Sakura Season: The Cost Of Our 2-Week Japan Adventure

Japan’s sakura season, or cherry blossom season, occurs between late March and early May. It’s renowned for its fleeting but stunning display of white and pink blooms that typically lasts only about a week. With its brief and dynamic beauty, this season attracts visitors from all over the world, making it one of the most expensive times to travel in Japan.

After some research, Brian joked that our two-week vacation could cost as much as $10,000. I wasn’t willing to pay that! Honestly, I almost decided to postpone the trip. Japan was a loose travel idea for me, but it was Brian’s excitement that ultimately motivated me to figure out how to make this adventure an affordable reality.

Japan in April: Peak Sakura Season

Our April getaway quickly came together within two months, with most of the plans falling into place in the last three weeks before we left. If it were not for keeping a mindful eye on flight price fluctuations, I’m not sure that this trip would have happened the way it did!

Once we snagged affordable flights, we turned our attention to finding budget-friendly accommodations and activities. Between sakura season and the opening of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, the demand for hotels skyrocketed. With prices soaring, we had to get creative to keep our spending in check!

Flights

$1,563.02

Brian and I split the purchase with points, spending only $783.02 in cash.

Roundtrip economy class flights from Atlanta to Tokyo typically range from $1,500 to $1,800 during sakura season. That’s a whole lot of money to me, and I was simply not going to pay that. I set a Kayak price alert, periodically checked flights from different airports, and manually tracked fare fluctuations at random. Lo and behold, my obsessive efforts led me to a last-minute fare drop.

One early morning, I stumbled across a roundtrip flight on United Airlines for $781.51. Compared to the prices I’d been seeing, this was a steal! We jumped on it, which proved to be a smart choice, because the same ticket spiked to $1,671.61 the next day.

Accommodations

$2,380.89

As noted in my previous post, we chose accommodations outside tourist hotspots for better rates. Sakura season priced us out of the options we’d typically choose, so we leveraged points and loyalty rewards to offset our costs.

Without these advantages, the total cash cost of accommodations would have amounted to $3,989.95!

Instead of staying in budget hotels or hostels, Brian and I took advantage of free and award stays at luxury hotels. However, these accommodations had no kitchen facilities, not even a mini-fridge or microwave. While a luxury space is a nice treat, having access to a kitchen (or at the very least, a mini-fridge) is pretty essential for us when we travel.

That being said, we added an Airbnb and a couple of local vacation rentals to our trip. Over the course of 14 days, we stayed in 6 different accommodations:

Each accommodation was wonderfully comfortable, providing a restful refuge to unwind after a day of exploring. All of them were situated in quiet areas away from heavy foot traffic and busy roads. Whether it was starting the morning with a cup of coffee, savoring some downtime, or coping with food poisoning, we felt right at home everywhere we stayed.

Honorable mentions go to:

Fuji Speedway Hotel – The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

Spacious and inviting, the Fuji Speedway Hotel provided the perfect evening retreat to recover from food poisoning! With a dreamy view of Mount Fuji, Brian and I hunkered down and soaked in the scenery. The hotel itself offers a cozy, luxe experience with fantastic soundproofing, helpful staff, and ultra-comfortable bedding.

Rakuten Stay Fujimi Terrace Hakone Ashinoko

What drew us to this Rakuten Stay property was the partial open-air onsen (natural hot spring bath), allowing us to indulge in a private soaking experience overlooking Lake Ashinoko and Mount Fuji. We also appreciated its roomy accommodations and full kitchen!

InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8 by IHG

We couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing final stay in Japan! Though the location isn’t very convenient for public transportation (it’s a 20-minute walk from the train station), we found it to be perfectly suited to us.

Overlooking the bay, the InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8 is connected to the Yokohama Hammerhead shopping mall and provides easy access to numerous restaurants, the waterfront promenade, and Yokohama World Porters, an indoor shopping mall of more than 150 unique stores.

The first floor of Yokohama World Porters is known as ‘Hawaiian Town’ and features Hawaiian-themed shops and food vendors. We were seriously stoked to discover a Leonard’s Bakery (the same one based in Honolulu, Hawaii!). Brian and I promptly bought 6 malasadas and devoured them in our super-comfy hotel room!

Rental Car

$574.73

It’s generally not recommended for first-time visitors to rent a car in Japan. Not only can driving abroad be intimidating, but most major tourist destinations are easily accessible using Japan’s extensive public transport, making a rental unnecessary.

