How Much Money Do I Need For Kyoto

Japan is much cheaper than you think, especially now with a weak yen. And Kyoto is much cheaper than Tokyo. Indeed, Kyoto is one of the cheapest major destinations in the developed world. Don’t believe me? Read this page.

[Japanese 10000 Yen notes © Jeffrey Friedl]

Japan gained an image in the 1980s as one of the world’s most expensive countries. But, since that time, prices have hardly changed in Japan, while they’ve soared in the rest of the developed world. At this point, Japan is the cheapest country in the developed world. And here’s something to keep in mind: prices in Kyoto are significantly cheaper than in Tokyo, especially for accommodation. To get an idea of just how reasonable Kyoto is, have a look at my Kyoto on US$100 a Day page.

On this page, I give some typical costs for a stay in Kyoto.

You can convert the Yen prices to your own currency at xe.com/currencyconverter

The Big Mac Index

A Big Mac in Japan costs ¥370. According to The Economist, this means that the yen is undervalued by 34%. In other words, Japan is CHEAP. For reference, Japan sits between Thailand and Hungary in The Economist’s Big Mac Index (as of January 2015).

Accommodation In Kyoto

Kyoto has a huge variety of accommodation in every budget range. Overall, you can expect rooms to be about 30% to 50% cheaper in Kyoto than in Tokyo. Just beware that prices go up during the peak seasons (March to May and November) and rooms can be hard to get at these times (book well in advance!).

Budget Accommodation In Kyoto

Budget accommodation price range: ¥2,000 to ¥8,000 per night, per person

Guesthouses: ¥2,000 to ¥5,000 per night, per person.
Kyoto is packed with guesthouses that welcome foreign travelers. They range from cramped dives to new, clean and well appointed places. At the low end of the price range, there are shared dorm rooms, while at the top end, you can get very simple private rooms. See Best Kyoto Hostels and Guesthouses for my favorite accommodations in this category.

Budget ryokan: ¥3,500 to ¥7,000 per night, per person, with no meals.
Kyoto has several budget ryokan that cater to international travelers. Do not expect any luxury here. These are usually drab buildings that resemble cheap hotels, but the rooms are done in the Japanese style, with tatami mat floors and futons instead of beds. Bathroom facilities are shared. The advantage of these places is that you can usually pack three or four people into a room, which brings down the per-person price. Check out Best Budget Ryokan in Kyoto for some recommendations.

Budget (business) hotels: ¥4,000 to ¥8,000 per person, per night.
You can get rooms in some budget hotels for as low as ¥4,000 per person, per night. Your best bets are national business hotel chains, like Toyoko Inn. Needless to say, these are cheaper if you’re staying two in a room. Singles will always cost more per person. Rooms in these places are small but well equipped with everything you need. See my Best Value Kyoto Hotels page for some of my favorite budget hotels in Kyoto.

Midrange Accommodation In Kyoto

Midrange accommodation price range: ¥8,000 to ¥15,000 per night, per person

Midrange hotels: ¥10,000 to ¥20,000 per room, per night.
In this price range, you can choose between business hotels and some slightly nicer travelers hotels, like those of the Mitsui Garden chain. Rooms will be small but have everything you need. Don’t expect much in the way of concierge service or facilities like gyms or spas. In terms of comfort for money, this is the sweet spot in Kyoto accommodation. For some picks in this bracket, see my Best Mid-Range Hotels in Kyoto page.

Midrange ryokan: ¥8,000 to ¥15,000 per person, per night.
There are several moderately priced ryokan in Kyoto that welcome foreign guests. While these will not resemble the fantasy ryokan you’ve seen pictures of, they can be very comfortable and are a good way to experience a Japanese way of life. Some places serve meals, at least at breakfast. Toilet and bath facilities are usually shared. See my Best Mid-Price Ryokan page for my top picks.

Luxury Accommodation In Kyoto

Luxury accommodation price range: From ¥15,000 per night, per person

Luxury hotels: From ¥20,000 per room, per night.
There are several excellent luxury hotels in Kyoto and the number is growing each year. You can choose from top Japanese brands like the Okura and leading international brands like Hyatt, Westin and Ritz-Carlton. Expect the usual facilities like concierge service, restaurants and spas. My Best Luxury Hotels in Kyoto page has details on the top picks here.

