costco travel japan cost

Everything you need to know about Costco Travel — and why I love it for saving money

Costco isn't just the place where you can buy toilet paper in bulk, inexpensive gas, cheap hot dogs and gift cards. You can also book great trips via the company's online travel agency, Costco Travel.

I know, I know: At TPG, we're often staunchly against booking travel through third-party sites , as there can be tradeoffs versus booking directly. But in recent years, I've become a big fan of the travel deals I can find via Costco Travel.

When planning our annual beach trip back in 2022, my best friend found a few options for Mexican all-inclusive resorts on Costco Travel and shared the links with me. I promptly told her we'd probably be better off booking directly and brushed off the idea of booking through Costco — neither of us even had a membership at the time.

However, comparing the prices and benefits at a few of the resorts proved my initial reaction wrong.

I actually got a Costco membership to book the deal since the cost of the membership was less than what we'd save by booking through Costco. We saved around $300 on a three-night stay at TRS Coral near Cancun (one of TPG's best all-inclusive resorts in Cancun ), not including the free hydrotherapy spa circuit and the $241 Digital Costco Shop Card included in the package.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Madison Blancaflor (@madison_ave18)

Our stay was fantastic, and I officially became a Costco Travel convert.

If you're curious about how to use Costco Travel to find deals, here's everything you need to know about Costco Travel — and why I love it for saving money on travel.

What is Costco Travel?

All Costco members have access to the Costco Travel booking platform, where you can find and book a wide range of travel — from vacation packages to hotels, cruises and rental cars. You can even book theme park vacation packages to Disney and Universal or specialty vacations such as an African safari.

Related: Costco cruise deals: How to save money booking travel at a warehouse club

Once you log in to Costco Travel, you can search for specific dates or destinations or browse through available deals and featured destinations. I personally love perusing the limited-time deals when I know I want to plan a getaway but don't have a specific destination in mind.

Trips booked through Costco Travel are often discounted and/or include perks and benefits you may not get by booking directly or through other booking portals. Usually, a trip booked through Costco Travel will also include a Digital Costco Shop Card (essentially a type of Costco gift card) of varying value.

What travel can you book through Costco Travel?

You can book hotels, cruises, rental cars and vacation packages through Costco Travel. Vacation packages range from hotel-only offers to all-encompassing packages that include airfare, hotel stays and rental cars. You can even build your own package.

However, one thing to note is that you can't book stand-alone flights via Costco Travel. There is an option to book flights through some vacation packages, but if you're only looking for airfare, you'll want to head to Google Flights to check out your options and book.

You can book Costco Travel offers both online and by phone.

Do you have to be a Costco member to use Costco Travel?

Yes. Costco Travel is an exclusive service for Costco members.

There are two personal membership levels: Gold Star and Executive. Gold Star costs $60 per year, while an Executive membership costs $120. The basic membership will give you access to all of Costco's services, including Costco Travel, while the Executive membership also comes with a 2% reward on all Costco (and Costco Travel) purchases.

I've found that the Costco Travel deals alone are worth paying the $60 Gold Star annual membership fee, even though I don't regularly use Costco for my grocery store runs.

Check sites like Groupon for discount Costco memberships, as you can sometimes save on that rate — or get an included gift card that helps offset the cost.

Is Costo Travel worth it?

Costco Travel has its pros and cons, but there are definitely times when it's worth it.

For example, let's look at a five-night stay in Maui in early April. At the time of writing, Costco is currently offering a hotel and rental car package for Hotel Wailea, a Relais & Chateaux affiliated property and one of TPG's favorite Maui hotels .

Here's one cost comparison breakdown of Costco Travel's deal versus booking directly:

Even without including the additional benefits, you're already saving more than $400 via the Costco deal. Add in the value you get from the card, daily breakfast and resort credit (which is more than $1,000 in value if you maximize all benefits), and you're looking at $1,442.45 in savings by booking through Costco Travel versus directly.

And since Hotel Wailea isn't a member of any major hotel loyalty program, booking through Costco Travel wouldn't mean missing out on elite night credits or other loyalty program benefits.

Here's another example — this time for a Universal Orlando theme park trip from June 4-6 for one adult and two children from Houston. The total cost when booking each part (hotel, tickets and airfare) individually came to $2,701.35, while booking it as a package via Costco saved just over $300.

That's a fair amount of savings you could use for some frozen butterbeer or even a new wand inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter .

When is Costco Travel not worth it?

Not every offer on Costco is worth booking.

For one, you won't necessarily find the same availability on Costco Travel. For example, flights booked through Costco may have some seats blocked off, and certain dates for hotel stays may be unavailable. Additionally, not all rental car companies are bookable through Costco Travel (such as Hertz*, which is my preferred rental car company due to the perks I get through my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ).

Plus, some hotel stays have a minimum stay requirement. If you're on the hunt for a long weekend getaway, you may not be able to take advantage of some Costco Travel deals.

Even when you do find availability, you should always price-check what you can find by booking directly or through your credit card travel portal and hotel programs.

After booking our fantastic stay at TRS Coral just north of Cancun through Costco, I looked at booking through Costco again in 2023 when planning our annual beach vacation.

While Costco had a deal available for the same resort, we happened to be booking when the resort chain was having a Mother's Day sale for anyone booking directly. We were able to try out a new TRS resort closer to Playa Del Carmen, TRS Yucatan; we saved more than $100 on an even nicer suite than Costco Travel offered by booking directly (even when considering the Digital Shop Card we would have gotten by booking with Costco).

Something else to consider when booking hotels through Costco Travel is loyalty program rewards and elite status. There are a lot of hotels available to book through Costco Travel that are part of major loyalty programs, from Hyatt Honors to Marriott Bonvoy to IHG One Rewards and more. But booking through Costco Travel — just like booking through most other third-party services such as Expedia — means you likely won't earn loyalty rewards, elite night credits or have any elite night benefits honored.

You'll also have to use Costco customer service if you run into any issues rather than going directly to the brand. This is especially important when considering booking a vacation package that includes flights, given the higher potential for delays or cancellations.

Why I love Costco Travel

I am typically a staunch proponent of booking directly, but Costco Travel is an exception. I've found that the benefits I can get by booking some trips via Costco outweigh the cons (some of which include having to go through Costco for any customer service help or occasionally losing out on elite night credits).

Digital Costco Shop Cards

My favorite thing about booking trips through Costco Travel is the Digital Costco Shop Card I get after booking. The card's value varies from trip to trip (generally depending on how expensive the package you book), but you can get hundreds of dollars back to use at Costco.

The Digital Costco Shop Cards can be used for Costco warehouse purchases (a game changer with grocery prices so high due to inflation), but you can also use them toward future Costco Travel bookings. And remember — Costco doesn't just carry bulk grocery items. You could use a Digital Costco Shop Card to buy a new flat-screen TV for movie nights and game days, a new outdoor patio setup ahead of summer or even Costco Pharmacy prescriptions.

I admittedly don't use Costco for groceries often (buying in bulk doesn't make a lot of sense for someone who lives alone), but I have used shop cards to help pay for Christmas presents and future Costco Travel trips. I've actually been looking into using my most recent Digital Costco Shop Card on a new pair of AirPods and a new TV mount for my living room.

Deals on non-points hotel stays and all-inclusive resorts

When I'm looking at booking a hotel stay at a brand like Hyatt or Marriott, I generally choose to book directly in order to earn elite night credits and points. However, when looking at properties not part of a major loyalty program, Costco Travel is often a go-to anytime I can find a deal.

Costco Travel has a nice deals section, and I usually look there first if I'm not sold on a specific destination for a getaway. While deals found on Costco generally have a narrow booking window, I've found that many offer a lot of flexibility for the actual trip dates.

A few examples of limited-time deals for January include Hotel Wailea from the example earlier in this guide, all-inclusive resorts in Mexico's Riviera Maya, and Disney and Universal theme park packages.

Simplifying group vacations

I'm often the travel planner in my friend group (which makes sense, considering what I do for a living), but not everyone is an avid points and miles user like myself. For group trips where we're splitting the cost of hotel rooms among multiple people, it often doesn't make sense to use points and miles to book.

Costco Travel vacation packages offer a way for all of us to save money, and it makes narrowing down potential destinations and hotels easier. Rather than everyone having to spend hours researching ideas and prices from across the internet — which might be my idea of a fun Wednesday night but isn't for some of my friends — I typically just send them to Costco Travel to see if any of the featured deals catch their eye.

Having reservation information for multiple aspects of a trip, such as a hotel and rental car package, makes sharing and saving the itineraries a breeze.

Bottom line

Whether or not you currently have a Costco membership, you shouldn't dismiss Costco Travel as just another online travel agency.

If you know where to look and are willing to price-check the deals you find, you can save a lot of money with Costco Travel deals. I've personally had a lot of success booking friends getaways to popular destinations like Mexico through Costco. Using the service has helped me save on other expenses with the Digital Costco Shop Card I've gotten with my bookings.

For me, the $60 annual membership fee to Costco has been more than worth it to utilize Costco Travel.

*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through Dec. 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• How my Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi is a workhorse when it comes to cash back
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without

The Cost of Travel in Japan: My 2024 Budget Breakdown

It took me six years to get to Japan.

I didn’t think I could afford it.

Every time I seriously looked into visiting, I would wince at the high cost of the train passes, read about how the hotels were super-expensive, and then fly to Vietnam instead. Or Taiwan. Or even Australia. Japan was simply too expensive for a budget traveller, so I decided to save it for when I was rich.

With that not happening any time soon, I decided to blow my money anyway, because I wanted to go and the gushing blog posts from travel writer friends had convinced me it would be worth the splurge.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered that it really wasn’t that expensive.

I arrived in Japan fully expecting it to be the priciest country I’ve ever been to, but I discovered it’s more on a par with Western Europe or North America, and cheaper than Australia. It was way more affordable than Namibia , where my daily expenses came to $132, and way, way, way more affordable than the Democratic Republic of the Congo , where I averaged, um, $550 a day.

Anyway!  This is about the cost of travel in Japan rather than my poor financial decisions, so let’s get started!

My 16-Day Japan Itinerary

Here’s a brief rundown of where I visited over my 16 days in the country — I think I managed to put together the perfect itinerary for first-time travellers to Japan .

Tokyo:  4 nights Hakone: 1 night Yudanaka: 1 night Kanazawa: 2 nights Takayama: 1 night Kyoto: 3 nights Hiroshima: 1 night Osaka: 3 nights

What’s Included in this Post

This budget breakdown covers how much I spent on accommodation, transportation, activities, food, and whichever miscellaneous items popped up while I was in country.

I’ve not included my flights into and out of Japan because this is going to vary significantly based on where you’ll be arriving from. In case you’re interested, though, I paid $320  for a return flight from Rome to Tokyo, which I scored through browsing my favourite site for flight bargains,  Secret Flying . 

The amounts in this guide are listed in Japanese Yen and U.S. dollars, simply because the vast majority of my readers are from the U.S. And finally, these are the three rules I always abide by on this site:

• I do not accept sponsored trips, so everything listed in this post is something I personally paid for with my own money
• I travel anonymously to ensure my experiences accurately reflect what yours will be. I don’t want special treatment!
• Every single word of this article was written by me, based on all of my own experiences. I strictly do not use AI to compose my guides.

Okay — let’s get started with my expenses.

The Cheapest Accommodation Options in Japan

Like practically every country in the world, prices in Japan have increased post-pandemic.

In 2024, you’ll be paying a little more for everything than you would have done a few years ago — in fact, prices almost doubled between my first trip in 2017 and today! — however costs are still on a par with most Western countries. Travel in Japan shouldn’t be too devastating to your travel budget.

I’ll start on the lower end of the spectrum. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, it’s possible to avoid paying for accommodation entirely.

Couchsurfing  exists in Japan and allows you to stay with a local for free , usually sleeping on their sofa and enjoying a local’s insight into life in their country. Yeah, it’s not the most comfortable of living situations, but if your budget’s tight, it’s worth sending out a few requests to hosts to see if anything comes of it. You can browse through the 300,000+ Japanese hosts on  the Couchsurfing site — just be sure to read the references of anybody you choose to stay with.

Housesitting  is a more upmarket option, aimed at mid-range and luxury travellers. Housesitting involves taking care of somebody’s house for free while they’re away, often (but not always) looking after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees, as you can’t pick and choose dates and destinations, so you’ll need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year. If you  do  have that freedom, though, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while.  Trusted Housesitters  is the main site for getting started with housesitting, as they have the highest number of listings.

Finally, when it comes to free accommodation, you could take a look at  WorldPackers in Japan , where you’ll be able to volunteer for locals in exchange for food and board. There are some seriously cool options available on the site right now, from helping harvest honey for a bee farm in the countryside to lending a hand in the garden of a Buddhist temple. Readers of this site get a $10 discount for WorldPackers with the promo code  neverendingfootsteps .

If you’re not looking to travel for free and just want a clean and comfortable room to sleep in, there are plenty of great budget options, too.

And then we have  hostels . In Japan, you’ll come across hostels all over the country, finding them on tiny islands, large cities, and even within the national parks. They’re one of your best options for saving money.

Hostels in Japan  are on a par with the rest of major cities in East Asia, and you can expect to spend  $25 a night for a dorm bed  for a well-reviewed hostel, with the price increasing slightly to around  $45 a night  for the absolute best of the best.

When it comes to private rooms in hostels, you’ll be looking at  $50 a night  for a clean, basic room in a good location, so if you’re travelling with friends or with your partner, you may find it cheaper to grab some privacy over settling for two beds in a dorm room.  $90 a night  will get you an exceptionally well-reviewed private room in a hostel.

I use  HostelWorld  to find the cheapest hostels, as they tend to have the greatest number of listings at the lowest prices.

And then there are hotels, which I’m going to jump into next.

The Cost of Accommodation in Japan

There are so many different types of accommodation in Japan! I attempted to experience as many as possible while I was in the country.

