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Trip guide · Japan

Splitting expenses on a Tokyo trip - what to budget, how to settle up

Last updated by The EvenRound team.

IC card top-ups, conveyor-belt sushi where everyone picks differently, and one karaoke session billed in 30-min blocks.

Tokyo is the group destination where bills are itemised in obsessive detail (good for splitting) but cash is still surprisingly common (bad for tracking). Every conveyor-belt sushi meal produces a precisely itemised receipt by plate colour. Every izakaya bill comes per-person. The challenge is logging in JPY - the exchange rate moves, and snapshotted FX matters for any group that's not all Japanese-bank-account holders.

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Realistic per-person daily budget

Local currency: Japanese yen (JPY)

CategoryPer person, per dayNotes
Accommodation€60–€110 (¥9,500–17,500)Shinjuku or Shibuya hotel double ¥18,000–32,000/night; Airbnbs are limited (Japan minpaku rules).
Food and drinks€30–€60 (¥4,800–9,500)Conveyor sushi ¥2000–3500, ramen ¥1000–1500, izakaya dinner ¥3500–6000, beer ¥500–800.
Transport€8–€15 (¥1,300–2,400)Suica/Pasmo IC card. Tokyo Metro 24-hour ¥800. Narita Express ¥3070. Shinkansen day-trip add-ons ¥10,000+.
Activities and entrances€15–€40 (¥2,400–6,400)TeamLab Planets ¥3800, Skytree ¥2100, Senso-ji free, karaoke ¥600/30min/person.

Common shared-expense scenarios in Tokyo

  1. 01
    Conveyor-belt sushi where everyone picks different plates

    Sushiro or Genki Sushi: plate colour = price. Each person stacks 6–12 plates. Total bill per person is precisely calculable.

    Split tip

    Most conveyor places give per-person bills automatically. If not, count by plate colour at the end.

  2. 02
    Karaoke booth billed by 30-minute blocks per person

    Karaoke Kan or Big Echo: ¥600 per 30-min per person, plus drinks. Receipt is itemised.

    Split tip

    Time charge equal among singers; drinks per-attendee. Often the receipt does this for you.

  3. 03
    Izakaya dinner with the otsumami appetiser charge

    Many izakayas charge ¥300–¥500 per person for the otoshi (mandatory appetiser). Plus drinks, plus food.

    Split tip

    Otoshi per-attendee (it's already personal), drinks and food per receipt.

  4. 04
    Day trip to Hakone or Kamakura

    Round-trip Romance Car ¥2300 + Hakone Free Pass ¥6100. Some skip the onsen, some don't.

    Split tip

    Pass per-attendee at the level chosen. Onsen entries personal.

  5. 05
    Convenience-store run for breakfast

    FamilyMart or 7-Eleven: each person grabs onigiri, coffee, a salad. ¥600–¥1200 per person.

    Split tip

    Personal. Don't pool - most konbini lets each person tap separately.

Recommended split mode for Tokyo

Exact (most Japanese receipts are already itemised per-person)

Japan's restaurant culture often does per-person bills automatically. When a single bill arrives, receipt scanning works extremely well because the line items are clear.

Sample 3-day itinerary with expense touchpoints

  1. Day 1
    Shibuya + Shinjuku evening
    • IC card top-up
    • Lunch Shibuya
    • TeamLab Planets (some)
    • Izakaya dinner Shinjuku Golden Gai
    • Karaoke 1 hour
  2. Day 2
    Asakusa + Akihabara + sushi
    • Senso-ji walk (free)
    • Asakusa lunch
    • Akihabara afternoon
    • Conveyor sushi dinner
    • Drinks at a craft beer bar
  3. Day 3
    Day trip + farewell
    • Hakone or Kamakura day
    • Convenience-store breakfast
    • Farewell ramen run
    • Narita Express / Skyliner

Best for groups of …

Best for groups of 4–6. Many izakayas only seat 4–6 per booth; conveyor-belt sushi works at any size.

Currency notes

Japanese yen (JPY). Tipping is NOT done - it's awkward at best and offensive at worst. Service is included. Cash is still essential at small ramen shops, izakayas, and shrines; carry ¥10,000–20,000 in cash. ATMs at 7-Eleven (Seven Bank), Japan Post, and AEON Bank accept foreign cards. Always decline DCC.

Tokyo is the politest group trip in the world: bills are precise, splits are easy, no tipping math. Log in JPY, trust the receipts, settle at home.

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