Boutique hotels: From ¥20,000 per room, per night.
A few boutique hotels have opened in Kyoto and these are a great choice for those who prefer an intimate scale. I list some of my favorites on my Best Boutique Hotels in Kyoto page.

Luxury ryokan: From ¥25,000 per person, per night, with two meals
If you’re able to spend at least ¥25,000 per person, per night for accommodation, then you can have an unforgettable ryokan experience in Kyoto. Indeed, as the capital of traditional Japanese culture, Kyoto is THE place to try a good ryokan. Yes, they’re expensive, but remember that you’re getting two excellent meals with your stay (dinner and breakfast). I often recommend that people spend one night in a great ryokan and then move to a good hotel. Some top choices for your special ryokan experience include Seikoro, Tawaraya, Hiiragiya, Gion Hatanaka and Ugenta. For details on some of these, see my Best Ryokan in Kyoto page.

Meals In Kyoto

You can eat well in Kyoto on any budget. There are hundreds of cheap shokudo (all-round restaurants) and noodle/rice shops, Japanese chains and the usual international chains. If you’re willing to spend a bit more money, you can get proper sit down meals in nice surroundings for less than you’d expect. And in the luxury bracket, you can expect some truly memorable meals in sublime surroundings.

Budget Meals

Average price: ¥300 to ¥900 per person.
Don’t worry about missing the good stuff just because you’re on a limited budget. You can get delicious Japanese meals in Kyoto for less than ¥900 per person (that’s less than US$8!). Choose from noodles (soba, udon and ramen) and rice dishes, including curry rice — one of my personal favorites. There are also Japanese and international fast food chains for burgers, chicken and the like. Keep in mind that tea is free and there is no tipping, so the only additional price is the 8% consumption tax, which is often included in the prices listed on the menu. See my Cheap Eats in Kyoto page for some of my favorite budget restaurants.

Midrange Meals

Average price: ¥900 to ¥2,500 per person.
If you’re willing to spend between US$10 and $20 per person, you can get some really great food in some excellent restaurants. Just try that in New York, London or Paris! You can choose from an almost endless supply of Japanese restaurants, along with international cuisine like French, Spanish, Italian, Thai and Chinese. See my Best Restaurants in Kyoto page for some recommendations.

Luxury Meals

Average price: From ¥2,500 per person.
If you can spend ¥2,500 or more on meals, you are guaranteed of some truly memorable meals. Your choices include kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine), tempura, sushi, Japanese beef and some world-class French and Italian food. Keep in mind that some of the best restaurants serve lunch for a fraction of what their dinners cost. In general, you can eat lunch at some of Kyoto’s best restaurants for ¥2,500 per person, and dinners average around ¥15,000. If you realize that this is about US$125, then you will understand that even at the luxury end of the scale, Kyoto is a GREAT value. See my Best Restaurants in Kyoto page for some recommendations.

Kyoto Cafes

• Tall latte at Starbucks: ¥400
• Double espresso at Starbucks: ¥367
• Large coffee at Doutor (a Japanese coffee chain): ¥220

You will find that cafes are slightly cheaper in Kyoto than in most parts of the developed world. There are Starbucks all over the city, along with Japanese imitations. You’ll also find independent cafes and inexpensive Japanese chains like Doutor, which are significantly cheaper than Starbucks.

Kyoto Convenience Stores

• Onigiri (rice ball): ¥140
• Litre of milk: ¥152
• Litre of orange juice: ¥152
• Sandwich: ¥247

You’ll be surprised by what you can find in a Japanese convenience store. You can survive pretty well on convenience store food. For serious grocery shopping, you’ll find a bigger selection and slightly lower prices at supermarkets like Fresco, which are all over town.