I stayed in a capsule hotel, prioritised hunting down a ryokan, slept on a tatami mat floor, stayed in family-run guesthouses, and checked out some pretty cool hostels. While I did attempt to save money by staying in some cheaper places, I was also happy to splurge on extremely well-rated rooms, too.

As always with these budget breakdowns, I like to share the prices of where I personally stayed, along with a description of the property and whether I’d recommend choosing it, too — hopefully this helps make your trip planning easier!

I visited Japan with my partner, Dave, and we travelled on a mid-range budget; searching out good value accommodation that was highly-rated and in a central location. We prioritised locally-run properties that weren’t too flashy or fancy; for us, a cosy vibe, unique furnishings, and welcoming staff are far more important than the generic decor of a hotel chain.

(Oh and just a quick note: hotels do charge different prices across a range of dates, depending on how busy a certain travel period is going to be. Because of this, it’s hard to be super accurate in the costs that I list. To get to the quoted prices below, though, I looked at the rates across the next six months and took the average: it could be slightly cheaper or more expensive, depending on when you’re visiting.)

Tokyo: $135 a night Odds are, you’re probably going to kick off your Japan adventures in Tokyo, and if so, it only makes sense to really throw yourself into the local experience. That’s why we decided to stay at this lovely onsen-ryokan in Shinjuku. (Whenever readers ask me which neighbourhood to choose in Tokyo, I always recommend Shinjuku or Shibuya.) The reason why I loved this specific property, though, is because it’s a ryokan (traditional Japanese Inn) that also has an onsen (hot pool). It’s a great way to jump immediately into all things Japanese.

And it was wonderful; my favourite hotel in the country. The rooms were small and cosy and felt super-traditional and calming. The views over Tokyo at night from the window were incredible. And the rooftop onsen? With free popsicles afterwards? So good. It’s located in a quieter neighbourhood, but still only a 10-minute walk to the subway. I really recommend this one!

Hakone: $80 a night In Hakone, we opted for a private room in a lovely guesthouse , with a tatami mat floor to sleep on and a private onsen on-site. The photo of the tatami mat room above is of our room here. It ended up being another one of our favourite stays in Japan! The staff were lovely and there was a restaurant/bar that served up fantastic pizzas. It had a cosy and chilled-out atmosphere, with great food and wine, and lots of blankets to snuggle up with as we ate. It was also worth staying here just to experience the private onsen — we got to go in as a couple!

Yudanaka: $105 per night In Yudanaka, we opted for a stay in a wonderful little ryokan ; this one was even more traditional than the one in Tokyo! Often, ryokans can be super-expensive in Japan — as much as $500 a night for the experience — so I was thrilled to have stumbled across a more budget option in Yudanaka. It was run by an adorable Japanese couple and their house came with a private onsen, return transport to see  the snow monkeys , and one of the most extravagant meals of my life. A kaiseki is a multi-course (like, 20 courses) meal that will see you eating roughly a week’s worth of food in a single night, sampling fresh, local-to-the-region Japanese cuisine. It was phenomenal, and I loved having no idea what anything was. It even included homemade plum wine, which was so good! I highly recommend the experience (although strongly advise you not to add breakfast to your booking — we were still so full that we couldn’t eat any of it!)

Kanazawa: $65 per night Kanazawa is home to some seriously cool accommodation! We had a hard time choosing where to stay because every property looked so cosy and inviting. In the end, we settled on this minimalist, modern set-up — it was great value for money relative to most other places we stayed in Japan, especially when you consider it’s only been open a year. It’s in a great location, right outside Omicho Market, where you’ll sample the best sushi of your life. Also within walking distance is Kanazawa Castle and Kenroku-en Garden, so you’re really staying in the heart of it all. I recommend signing up for the traditional Japanese breakfast, as you’ll likely not have had anything else like it before! There’s also an onsen and laundry facilities (always appreciated mid-trip!), and the staff were so sweet and kind.

Takayama: $76 per night In Takayama, we stayed in a small, locally-run guesthouse  in the centre of town. It felt like particularly good value for Japan, as it was one of the few places we stayed that you could describe as spacious! It even had a kitchen and washing machine. The beds were comfortable and the hotel was within walking distance of everywhere, including the train station. It was quiet, the staff were lovely, and overall, it made for a comfortable stay!

Kyoto: $84 a night In Kyoto, we stayed in a cosy hotel in the heart of town — we loved this place so much in 2017 that when we returned to Japan this year, we knew we’d have to stay there again! The property was in a fantastic location for exploring Kyoto and the bathrooms were nicer than anywhere else we stayed. It’s one of the top-rated guesthouses in the city — while also being one of the cheapest — so when you take that into consideration, I’m convinced you won’t find anywhere better to stay in Kyoto.

Hiroshima: $40 per bed In Hiroshima, we opted for a capsule-style hostel because I didn’t want to leave the country without trying one — you can see a photo of the “capsule” at the top of this section. Fortunately, we found ourselves in a room with only two other people staying there, so our capsule room with 20-odd beds was light on snorers. The owner of this place was ridiculously lovely and it was within walking distance of all of the monuments and activities. Really great bathrooms, a fun common area, and a cheap price: surprisingly, I would have stayed another night!

Osaka: $108 a night I rounded off my time in Japan with a little bit of a treat, opting for this four-star hotel that offered a ton of freebies. It’s all about the onsen here — it’s open all day and is simply beautiful. After you’ve finished your daily bathe, there’s free ice cream to eat, free comics to read, massage chairs to relax in, and even free ramen to slurp on. Yes, really! It was in a great location for Osaka — just a couple of blocks from the nearest metro station. The decor was calming and traditional; the perfect way to say goodbye to Japan.

In total, I spent an average of $97 per day on accommodation over my 16 days in Japan.

The Cost of Transportation in Japan

Okay, so let’s talk about transportation now. And specifically transportation post-2024.

It used to be the case that practically every visitor to Japan would invest in a JR pass (a train pass that grants you unlimited rides over a certain time period). After all, the best way to explore this country is by train, and by buying said rail pass, you’d be saving a significant amount of money on your trip — especially if you were taking a similar route to my one. A JR Pass pre-October 2023 would have saved me a whopping $175 over buying individual train tickets.

Seems like a no brainer, right?

In October 2023, the Japan Rail Pass skyrocketed in price. No exaggeration here: prices increased by an incredible 70% .

What a baffling decision.

What that means is that it’s not such a clear-cut decision anymore. The Japan Rail Pass still holds some benefits: If you’re a first-time visitor to Japan and don’t feel too confident about buying multiple single-journey train tickets, the pass will make it a lot easier: you just show it at any station and get on a train. You won’t need to worry about any extra charges and will have the flexibility to take train-based day trips whenever you want.

For most travellers, however, the value proposition is simply no longer there. For example, my recent 16-day itinerary (Tokyo – Hakone – Tokyo – Nagano – Kanazawa – Takayama – Kyoto – Nara – Kyoto – Hiroshima – Osaka) cost me 50,000 Yen ( $350 ) with single tickets. However, a 14 day rail pass is priced at 80,000 Yen ( $530 )!

Alas, the Japan Rail Pass is no longer something I recommend — unless you’re going to be taking enormous, lengthy rail journeys (like across the whole country) in a short period of time. Alternatively, if you do want that added sense of security and ease by not having to juggle a dozen train ticket bookings, you may find the extra price worth it.

So with all that being said: you’re most likely going to be using the JR West website to book your single train tickets online. This covers the entirety of Japan that’s west of Tokyo (all of the places I visited were west) and allows you to book your train tickets all in one place — and then you can reserve a seat on said train one month before its departure date. Honestly, it’s pretty easy to use, book, and reserve — and being able to do it all online means you can get everything sorted before you step foot in the country.

Let’s take a look at the some of the prices that a typical train journey in Japan costs — in this case I’ll use my itinerary mentioned above to plot out the costs:

Tokyo – Hakone: 2,500 Yen ( $17 ) Hakone – Tokyo: 2,500 Yen ( $17 ) Tokyo – Nagano: 7,500 Yen ( $50 ) Nagano – Kanazawa: 8,500 Yen ( $57 ) Kanazawa – Takayama: 5,000 Yen ( $33 ) Takayama – Kyoto: 9,000 Yen ( $60 ) Kyoto – Nara: 700 Yen ( $5 ) Nara – Kyoto: 700 Yen ( $5 ) Kyoto – Hiroshima: 10,500 Yen ( $70 ) Hiroshima – Osaka: 10,000 Yen ( $67 )

So if you were to replicate my Japan route exactly, you would end up spending $381 on rail tickets. It sounds like a lot of money but I do want to stress that the trains in Japan are some of the best in the world. They’re spotless, comfortable, modern, and lightning-fast. You will feel like you’re travelling in luxury.

If you’re not down to spend hundreds of dollars on trains, then the buses are going to be your best option. They’re cheaper, slower, less comfortable, often run overnight, and are complicated to book. The best sites I’ve found for booking long-distance buses is Willer Express and Japan Bus Online — but even they don’t run buses for several of the routes I took on my trip.

I thought it would be a good idea to share the cost of buses for the trip I took, so that you can compare them to the train and see how much money you could save.

Tokyo – Hakone: 2,250 Yen ( $15 ) Hakone – Tokyo: 1,800 Yen ( $12 ) Tokyo – Nagano: 2,200 Yen ( $15 ) Nagano – Kanazawa: No bus for this route Kanazawa – Takayama: 3,300 Yen ( $22 ) Takayama – Kyoto: 3,800 Yen ( $25 ) Kyoto – Nara: No bus for this route Nara – Kyoto: No bus for this route Kyoto – Hiroshima: 4,300 Yen ( $29 ) Hiroshima – Osaka: 4,000 Yen ( $27 )

As you can, see prices are generally around half what they are for the trains. You’d be looking at paying $212 in total for taking the bus, with three trains replacing the routes where I couldn’t find any existing buses.

We’ve covered the main ways to get in between the destinations, so now it’s time to take a look at how much you could spend on transportation within the cities.

Fortunately, this was where I found Japan to be really affordable. I love to explore cities on foot and I found many of the places I visited to be surprisingly walkable. In total, I spent $6 on the metro in Tokyo, $7 on the metro in Osaka, and $2 on the metro in Kyoto! Everywhere else, I just walked.

A reasonably big expense was our Hakone Free Pass (spoiler: not free), although this was more of a combined transportation and activity cost. At a cost of 6,100 Yen, or $41 , It provides you with unlimited transport around Hakone (where you’ll find Mount Fuji), and discounted entrance to all the attractions in town. If you’re going to Hakone, this will save you money because it covers everything you’ll definitely do there.

The Cost of Food in Japan

If you love Japanese food but have yet to travel to its homeland, you have such a treat in store for you. The food in this country is phenomenal; packed full of flavour and surprisingly inexpensive. It’s true: eating out is the easiest way for you to cut costs in Japan.

In fact, the vast majority of my meals in this country came to less than ¥1000 ($6.50) .

I’ll start first by breaking down the typical costs that you can expect to spend on the most well-known of Japanese dishes. Then, I’ll cover what you’ll be likely to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with the costs associated with each of these meals. Finally, I’ll round out the section off by sharing some of my favourite food experiences in the country and describe which options are worth a splurge and which ones you can happily skip.

You can’t think of Japan without picturing sushi, so that feels like the most logical place to start. If you eat fish, this is going to be such a revelation for you! The sushi and sashimi in Japan is better than any I’ve had in the world and it was here that I finally understood how raw fish could ever be described as buttery.

To combine your sushi/sashimi-eating with a cultural experience, head to Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo or Omicho Market in Kanazawa. For a bowl filled with a selection of sashimi, like in my photo above, you’ll pay between ¥1,800 and ¥4,000 , depending on the size and quality of the fish. That’s the equivalent of $12-$25 .

Slurping on a steaming bowl of ramen is my personal definition of a true travel joy, so I opted for this cheap and cheerful dish most evenings as a way to save money. Note: the ramen in Japan is incredible , so don’t interpret my frugality as a hardship. Once you’ve tried the ramen here, I’d be surprised if you didn’t immediately start planning a return visit.

One of my favourite aspects of ordering ramen in Japan is how you’re given the option to customise the dish to your own tastes. It’s not uncommon to be handed a small slip of paper where you’ll get to mark down all of your preferences. Do you want your broth to be rich or light? Your noodles to be firm or soft? Added spiciness or none at all? Extra spring onion? A hard- or soft-boiled egg? Most options come out to ¥1000 ($6.50) for a bowl of pork ramen.

Speaking of cheap and delicious food options, I highly recommend sampling a couple of versions of okonomiyaki while you’re in town. This savoury pancake dish is so delicious, extremely filling, and inexpensive at just ¥1000 ($6.50) – ¥1500 ($10) . The cities of Osaka and Hiroshima each offer up their very own version of okonomiyaki and strong opinions are held by many over which is best! If you’ll be heading to both destinations, make sure you try one of each and let me know which is your favourite.

A dish that I tried for the first time while I was in Japan was Japanese curry and what a wonderful experience that turned out to be! In comparison to Indian curries, I found the Japanese version to be richer, sweeter, and less creamy, with plenty of umami vibes. Once more, you can expect to pay ¥1000 ($6.50) for a plate of katsu (pork cutlet) curry.

One of the most delightful aspects of my Japanese eating experiences was sampling all of the different snacks in the country.

Street snacks like takoyaki were  ¥500 ($4.50) . We splurged on our kaiseki experience at our guesthouse in Yudanaka and paid ¥4000 ($36) for our food extravaganza. It’s a budget option compared to many other kaisekis, which can easily come to $100 for the experience, but still our most expensive meal. Another splurge was on sushi in Kanazawa, which I paid  ¥2000 ($18) for.

