How much does it cost to travel Japan by motorcycle?

Traveling through Japan on motorcycle, whether rented or purchased, is an underrated yet excellent way to explore the country.
It allows you to dive deep into Japan’s contrasts and venture off the beaten path, offering a richer, more personal experience. As you plan your ride, two critical questions arise:
- How much does it really cost to travel Japan by motorcycle?
- Can you reduce costs without compromising the quality of your experience?
Despite its pricey reputation, Japan can be remarkably accessible for resourceful travelers. Having your own mode of transport can save money, too, as it reduces reliance on sometimes pricey public transport and allows for more affordable accommodation options away from major tourist centers.
In this article, we’ll outline the typical expenses of motorcycle travel across Japan on a modest budget. We’ll break down the costs from our five-month motorcycle journey, and share practical tips on how to ride in Japan affordably.
Note: Our approach focuses on cost-effectiveness without sacrificing comfort. We primarily used public transport in major urban areas and will not extensively cover these costs.
Exchange Rate: 1 USD/EUR ≈ 150 JPY (Japanese Yen)
The Average Daily Costs
For those exploring Japan on a low to medium budget, the daily expenses can vary significantly:
Single Traveler:
▶ 50 to 120 USD per day (7,000 to 15,000 JPY)
Two People:
▶ 60 to 120 USD per day (9,000 to 18,000 JPY)
Note: These estimates do not include airfares, travel insurance, motorcycle/vehicle purchase or rental.
The variation in costs primarily depends on:
- Accommodation: Type, timing and location impact costs significantly.
- Food: Options range from supermarket food to local eateries and upscale restaurants.
- Itinerary: Visiting multiple cities or regions can increase transportation costs.
Accommodation is typically the largest expense, followed by food and transportation. Given that many attractions in Japan are either free or come at a low cost, your budget is unlikely to be heavily impacted unless you opt for unique and exclusive experiences.
Our daily and monthly expenses
In 2023, during our five-month journey around Japan with two 250cc motorbikes, our daily costs for two people averaged 75 USD (11,500 JPY), totaling approximately 2,250 USD per month (35,000 JPY).
These were our day-to-day expenses and do not include plane tickets, insurance, or the cost of purchasing motorcycles.
Cost Breakdown
Category | Type | Average Cost (US$ // Yen) |
---|---|---|
Accommodation (per night) | Budget Hotel (single) | ¥5500-7000 ($35-45) |
Budget Hotel (double) | $40-60 // ¥6000-9000 | |
Dorm/Capsule | $20-30 // ¥3000-5000 | |
Camping | up to $16 // ¥2500 | |
Food | Cheap Restaurant | $4-5 // ¥600-800 per meal |
Supermarket Meal | $2-5 // ¥400-800 | |
Beer (500ml) | $2-3 // ¥300-500 | |
Fuel | Regular Fuel (91) | $1.1 // ¥170 per liter $4.25 // ¥640 per US gallon |
Activities | Entry fee (temple, castle, hot springs) | $2-7 // ¥300-1000 |
Detailed Breakdowns & Tips
Accommodation
How much does accommodation cost in Japan?
For low and medium-budget travelers the average accommodation cost in Japan per person & night ranges from 25-50 USD.
- Dorm/Capsule Hotel: ~25 USD (4,500 JPY)
- Budget Single Room: ~40 USD (6,300 JPY)
- Budget Double Room: ~50 USD (7,900 JPY)
- Camping: ~10 USD (1,500 JPY)
Double rooms (in a hotel or a hostel) are usually a better option when traveling as a couple or with a friend as they cost only slightly more than 2 hostel beds.
Camping is by far the most affordable accommodation option and is highly recommended. Motorcycle camping is also quite popular! If you want to learn more about camping in Japan, click here.
How to Save Money on Accommodation in Japan?
