I will show you how to make one way trip from Narita to Kansai airport with the sightseeings in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka for less than 10,000 yen. You may not be able to imagine the value of 10,000 yen. I coverted 10,000 yen into the following currencies. (as of April 20th, 2020)
- 93 USD
- 148 AUD
- 86 EUR
- 133 SGD
- 408 MYR
- 659 CNY
- 721 HKD
- 114686 KRW
- 2795 TWD
- 132 CAD
- 3029 THB
- 4723 PHP
I just focused on the cost for the modes of transpotation for a budget traveler.
This sample itinerary includes the following:
☑Narita airport to Tokyo station by a bus
☑48 hours Tokyo subway pass
☑Tokyo to Kyoto overnight bus
☑Train fares for the sightseeing in Kyoto and Kyoto to Namba
☑Osaka subway pass
☑Train fare for Namba to Kansai airport
It does not include the accommodations, the meals and the admission fees. But I will tell you the attractions which you can enter without an admission. I also give you the tips for the cheap hotels and the foods. You will find a rough total cost of the trip.
Overview
In this website, I always talk about a train. But in this sample trip plan, I used the buses from Narita to Tokyo and from Tokyo to Kyoto. Because a bus is more cost -effective than a train.
The whole trip plan is the following:
| Day 1 | Narita airport to Ueno by the Keisei Railway Mainl Line Rapid Limited Express |
| Day 2 | Sightseeing in Tokyo by subways |
| Day 3 | Sightseeing in Tokyo by subways Move to Kyoto by an overnight bus |
| Day 4 | Sightseeing in Kyoto by local trains Move to Osaka by a local train and a subway |
| Day 5 | Sigthseeing in Osaka by subways |
| Day 6 | Osaka to Kansai airport by a local train |
The exact total costs for these modes of transportation are 9,740 yen. The overnight bus fare is varied by a date and an availability. But it is not hard to find the lowest fare if you book in advance.
Day 1, Narita airport to Ueno (Tokyo)
I picked Ueno for the place to stay in Tokyo. Because you can get to Ueno from Narita directly. There are many budget type hotels around Ueno. And Ueno is very accessible to other popular places in downtown Tokyo.
You will take the Keisei Railway Main Line Rapid Limited Express or Main Line Limited Express to get to Ueno. The fare is only 1,050 yen. The travel time is about 80 minutes.
Keisei Railway operate a few types of trains between Narita Airport and Ueno. The fastest train is “Skyliner.” This connects Narita and Ueno in 40 minutes. It is very fast but pricey. You have to pay 2,250 yen which is paying more than double. Please find more information about the types of the Keisei railway trains in the link below:
Keisei Railway official site (English)
If you arrive in Haneda, you can use Monorail and Yamanote line deal. You can get to Ueno from Haneda for 500 yen.
Tokyo Monorail official site (English)
Day 2, Sightseeing in Tokyo
You will spend all day in Tokyo. Use Tokyo Subway Ticket 48 hours to go around the downtown Tokyo.
I picked up some tourist spots which you don’t need to pay an admission. And I made the following suggested itineary.
Itinerary
| Time | Place and transporation |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Ueno station |
| Visit Ueno Park | |
| 10:00 | Ueno station |
| | (Tokyo Metro Hibiya line) |
| 10:12 | Tsukiji station |
| | Visit Tsukiji Outer Market |
| 12:00 | Tsukiji station |
| | (Tokyo Metro Hibiya line) |
| 12:10 | Akihabara station |
| | Visit Akihabara |
| 14:00 | Suehirocho station |
| | (Tokyo Metro Ginza line) |
| 14:10 | Asakusa station |
| | Visit Asakusa and Senso-ji temple |
| 18:00 | Asakusa station |
| (Tokyo Metro Ginza line) | |
| 18:10 | Ueno station |
Day 3, Sightseeing in Tokyo and catch an overnight bus for Kyoto
This is the second day of staying in Tokyo. You will spend most of time to visit many places in Tokyo.
I picked up some more places which you don’t need to pay an admission. And I made the following suggested itineary.
Itinerary
| Time | Place and transporation |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Ueno station |
| (Tokyo Metro Ginza line and Tozai line via Nihombashi) | |
| 09:15 | Otemachi station |
| | Visit Impreail Palace |
| 11:00 | Otemachi station |
| | (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda line) |
| 11:15 | Meiji-Jingumae station |
| | Visit Harajuku and Meiji shrine |
| 14:00 | Meiji-JIngumae station |
| | (Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin line and Marunouchi line via Shinjuku-Sanchome) |
| 14:10 | Shinjuku station |
| | Play and shopping in Shinjuku until the bus depart for Kyoto |
| 23:10 | Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal (“Busta Shinjuku”) |
| | (Overnight bus) |
You will take an overnight bus to save your time and cost.
Day 4, Sightseeing in Kyoto and move to Osaka by a local train
After you arrive in Kyoto station by the overnight bus, you will have a breakfast around the station. And then start sightseeing in Kyoto.
I picked up some places which you don’t need to pay an admission. And I made the following suggested itineary.