Whether you’re on a budget or ready to splurge, it’s essentially impossible to eat badly in Japan. If you’re on a really tight budget, you can even get surprisingly decent food from 7-Eleven !

My total cost of food in Japan averaged out to $23.20 per day.

The Cost of Activities and Entrance Fees in Japan

Activities and entrance fees in Japan were very reasonably priced, and I never found myself outraged over the cost of anything. You’ll typically pay less than $5 to enter most temples, museums, and gardens.

Here’s how I spread my cash around:

Entrance fee for the hedgehog cafe in Tokyo: $13/1400¥ Entrance to the Snow Monkey Park : $7/800¥ Entrance to Kenroku-en gardens in Kanazawa: $3/310¥ Entry to the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto: $3/300¥ Entry to Ryoan-ji zen garden in Kyoto: $5/500¥ Ticket for the Hiroshima Peace Memorial: $2/200¥

My total cost of activities in Japan averaged out to $2 a day.

Miscellaneous Expenses in Japan

A local SIM card: $14

I mentioned above that I was able to buy a local SIM card when I purchased my rail pass. If you aren’t going to be using a rail pass in Japan, I recommend taking a look at Airalo instead. Airalo is a company that sells local e-SIM cards for travellers. What that means is that you can buy a virtual SIM card online before you arrive in Japan, and then as soon as you land in the country, can switch on your data and start using it.

It’s worked flawlessly for me and I’ll never go back to physical SIM cards. It’s just so easy! You’ll pay  $6 for 1 GB of data  or $14 for 3 GB for Japan and can also top-up through the Airalo app.

If you’re going down the Airalo route, just make sure your phone is e-SIM compatible first (all recent iPhones and many Androids are).

Insight Guides guidebook to Japan: $10 

My sister bought me  this guidebook as a gift before I left for Japan and at first I was like, Insight Guides? Meh. I wish she’d got me the Lonely Planet instead. Then when I opened it up and started reading, I swiftly discovered that Insight Guides are my new favourite guidebook company. It was so, so useful!

What I love about Insight is that their books focus heavily on the history and culture of Japan, with big, beautiful pictures, tons of information about local customs, food, and how to travel responsibly and respectfully. I recommend picking up a copy before your trip to Japan, but not taking it to the country with you — they’re big and heavy, so this is one for inspiration, planning, and education. 

Luggage storage at Snow Monkey Park near Yudanaka: ¥500 ($4.50)

We had our backpacks with us when we visited the snow monkeys, so utilised the on-site storage facility while we hiked up the mountain in the snow. You can also hire snow shoes and winter gear if you’re unprepared for the climb, but I was fine in my totally impractical sneakers. 

Travel insurance for 16 days in Japan: $60

If you’ve read any other posts on Never Ending Footsteps, you’ll know that I’m a great believer in travelling with travel insurance. I’ve seen far too many Go Fund Me campaigns from destitute backpackers that are unexpectedly stranded in a foreign country after a scooter accident/being attacked/breaking a leg with no way of getting home or paying for their healthcare. These costs can quickly land you with a six-figure bill to pay at the end of it.

In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.

Travel insurance  will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died and you need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.

I use  SafetyWing  as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to the Japan. Firstly, they’re one of the few companies out there who will actually cover you if you contract COVID-19. On top of that, they provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. If you’re on a long-term trip, you can pay monthly instead of up-front, and can cancel at any time. Finally, they’re more affordable than the competition, and have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated.

With SafetyWing, you’ll pay  $1.50 a day  for travel insurance.

How I Track My Expenses While I Travel

Every time I share my expenses, you guys always want to know how on earth I manage to keep track of so many details from my travels!

Because Never Ending Footsteps is my company, the vast majority of my travel expenses are business expenses. I therefore studiously record everything I spend everywhere I go. I take photos of every receipt I receive and use Xero accounting software to record these expenses. In cases where I can’t get a receipt, I’ll take a photo of the price list and my ticket or food, or something as evidence.

Once a week, I then sit down and spend an hour or so uploading my receipts to Xero and making note of every penny I spent in each country I visit. It makes writing these posts super easy!

How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Japan?

It’s time to tally up all of my expenses to see my total travel costs!

Accommodation:  $97 per day Transportation:  $27 per day Food:  $23 per day Activities/Entrance Fees:  $2 per day Miscellaneous:  $2 per day

Average amount spent in Japan: $151 a day!

I don’t know about you, but given Japan’s pricey reputation, I’m fairly impressed with the amount I spent in the country, especially as I included quite a few splurges in there.

How about you? How expensive were you expecting a trip to Japan to be?

Related Articles on Japan 🇯🇵 What’s it Like to Travel in Japan? 🏯 How to Spend Two Weeks in Japan: An Itinerary for First-Time Visitors 🍣 15 Weird and Wonderful Things to Eat in Japan 🎌 23 Incredible Things to Do in Osaka, Japan 🗼 21 Spectacular Things to Do in Tokyo, Japan 😎 Hipster Harajuku: The Coolest Neighbourhood in Tokyo 🦔 Should You Go to a Hedgehog Cafe? My Experience in Japan 🐒 Why Seeing the Snow Monkeys in Japan Sucked

Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is a published author and travel expert who founded Never Ending Footsteps in 2011. She has spent over 12 years travelling the world, sharing in-depth advice from more than 100 countries across six continents. Lauren's travel advice has been featured in publications like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan, and her work is read by 200,000 readers each month. Her travel memoir can be found in bookstores across the planet.

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106 comments.

Wow! that’s amazing. I especially got fascinated seeing the capsule hotel…must have been a unique experience.

It was surprisingly cosy! I would totally stay in one again.

Thank you so much for your information. We will go to Japan in October 2023 for 1 month. Have paid fully for 16 days. Using your guides to budget the remaining 2 weeks. Thanks again.

This is great! Do you think it would be much more expensive in summer or any of the peak holiday seasons? I’m going over July this year and wondering if the prices change much with the seasons.

Wow! That’s quite an eye-opener! I’ve wanted to visit Japan for years, and this has certainly nudged me a little closer, as I assumed it was expensive too. The costs seem much better than I found in Amsterdam this spring! (my boyfriend still gets a thousand-yard stare when I mention how much we paid for drinks in one bar.)

Yay! Yeah, it really did feel about the same price as Western Europe, if not cheaper. The transportation is more expensive, but the food was cheaper in Japan.

This is super awesome! I, too, was under the impression that Japan was a super expensive place to visit! Good to know that you can save so much on accommodation and activities! Are you going to be posting about food in Japan? My knowledge of what to eat there is very minimal…

Yes! I published a guide to my favourite things to eat in the country last week: https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/best-food-japan/

Ditto for here in New Zealand Lauren. All said it would be expensive. But we house sat – rent-free – and saw that food and travel are on par or cheaper than New Jersey. We also saw that virtually all things are cheaper than folks said. Methinks many labeling Japan and NZ as expensive as can be are used to paying $1 for lunch in Chiang Mai LOL. Budget folks see all Western lands as expensive. Granted I am from NJ; living by NYC makes for a high cost of living. But not bad at all, living in these lands.

Yeah, definitely true. I know that when I wrote off Japan as being too expensive, it was in the early days of my travels, when I could only afford to live in Southeast Asia!

Loving the posts about Japan so far. Do you have many more articles planned? I’ve a trip booked in November and this has been the most useful of the blogs so far for help in planning – thank you. Although I’ve had to cut the hedgehog cafe off my plans after reading your article as I hadn’t quite considered the ethics enough!

Yes! So many. I’ll probably post another half a dozen or more over the next few weeks :-)

I always assumed Japan to be very expensive. Thanks to your blog I don’t anymore. Cheers!

This is all very useful info! I’m impressed with your budgeting skills. Awesome, Thanks for sharing this!

Ha! Thank you :-) It comes naturally (finally) after seven years of doing this.

Great article. I’m planning a visit for early 2025 to go with my grandson … was the budget breakdown for one person or a couple … because you mentioned going with your partner?

The accommodation prices are the total cost of the room (rather than just my share), while the transportation, food, and activities are all my share of the costs.

Fantastic article. Love your budget posts because you never leave anything out.

I try not to! Thanks so much :-)

Beautiful photos, Japan look amazing and thank you for sharing your budget tips as well. :)

No problem! :-)

Thank you so much for this! I’m going to Japan in September and I’ve been worrying about my budget. This has definitely put my mind at rest!

Yay! Happy to hear that :-)

I’m so happy that you have posted so much lately, you’re my favourite travel blog and I check this page a lot more often now that the pace of the posts has increased :)

Thank you! :-) I’m aiming to stick to a three-times-a-week posting schedule now that I have a base and more time to dedicate to writing.

This is so much cheaper than I expected. Do you have any idea about prices for solo travellers though? Would I have to pay for a double room most of the time (apart from dorm beds of course)?

No, lots of hotels and guesthouses have single rooms, so you wouldn’t need to pay out for two people very often, if at all.

Thanks, that’s good to know!

Very useful breakdown that would be very helpful for first-timers to Japan.

Just to share, one of my own major expenditure in JP is … vending machine contribution! I simply can’t resist them and can end up buying seven times a day. “P

Yes! I couldn’t believe how many vending machines there were in the country, as well as the variety of things you could buy from them.

Hello! This is a very timely article for me to read as I’m actually going to visit Japan for a week on September. I really love Japan’s culture and their people. There are a lot of places that I want to visit and a lot of things I want to do but I am on a strict budget. Hopefully, your article would be able to help me fix my budgeting for my trip to Japan.

I hope so! I really didn’t find it horrendously expensive, so I think you’ll be surprised by how much you can do there for free.

I love your budget posts because they give me such a good idea of how much I can expect to spend in places around the world. Are you thinking of doing them for everywhere you visit?

That’s my plan! I’m slowly working my way through my records and adding more and more to the site.

Hey, thanks so much! :-)

I’ve planed to visit Japan next year, Thank you for sharing your budget, I’ll try to not exceed 100$/day, following your information on this post.

Have a fantastic trip, Ingrid! :-)

Which month you visited Japan? I am thinking for Cherry blossom (April 2019) and everything is coming up too expensive. Are those above for cherry blossom season you visited?

Ah yeah, unfortunately, the cherry blossom season is the most expensive time of year to visit Japan. I was there in December, so prices will be higher than the ones mentioned in this post. I’ll add that detail to my post now!

I was under the impression that Japan was a super expensive place to visit! Good to know that you can save so much on accommodation and activities! This article includes all the places you can visit in Japan and their expenses. It is very educative and it can be improved by providing expenses in INR. Thank you for posting this useful information.

Thank you! I usually just price these articles in the local currency and USD, which is where the vast majority of my readers are located. If I started including currencies for everyone, the post would quickly get ridiculous :-)

Seems a dumb question, but I’m assuming all the values are in USD, is it correct?

Yep! I write at the start of the post: “The amounts in this guide are listed in Japanese Yen and U.S. dollars, simply because the vast majority of my readers are from the U.S.”

That is a very good breakdown cost analysis there. i am planning to go to japan as well with my wife. and planning to stay for 10 days only. 4 in tokyo 3 in kyoto and 3 in osaka. i like to idea of 100 aud / day it’s a good target to keep but i guess the expense on buying cloths and souvenir would be uncontrollable though i heard things in japanese is not that dear if you know where to shop and avoid tourist trap. i didn’t see you mention buying internet data in advance ? or i missed it somewhere. i guess the expense for a couple will be double up. but i guess 3000 aud for 2 people is unavoidable.

amazing detailed guide

You’re welcome!

I’m so glad I found your website! I love the detail and photos. I just booked a trip to Japan with my boyfriend for this upcoming October, and your site will be very helpful. Question: do most hostels and accommodations that you experienced have you sleeping solo? I’m wondering if I should expect to sleep in a separate area than my partner for most of the trip…

Hi Lauren, Thanks for such a detailed description of your time in Japan! I’m going to Japan October this year with my wife and my major concern is how you managed to book sleeping pods for you and your boyfriend as almost all accommodations are either “male only” or “female only” from the options I’ve seen so far. Did you have to get separate beds for those nights?

Yeah, the capsule hotel-style accommodation is all single beds. You can see in my photo in this post that there’s not much room for anybody else!

My wife and I are heading to Japan in mid May and I plan to use your itinerary.

Would it be possible for you to write something about the travel logistics if you can remember them – ie to get from Tokyo to Mt Fuji we booked the following train, leaving at…from the following platform which took X hours and arrived at Mt Fuji at. We then bought our day pass from….and ……..

This would be really helpful to me and other independent travellers – from where did you buy your JR pass and how did you book your individual train rides?

Cheers Paul

Oh, man. That would take me hours and hours to put together and I’m sure times and platforms change so it would be impossible for me to keep the information up-to-date and accurate.

I recommend downloading the mobile app Hyperdia — you can plan your train travel out using that. Just enter in your destinations and it will tell you which train to take and from which platform. Super easy to use! :-)

The site I used to buy the JR Pass is this one . I booked the other train tickets in person at the stations when I arrived — there weren’t many that weren’t covered by the rail pass. Just the small regional ones to get to and from Yudanaka, I think.

Hello Lauren, I love the details in your blog. Your expenses were for 1 or 2 people?

I cover that at the start of the blog post: “And finally, these are the expenses I paid while travelling with my boyfriend. That means that accommodation prices (with the exception of the dorm bed in Hiroshima) have been halved to indicate my share.”

Great super helpful article. THANK YOU!

Hi Lauren, Thanks so much for this article, it is so helpful!!! on which dates did you fly to japan? what dates are you recommending on?

I spent the first two weeks of December in Japan. I’d recommend looking at May or September as the best months to travel there.