During our trip, we learned a few tricks on how to stretch our accommodation budget a little further. Here are the most important ones:
▶ Avoid Peak Times
Book during weekdays rather than public holidays for lower rates. Similarly, weekends (Fridays and Saturdays) are also generally more expensive, though the price spike is less dramatic.
▶ Book in Advance
Last-minute deals, which can be a savvy way to save in other countries, don’t tend to work well in Japan. Booking at least 1-2 weeks in advance, particularly around long weekends and holidays, ensures better rates and avoids the frustration of last-minute searching.
▶ Use Google Maps
Google Maps is very useful for quickly locating potential stays and comparing prices across different platforms to find the best deals. Especially, with your own transport you can easily travel outside of the main areas to find cheaper places.
▶ Leverage Japanese Booking Platforms
When scouting through Google Maps you will see booking sites like Rakuten Travel and Jalan. These Japanese platforms frequently offer better prices than international websites. Using Google Translate in your browser can help you decipher these sites.
▶ Choose Business Hotels
These are a solid budget option in Japan. The rooms are basic but include all the essentials; many offer complimentary breakfast. Parking arrangements vary, so better to check with the hotel in advance. Some popular chains include Toyoko Inn, APA Hotel, Route Inn, Smile Hotel and Dormy Inn.
▶ Membership Cards
Point or membership/loyalty cards from sites like Rakuten, or hotel chains such as Toyoko Inn can secure further discounts, especially on longer or repeated trips.
▶ Consider Love Hotels
They offer spacious rooms and amenities like free parking, breakfast, and room service. Usually, their rates are comparable to or cheaper than business hotels. The unique decor is part of the experience.
For more information about accommodation in Japan and more detailed tips: Coming Soon!
Our Accommodation expenses
Accommodation was our largest expense, taking up 40% of our total spending: 760,000 JYP (8,300 USD) for two people over a 5-month period.
That is roughly 4,580 JYP (30 USD) per day for two!
Our stays varied between budget hotels and guesthouses, where we spent approximately 2-3 nights each week. The most costly part was spending about two weeks in total in hostel rooms in Tokyo.
Food
How much does food cost in Japan?
Japanese cuisine is a delight, and the great news is that even the budget-friendly options are delectable and satisfying.
On average, a day’s meals for one person, including a few snacks or beverages, costs about 1,500-2,300 JYP (10-15 USD).
- Meal at a Cheap Restaurant: ~4 USD (600 JPY)
- Supermarket Meal: ~3 USD (500 JPY)
- Cup Instant Noodles: ~1 USD (150 JPY)
- Rice Balls (onigiri): ~1 USD (150 JPY)
- Bowl of Ramen: ~5 USD (800 JPY)
- Sushi Train: ~ 1 USD per plate (110 JPY)
How to Save Money on Food in Japan?
Eating your way through Japan can (and it would be worth it) empty your wallet, but it doesn’t have to. Here are a few practical tips to enjoy delicious meals while keeping your budget in check:
▶ Cheap CHain Restaurants
Check out Japanese fast-food restaurant chains like Matsuya, Yoshinoya, Sukiya etc. for hearty and affordable rice bowls and curry dishes, or Marugame Seimen or Fuji Soba for cheap noodles.
▶ Timing Matters
Restaurant lunch menus are often cheaper than dinners. And remember to take advantage of daily specials!
▶ Set Meals
Teishoku (set meals) provide great value for a well-balanced meal, they are avaiable in various restaruants, and usually include a bowl of rice, miso soup, a side dish (salad, pickles etc.) and a main dish.
▶ Convenience Stores
You have surely heard about konbinis, or Japanese convenience stores like Lawson, 7Eleven, or Family Mart. They have a range of cheap ready-to-eat meals and snacks.
▶ Visit Supermarkets in the Evening
Visit supermarkets in the evening (5-7 PM) or around closing time for significant discounts on prepared meals like sushi, bento boxes, onigiri, and bakery goods. Look for stickers with 半額 (half-price), or 2割引, 3割引, (20% off, 30% off) signs.
