Japan was supposed to be out of budget. My 14-day total: $1,387. That's $99/day including a Shinkansen pass, 5 different accommodations, 42 meals, all entrance fees, one tea ceremony, and one very consequential night at a ryokan in Hakone.
The Flight: Points-Funded
Booked via ANA Miles (transferred from Chase UR to United, then saver award on ANA operated flights). 35,000 miles one-way in economy JFK-NRT. Round trip: 70,000 miles. I had 90,000 UR from the CSP welcome bonus. Flight effective cost: $0 + $65 in taxes. This is the move.
Accommodation Breakdown
Tokyo (5 nights): Sotetsu Fresa Inn Shinjuku, $68/night. Clean, well-located, breakfast included. Kyoto (3 nights): Dormy Inn Kyoto Ekimae, $75/night. Great onsen, walking distance to station. Osaka (3 nights): Cross Hotel Osaka, $62/night. Hakone (1 night): Kappa Tengoku ryokan, $185/night including dinner + breakfast. The ryokan was the splurge that made the trip.
Food: The Real Budget Advantage
Japan's food costs destroyed my assumptions. A ramen bowl: ¥800-1,200 ($5.50-$8.50). A conveyor belt sushi lunch: ¥1,500 ($10). A conbini onigiri breakfast: ¥200 ($1.40). An izakaya dinner with beer: ¥2,500 ($17). I averaged $28/day on food — including two Michelin-starred lunches under $40 each (Japan does budget-Michelin better than anywhere).
Transport: JR Pass Breakdown
The 14-day JR Pass ($432) covers Shinkansen between cities plus JR lines within each city. I ran the math on individual Shinkansen tickets for my route: $540+. The pass saved me $108 and eliminated ticket stress. But: if you're only doing Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka without Hiroshima, you likely break even or lose on the pass. Calculate your specific route before buying.