Hi Lauren I’d love your advice. I’m traveling with my 22yr old daughter to celebrate her graduation and my birthday. I booked the first two nights a hotel in Tokyo and then figured we would VRBO or Airbnb but after reading your post it looks like things have changed. I love the idea of the capsule hotels and the standard tatami mat rooms look enchanting. So how do I search for either? We’d like to experience both for the trip. oh by the way, I’m a traveler too, let me know where in the world are you now. Perhaps we can meet up and collaborate, I do video production, just got back from Colorado and am going to Cancun in June.looking forward to hearing back from you, Peace and Love always, “L” oh let’s connect on IG

Just book them through Booking.com — no need to go to any specific site. I’m in Bristol, in the UK. I actually don’t have an Instagram account — it wasn’t doing good things for my mental health, so I deleted it :-)

G’day Lauren,

Loved your detailed description of your travels through Japan. However; I’m not so brave as you travelling around on my own, especially with the language problem. I am a single traveler from Bangalore, India and would love to spend 7-8 days in Japan, with my journey starting and ending in Tokyo, reasonably priced hotels or local hostels, but preferably single accommodation, if possible. (willing to pay extra).

I love train travel and Japan is one of the best places to do that..your take on that would be appreciated. If you feel, I meet your requirements, would love to get an itinerary and costing for my 7-8 day stay in Japan.

Hello! I am really curious on how you got a 14 days pass JR for only 420$, from where I am from (Canada) it is 567!

If you click the link in the post, you can buy it through there. It’s currently listed for 414 USD.

$95/day seems cheaper than what I had expected – is that a tight budget? What can you do more with $150/day? I’d prefer to spend that extra on living in nice hotels + do more activities. Does that seem possible with $150/day?

No, not really. It was a mid-range budget and all of the hotels we stayed in were nice — I made zero effort to stick to a tight budget.

Hope you’re well. I’m wondering if you still advise from not booking Airbnb for Tokyo? Thanks.

Until moments ago, I had always assumed Japan to be too expensive to even consider. Never thought the cost of activities and entrance fees would be so cheap. This is an encouraging article, thanks, Lauren!

Really remarkable post, Lauren. Extremely thorough and helpful. I’m looking to plan a trip to Japan soon and stumbled across your blog. As you clearly hoped from city-to-city, (this may be a silly question) what did you do with your luggage on a day-to-day basis?

Thanks for any insight.

Oh, just left it in my hotels. If I spent less than a full day somewhere, it was visited as a day trip, so I didn’t take my luggage with me. And then whenever I arrived somewhere, I’d time my arrival with the check-in time of the hotel, drop my bags first, then head out exploring.

great article! As I have said in the past you always put out great stuff that’s very valuable information.

I just came across your website when searching for trips for Japan for my son. I have to say I am really so happy and want to thank you so much for the information. My eldest son has been taking Japan as a language course for the last 3 years and was looking forward to trying to get into the high school Japan trip in end of july beginning of August 2020. He also wanted to go to TUJ(Temple University Japan).

However, because of the olympics the high school Japan trip has been canceled for 2020. Unfortunately, he will be a senior next year so the 2021 high school program will not be available for him. Plus going to olympics are so expensive. If you can give me any advice, I would greatly appreciate. Thank you so much in advance for your time!!!

What advice do you need? About what?

Hi Lauren, I really liked you post and I think is really helpful. When exactly did you go in Japan? We have to change our plans for next February (previous planned for Philippines but to risky for my wife pregnancy) and we consider to go in Japan instead. So, do you think it is good idea travelling in Japan in February? Thank you and advance.

I went during the first half of December. As long as you keep in mind that it’ll be pretty cold (5-10 celsius), I think it’s a great time of year, as it won’t be as crowded as peak season.

is it favorable to use credit card or cash is much preferred? thanks

Hi. Thank you for the information! I am so inspired to go to Japan now. My mom who was from Japan, always told me it’s too expensive to go back and visit. I am now 56 and it has been my lifelong dream to go. My husband and I will go with backpacks like we did when we were younger and before having kids. Is October a good time to go? I read September can be humid. I want to follow your itinerary for the most part. My mom lived in Kanazawa. My heart is full right now and my eyes are misty. Thank you for making my dream a little bit closer.

Hey Lauren!

Thank you so much for the information. I actually got invited on a delegation to go to Japan this evening and am trying to get the average cost to travel in the country. Obviously, your trip was on a very impressive budget. I have two questions, 1. Based on the $95/day over the course of your 16-day trip, would it be right to say that (flight included) you only paid ~$1,600 for your entire trip? 2. Would you say for a trip including cultural experiences, transportation and stays in nice hotels for a week, a grand total of $3,700 is reasonable?

In advance, I appreciate your advice on this!

Hi Lauren, Are you able to name all the accomodations you stayed with? I would like to visit Japan next year on a very tight budget. Thanks.

Yes, they’re already linked in the post along with the reviews of them under the accommodation section.

Hi Lauren. I’m debating spending 5 nights in Osaka and doing day trips to kyoto, nara and himeji castle. (I have hotel points where i can stay at osaka). Based on your experience – is that ok? or is better to stay 2 nights in Osaka and 3 nights in kyoto. There is a lot of different opinions online, thought id ask you if you think i’d be missing out on anything if staying in osaka. The one plus is i can save some money if using points and also staying in 1 location for 5 nights vs packing and moving to another location. Thanks so much for your posts!

Hey i found this really helpful but I’ve been planning to visit japan for a while and have hopes of going after i graduate high school. With some research i found that the JR pass isn’t needed if you’re just staying in one city. How much do you think i would spend on transportation for 2 weeks in Tokyo? Will it come out to more than what you spent or less?

Definitely less! You can walk to a lot of places, but otherwise the metro won’t cost much at all — a dollar or two per trip.

Would you be able to give recommendations for food places in Kyoto that are affordable.

Hi Lauren. Came across your site on a Google search for budget travel. It convinced e that a trip to Japan is affordable. Never have done international travel and would like your advice on a couple of things. 1. What is the best way to pack? Do I have to just use a back pack? 2. Can I use a credit card or should cash be used? 3. Can I get cell phone coverage in Japan.

Thanks, you site is great!

1) I prefer to travel with a backpack, but you’ll do okay with a suitcase, too. I personally find backpacks easier for navigating train stations, as you don’t have to drag it up and down stairs, etc. It doesn’t really matter either way, though. Depending on how long you’ll be staying there, I usually pack for a week no matter how long my trip is, then do laundry once a week.

2) Japan is mostly cash-based, so plan for lots of trips to the ATM. I didn’t find many places that accepted cards, although I also wasn’t looking very hard either.

3) Yep, you can pick up a local SIM card at the airport when you arrive. I bought mine through the rail pass company I link to in this blog post, but you can also just buy one when you arrive. Super easy to do and they’ll get it set up for you in the shop, too.

Love your posts! have been browsing but when I stumbled upon your page found it really helpful! Planning for Japan and Singapore so finding both blogs is perfect timing :) We are still not sure if the JRpass will help us- when we did calculation for the main routes we are going it resulted not worth it, however then not sure if we will require any additional rails/trains in between these. Tokyo>Hakone>Kyoto> Osaka without returning back… your input will be appreciated :) P.S. Feel free to visit the island of Malta, my home country

Wooow !! This is amazing , My wife and I have been planning to visit japan and we always had a misconception that Japan is expensive to visit .. This is a great blog .. So the overall cost including your flight tickets and local travel in japan would cost around 2500 $ per person ?

This was so incredibly helpful! Normally I don’t find myself reading entire articles but yours was so informational and in depth. Thank you so much for helping me get an idea of how much I would roughly spend!

Ah, no problem! Thanks for reading, and I’m glad you found it useful :-)

I super love this article Lauren! I thoroughly enjoyed it. When all is well and my country allows us to travel again, this is going to be on my top 3 places to visit (the 1st 2 will be diving spots as I’m a freediver). I made sure to bookmark this page for reference. Again, thank you for writing this. One question though, when you say $ do you mean USD?

Yep, USD! “The amounts in this guide are listed in Japanese Yen and U.S. dollars, simply because the vast majority of my readers are from the U.S.”

How much did you spend on transportation in Tokyo? I mean if you hadn’t had the JR Pass? How much did you save in Tokyo by having the pass?

Oh, I didn’t activate the pass when I was in Tokyo — I activated it on the day I left — so that was my total expenses without using it.

Hi Lauren! I just read your post. My boyfriend and I are backpackers and we are planning our next trip to Japan. I wanted to ask you when did you go there? (what time of the year). Because we can only take time off during winter time (dec-jan) and I don’t know if that’s a good time of year to go. We are from Denver and snow doesn’t bother us but we also want to enjoy it.

Thanks in advance! Love your blog

I was there in December! There’s fewer crowds then, which makes it a great time to go! As an added bonus you get to enjoy all of the cosy onsens in the snow :-)

Even in these unprecedented times, I feel as if I have already traveled to Japan! I loved every minute of the information you gave me. This place is definitely next on my list, of course! It can be months or a year from now.

It appears you’re still getting traffic in the comments here (excellent) so I thought I would ask a broad question. Wife and I are thinking to take our 6 and 9 year old to Japan for about 11 days. Any destinations you might leave off your itinerary given a bit less time and traveling with kids?

Fantastic! I’ve never seen any article about travelling to japan so specific and detailed before!! It sure will help me prepare for my own first&solo trip! thank you so much

Great post, but the prices are wildly outdated now. Your $30/night hotels in 2018 are going for around $220/night in 2023. Insane!

Hi CS, what time of year are you looking to visit? I’ve had a quick check and every hotel I link to still displays roughly the correct prices (a couple were out by about $10-20 a night, but nothing like $190!). If you’re looking at going in May, for example, Hakone Tent prices their rooms at $176 a night, but then offers rooms at a price of $73 a night a month later in June, so the time of year can affect the pricing. I’ll make a note to mention this in a future update to the post.

I visited in the low season, in December, so the prices I paid were lower than they might be at a more popular time of year.

This is amazing on every level. Thank you! only issue is prices for accomodations double during sakura season so what can I do

Thank you Lauren, for this insightful and complete post.

Out of curiosity, do you know what was the average USD/YEN exchange rate when this trip took place?

Kind Regards,

I update the prices in this article every two months so the exchange rate used in the post is recent

How recent was your travel to Japan and what exact dates were you there? I’m planning to take my family of 4 there in 2025 and would like to schedule it during cherry blossom season. I heard prices usually go up during this time so I was wondering if your trip happened during peak or off-peak season.

I was there in December. Prices do increase a lot during cherry blossom season, unfortunately — that’s the most expensive time to visit.

very good post for budget travellers. thanks for sharing.

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Meet Lauren Juliff

Cost of a Trip to Japan & the Cheapest Time to Visit Japan

The average price of a 7-day trip to Japan is $1,659 for a solo traveler, $2,690 for a couple, and $1,913 for a family of 4 . Japan hotels range from $62 to $304 per night with an average of $105, while most vacation rentals will cost $140 to $520 per night for the entire home. Average worldwide flight costs to Japan (from all airports) are between $948 and $1,696 per person for economy flights and $2,977 to $5,325 for first class. Depending on activities, we recommend budgeting $48 to $99 per person per day for transportation and enjoying local restaurants.

See below for average , budget , and luxury trip costs. You can also look up flight costs from your airport for more tailored flight pricing.

The Cheapest Times to Visit Japan

On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to Japan and stay in a Japan hotel:

• January 8th to March 18th
• August 27th to December 9th

The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Japan is usually late September .

Average Japan Trip Costs

Average solo traveler.

The average cost for one person to visit Japan for a week is $1,380-$2,771 ($197-$396 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $48 to $99 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $564 to $1,394 for economy

Lodging : $80 to $114 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room

or $86 to $105 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Average Couple’s Trip

The average cost for a couple to visit Japan for a week is $2,279-$4,865 ($326-$695 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $96 to $199 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,127 to $2,788 for economy

Average Family Vacation

The average cost for 4 people to visit Japan for a week is $4,360-$9,723 ($623-$1,389 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $191 to $397 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $2,255 to $5,576 for economy

Lodging : $161 to $228 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms

or $128 to $157 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Traveling Cheap to Japan

How cheap can you make a vacation to Japan? The cheapest trip to Japan is about $150 per person per day for travelers willing to take standby flights, deal with inconvenience, and otherwise limit travel expenses. About 3% of rentals are available in the $0 to $100 range for an entire place, and vacation rentals can be booked for as low as $16 per night. These inexpensive rentals must be booked as early as possible and may not be in the most desirable areas. 1-star hotels are more likely to be available, with rooms starting at around $53.

Even cheaper trips are possible depending on where you live and whether you can drive. Check the cheapest times to fly for more saving ideas.

Budget Solo Traveler

The lowest cost for one person to visit Japan for a week is $1,050-$2,576 ($150-$368 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $24 to $48 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Lodging : $53 to $62 per night for one 1-star hotel room

or $110 to $141 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Budget Couple’s Trip

The lowest cost for a couple to visit Japan for a week is $1,781-$4,306 ($254-$615 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $48 to $96 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Budget Family Vacation

The lowest cost for 4 people to visit Japan for a week is $3,557-$8,186 ($508-$1,169 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $96 to $192 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Lodging : $105 to $124 per night for two 1-star hotel rooms

or $165 to $211 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Overall it is very difficult to travel to Japan cheaply.

The Cost of a Luxury Japan Trip

There is no true ceiling on the cost of a luxury trip, so our estimates are based on what most people do in Japan.

Luxury Solo Traveler

The high-end price for one person to visit Japan for a week is $3,040-$10,904 ($434-$1,558 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $96 to $198 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,408 to $3,470 for first class

Lodging : $160 to $304 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room

or $504 to $1,008 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Luxury Couple’s Trip

The high-end price for a couple to visit Japan for a week is $5,121-$15,768 ($732-$2,253 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $192 to $397 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $2,817 to $6,941 for first class

Luxury Family Vacation

The high-end price for 4 people to visit Japan for a week is $10,241-$28,542 ($1,463-$4,077 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $384 to $794 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $5,633 to $13,882 for first class

Lodging : $320 to $609 per night for two 4 or 5-star hotel rooms

or $753 to $1,517 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Japan Hotel Prices

The cost of staying in Japan is much higher than the average city. On average hotels are less expensive than vacation rentals. Luxury vacation rentals are more expensive in Japan due to very high property costs. The graphs below show how much cost can vary depending on the type of experience you’re looking for.

