Japan can make a vacation budget feel surprisingly generous. A restaurant meal, a neighborhood shopping spree, or a ride on the bullet train may cost less than an American traveler expects. Yet the same traveler can spend a small fortune getting there, booking a hotel in a popular neighborhood, and bouncing between cities.
That tension helps explain Japan’s growing appeal to American visitors. A favorable exchange rate can stretch U.S. dollars once travelers arrive, while Japan offers everything from historic temples to late-night food stalls and remarkably convenient public transportation. But the country isn’t automatically cheap, and a bargain on lunch won’t rescue an itinerary packed with expensive hotels and long-distance train rides.
