What budget for activities and outings Kansai?

The gardens of the Imperial Palace are known as the running spot for Sunday runners. Don't hesitate to join them.

Stores where everything is ¥100, such as Daiso or Can Do, are very common, and some are well-stocked with souvenirs and small Japanese items. You can also find 100% Japanese products, as at Daiso in Harajuku. Tokyo is full of second-hand stores selling crockery, clothes and electronics, such as the whole "OFF" chain, BookOFF, HardOFF, ModeOFF and so on. Neighborhoods such as Shimo-Kitazawa, Kōenji and Harajuku are also renowned for their vintage stores. Last but not least, flea markets are a great place to find unique items.

It's possible to get tax-exempt treatment for products purchased at major retailers.

When you're planning an evening of drinking on a tight budget, it can be interesting to go to izakaya, Japanese bars, where good deals with unlimited drinks are on offer.

What budget to eat Kansai?

Expect to pay between ¥800 and ¥1,200 for a bowl of noodles or a small platter of sushi. There are water vending machines everywhere, but it's much cheaper to have a reusable bottle that you fill up in parks, shopping malls or railway stations. Water is drinkable everywhere (unless otherwise stated). In restaurants and cafés, the tax is 8% on takeaway orders and 10% on the premises.

Expect to pay at least ¥500 for a beer. Although most establishments accept credit cards or cashless payments such as PayPay, it's best to carry cash when going to small bars. Many bars offer happy hours between 5pm and 7pm.

What is the budget for accommodation Kansai?

Accommodation in Tokyo starts from ¥4,000 to ¥5,000 in dormitories or single tatami rooms. All hotels accept credit cards, but this is not necessarily the case in ryokan or small inns, even though credit cards are now widely used. Don't forget to go directly to hotel websites for discount coupons and special offers.

Travel budget Kansai and cost of living

The cost of living in Osaka or Kyoto is roughly the same as in European capitals. It is expensive, but it is not excessive. Of course, some prefectures in Kansai have a lower cost of living. To help you plan, here are some basic rates and budget ideas

- a dish in a restaurant: count ¥1,000 for a set of sushi and about ¥800 for a set of another typically Japanese dish(ramen, tempura or tonkatsu).
- a night in a dormitory in a youth hostel: ¥3,000 in Osaka and about ¥2,500 in Kyoto.
- a night in a double room in a ryokan : from ¥10,000 (the price of some famous ryokan can go up quickly).
- One night in a double room in a star hotel: from ¥20,000.
- A packet of cigarettes: from ¥410 to ¥450.
- A bottle of water: ¥110.
- A local beer in a bar: ¥700.
- A subway ride in the city: ¥160-190.
- An entrance to a temple: ¥300.
Note that the prices in shops are not negotiable, except in special cases. Prices can be discussed at flea markets, for example. In electronics shops labelled duty free, especially in Osaka, it is not uncommon to be given a 10% discount. From now on, plastic bags at the checkouts will have to be paid for. Count between ¥3 and ¥5 depending on the size, more expensive for paper bags.

Tip. The Japanese don't use them. It's just not a local custom. In order to express gratitude, it is best to offer a gift to your host. If the gift turns out to be cash, it is important to consider putting it back in an envelope

Duty free . Since your final destination is outside the European Union, you can benefit from duty free, tax-free purchases. Also note that if you are stopping over within the European Union, you will be able to make airport purchases on the outbound trip, but not on the return trip. Kansai International Airport's duty free is rented by all Japanese and visitors alike, and offers a wide range of high quality products, including sake and vintage plum spirits. In case of a stopover, you will not be able to carry more than 100 ml of liquid. There are also duty-free shops in town, for example at Don Quijote

Budget ideas. The budgets we offer are calculated per person and per day in the most touristic prefectures. They do not take into account the possible free or reduced prices sometimes offered (for a long stay for example), or even the use of the JR Pass.

Small budget : from ¥5,000 to ¥7,000 on the basis of a dormitory bed (¥3,000/person), quick lunches (sandwiches and other small meal trays taken in mini-markets open 24 hours a day from ¥350-400/person), mostly walking trips (counting two metro tickets to get to and from your place of visit, or an average of ¥210 per trip), refreshments during the day, access to the sites of visits, the purchase of a few souvenirs (count ¥750) and a more complete meal in the evening (count ¥750 per person). This budget can still be adjusted if you are staying in the centre or near a convenient JR or metro station or if you are content with frugal meals. You can easily travel in Japan with a daily budget of 40 or 45 €/day!

Average budget: from ¥8,000 to ¥15,000, based on a ryokan room or a single room with all comforts in a youth hostel (¥6,000), quick lunch meals in small restaurants (¥750), frequent subway travel (daily pass), refreshments during the day and in the evening, access to visiting sites, the purchase of many souvenirs (count ¥2,000) and a good meal in the evening (¥1,500). In this price range, it is cheaper to stay in a double room for two people, as a double room can easily be found for ¥8,000-9,000. And if there are more than two of you, rooms for 3 or 4 people are common, as is apartment rental.

Big budget : from ¥25,000 based on a nice room with all modern comforts in a star hotel or in a refined ryokan (¥15,000), delicate but frugal meals at lunchtime (¥2,000), travel by JR or metro during the day to limit walking as much as possible (day pass) and by taxi in the evening, access to tours, the purchase of as many souvenirs and high-tech items as possible, a typical Japanese meal with drinks in the evening (¥5,000) and an outing to one of the many bars in the city.