Japan Lodging Cost by Star Status

The average price for the class of hotel is on the (y) axis. The hotel class (out of 5 stars) is on the (x) axis.

Prices are based on Japan hotel averages and may not reflect current prices. In some cases, we extrapolate prices to estimate costs, and hotels with your desired star rating may not be available.

Vacation Rental Prices

The percent of vacation rentals in the price range is on the left (y) axis. Price range is on the bottom (x) axis.

There are a healthy amount of vacation rentals serving all budgets in Japan.

Flight Costs to Japan

Averaging flights around the world, prices go from a high of $1,696 average in early to mid July to a low of $948 in late September. Median flight price is $1,031. These prices are based on millions of flights. For Japan our data includes thousands of originating airports, and hundreds of airlines. The area has more variance in price compared with other locations.

Average Flight Cost by Season

Average flight cost by day of week.

The cheapest day to fly in is typically Tuesday, and the cheapest day to fly back is usually Tuesday. Click here to see data for the cost of flights from your airport. In Japan, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive week is about $748, so you can easily save about 79% simply by using our free flight guides and booking in advance.

Daily Expenses Budget

Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing. A fine dining restaurant with drinks around Japan can easily cost $361 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be about $24 per person. Private tours can cost $722 per day, but self-guided tours to see the outdoor sights can be free. Costs vary wildly, so recommendations are made based on the cost of living and averages we see for this type of vacation.

Other Japan Guides

Travel costs nearby.

• Nagahama, Japan
• Maibara, Japan
• Tsuruga, Japan
• Echizen, Japan
• Sabae, Japan
• Ogaki, Japan
• Yoro, Japan
• Hikone, Japan
• Fukui, Japan
• Gifu, Japan

Travel Costs in Popular Places

• Chicago, IL, US
• Vienna, Austria
• Nairobi, Kenya

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You Can Use Your Costco Membership to Score Major Vacation Deals

Here’s what you need to know before booking with Costco Travel.

What is Costco Travel?

Do you have to have a membership to use costco travel.

• Ways to Book With Costco Travel

Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Shopping at Costco probably conjures up visions of a crowded store with larger-than-life packages of household essentials and snacks. While booking a vacation may not come to mind, in reality, you can purchase travel — and often get great deals — through Costco using its in-house travel agency called Costco Travel.

Let’s take a look at what you can expect when you use Costco Travel to book your next vacation.

Costco Travel is Costco’s in-house travel agency.  It’s open to all Costco members, but a separate Costco Travel account must be made before booking. While anyone can look at the Costco Travel website, only members can see pricing and book travel.

It acts like other online travel agencies, allowing Costco members to book vacation packages, hotels, cruises, rental cars, and theme park tickets. You’ll notice that flights can’t be booked separately through Costco Travel (they must be part of a travel package).

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Lines

Yes, you must have a Costco membership to use Costco Travel. There are two levels of Costco memberships, and either one will work. Gold Star membership costs $60 per year, while an Executive membership costs $120 per year.

The Executive membership may make sense to those who spend a lot at Costco because it earns 2% back each year, up to $1,000 per year, on qualifying Costco purchases, including Costco Travel. 

That means if you spend at least $3,000 per year at Costco (including in-store, online, and Costco Travel purchases), the Executive membership works out to be a better deal than the Gold Star membership.

Executive members are also eligible for extra benefits on select vacation packages. You’ll find these offers by going to the Costco Travel website and navigating to Deals>Member Specials>Executive Member Benefits . The benefits vary by package but can include things like a $100 spa credit, a $100 resort credit, a $100 shipboard credit, a private beach lunch, and more. These bonuses can easily be worth more than the price difference between Gold Star and Executive membership.

Related: The Best Budget Travel Tips — From Saving Money on Air Travel to Spending Less on Hotels

Ways to Book With Costco Travel 

George Tsamakdas/Getty Images

While you can book a hotel stay through Costco Travel, the options are limited unless the hotel is part of a vacation package. In fact, you’ll find some vacation destinations, including Maui, Cancun, and Punta Cana, that don’t offer any stand-alone hotels through Costco Travel.

If you do find a stand-alone hotel to book through Costco, remember that if it is part of a hotel loyalty program (like Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, or IHG), you likely won’t earn hotel points or elite night credits, and any status you have won’t be recognized. This makes booking these types of hotels through online travel agencies like Costco Travel unappealing for many travelers.

Costco Travel offers cruises on 11 cruise lines, including some of the industry’s most popular brands like Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian, and Princess.

There are so many cruise booking websites out there, and they all offer relatively similar pricing. The differences come in the extra perks like drink packages, onboard credit, and, in the case of Costco Travel, complimentary Costco shop cards. The value of the shop card varies based on the cruise and room type but usually falls somewhere between $25 and $95 for shorter cruises and can be as high as $425 for longer cruises.

While Costco Travel can offer great deals on cruises, one of the downsides is that you can only search one month at a time. This could add some extra work for those who have flexibility in their travel dates and want to search for a wide variety of dates at one time.

Theme Parks

Costco members can also purchase Disney (U.S. locations only) and Universal Orlando vacation packages through Costco Travel. These packages include hotel accommodations and theme park tickets and will usually come with extras like early park admission, transportation, waived resort fees, or a food and beverage credit.

Related: Splurge or Save? Here's How to Build the Perfect Walt Disney World Vacation for Your Budget

Katie Rice/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Rental Cars 

Booking a rental car through Costco Travel is straightforward with four rental car companies to pick from — Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise.

The search results are displayed in an easy-to-read grid format with the least expensive price for each car type shown in red. While this is excellent for someone who prefers simplicity, Costco Travel won’t necessarily always have the lowest price since it excludes so many car rental companies. 

Vacation Packages 

A Costco vacation package consists of a hotel with a flight and/or rental car. Packages are available for destinations all over North America as well as the South Pacific, Europe, and Africa. There are also specialty vacation packages available through a small collection of companies, including Contiki, Lion World Travel, Adventures by Disney , and Trafalgar Worldwide Guided Vacations.

Costco Travel vacation packages can offer tremendous savings over booking a hotel and flight separately, and they often come with extras like airport transfers and Costco shop cards. 

These shop cards vary in value and generally increase based on the cost of your vacation. We saw offers for Costco shop cards from about $150 all the way to over $900 for a one-week vacation package.

Some packages come with activities included in the price. While that might be a great deal for some, keep in mind that these activities may increase the price over what you’d pay by booking through another website or booking separately. 

Costco Travel can save you money, especially on vacation packages, but it’s smart to price out your vacation on multiple websites to ensure you’re getting the best price and package for your needs.

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How To Use Costco Travel To Save Money

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

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Table of Contents

Costco membership, costco travel, costco vacation packages, costco hotels, costco cruises, costco car rentals, costco theme parks and specialty vacations, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

When you hear “Costco,” chances are the first thing that comes to mind is the big-box warehouse, a gigantic market where you can get wholesale prices on groceries, cheap home goods, affordable gifts, clothing, and alcohol. Did you also know Costco has an in-house travel agency?

Costco Travel offers vacation packages, hotel rooms, cruises, and rental cars to Costco members.

By taking advantage of the same bulk-purchasing power that it uses in retail, Costco can secure group rates when putting together vacation packages and bundles.

In this post, we’ll go over everything you need to know about Costco Travel and whether or not it can save you money on your next vacation.

There are 2 levels of Costco membership, and you must be a member to use Costco Travel .

• Gold Star: $60 per year
• Executive: $120 per year

Costco Executive members receive 2% back annually on qualifying Costco purchases, including Costco Travel purchases, up to $1,000 per year. This 2% reward comes as a certificate that can be redeemed for most Costco in-store purchases.

If you spend at least $3,000 per year on Costco purchases, including Costco Travel purchases, you’ll earn enough through the 2% yearly reward to negate the extra cost of the Executive membership.

A Costco membership is required to book vacations through Costco Travel. Costco Executive members can earn 2% in rewards on qualifying Costco purchases, including Costco Travel.

Costco Travel is an online travel agency available to Costco members only. It offers vacation packages, hotels, cruises, rental cars, and theme park and specialty bookings . Interestingly, you can’t book a flight through Costco Travel unless it’s included in a vacation package.

You can access Costco Travel by selecting Travel on the Costco website or by visiting costcotravel.com .

To view prices, you must be a Costco member, and you need to create a Costco Travel account, which is separate from your Costco.com account, before you can book anything. To do this, you just need your Costco membership number and an email address.

A Costco Travel vacation package includes a hotel stay with a flight and/or a rental car. Searching for a vacation package works like any other online travel agency you may be familiar with. First, you need to input your travel destination, number of travelers, dates, and departure city.

The search results list, which defaults to Costco recommendations first, is easily filtered and sorted to find exactly what you’re looking for.

The total package price is displayed along with any included extras, such as a Costco digital shop card.

After choosing a package, click on View Deals & Customize . You can see what’s included in the package and select different flights or choose an upgraded room. The cost of your package automatically adjusts based on your choices. Remember that the price and extras, such as the Costco shop card that comes with many travel packages, may change as you alter your options.

Once you finalize the details of your Costco Travel package, you can select whether you want just to pay a deposit or pay for the entire trip. Payments can be made with a Visa or Mastercard . American Express cards aren’t accepted.

While only Visa cards are accepted in Costco stores, you can pay for a Costco Travel package using a Visa or a Mastercard.

Price Comparisons

We wanted to see how Costco Travel vacation package prices stacked up, so we checked out a few options. These examples include a 7-night package for 2 people, including hotel accommodations and flights.

Costco Travel offered the best packages for the first 2 examples. Not only was the package price the lowest, but Costco’s packages also included airport transfers and Costco shop cards, making them an even sweeter deal.

However, the third package illustrates that Costco Travel isn’t always the best option. In this example, Costco Travel was the most expensive. However, it included a daily breakfast buffet and a walking food tour. The cheapest option was Expedia, but that package was completely nonrefundable, which may not be worth the savings for some travelers.

Vacation Package Included Activities

One thing to look out for when booking a vacation package through Costco Travel is that they sometimes include extras that you don’t really want . If you remove these extras, the price drops, but some packages require you to add an activity.

For example, this European vacation package included a walking food tour in the quoted price.

After tour was removed, the price dropped by $582.44 ! That’s a huge price to pay for a walking tour, and it would have been easy to assume it was a part of the package when, in reality, it cost a lot extra.

The bad news is that some vacation packages don’t let you to opt out of an activity . In this example, there were 5 activity options available ranging in price from $582 to $1,590.

This can add a lot of unnecessary costs to a Costco Travel vacation package.

Costco Vacations travel packages include a hotel plus a flight and/or rental car. These packages often offer tremendous savings over booking through other websites or booking each element separately. However, Costco Travel won’t always offer the lowest price, so it’s good to shop around a bit before booking any vacation package.

Searching for a hotel through Costco Travel works just like any other online travel agency you may be familiar with. However, the options for booking a hotel without a vacation package are limited .

To begin, click on the Hotels tab on the Costco Travel website and then enter the city, dates, number of people, and the number of rooms.

Results appear on the next screen, with options to filter the list by a specific hotel, hotel chain, area, amenities, member reviews, and ratings. The results list can be sorted by price, but you only see prices if you enter your Costco number.

Remember that when you book a hotel through Costco Travel, you aren’t eligible to earn hotel loyalty points, nor will the hotel recognize any elite status you have . If you’re loyal to a particular hotel chain, such as Hyatt , Hilton , or Marriott , it’s important to weigh any savings against the benefits and points you’d give up.

After selecting a hotel, you can choose a different room, and the price will adjust automatically.

Payment options and cancellation policies can vary based on the hotel and rate you choose, so be sure to read the fine print carefully before you book.

We priced out a couple of hotel stays to see if Costco Travel offered competitive pricing. We found examples of Costco’s price being both higher and lower than the hotel website’s price. You may be able to find a great deal, but it’s not guaranteed.

There are a limited number of hotels you can book through Costco Travel unless you’re booking a package. You may find there are no options even in popular cities and vacation spots, so it can be frustrating to book a stand-alone hotel through Costco Travel.

Like many online travel agencies, Costco offers deals, perks, and specials when booking cruises. Sometimes, these can be quite valuable, but as always, it pays to shop around.

If you know more or less what you want, it’s easy to search for cruises on Costco Travel. Just go to the home page, click the Cruises tab, and enter your destination, departure month, specific cruise line (if you have a preference), and duration.

You can also select an option to search for Alaska cruise tours, which combines a cruise voyage and a guided land tour before or after the voyage.

The results page lists every matching available cruise, with options to filter and sort the results. Each result shows the available room types and any included extras, such as a Costco Cash Card (gift card), onboard credit, or discount.

The price listed in Costco Travel’s cruise search results is per person and doesn’t include taxes and fees.

One of the downsides of using Costco Travel to search for a cruise is that you can only search for 1 month at a time . While other cruise booking websites allow you to search by year or any combination of months, Costco Travel requires you to pick a specific month to travel.

When you find the right cruise, you can select your stateroom type, the number of people joining, and even the specific room location. You can also choose to add flights and pre- or post-cruise hotels to a package.

Some cruise lines offer their own credit card with cruise rewards, but a more general travel rewards card like The Platinum Card ® from American Express almost always offers a better value. For more information, check out our full guide to the best credit cards for booking cruises .

Costco Travel Cruise Deals

You can browse available deals, packages, and popular options if you aren’t set on a specific cruise, date, or region. You find these options by scrolling down on the Costco Travel cruise page, where you can explore by destination, category (such as last-minute cruises or luxury cruises), departure port, or cruise line.