Itinerary
| Time | Place and transporation |
|---|---|
| 06:30 | Kyoto station |
| Breakfast time | |
| 07:12 | Kyoto station |
| | (JR Nara line) |
| 07:17 | Inari station |
| | Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine |
| 10:30 | Fushimi-Inari station |
| | (Keihan Railway local train) |
| 10:39 | Gion-Shijo station |
| | Visit Gion and Nishiki Market |
| 14:30 | Kyoto-Kawaramachi station |
| | (Hankyu Railway via Katsura station) |
| 14:49 | Arashiyama station |
| | Visit Bamboo Forest, Togetsukyo bridge |
| 17:30 | Arashiyama station |
| (Hankyu Railway via Katsura station) | |
| 18:24 / 18:30 | Osaka-Umeda station / Umeda station |
| (Osaka Metro Midosuji line) | |
| 18:39 | Namba station |
I picked up Namba to place statying overnight. Because it is most convenient place for both sightseeing and access to Kansai airport. Namba is also one of two biggest downtown core in Osaka.
Day 5, Sightseeing in Osaka
You will use Osaka Metro 1-day pass. You can get most places in the downtown Osaka.
Osaka castle requires you to pay an admission but you can get 10% discount by Osaka Metro Pass.
Itinerary
| Time | Place and transporation |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Namba station |
| (Osaka Metro Midosuji line and Chuo line via Hommachi) | |
| 09:15 | Tanimachi 4-chome station |
| | Visit Osaka castle |
| 11:30 | Tanimachi 4-chome station |
| | (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda line) |
| 11:40 | Higashi-Umeda station |
| | Play and shopping in Umeda |
| 17:00 | Umeda station |
| | (Osaka Metro Midosuji line) |
| 17:45 | Dobutsuenmae station |
| | Dinner in Shinsekai area |
| 20:00 | Dobutsuenmae station |
| | (Osaka Metro Midosuji line) |
| 20:05 | Namba station |
Day 6, Namba to Kansai airport
You can walk around Namba and Dotombori area if you have a time on the departure day.
You can take the Nankai Railway Rapid Express train to Kansai airport. It takes about 50 minutes to get to Kansai airport.
Travel cost
I tried to minimize the cost for the transportation.
| Trip | Cost |
|---|---|
| Keisei Railway Rapid Limited Express from Narita airport to Ueno | 1,050 yen |
| Tokyo Subway Ticket 48 hours | 1,200 yen |
| Overnight bus from Shinjuku to Kyoto | 4,000 yen or up |
| JR locla train from Kyoto to Inari | 150 yen |
| Keihan Railway local train from Fushimi-Inari to Gion-Shijo | 210 yen |
| Hankyu Railway local train from Kyoto-Kawaramachi to Arashiyama | 230 yen |
| Hankyu Railway local train from Arashiyama to Osaka-Umeda | 400 yen |
| Osaka Metro Midosuji line from Umeda to Namba | 230 yen |
| Osaka Metro 1-day Pass (Enjoy Eco Card) | 800 yen |
| Osaka castle admission fee | 540 yen |
| Nankai Railway Rapid Express from Namba to Kansai airport | 930 yen |
| Total cost | 9,740 yen |
The total cost is 9,740 yen. But the fare for Overnight bus is varied. We sometmes can find a fare less than 4,000 yen. On the other hand, the fare is higher on weekend. And te last minutes booking is more expensive. It is same as the flight fare.
The basic overnight bus has a very ordinary seat, like the photo below.
But if you add another 1,000 to 2,000 yen, you can get a better seat, like the photos below:
As I mentioned, this cost does not include any meals and accommodation except the overnight bus. I will give you some tips to save your cost.
Beef bowl fast food chain
There are many beef bowl fast food restaurants in Japan. They have not only beef bowl but also many other kinds of rice bowl. The price is starting from 400 yen.
Stand up noodle stand in stations
This is very popular in Japan. You can find this type of the restaurant even on the platform in the major stations.
If you don’t have enough time, you can fill your stomach in 10 minutes.
Convenience store
The convenience store is also an affordable choice to eat. Some convenience stores have tables and chairs. You can eat there.
The convenience stores offer various bento boxes. You can find many kinds less than 500 yen.
The convenience stores offer a fresh brewed coffee and some kinds of cafe menu, such as Cafe Latte. The price is less than 200 yen. It is much cheaper than Starbucks. And the taste is good.
Capsule hotel
You may not have seen this type of hotels in your country. But this is very popular in Japan. Originally the capsule hotel is used by a business man who misses the last departure train. As you probably know. many Japanese businessmen work until very late night. They need a space to sleep. Therefore the size is minimum.
In these days, many foreign travelers try to use the capsule hotel to save a cost and want an experience.
The price is starting from aroun 3,000 yen per night. You cannot share the room with anybody. If you are a solo traveler, think about using this hotel.
Summary
I tried to put Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in the minimum days and the minimum costs. If you choose an affordable meals and accommodations, your total cost without a flight is less than 30,000 yen.
I don’t think that anybody can do this type of the trip. But if your budget is really tight but want to visit Japan, I believe this trip plan fits your trip.
I hope this sample gives you an idea to build your trip plan.