▶ Consider Point Cards
If you’re staying in Japan for longer or planning multiple visits, consider getting point cards like Rakuten Points, T-Point, Ponta or D-Point. They can help you save a few yens here and there.
▶ Tap water and Tea
Tap water in Japan is safe to drink and restaurants serve it for free. Some places may also offer tea. Just remember it next time you’re thinking about buying a bottle of water.
▶ No tipping
Seems like everyone knows about this now, but there is no tipping culture in Japan. Good news for your eating-out budget!
Our Food expenses
Food was the second largest portion of our budget, making up about 30% of our total spendings throughout our five-month stay.
Altogether, we spent 570,000 JPY ($3,650 USD), which breaks down to roughly 3,430 JPY (about $22 USD) per day for the two of us.
Of this, about 10% was spent dining out at economical restaurants and roadside stations. The other 20% of our food budget was allocated to purchasing groceries and meals from convenience stores. And ice-cream, lots of ice-cream…
Fuel
The average cost of the 3 main fuel types in Japan are:
- regular low octane fuel: about 170 JPY/liter (1.1 USD/liter) or 4.1 USD per gallon
- premium (high octane) fuel: about 180 JYP/liter
- diesel: about 150 JYP/liter (1 USD/liter)
The cost will vary depending on the prefecture and provider. The difference can be even as high as 20 yen per liter.
How to Save Money on Fuel in Japan?
While options to save on fuel costs in Japan are limited, there are a few strategies you can employ:
▶ Point Cards
Many gas stations offer membership cards which will give you slightly lower prices. Plus, it will allow you to accumulate some loyalty points to spend later on. Some cards, such as Rakuten or T-Point, are also accepted at various shops and restaurants.
▶ Choosing Right Gas Stations
Price differences between fuel stations can be quite high, even within one small area, and some brands offer better deals. Costco has been cited as one having consistently better prices.
▶ Use fuel Price Tracker
This website allows you to find the cheapest fuel prices in specific areas. The page is in Japanese, but you can use Google Translate.
Our fuel expenses
During our five-month journey covering nearly 20,000 km (12,400 miles) across Japan, our total fuel cost for two motorcycles was 173,000 JPY (1,130 USD).
This breaks down to approximately 565 JPY per bike or 3.40 USD per day.
Our Honda CRF250L bikes, known for their efficiency, averaged about 3.3L per 100 km or 77.6 mpg, which helped keep our fuel expenses manageable.
Activities
How much do activites cost in Japan?
There is, of course, plenty to do in Japan beyond enjoying its amazing food and picturesque roads. Budget travelers will find many sightseeing activities that are free or very low cost.
These include hiking, visiting shrines, temples, castles, and museums, relaxing in hot springs, strolling through beautiful gardens, or simply getting lost in small villages and giant neon-lit cities.
Entry fees to most temples, hot springs, castles and gardens range from 2-5 USD (300-500 JPY).
How to save money on activities in Japan?
By simply choosing temple or castle visits over luxury dinners, and “must-do” experiences in popular tourist hubs, you’re already saving a lot. Here are a few additional tips:
▶ Special Passes
City or visitor passes can be a great investment, offering free or discounted entries to numerous attractions and savings on transportation costs. However, evaluate carefully to ensure you’ll make full use of them before purchasing.
▶ Festivals
Participating in local festivals (matsuri) is a fantastic way to experience Japanese culture at no cost. You can enjoy variety of things from traditional music, dances, special performances and, of course, food.
▶ Tourist Offices
Stop by local tourist offices to gather more information about the area’s attractions. They often offer helpful maps, coupons, and insider tips on free or discounted activities.
Our Activites expenses
We spent about 67,000 JYP ($440 USD) on activities during our 5-month trip, which highlights how accessible and affordable exploring Japan can be. We also didn’t feel like we missed out on any important experiences.
Ferries & Tolls
While road tripping around Japan, you’re likely to encounter toll roads and ferries, especially if you’re exploring multiple regions and islands. Let’s quickly discuss their costs, so you’re not taken by surprise.