We priced out cruises on Costco Travel and the cruise lines’ websites and found that the cost was usually lower with Costco Travel, especially considering they all came with Costco shop cards.

However, getting accurate pricing on a cruise can be tricky . For example, for the Norwegian cruise, the cost was higher on Norwegian’s website initially, but that’s because it included Free at Sea promotions. With those removed, the cost was the same. Booking through Costco came with a $70 shop card but didn’t give you the ability to add the Free at Sea promotions (which could be very valuable for some guests).

In our research, we’ve found that most cruise booking websites offer the same (or very similar) pricing. The difference is in the extras offered, like a Costco shop card, drink packages, or shipboard credit.

It’s always smart to price out a cruise on multiple websites, and Costco Travel could be a great place for Costco members to start.

Costco Travel also includes a stand-alone car rental booking feature in addition to letting you rent a car as part of a vacation package.

Unlike some other online travel agencies that offer just about everything under the sun, Costco sticks with 4 big car rental agencies: Alamo , Avis , Budget , and Enterprise.

If you would prefer to get your rental from another company like Hertz or Dollar , you should book directly or use a more inclusive portal like AmexTravel.com or Orbitz .

When renting a car, be sure to use a credit card that comes with car rental insurance . You’ll need to decline the rental company’s collision or loss damage waiver (CDW/LDW) for the credit card insurance to be active. Some of our favorite options, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card , include primary coverage.

Searching and Booking

To search for a rental car, input the pickup and drop-off locations, dates, and times, and then click Search .

Search results are shown in a grid, with the 4 companies as the columns and the various classes of cars available as the rows. The lowest prices for each type of car are shown in red , and the price includes taxes and fees. You can click on any price to see the terms and conditions for that rental.

We did some price comparisons using the metasearch engine Kayak , and we always found lower prices on rental cars through other websites .

That doesn’t mean that Costco will never have the best price, however. Car rental prices fluctuate, so it’s always best to price out your rental on multiple websites before booking.

Costco Travel also offers the ability to book select theme parks and specialty vacations .

• Adventures by Disney
• Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa
• Brendan Vacations Ireland & Scotland
• Disney Cruise Line
• Disneyland (vacation packages)
• Evan Evans Britain’s Finest Sightseeing Tours
• Insight Vacations
• Lion World Travel (African safaris)
• Luxury Gold
• Trafalgar Worldwide Guided Vacations
• Walt Disney World (vacation packages)

To book a theme park or specialty vacation package through Costco Travel, you first choose the package type you’re looking for.

Then, you can see each package’s inclusions and details. Each vacation package includes different components, so it’s important to read the details carefully.

Pricing information isn’t displayed until all package components are selected, so it can be a bit tricky to search based on your vacation budget .

For Costco members , using the retailer’s travel service can present an opportunity to save some cash on an incredible vacation. Through negotiated rates with hotels, tour providers, and more, Costco can sometimes offer generous discounts or great added perks.

As always, make sure to compare prices and read all terms. While Costco may offer a price advantage for one service, another portal might win for something else, while direct booking may be the best option for yet another aspect of your travel.

Lastly, if you plan to book a vacation package through Costco and have a Gold Star membership, you might want to consider upgrading to an Executive Membership for an extra $60 a year. The extra 2% rewards could make the upgrade well worth it.

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For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is costco travel.

Costco Travel is a travel booking service exclusively for Costco members. It offers great deals on vacation packages, hotels, cruises, rental cars, and guided tours.

How does Costco Travel work?

The platform can offer competitive prices the same way it offers deals on retail products, and the same way that organizations like AAA can offer lower rates. By leveraging the size of its membership, Costco can ask travel service providers to offer lower prices for its members, driving business toward them in exchange.

Is Costco Travel a good deal?

That depends — it’s always smart to compare prices on your own to see. In some cases, Costco offers a better rate than other travel booking services or booking directly.

However, in other cases, Costco is more expensive or offers fewer options. For example, many hotels can’t be booked unless they are part of a package, and vacation packages won’t offer flights on some airlines, such as Southwest.

Can you cancel Costco Travel bookings?

Sometimes. Just like with any other travel service (or booking directly with a hotel or airline), each reservation can have different terms and conditions. Make sure to read the terms carefully every time you book to see if something can be canceled or refunded.

Can you book Costco Travel without a Costco membership?

No. You must sign up for a Costco membership ($60 to $120 per year) to book services through the Costco Travel portal.

Can I book on behalf of someone else?

Yes, as long as you hold a Costco membership. Just enter the other person’s name when prompted for traveler information.

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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• Accommodation, Food, Entertainment, and Transportation Costs
• Travel Guide

How much does it cost to travel to Japan?

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

• Travel Style: All Budget (Cheap) Mid-Range Luxury (High-End)

Are You an Experienced Traveler?

Help other travelers! Answer a quick question about your past travels. Click here: let's do it!

How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Japan cost?

A one week trip to Japan usually costs around $0.00 (¥0.00) for one person and $0.00 (¥0.00) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Japan on average costs around $0.00 (¥0.00) for one person and $0.00 (¥0.00) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Japan will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Japan on average costs around $0.00 (¥0.00) for one person and $0.00 (¥0.00) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.

Organized tours are usually more expensive than independent travel, but offer convenience and peace of mind that your trip has been planned by a travel expert.

The average price for an organized tour package in Japan is $431 per day. While every tour varies by total price, length, number of destinations, and quality, this is the daily average price based on our analysis of available guided tours.

• Japan Winter One Life Adventures 11-Day Tour 11 Days - 5 Destinations $ 1,945
• Japan´s Landscapes 13 Days - 21 Destinations $ 4,518

Independent Travel

Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Japan is a very affordable destination to visit. It is in the top 10% of countries in the world for its affordability . Many budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring this country in depth.

Within Asia, Japan is very affordable compared to the other countries. It is in the top 10% of countries in Asia for its affordability . Very few countries in the region are as affordable as Japan.

For more details, see Is Japan Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Japan?

The average Japan trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Japan travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

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Japan on a budget.

At A Glance

• Japan is recognized for its strikingly different culture from the west. If you do some research on this country's interesting customs before your trip, you will find your experience all the more enlightening. You will also better understand how to handle different situations as they arise.
• This is a complex country with a diverse and rich history. A great way to familiarize yourself with the region is to read any number of books on the country, fiction or nonfiction, before you begin your trip. You'll be able to see the people, customs, and cultures through different eyes, and your experience will be even more meaningful and memorable when you can put it in context.
• Japan is a great country for cyclists. If you're comfortable on a bicycle head to the countryside and find a good route. You'll pass through beautiful landscapes, picturesque towns, and meet some friendly people. It's a wonderful and unique way to experience the country. It will also help you cut down on transportation costs which can be quite high throughout Japan.
• Make sure you keep your passport on you at all times. Police can question you and will often fine you if you do not have it on you. Some first time offenders get off with just a warning. In particular, nightclub raids are common, so if you're going out for the evening, don't leave home without your passport.
• Public transportation in Japan is excellent but expensive. There are many different types of transportation passes that offer any number of ticket combinations and various discounts. Make sure you fully research and understand your options before you purchase a ticket. Some passes have stricter limitations than others so make sure you look into this before buying a pass.

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Exploring the Intricacies of Costco in Japan: A Complete Guide

Costco Japan: A Comprehensive Overview Costco, renowned in the United States for its membership warehouse model offering large quantity products at discounted rates, has established a significant presence in Japan. From its inception in 1999, Costco Japan has grown to encompass 31 warehouses across the country. Here's everything you need to know about Costco's unique landscape in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Costco's Essence and Special Features Costco, or Costco Wholesale Corporation, operates on a membership-based concept offering substantial discounts to members on a wide range of goods. While groceries constitute approximately 75% of its inventory, the remaining 25% includes apparel, jewelry, and various other products. The stores boast a vast inventory space of over 140,000 square feet (13,000 square meters) and are famed for their discounted luxury items, innovative inventory management, and marked-down prices.

Unraveling Japanese Costco: A Fusion of Global and Local Flavors Costco in Japan mirrors its American counterpart while catering to local preferences. Japanese Costcos stock an array of Japanese snacks, dried squid, condiments, and other local delights. Shoppers can find a mix of local and international products, with offerings varying by location, showcasing unique products exclusive to Japan. The spacious layout and additional amenities, such as roomy elevators and ramps, make the shopping experience distinctively comfortable.

Distinct Offerings and Attractions Japanese Costcos maintain a balance between local favorites and international delights. They offer familiar Western foods alongside unique Japanese flavors like deli sushi trays and specialized items on the fast-food menu. Additionally, the famed hot foods section remains a popular stop for shoppers seeking a quick snack while perusing the diverse aisles. Costco Japan's expansive sample stations allow customers to taste test various items before purchase. Membership and Benefits Costco Japan offers membership plans similar to those in the US. With an annual membership fee, customers gain access to exclusive deals, Kirkland products, and distinctive Japanese items. Membership benefits also extend to a Costco credit card that enables cashback rewards and accumulated points for future purchases. Moreover, some locations offer same-day perishable delivery and competitive gas prices. Shopping Experience: A Fusion of Traditions Japanese patrons approach Costco shopping differently compared to their American counterparts. While maintaining the essence of the warehouse-style shopping, Japanese shoppers often frequent Costco for fresh options rather than bulk purchases. The shopping experience blends familiarity for expats and a penchant for Japanese goods, offering a unique and diverse shopping landscape. Become a Member: Registration and Process To become a Costco member in Japan, applicants need to complete an application, pay the membership fee, and provide necessary documentation. Various membership tiers offer access to exclusive deals and amenities, making Costco membership a beneficial choice for shoppers seeking savings and diverse product offerings. Exploring Costco Japan's Unique Offerings Costco Japan presents an exciting mix of global and local products, including seasonal items, electronics, toiletries, and more. Shoppers can explore a vast array of unique Japanese items, making their shopping experience both enjoyable and distinctive. Ultimately, Costco in Japan melds the best of international products with local flavors, catering to diverse shopping preferences while maintaining the essence of its renowned warehouse model.

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Shopping At Costco In Japan | A Look Into The Japanese Version Of An American Retailer

Is There A Costco In Japan?

There are some Costco stores in Japan, but not as many as in many other countries. Their business model is the same, where you’ll find expansive stores with a plethora of bulk items or exclusive items that cannot be found anywhere else. 

Going to a Costco in Japan can be a multiple-hour affair and is one of the best places to go if you want to bring home a bunch of Japanese snacks as souvenirs at discounted rates. 

How Many Costcos Are In Japan?

Costco is somewhat of a rarity in Japan when compared to the United States or even Canada. There were only just over 30 Costco stores throughout the entire country as of the year 2021. 

Costco Japan Store Finder Official Site

Japan has a variety of its own department stores sprinkled throughout the country and very large markets, many of which offer a lot of the same things that Costco does, just not always in bulk. 

Where Are Costcos In Japan?

The Costco stores in Japan are somewhat spread out throughout the country, with one or two in many of the most visited areas of the country. There are two major Costco stores that people in Japan tend to flock to the most, whether they are Japanese natives, ex-pats, or tourists. 

The first is the Shim Misato location in Misato City, Saitama, and the second is the Makuhari store in Chiba City in Chiba Prefecture. Both of these locations are located very close to train stations, so getting a glimpse at either is very possible. 

There are also two stores in Fukuoka and Hyogo , three in Kanagawa , and one in Hokkaido , Sapporo in Hiroshima, Hitachinaka , Kyoto , and Osaka . 

Does Tokyo Have Costco?

There are two Costco locations within close proximity to Tokyo, but none within city limits. The first is the Tamasakai store in Machida City, and the second is the Maebashi location in Maebashi City in Gunma.

Even though Tokyo is one of the most visited and populous cities in Japan , interestingly enough, these aren’t the two most visited Costcos in Japan. 

How Is Costco Different In Japan?

There are very few things about Costco stores in Japan that differ from Costco stores found in North America and the United States.

Since Costco stores typically have some varied items based on the community they’re established in, it’s no surprise that Japanese stores will have stock that can only be found when shopping in Japan. 

Additionally, Costcos in Japan has multiple floors and very spacious elevators that let you go up and down while pushing around one of their extra large shopping carts. Some even have ramps that make it much easier to bring your overflowing cart to your car. 

How Is Costco Similar In Japan?

Costco shoppers know the fairly bare-bones yet distinctive look of the store, with its red and white lettering on signs, its open warehouse layout, and its shelves upon shelves of a multitude of things to buy in large quantities. Japanese Costco stores look the exact same as North American stores. 

Japanese Costcos also have the infamous hot foods section where you can grab a snack before or after long shops.

Of course, you can find the coveted hot dog at these stores, as well as the typical pizza, hamburger, and soft serve ice cream. Additionally, you can get a refreshing pineapple smoothie or a bulgogi cake. 

Costco in Japan also offers the same types of competitive pricing, and frequent sales, which people know and love from North American counterparts.

There are also those famous items that people will flock to Costco for, from the cheap and delicious hot dog to the rotisserie chicken to the big packages of toilet paper. 

While wandering the numerous aisles of a Japanese Costco, you’ll also be delighted to find various sample stations set up so you can try them before you buy various snacks and other foods. 

Costco Items Only Found In Japanese Costco Stores 

Even though Western fares are sprinkled throughout Japanese Costcos, there are also items available that are exclusive to Japanese Costcos.

These Costcos have many of the same types of items stocked, but the Japanese version of those things, such as snacks and pantry staples. 

Costcos will also have seasonal items, electronics, toiletries, and more, as well as some things that can only be bought at a Japanese Costco.

You can also find some favorites from Western countries in Japanese locations, including snacks from well-known brands and a variety of Kirkland Signature staples. 

