Quick Answer

Less than its reputation. Trains are cheap, a bowl of ramen or a conveyor-belt sushi plate is a few hundred yen, and konbini food is genuinely good. Budget travellers do well on simple business hotels or hostels; the splurge is optional. Mid-range hotels and the odd nice meal are where the money goes.

Read the full guide: Tokyo Travel Guide (2026): When to Go, Stay & Get Around

What is the best time to visit Tokyo?

Late March to early April for the cherry blossom, and November for the autumn foliage, are the two standout windows: mild, dry and beautiful, but busy and pricier. Late spring and early autumn either side of those are the easy all-rounder. Summer is hot, humid and rainy; winter is cold, clear and the quietest, cheapest stretch.

How many days do you need in Tokyo?

Four to five days lets you cover the big districts — Asakusa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku and Ginza — at a sane pace with a day trip to Nikko or Kamakura. Three days works if you move fast and stay on the Yamanote loop. A week lets Tokyo breathe and adds Mount Fuji or Hakone.

Budgeting the wider trip? Compare what Japan costs per day and how much 10 days in Japan costs , or browse the full Travel Answers hub . To keep lodging in check, see where to stay in Tokyo on a budget .