Costs of Tolled Roads in Japan
Tolled highways in Japan can be prohibitively expensive, and it may be wise to avoid these if you are not in a rush. The average toll cost on an expressway (marked in green) for a standard vehicle is approximately 2,000 JPY per 100km! However, smaller toll roads, often dubbed as “Skylines” or “Lines,” are much cheaper and generally worth the cost for the views they offer.
Costs of Ferries in Japan
While all the main islands except Hokkaido are connected by tolled bridges, ferries are essential for reaching smaller islands or shortening your route. Ferry costs vary based on distance and the type of vessel.
Here are some examples of ferry costs for one rider with a 250cc motorcycle:
- Aomori to Hakodate: 7,750 JPY (50 USD)
- Hakodate to Oma: 5,000 JPY (32 USD)
- To Koshiki Island (one-way): 4,220 JPY (28 USD)
- To Yakushima (round trip): 16,900 JPY (110 USD)
- Kyushu to Shikoku: 7,280 JPY (47 USD)
- Smaller ferry trips: 1,500-3,000 JPY (10-20 USD)
How to save money on tolls and ferries?
▶ Avoid Toll EXPRESSWAYS
If you’re looking to save money and have the time, set your navigation to avoid the tolled expressways (they are marked with green signs). Smaller roads are slower, but often very scenic.
▶ Opt for Smaller Bikes
Smaller motorcycles, typically up to 250cc or 750cc, often qualify for cheaper rates on ferries, making them a more economical choice for island-hopping.
Bike Maintence
How much does bike maintence cost in Japan?
Longer motorcycle trips inevitably require some bike maintenance, and the costs will vary depending on the distance covered and the type of bike you ride.
It’s challenging to provide typical average costs for motorcycle maintenance in Japan, so here’s a breakdown of our expenses per bike during our trip:
- Oil & Oil Filter Change: 4,895 JPY
- Oil Filter Alone: 1,540 JPY
- Rear Tire (bought and fitted with new tubes): 27,000 JPY. -> This was a total rip-off for both labor and the tires themselves, plus they charged for new tubes that we didn’t need.
- Air Filter: 2,530 JPY
- Front Tire (bought and fitted, same tube): 15,290 JPY
- Chain Clean and Adjust: 3,600 JPY
In Japan, you can choose between major chain motorcycle workshops like Nirinkan, Red Baron, and Ricoland, as well as smaller, individually owned shops. While the smaller shops can potentially be cheaper, they often don’t have the time or parts to help you out on short notice.
How To Save on bike maintence in Japan?
While there aren’t many insider tips to drastically cut costs on motorcycle maintenance, a few practical strategies can still help manage expenses:
▶ DIY Maintenance
Consider doing basic maintenance like oil changes and simple repairs yourself. However, always ensure to dispose of oil and other hazardous materials responsibly.
▶ PiCK the Right Workshop
After trying out several motorcycle shop chains, we found that Nirinkan (2りんかん) offered the best combination of price and service.
▶ Check Quoted Costs
Some workshops can charge more for service on non-Japanese bikes such as Harleys. Always review your service bill to avoid unnecessary costs, such as the common but often unnecessary replacement of tubes during tire changes.
Our bike maintence costs
During 5 months, we covered about 20,000 km and the total maintenance cost (without counting the initial setup) for two Honda CRF250L was about 109,000 JPY (700 USD).
Parking
Parking in Japan can be a bit of a nightmare. While in smaller cities or the countryside, finding a free parking spot is usually not an issue, in busy urban areas, parking spots are scare and rarely free.
Parking fees vary depending on location; some places offer hourly rates, while others might cap the daily rate at about 500-800 JPY per motorbike. Hourly parking often costs around 200 JPY.
To manage these costs, consider using public transportation in larger cities, which can be more efficient and economical. It’s also worthwhile to research free or low-cost parking options in advance.