Anyone who has been able to afford sampling wagyu beef outside of Japan knows it’s by far the most superior beef. While hard to find in North America, Wagyu beef and beef steaks can be found in many Japanese Costco locations. 

Fresh Fish 

The fresh fish selection at Japanese Costcos is truly unmatched. You can also find roe, often called salmon caviar, in great excess and at affordable prices in Costco’s fresh and prepared food sections.

The types of fish available at Japanese Costcos include much more variety. 

One can find fish suitable for sashimi, as well as platters of fresh sushi available to take home and serve to a big group of guests. 

Japanese Alcohol 

While Costcos in the United States has a very coveted selection of affordable adult beverages, the alcohol section in Japan’s Costcos features a plethora of alcohols enjoyed in Japan.

You can also find a nice selection of nihonshu , also known as Japanese sake . 

Bulk Mayonnaise

While you can find large portions of mayo in America, the mayo in Japan is different. Not only do they make their mayo differently, but Costco offers it in large tubes. Just like Americans, Japanese people really enjoy their mayo to enhance various dishes. 

Prepared Meals 

Japan has a unique offering of prepared meals that are inspired by Japanese cuisine so that shoppers can bring home some of their favorite Japanese dishes. American stores do this too, but with Western dishes. 

Japanese Snacks 

The selection and quantity of Japanese snacks, both sweet and savory, are incredible at Costcos throughout the country.

There are also foods and ingredients to build meals unlike what we might see in Western stores or even restaurants. 

This includes items like fried squid, norimaki rice crackers, katsu-flavored chips, and dried Ramen snacks. Of course, you’ll also find some of the biggest bags of rice you’ve ever seen and some delicious Japanese desserts like mochi and tarts. 

How Much Do Costco Memberships Cost In Japan?

Like Costcos in America, there are a couple of options for Costco memberships in Japan. As of 2020, their business membership costs about 4235 yen annually, which is equivalent to just under $30 USD. Their gold membership costs 4840 yen every year, which is about $34 USD. 

Japan memberships have the same rules that American memberships have, where you have to possess one to shop at these department stores.

You are also allowed to bring in one or two guests with you to shop who don’t have their own membership. They can also fluctuate in price from time to time, as all Costco memberships do. 

Additionally, Japanese Costco lovers have the option to get a Costco credit card, where they can earn cash back on purchases. It’s connected to your membership, and you don’t have to pay a fee to keep the card each year. You can also earn points that can be redeemed on your Costco purchases. 

Can I Use A US Costco Membership In Japan?

If you already pay for a Costco membership in the US but have a plan to visit a Japanese location, you’ll have no problem using the membership you already have.

Even though a Japanese membership is very inexpensive, there’s no reason to buy one if you’re only visiting Japan. 

The only thing you can’t do if you don’t have a Japanese membership is make online purchases or have items delivered to you. 

Do Japanese People Like Costco?

A wide variety of Japanese people enjoy Costco. Lineups can get pretty long, and stores can become jam-packed with people just like they do in the United States, especially on the weekends.

A lot of Japan has embraced some Western customs, which include shopping at Costco. 

However, Costcos are enjoyed a little bit differently in Japan than they are in the United States. In America, people often go to Costco occasionally to make large purchases to stock up on essentials and fill their freezer.

Americans with big families also enjoy the affordability of buying everyday essentials in bulk. 

Costco Japan Official Website

In Japan, their shopping habits are much different. Japanese shoppers aren’t proponents of Costco simply for the bulk but more so for the fresh offerings.

People in Japan prefer to go shopping multiple times a week so they can have fresh food for their meals and don’t utilize their freezers as much. 

Expats, or people who have moved to Japan from other countries, enjoy the nostalgia that Costcos in Japan bring but also appreciate being able to purchase exclusively Japanese items as well. 

Costco Japan Virtual Shopping Trip

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Why Costco Japan Is a Shopper’s Dream, From Sushi to Appliances

Maxwell Shukuya is a California-based writer covering tech, travel, product reviews, and personal finance. Based in California, his work has previously been featured in Capital Public Radio, Submerge Magazine, and City on a Hill Press.

Costco Japan by Own Work ( CC BY-SA )

Isle’s Aisles

With its vast warehouses, bulk products, and jumbo pizzas, Costco seems to follow the American maxim that bigger is better . Yet, the warehouse store has thrived in 11 countries across a variety of cultures — though with some adjustments.

At Japanese Costcos, shoppers enjoy fresh sushi, affordable wagyu beef, and popular Japanese electronics such as rice cookers. If that sounds like a dream, know that you’re not alone. 

Costco super fans are posting constantly about the superstore’s exclusive Japanese products on TikTok  and Reddit . Here’s why Costco Japan is a shopper’s paradise that’s captivated the internet.

Affordable Sushi

For around $50, Costco shoppers in Japan can enjoy massive 50-piece platters of fresh nigiri , rivaling even the cheapest American sushi bars . Employees make the sushi daily using an automated rice dispenser and fresh salmon, tuna, halibut, and other popular cuts of fish.

Bulgogi Bake

This Asian take on the chicken bake, a food court favorite, has Costco fanatics drooling. While the exterior looks the same, Costco’s Japanese version stuffs marinated slices of Korean-style beef inside. Other Japanese food court exclusives include a shrimp bisque, a citrus smoothie, and Aussie beef pies.

Hungry for more? Check out what other treats you can find at other international Costco food courts .

Beyond huge trays of affordable sushi, Costcos in Japan also sells an impressive assortment of fresh fish and seafood, including varieties that are difficult to find in the United States. 

Whether you’d like to pick up some sushi-grade tuna or a few octopus tentacles, Costco Japan looks like a fish market compared with its American counterpart.

For more great shopping tips,  please sign up for our free newsletters.

Wide Variety of Rice

Costco Japan sells bags upon bags of different types of rice. Given that the average Japanese person eats around 110 pounds of rice  a year, that shouldn’t be a surprise.

Japanese Snacks

Sure, maybe Costco doesn’t sell huge snack packs with Cheetos and Funyuns in Japan. But you will find plenty of unique Costco Japanese snacks including dried squid, rice crackers, and sweets.

Related:   Unusual Kit Kat Flavors From Japan You'll Actually Want to Try

Asian Vegetables and Greens

Costco offers plenty of fresh produce in the United States, but veggies such as daikon can be hard to find. That’s not a problem in Japan, where you can find the radish at Costco among other Asian greens and vegetables. 

Japanese Appliances

From mini beer taps to rice cookers and portable grills, Costco locations in Japan offers no shortage of unique appliances that aren’t common stateside.

A pound of this world-famous marbled beef can easily cost hundreds of dollars — but not in Japan. Costco members can buy premium cuts of rich Japanese Wagyu beef  for around $5 to $7 per 100 grams (or $23 to $32 per pound).

Japanese Alcohol

Not only does Costco Japan offer well-known classics such as Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo, but the wholesaler also has aisles full of sake, shochu, and fruit wines that you’d struggle to find in the in the United States.

Shopping in the States? Find out which is the best Costco alcohol to buy  and which bottles to leave on the shelf.

Frequently Asked Questions About Costco Japan

Can i use my u.s. costco membership in japan.

Yes, your membership is valid at any Costco location worldwide and online, including in Japan. So, thankfully you can indulge in all of that sushi and Japanese Wagyu the next time you visit (just don't forget your card). The website for Costco Japan  is also bilingual with both Japanese and English options if you prefer to order online.

How Many Costcos Are There in Japan?

Currently, there are 32 Costcos in Japan. The newest store recently opened in Meiwa, a town north of Tokyo . Costco plans to operate more than 60 stores in Japan by 2030.

How Much Is a Costco Membership in Japan?

The annual Gold Star membership in Japan currently costs 4,840 JPY (approx. $33 USD) and the Gold Star Executive Membership goes for 9,900 JPY (approx. $67 USD).

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When something goes wrong on your trip, having travel insurance protects you personally and covers eligible travel expenses.

Many travelers rely on credit card travel protections, but those benefits generally have lower limits and only cover reservations made with that card.

If you’re considering buying Costco travel insurance, here’s what you need to know, including what it covers, how much it costs and which plan is right for you.

» Learn more: What to know before buying travel insurance

What does Costco travel insurance cover?

Members tend to love Costco and often look to see if it offers products and services before looking elsewhere.

When planning a trip, members might ask, "Does Costco sell travel insurance?" so they can protect their vacation. Costco offers several different types of travel insurance coverage based on the type of trip you are taking.

Insurance policies are offered by Cover-More Inc., a company of Zurich. To simplify coverage and premiums, Costco only offers one insurance option for each type of vacation.

International vacation packages

For vacation packages outside of the U.S., Costco members can choose an international travel policy. These policies generally offer the highest coverage limits and are designed for trips to all eligible countries around the world.

Domestic vacation packages

Travelers staying within the U.S. can get a travel insurance policy from Costco to cover their trip. Coverage limits are substantial enough to cover most domestic travel needs.

Whether your cruise is within the U.S. or visiting destinations abroad, cruise travel insurance protects you and your finances. A cruise insurance policy from Costco Travel covers all of your trip, not just the actual cruise.

Rental cars

Instead of buying expensive travel insurance from a rental car company, Costco trip insurance offers coverage to protect your rental car. It covers damage to the rental vehicle and post-departure trip interruption benefits. Rental car protection covers up to the actual cash value of the car. Additionally, it covers rental charges imposed while the car is being repaired.

This coverage is primary, which means that your personal auto insurance is not involved if there are any claims. However, it does not cover injuries or damage to other property.

Howver, many travel credit cards include similar coverage and benefits — so you might already have travel insurance on a card in your wallet.

You should consider skipping Costco Travel Insurance coverage if you have a credit card that includes complimentary rental car protection, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card .

This card includes primary coverage for physical damage to or theft of a covered rental vehicle.

» Learn more: How rental car insurance works on your credit card

Upgrade options

When buying your policy, there are two upgrade options to increase your benefits.

Cancel For Any Reason: When you cancel at least three days before departure, you’ll receive up to 50% of your insured trip cost (maximum trip cost of $10,000).

Rental Car Damage Upgrade: Protect your rental car against collision damage, vandalism, windstorm, hail, fire or flood. Coverage is up to $50,000.

Comparison of Costco travel insurance plans

This chart highlights the coverage limits and benefits you’ll receive from the different Costco travel insurance plans.

How much does Costco travel insurance cost?

The price for travel insurance policies varies based on your destination, trip length, where you live and how much you spend per person. To lower your insurance premium, only include the prepaid, nonrefundable portion of your trip.

In this chart, you’ll find sample quotes for different types of trips. The scenarios vary by destination, length of trip and cost to highlight how premiums can change.

* Quoted rates as of July 2023.

When pricing out vacation package travel insurance, the primary factor in determining the premium is the covered amount. In these scenarios, a domestic trip offered a 10% discount compared to an international trip with the same trip cost. The length of the trip did not affect premiums, except when buying rental car coverage.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Which Costco travel insurance plan is best for me?

Since Costco travel insurance doesn’t offer different levels of coverage, the best policy for you depends on what type of vacation you’re planning. Travel insurance from Costco has one level of benefits and coverage limits for all members.

What isn’t covered by Costco travel insurance?

Travel insurance offers numerous protections that cover you, your travel companions and your nonrefundable, prepaid reservations. Before buying your policy, it’s important to understand what isn’t covered.

Pre-existing conditions. Injuries and illnesses that travelers already had before buying their policies are generally excluded from travel insurance. You may be eligible for a waiver of this exclusion, depending on your policy and travel details, as long as you buy coverage within 21 days of your initial trip payment.

Refundable reservations. Reservations that you can cancel and get a refund for are not covered. Simply contact the airline, hotel or other travel provider and cancel directly with them.

High-risk activities. Activities that take an unreasonable amount of risk of injury or death, like bungee jumping or parachuting, are excluded.

Intentional acts. Injuries, illness or losses resulting from self-inflicted actions, like drug use, intoxication or self-harm, are not covered.

Specifically designated events. Natural disasters, war, epidemics and similar events are excluded.

Is Costco travel insurance worth it?

While many travelers rely on their credit card travel insurance benefits, buying a separate travel insurance policy can be worth it.

Costco travel insurance offers higher coverage limits than what’s available through your credit card. The policies are reasonably priced, and you can easily get a free quote online in minutes.

If you’re ready to purchase, you can buy your policy online without speaking to an agent.

Costco is known for selling a variety of products and services at discounted prices. Like many of its services, Costco travel insurance is also sold through an established partner. Cover-More, a division of Zurich North America, issues all policies and is backed by Zurich Insurance Group, which has an A+ rating by A.M. Best and AA- rating from Standard and Poor’s.

Yes, travel insurance is available to all Costco members for any of your vacations. It is available whether you booked through Costco, directly with airlines or hotels, with a travel agent or through an online travel agency. Costco members receive preferred rates on Zurich products and services.

Yes, you can buy travel insurance from Costco online. Visit the Costco Travel website , then select the type of policy you want to buy. Enter basic trip details, including your destination, travel dates, your state of residence and how much you’re spending per traveler, to receive a quote. Select your policy and complete your payment to buy your insurance.

Yes, you can buy travel insurance from Costco online. Visit the

Costco Travel website

, then select the type of policy you want to buy. Enter basic trip details, including your destination, travel dates, your state of residence and how much you’re spending per traveler, to receive a quote. Select your policy and complete your payment to buy your insurance.

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The southwest coast of hawaii island, historic features, coffee farms and calm waters are just part of the kona coast charm..

• Kohala Coast

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Property offers the ultimate in elegance and sophistication, with highly personalized service and hospitality.

Property offers upscale design and decor, superior dining venues, manicured grounds, and a high level of service and hospitality.

Property offers above-average accommodations, service, comfort, facilities and grounds.

Property offers basic accommodations, decor, facilities and grounds.