[Beer on sale in a Kyoto convenience store © [Chris Rowthorn]

Cigarettes, Alcohol and Bars In Kyoto

• Local cigarettes: ¥430
• Imported cigarettes: ¥460
• Kirin beer 350ml can: ¥223
• Beer in a casual bar: ¥500 to ¥700
• Drink in a casual bar: ¥600 to ¥900
• Beer in an upscale bar: ¥1000 to ¥1200
• Drink in an upscale bar: ¥1200 to ¥1600

Alcohol is very reasonably priced when you buy it from vending machines, liquor stores, supermarkets or convenience stores. Cigarettes are taxed at lower levels than in most other developed countries, making them cheap as well. Drinks in bars are roughly what you’d expect in other parts of the developed world, if not a bit cheaper.

SIM Cards, Pocket Wifis, Phone Rentals and Internet Cafes

• 1 gig SIM card purchase: from ¥2,000
• Pocket wifi rental with unlimited data for one week: ¥6,900
• Internet café: ¥300 per hour

SIM cards have recently become available to travelers and can be purchased at BIC Camera, near Kyoto Station.

Shopping

• Pair of pants at Uniclo: ¥1,990
• Casual shirt at Uniclo: ¥1,900
• Pair of underwear at Uniclo: ¥990
• Pair of socks at Uniclo: ¥330
• Container of nice green tea: ¥2,000
• Yukata robe: ¥3,000
• Woodblock print of decent quality: ¥4,000

If you find that you’ve left home without the right clothes, don’t fret: You can buy almost anything you need in Kyoto. Try Uniclo in the Mina Building on Kawaramachi, just south of Sanjo-dori. For a full list of great souvenirs and where to buy them, see my Best Kyoto Souvenirs page. For a list of my favorite shops, see my Kyoto Shopping page.

Toiletries

• Shampoo 200ml: ¥380
• Razors 4 pack: ¥284
• Tampons 10 box: ¥265
• Pads 10 pack: ¥380

You can buy basic toiletries in a convenience store. For a much better selection, visit one of Kyoto’s many super drug stores, which can be found downtown and in most other parts of the city.

Kyoto Transport

• Taxi: ¥640 for first 2km; ¥1500 for a typical ride within Kyoto
• Bus: ¥230 per ride
• One-day bus pass: ¥500
• Subway: ¥210
• Bicycle rental: ¥1,000 per day
• Liter of gasoline: ¥157 in May 2015

Kyoto’s public transport network is extremely cheap and easy to use. And you might be pleasantly surprised to find out that taxis are also relatively cheap, especially if you split the fare. See my Getting Around Kyoto page for a full overview of Kyoto transport.

[Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine © [Chris Rowthorn]

Kyoto Sightseeing

It’s not particularly expensive to see the sights in Kyoto. Two or three temples a day will cost less than US$10. Shrines are almost always free. And museums cost less than in many other parts of the world. See my Things To Do In Kyoto for a full overview of Kyoto sights and activities.

Kyoto Geisha Entertainment

Dinner with one maiko (apprentice geisha) with an interpreter: ¥70,000 plus cost for dinner

Of all the experiences you can have in Kyoto, an evening of geisha entertainment is guaranteed to be a lifelong memory. While it’s not cheap, if three or four people split the costs, it can be quite reasonable.

Train to Kyoto

Shinkansen (bullet train): one-way ¥13,080

Kyoto is only 2.5 hours from Tokyo by comfortable bullet trains. If you really wanted to, you could even visit Kyoto as a day trip from Tokyo. For details, see How To Get Travel From Tokyo To Kyoto

Flights to Kyoto

Typical round-trip ticket costs to Kansai International Airport (nearest to Kyoto) from selected cities in local currencies as of May 2017:

• New York: $900
• Los Angeles: $800
• London: £380
• Paris: €525
• Frankfurt: €525
• Sydney: AUD990
• Bangkok: THB13,000
• Taipei: TWD7,628
• Singapore: SD779
• Shanghai: RMB2,338
• Beijing: RMB3,374

You might be surprised by how cheap it is to fly to Japan. The closest airport to Kyoto is Osaka’s Kansai International Airport (KIX). For full details on traveling between KIX and Kyoto, see our Kyoto Airport Transport page. You can check Kyoto flight prices and times on a comparison site, which lets you quickly find the cheapest flight by comparing multiple airline prices.

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