Japan Travel Budget Guide 2026: 14 Days for Under $1,500
The yen is still weak in 2026 — sitting around 158 to the dollar as of this month — which makes Japan cheaper for Americans than at almost any point in the last 30 years. Meanwhile, post-boom pricing has normalized, crowds at Kyoto’s top shrines are slightly better managed, and new budget rail options have made the country genuinely affordable again. I did 14 days Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka for $1,487 excluding flights. Here is exactly where that money went and what I’d repeat versus cut. ...