More Hawaii Island Hotels

Fairmont orchid, hawaii, 1 n kaniku dr, kohala coast - hawaii, hi, 96743, united states.

This beachfront resort is nestled on 32 acres of the Kohala Coast at Mauna Lani.

Fairway Villas Waikoloa by Outrigger

69-200 pohakulana pl, waikoloa - hawaii, hi, 96738, united states.

Situated along the renowned Beach Golf Course in the exclusive Waikoloa Resort, the property features air-conditioned condominiums including one-bedroom, two-bedroom, two-bedroom with loft and three-bedroom villas.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

72-100 ka`upulehu dr, north kona coast, hi, 96740, united states.

Set on Hawaii Island's exclusive Kona-Kohala Coast, this showpiece oceanfront luxury resort in Hualalai captures the essence of Hawaiian design, culture and tradition.

Grand Naniloa Hotel, a Doubletree by Hilton

93 banyan dr, hilo - hawaii, hi, 96720, united states.

This oceanside resort boasts panoramic, tropical views. Natural wonders like Kaumana Caves, Rainbow Falls, and sea turtles at Carlsmith Beach Park are six miles away.

Halii Kai at Waikoloa

69-1029 nawahine pl, waikoloa - hawaii, hi, 96738, united states.

This 29-acre oceanfront resort stretches along Waikoloa’s Beach Golf Course and the Pacific Ocean.

Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

71 banyan dr, hilo - hawaii, hi, 96720, united states.

This full service hotel offers outstanding views of the ocean and quaint Hilo town framed by the backdrop of Mauna Kea.

Hilton Waikoloa Village®

69-425 waikoloa beach dr, waikoloa - hawaii, hi, 96738, united states.

The 62 acres of oceanfront resort offers tropical gardens, cascading waterfalls and virtually every activity, including dolphin encounters at Dolphin Quest Village.

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

72-300 maheawalu dr, north kona coast, hi, 96740, united states.

Located along the sacred shores of Kahuwai Bay, Kona Village is an iconic Big Island hideaway rooted in the legacy and mo’olelo (stories) of the native Hawaiians who came before. An inviting retreat for families, these historic lands hold wonders for guests of every generation. Immerse in the profound warmth of local ho’okipa (hospitality of complete giving) in this former ancient fishing village, now sustainably renewed and elevated with the tastes of the 21st century.

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection

62-100 mauna kea beach dr, kohala coast - hawaii, hi, 96743, united states.

Renew and reconnect in a setting of understated elegance at this Rockefeller-developed masterpiece on Kauna'oa Bay.

Mauna Lani Point

68-1050 mauna lani point dr, kohala coast - hawaii, hi, 96743, united states.

Offering one and two-bedroom ocean and fairway view tropical villas within the world-famous Mauna Lani Resort, this property is ideal for families and friends traveling together.

Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection

68-1400 mauna lani dr, kohala coast - hawaii, hi, 96743, united states.

Surrounded by 32 expansive oceanfront acres, the resort is marked by royal fishponds, natural lava plains, lush tropical gardens, alluring beaches, and a spacious four-acre South lawn.

SCP Hilo Hotel

126 banyan way, hilo - hawaii, hi, 96720, united states.

Ideal for the adventure traveler or cultural seeker, SCP Hilo Hotel is the perfect location for exploring The Big Island of Hawaii. With an emphasis on local culture and locally sourced goods, this hotel provides guests with SCP's Holistic Hospitality combined with authentic Hawaiian Hospitality.

The Islands at Mauna Lani

68-1375 pauoa rd, kohala coast - hawaii, hi, 96743, united states.

Here on the sunny Kohala Coast, you will find a golfer’s paradise of world-class courses coupled with uniquely Hawaiian resort activities that excite even the most well-traveled guests. Golfers, tennis players, beachcombers and spa aficionados find their perfect vacation here. Equally popular with extended families and friends traveling together, The Islands at Mauna Lani offers extra spacious two-and three-bedroom split-level townhome residences. All provide privileged views of the Mauna Lani Golf Course and access to an idyllic sandy beach cove. These luxury properties offer space, value and privacy that is simply unavailable in hotel rooms.

The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort

62-100 kauna'oa dr, kohala coast - hawaii, hi, 96743, united states.

Nestled into the bluffs above beautiful Hapuna Beach, the hotel presents a contemporary Hawaiian style where guests experience the true essence of rejuvenation.

Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

69-275 waikoloa beach dr, waikoloa - hawaii, hi, 96738, united states.

Guests seeking relaxation and rejuvenation will find it all at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, located beachfront along the sun drenched Kohala Coast.

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More About Kona Coast

Offering ample sun and clear waters, the Kona Coast is the prime area on Hawaii Island for discovering marine life. The calm and clear waters aid in spotting passing dolphin pods, manta rays, and honu (green sea turtles).

Historic Kailua Town is a seaside village on the Kona Coast. Down on Alii Drive, you can stop in and tour the Hulihee Palace and the Mokuaikaua Church. The Hulihee Palace was built in 1838 as a summer home for Hawaiian royalty and today is a museum with artifacts from King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani. Before heading back to your resort, stop off at the Kailua Pier for some spectacular sunsets.

To the south of Kona Airport is the Kaloko-Honokohau and Puuhonua o Honaunau National Parks. The Kaloko-Honokohau National Park is home to Hawaiian fishponds, kii pohaku (petroglyphs) and heiau (sacred place of worship). The visitor center offers excellent insight into what life was like for Native Hawaiians. Puuhonua o Honaunau National Park, once Royal grounds and a place of refuge for ancient Hawaiians who broke kapu (the law) is hundreds of years old and beautifully restored.

No trip to the Kona Coast could be complete without a stop at a local coffee farm. Reflect on your vacation and relive the memories with family and friends with a cup of 100% Kona coffee. The perfect souvenir to bring home.

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I only shop for one, but my Costco membership is worth it for 7 reasons — like saving hundreds on gas a year

• I've been a Costco member for 25+ years and, for the past five, have been shopping for just myself.
• Costco has great food deals and I save by buying my electronics and tires there. 
• I'm regularly saving 25 to 30 cents a gallon on gas by going to Costco. 

When I joined Costco back in 1997, I was living in California with my then-husband. We'd wander the aisles, loading our cart with all kinds of fun things, and then get pizza from the food court.

After we split up a few years ago and I started only shopping for one, there was no way I was giving up my membership.

After all, the wholesale club has 129.5 million membership cardholders , which range from small households to midsize businesses. I was confident I'd make the most of my membership for one.

Fortunately, I've found plenty of deals for a single shopper at Costco . Here are my favorites.

Costco's tire and auto center saves me tons on my car.

Thankfully, I don't need tires and batteries on the regular. But when I do, I turn to Costco.

My car requires high-performance tires, which can be hundreds of dollars a pop. They're so costly that I waited as long as possible to replace them last year.

I shopped around for the lowest price and found buying at Costco saved me more than $120 on a set of four. Plus, they came with a five-year road-hazard warranty. Three months later, one of my tires got a screw in it, and I was able to have it repaired at Costco for free in just an hour.

Last month my car needed a new battery. If only I'd remembered Costco sells batteries — I could've saved $100!

The frozen-food section is great for one person.

Even though I shop for one, I love picking up a few staples at Costco . The freezer section is an especially great spot.

I'm an evangelist for the wild salmon burgers that come frozen in a bag of 12. They're easy to store and to pull out and grill, broil, or pan-fry any night of the week for a quick and high-protein dinner .

The large bags of frozen shrimp are also easy to portion out and use up.

I stock up on big bags of frozen organic fruit for my protein smoothies, too. It's priced well and saves me from having to keep going to the grocery store for those little bags with less than three servings.

I get pantry staples, too.

I love the large box of Kodiak protein-pancake mix I find at Costco. Smaller boxes of the mix are pricey, so I save by buying it in bulk.

I also stock up on large packs of canned tuna, which doesn't take up a ton of room in my pantry, is so versatile, and lasts for months.

And, when I need a sweet treat, the gluten-free, vegan, and low-sugar Unreal dark-chocolate coconut minis hit the spot with their taste and price. The minis cost way more elsewhere — I can get just over 15 ounces of them for $13 at Costco or a 4-ounce bag at Target for $5.50.

Costco's optical center saves me money and is easy to use.

I find it convenient to book an exam with an independent Doctor of Optometry at Costco and then order glasses and contact lenses right there in the warehouse or online.

I've shopped around for my expensive multi-focal contact lenses and typically find the best prices at Costco .

Even better, Costco accepts a whole bunch of insurance plans. And I can buy the Clear Care contact solution I use in bulk for a great price while I'm at the warehouse picking up my prescription, too.

Electronics purchases come with great warranties and support.

Costco regularly has deals on electronics, but tech purchases come with other perks, too.

I bought a laptop at Costco a few years ago and have made good use of the free concierge tech support that came with my purchase. I would call Costco's tech-support hotline at any hour and I was never made to feel stupid for needing help.

Costco also offers extended manufacturer's warranties on tons of electronics purchased at the warehouse, from televisions to computers to appliances.

Costco has some pretty great clothing options, too.

Costco sells clothing and accessories from big-name brands and lesser-known ones — all at pretty decent prices.

Last winter, I got a no-name winter puffy coat at Costco for $20 that could pass for a high-end one that costs hundreds.

I've also purchased well-made gloves, shirts, workout leggings, and shorts from Costco. I even bought a couple of sundresses there several years ago and still get compliments every time I wear one.

Lastly, the gas prices are pretty great at Costco.

I live a nomadic life so I drive a lot and always look for the cheapest gas .

Most recently I saved 38 cents a gallon at Costco compared to the other gas stations in the area. That adds up to me saving a few hundred dollars a year on gas by choosing Costco.

Sometimes the lines to get gas at Costco are long, but I can see why. Fortunately, I find they usually move pretty fast.

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Get a $40 Gift Card for Free With This Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership

A Costco membership lets you shop for everyday essentials for less, and this deal even comes with a gift card.

Warehouse shopping trips cost a lot less than normal ones, and with everything being so expensive right now, every small saving can add up. If you're looking to enter the world of warehouses, then we recommend grabbing this  Costco's Gold Star annual membership via StackSocial  for $60, which not only granted access to Costco Wholesale, but also comes with a $40 gift card you can use in-store. Basically, you'll only be paying $20 for access, and you can end up saving that on just the first couple of trips. 

StackSocial doesn't list a specific date for when this deal will end, but it must be redeemed by June 16 in order for you to receive your credit. We recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later if you want to take advantage of this offer. Keep in mind, this offer is only available only to new customers, or those whose memberships have been expired for more than 18 months. If you've been thinking of picking up an annual Costco membership, this is a great way to keep more cash in your pocket. 

Read more:   How to Get the Most Out of Your Costco Membership

With a Costco Gold Star subscription, you'll get one membership card for your household. It allows you to shop at any Costco warehouse worldwide, as well as online at Costco.com. While Costco is a great place to save on groceries and other everyday essentials, it offers a lot more. A Gold Star membership also means you can use Costco's gas stations and pharmacies, as well as Costco's optical and hearing aid centers. Costco frequently has seasonal plants, decor, furniture, electronics and other products as well.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money .

After you sign up, you'll receive your bonus shop card via email. The card can be used both in-store and online, so you can use it right away. It's also worth reiterating that after you pay for membership through StackSocial, you'll have until June 16 to redeem the membership at Costco, or you may not be able to take advantage of the deal.

More shopping deals from CNET

CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the  CNET Deals page , and sign up for the  CNET Deals Text  to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free  CNET Shopping extension  to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse our  gift guide , which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more.

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Costco (cost) posts decent comparable sales growth in april.

Costco Wholesale Corporation COST continues to excel due to its strategic growth initiatives, effective pricing strategies and steady membership trends. These factors have propelled the company's performance, leading to decent sales figures.

Sales Performance Overview

In April, Costco reported an increase in comparable sales, with 5.6% growth during the four-week period ended May 5, 2024. This follows consecutive increases of 7.7% and 5% in March and February, respectively. Comparable sales in the United States, Canada and Other International locations saw improvements of 5.8%, 5.2% and 5.1%, respectively. Excluding the impacts of changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange, comparable sales for the month under discussion rose 5.5% on improvements of 5.2%, 5.9% and 7% in the United States, Canada and Other International locations, respectively. E-commerce sales also surged, marking a 14.6% increase year over year or 14.8%, excluding the impact of gasoline prices and foreign exchange. Costco’s net sales increased 7.1% to $19.8 billion for the retail month of April from $18.48 billion last year. This followed an improvement of 9.4% and 6.9% witnessed in March and February, respectively. This year’s April performance was impacted by the shift in the timing of Easter, resulting in a slight decrease of just more than 0.5% in both total and comparable sales.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Wrapping Up

Through a calculated approach that involves identifying untapped markets and tailoring offerings to meet customer preferences, Costco has managed to deepen its roots. This retail bellwether has been steadily expanding its footprint through new club openings in the domestic and international markets. Costco also operates e-commerce sites in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Australia. We believe a favorable product mix, membership growth, pricing power and strong liquidity should benefit Costco. Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have advanced 34.7% in the past six months compared with the Retail – Discount Stores industry’s rise of 27.6%.

3 Stocks Looking Red Hot

Here, we have highlighted three better-ranked stocks, namely Sprouts Farmers Market SFM, Target Corporation TGT and Tractor Supply Company TSCO. Sprouts Farmers, a renowned grocery retailer, sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). SFM has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9.2%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here . The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sprouts Farmers’ current financial-year sales and earnings suggests growth of around 8.1% and 8.5%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers. Target, a general merchandise retailer in the United States, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). TGT has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 27.1%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current financial-year earnings suggests growth of around 5% from the year-ago reported numbers. Tractor Supply, which operates as a rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. Tractor Supply has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.7%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Tractor Supply’s current financial-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 3% and 2.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

Target Corporation (TGT) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (SFM) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

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