Be aware that not all accommodations provide complimentary parking. Some may only offer car parking, leaving you to find alternative parking solutions on your own.
Sim Card
Tourist SIM cards in Japan are primarily data-only and are available with different data limits and validity periods. Here are the typical costs:
- Unlimited Data (data only): 7,000-9,000 JPY for 30 days.
- 3-5 GB Data (data only): 2,000-2,500 JPY for 30 days.
There are additional options tailored to shorter stays, such as 7 or 14-day plans, as well as packages that include both data and voice calling/texting options. For more detailed information on options and providers, you can read more here.
Insurance
While it may not be the most exciting part of travel planning, insurance is a crucial expense for any traveler. This includes both travel insurance and vehicle insurance, if applicable.
TRAVEL iNSURANCE
The cost of travel insurance varies based on your destination, country of residence, trip duration, and the activities you plan to engage in. For our trip, it amounted to about 4.50 USD per day per person. We also opted for additional coverage for off-road motorcycle activities.
mOTORCYCLE iNSURANCE
If you’re bringing or buying a motorcycle in Japan, you’ll need mandatory third-party liability insurance, known as jibaiseki hoken. For motorcycles, this typically costs around 7,000-8,000 JPY for a 12-month period.
However, it’s important to note that jibaiseki hoken only covers physical injuries to third parties involved in an accident, and the coverage limits are relatively low.
Therefore, we recommend also opting for voluntary insurance, which provides more comprehensive coverage. This can include personal injuries, passenger injuries, vehicle damage, and any excess costs not covered by the mandatory insurance. For our trip, the medium-level coverage for voluntary insurance was about 50 USD per month, while the full coverage option was 75 USD per month.
Note: When renting a motorcycle in Japan, the rental will include the mandatory jibaiseki insurance and usually some level of voluntary insurance. However, it’s always wise to check exactly what is covered and to understand the details of the insurance provided. Rental motorcycles also have more expensive insurance.
Summary
So in the end, how much does it really cost to travel Japan by motorcycle? Well, while Japan may not be the cheapest country to explore (although the weak yen helps!), with the right planning and insights, you can definitely enjoy it without breaking the bank.
As detailed above, the daily costs for two people motorcycling around Japan can be quite manageable, averaging about 75 USD. It’s important to note that this figure doesn’t cover the costs of flights, insurance, and the initial purchase or rental of a motorcycle, which will depend greatly on your specific travel plans and duration of stay in Japan.
Still, this breakdown should offer a solid baseline to help you estimate the budget needed for your motorcycle adventure around Japan.
Have any questions or feel something’s missing? Drop us a comment below! We’re also eager to hear about your own cost-saving strategies.
I am planning on doing the same thing that you did(only 3 month with girlfriend), but I can’t find anything about the services you used from apex moto on their website. Also I need to know how much you guys paid for the bikes in total and if or how much you were able to sell them for. Also I want to thank you for these texts they have been incredibly helpful so far.
Hi! We’re happy to hear you found our posts helpful and what a great plan to be exploring Japan on motorbike – you will not regret it!
Best way to contact Apex regarding the purchase of a bike is via email listed on their website (sales@apexmoto.jp). As for the price – you pay the bike price (as listed in the auction, you can check on GooBike for indicative prices) + auction fee + small commission to Apex. Can’t remember the exact amount of the fees but they’re not very high, about 150 USD. Best to check directly with Apex.
You will also need mandatory insurance which is about 45 USD for 12 months for a 250cc bike + some small registration fees (no more than 40 USD).
Not sure if you’re planning on riding with one or two motorcycles, but if you’re interested there is now also an option to rent our CRFs from Apex. We don’t have all the details yet, as this is a fairly new option, but you can ask them.
If you need anything else, let us know, we’d be happy to help! And if you have any suggestions for more posts that could be helpful for people planning their bike trip to Japan, we’d be happy to include them as well!
Take care,
Aga & Yan