Nevertheless, Brian and I love the freedom and flexibility of a rental car. We booked a 5-day rental from Toyota Rent a Car, one of Japan’s leading rental companies with over 1,100 locations. It was incredibly easy to reserve our vehicle online, select our pick-up and drop-off locations, and opt-in for the ETC toll pass for easy access to the highway system.

All staff members were a pleasure to work with, providing straightforward, fantastic service. We highly recommend renting from them if you find yourself searching for a rental vehicle in Japan!

Public Transportation

$651.42

Gah! I cannot even begin to describe how ecstatic we were to be able to hop on and off trains everywhere! It’s been a while since we’ve used an efficient transit system. Unfortunately, the one we have here at home isn’t nearly as reliable and extensive as it should be! In fact, while in Japan, it took me a couple of rides to realize that missing a train wasn’t a big deal. Another one would come along in a few minutes, which is different than the 20-minute waits I’m used to experiencing.

It’s such a shame that the US doesn’t have much in the way of high-speed rail options. Brian and I booked 3 different routes on the Shinkansen, Japan’s bullet train network. It was a great experience: easy to navigate, super-efficient, and really comfortable. We loved the spacious seating, as well as how quiet and relaxing the rides were.

Of the total $651.42 spent on public transportation, $494.23 went toward Shinkansen tickets. And because we pre-booked tickets through SmartEX, we received a $43.86 discount!

Local Fare

$471.67

I wish I could say we ate to our hearts’ content while out and about, but the truth is, most of our dining budget went to small bites from shopping streets and food stalls. Despite the strength of the US dollar, we found the prices to dine out in Japan just as costly, if not more, than in the US.

Between snacking on plenty of pastries, mochi, and seafood, we treated ourselves to rich bowls of ramen, soba noodles, and fresh sashimi.

Groceries

$245.53

Thank goodness for grocery stores! I have no idea how we would have gotten our fill of veggies if it were not for the produce section. To be honest, we had to visit a few different grocery stores to find both a decent variety and amount of greens.

We spent significantly more on groceries in Japan than we do at home. Japanese grocery stores offer an amazing selection of fresh sashimi, sushi, and wagyu beef. Naturally, we took full advantage of the opportunity to enjoy these premium meats and seafood during our visit.

Activities

$357.92

Brian and I will occasionally book guided tours while traveling, depending on our available time, level of interest, and the quality of the tour offered. Because of sakura season and the overall projected expense of the trip, we made the decision to explore self-guided activities in Japan.

We trekked more than 18 miles of hiking trails, wandered countless city streets, and visited temples and shrines. Many activities came at no cost, though we invested in unique attractions like Japan’s first open-air museum in Hakone, the Meiji-Mura open-air architectural museum, the Fuji Motorsports Museum, and the 2025 World Expo.

The 2025 World Expo, which was a huge reason for our trip, showcases innovative displays and cultural performances from over 150 countries. Brian and I were excited to explore the various pavilions and perspectives on ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives,’ the expo’s theme!

Unfortunately, it was a bit disorganized, and many restaurants, pavilions, and other attractions were not open yet. Luckily, we expected as much since we learned of its challenges prior to visiting. Perhaps things will improve in the next month or so!

Other fee-based activities we participated in include garden visits, a hot springs soak, and a single food tour. Unfortunately, the food tour wasn’t worth the $177.50 cost. Brian and I purchased tickets for a 13-dish tasting and walking tour just before leaving for Japan, treating it as a last-minute splurge. We had high hopes of trying new flavors and unique dishes, as we had fond memories of enjoying pani câ meusa (veal spleen and lung sandwich) on a Sicilian food tour.

While our Tokyo food tour filled our tummies, we didn’t encounter any dishes or flavors that we hadn’t tasted before. Additionally, we felt that if we had chosen our own dishes outside the tour, we would have spent far less—certainly under the $177.50 price tag!

Budget Breakdown

Here’s a breakdown of the costs for our 2-week Japan adventure:

For budget to mid-range travelers, a two-week trip to Japan generally falls in the range of $1,800 to $3,800 per person. Of course, prices can vary based on travel style and the time of the year. Considering that Brian and I traveled during the height of sakura season, one of the most anticipated and costly times to visit, we were pretty happy with our cost of just over $2,800 each. At $5,600, our trip was far more affordable than the casual $10,000 estimate!

Our two-week adventure during sakura season proved to be both beautiful and budget-friendly. With a few strategic moves and a willingness to venture off the beaten path, we were able to enjoy the stunning scenery and rich culture that Japan has to offer. If you’re considering a trip during this magical season, remember that it doesn’t have to cost a fortune! As you start planning, don’t hesitate to look for creative ways to keep your budget on track while still having an amazing adventure.