Travel guide for Indian travellers

Japan trip from India: cost, visa & best time

Japan is the bucket-list trip more Indians are finally taking — neon Tokyo, Mount Fuji, thousands of shrines in Kyoto and Osaka’s food streets, all connected by the bullet train. Here is the budget, the e-visa and how vegetarians eat well.

See our 7-day itinerary Plan my own trip
Flight
8–10 hours direct
Budget
₹21,000 a day
Best time
Mar – May, Oct – Nov
Visa
Visa required — e-Visa available for Indian passport holders

Why Japan

Why Indians love a Japan trip

  • Unlike anywhere else

    Ancient temples and futuristic cities in one country.

  • Bullet trains

    Tokyo to Kyoto in about two hours, always on time.

  • Very safe

    Ideal for families, solo travellers and first-time visitors.

  • Seasons to plan around

    Cherry blossoms in spring and red leaves in autumn.

Cost

How much does a Japan trip cost from India?

Per person, per day, excluding flights; trip totals are for our 7-day itinerary. Prices are planning estimates for sharing a room.

  • Budget

    ₹11,000/ day

    About ₹77,000 for 7 days

    Business hotels and hostels, local trains

  • ComfortMost popular

    ₹21,000/ day

    About ₹1.5L for 7 days

    4-star hotels, bullet trains, a Fuji day trip

  • Luxury

    ₹45,000/ day

    About ₹3.1L for 7 days

    Luxury hotels, a ryokan night, private guides

Flights: ₹50,000 – 90,000 returnHotel prices nearly double during cherry-blossom season (late March to early April); book 3–4 months ahead.

Best time to visit

When to go to Japan, month by month

  1. JanGood

    Cold, clear Fuji views

  2. FebGood

    Cold, plum blossoms

  3. MarBest

    Cherry blossoms begin

  4. AprBest

    Cherry blossom peak, busy

  5. MayBest

    Mild, green, Golden Week crowds

  6. JunAvoid

    Rainy season

  7. JulGood

    Hot and humid, festivals

  8. AugGood

    Hot, Fuji climbing season

  9. SepGood

    Typhoon risk

  10. OctBest

    Comfortable, clear

  11. NovBest

    Autumn leaves peak

  12. DecGood

    Cold, illuminations

Our advice: Late March to May (cherry blossoms) and October to November (autumn leaves) are the most beautiful and the busiest. June is the rainy season; July and August are hot and humid; winter is cold but clear, with great Fuji views.

Before you fly

Visa, flights & money for Japan from India

  • Visa for Indians

    Apply for the Japan eVISA (for residents of India) or through VFS/approved centres with your itinerary, bookings and bank statements. Fill in Visit Japan Web before departure for a single QR code at immigration and customs.

  • Flights from India

    Direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Tokyo (Narita or Haneda, about 8 hours) on Air India, JAL and ANA. Fly home from Osaka Kansai with one stop, or return to Tokyo by bullet train.

  • Money & payments

    Currency is the yen (JPY; ₹1 is about ¥1.7). Japan still uses a lot of cash — 7-Eleven and Japan Post ATMs accept Indian cards. Load an IC card (Suica, PASMO or ICOCA) for trains, buses and convenience stores.

  • SIM, eSIM & apps

    Buy a Japan eSIM before you fly or rent pocket Wi-Fi at the airport. Google Maps transit directions work brilliantly.

  • Plugs & power

    Types A/B (flat two-pin), 100V. Indian plugs need an adapter; most phone and laptop chargers handle 100V, but check hair dryers and straighteners.

  • Time difference

    Japan is 3 hours 30 minutes ahead of India.

Visa and entry rules change. Always confirm on the official embassy or government website before you book.

Vegetarian & Jain food

Where vegetarians eat well in Japan

Japanese broths often contain fish stock (dashi), so choose dedicated vegetarian places. Tokyo and Kyoto have Indian vegetarian restaurants that understand Jain food.

  • Harajuku Omotesando, Tokyo

    NatarajJain food

    Japan's first vegetarian Indian restaurant; Jain, vegan and halal meals available.

  • Higashiyama, Kyoto (near Kiyomizu-Gojo)

    ShamaJain food

    Indian vegetarian food made without onion, garlic or leek; every dish can be made Jain.

  • Arashiyama, Kyoto

    Shigetsu at Tenryu-ji

    Traditional shojin-ryori Buddhist vegetarian meal inside a UNESCO temple.

  • Inside Tokyo and Ueno stations

    T's Tantan

    Fully vegan ramen and dumplings — handy between train rides.

  • Nakagyo, Kyoto

    Mother IndiaJain food

    Indian restaurant that prepares Jain meals on request.

How to ask: Carry a card in Japanese saying "I do not eat meat, fish, eggs or dashi (fish stock)". Say "Jain" at Indian restaurants.

Insider tips

Save money and skip the queues

  • Save money

    Skip the JR Pass for this route

    Since the 2023 price increase, a one-way Tokyo–Kyoto Shinkansen ticket plus IC-card local trains is usually cheaper than a 7-day JR Pass.

  • Save money

    Convenience-store meals

    7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart sell onigiri, fruit and salads; look for plum (ume) or kelp (kombu) onigiri for vegetarian options.

  • Save money

    Tax-free shopping over ¥5,000

    Show your passport at shops marked "Tax Free" for purchases above ¥5,000 at one store on the same day and skip the 10% consumption tax.

  • Local secret

    Use luggage forwarding (takkyubin)

    Send big suitcases from your Tokyo hotel to your Kyoto hotel for about ¥2,000–3,000 each and travel the bullet train light.

  • Local secret

    No tipping, ever

    Tipping is not part of Japanese culture and can cause confusion. Great service is simply standard.

  • Best timing

    Fushimi Inari at sunrise

    The shrine is open 24 hours. Arrive before 8 AM for photos of the torii gates without crowds.

FAQs

Japan trip questions, answered

What Indian travellers ask us most before booking.

Do Indians need a visa for Japan?

Yes. Indian passport holders can apply for a Japan e-visa for short tourist stays through the authorised visa centre; the fee is low and processing usually takes about a week. Apply at least a month before travel in peak seasons.

How much does a 7-day Japan trip cost from India?

About ₹21,000 per person per day for a comfortable trip with bullet trains, plus ₹50,000–90,000 for flights — roughly ₹2–2.4 lakh per person in total.

Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?

After its price rise, it is worth it mainly for long journeys like Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima and back. For Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka only, individual bullet-train tickets are often cheaper.

Is Japan difficult for vegetarians?

It takes planning, as many dishes use fish stock (dashi). Use apps like HappyCow, look for Buddhist temple food (shojin ryori) and Indian restaurants, and carry a card that explains your diet in Japanese.

How many days do we need for Japan?

Seven days covers Tokyo, a Mount Fuji day trip, Kyoto and Osaka. Ten days lets you add Nara, Hiroshima or the Japanese Alps at a slower pace.

Curated by EZYaan

Japan: Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto & Osaka

Neon Tokyo, a clear-day view of Fuji, Kyoto’s shrines and bamboo, Nara’s deer and Osaka street food — on the bullet train.

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Japan Trip from India: Cost, e-Visa, Best Time & Veg Food