass costs ¥50,000 (about £240) online and covers most Shinkansen services, with a supplement for the fastest Nozomi trains. It only pays for itself on longer trips, such as Tokyo to Hiroshima and back; a simple Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka loop costs less in single tickets. Within cities, IC cards (Suica or Pasmo) work on all metro and bus systems. Taxis exist but are expensive.
Japan rewards the visitors who go in with a bit of preparation but not too much of a plan. The combination of extraordinary food, fast and reliable transport, and a culture unlike anywhere in Europe makes it one of the most compelling long-haul destinations for UK travellers. Browse the latest flight deals and holiday deals to find current prices, or read our guide to getting cheap flights from the UK to plan your trip.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
How Kate works
Kate checks the details that can change the value of a trip, including cabin-bag rules, airline fees, hotel location, seasonality, travel dates and booking conditions. She is especially interested in offers that look useful on the surface but need a proper reader-first check before they are worth recommending.
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