How this family packed food, fun and Fuji into a ₹5.5 lakh Japan trip

A 12-day family trip to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and some of Japan's lesser-known cultural spots—all on a budget

- Shipra Singh

In 2024, Indian travel to Japan surged 40% over the previous year, as per the Japan National Tourism Organization. Behind the boom: timeless culture, standout food—and a softer yen.

For Mumbai-based author and finance professional Mihir Patki, the timing was just right. He, his wife Payal and their 10-year-old daughter Mira finally ticked Japan off their travel wishlist this May. "A great flight deal and a favourable exchange rate made it hard to resist," said Patki.

"Japan had always been on our list, but we kept postponing it—our daughter was younger, and it felt like a trip that needed time, planning and the right moment. In 2025, everything finally aligned."

Over 12 days and ₹5.5 lakh, the family covered Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Hiroshima—blending budget-savvy planning with immersive experiences. As part of Mint's travel series, Patki shares exactly how they made it work.

Booked, packed, budgeted

Planning began with scoring cheap tickets during All Nippon Airways' (ANA) Blue Sale. We booked a Mumbai–Tokyo round trip and a Tokyo–Osaka leg for just ₹38,000 per person. Booking six months in advance helped, as did spending a few weeks curating our itinerary with the help of Instagram reels—mainly to steer clear of the most touristy spots.

We booked refundable hotels early on Booking.com to lock in good rates while staying flexible. It paid off—we tweaked our bookings several times to land the most suitable ones. Our focus was on hotels close to metro stations, with large double beds, and within budget.

Triple occupancy rooms are rare in Japan, and most places recommend two rooms for three people, which wasn't feasible. We eventually found 3-star options that cost an average of ₹16,000 per night for all three of us.