16 destinations · 6 comparison metrics · instant results

India vs Japan

India from about $30/day against Japan from about $75/day — compared on daily cost, the months to go and what each one is actually best for. Add a third destination below to widen the comparison.

🇮🇳

India

South Asia

CultureSpiritualityFoodHistory

🇯🇵

Japan

East Asia

CultureFoodTechnologyNature

Destination 3

Metric	🇮🇳 India South Asia	🇯🇵 Japan East Asia
Daily budget	$30–$60/day budget → mid	$75–$130/day budget → mid
Safety	Level 2 · Exercise a high degree of cautionAustralian Govt advice, 2026-08-27	Level 1 · Exercise normal safety precautionsAustralian Govt advice, 2026-08-25
Visa	e-Visa · $25, or $10 arriving Apr–Jun The 30-day e-Tourist visa costs US$25, or US$10 if you arrive April–June, plus a 3% bank charge. Same price on US, UK, EU and Australian passports.	Visa-Free 90 days UK, Irish, German, Austrian and Swiss passports can extend to 6 months, but only by applying in Japan.
Internet	🟡 Good	🟢 Excellent
Best months	JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec	JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Vibe	CultureSpiritualityFoodHistory	CultureFoodTechnologyNature
Avg meal	$1–6/meal	$5–15/meal
Stay	$10–50/night	$25–100/night
Best for	Culture seekers, spiritual travelers, budget backpackers	Culture lovers, food enthusiasts, first-time Asia visitors
Avoid	April–June (extreme heat 45°C+), monsoon in many regions July–September	Golden Week (late April–May 5), Obon (mid-August) — packed and pricey

Destination details

🇮🇳

India

South Asia

Taj Mahal at dawn

Varanasi Ganges ghats

Rajasthan palaces

Kerala backwaters

Language: Hindi + 21 official languages / English widely spoken

Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)

Transport: $3–15/day (train/tuk-tuk)

🇯🇵

Japan

East Asia

Mt. Fuji view

Kyoto geisha district

Tokyo neon

Hiroshima Peace Park

Language: Japanese / English in tourist areas

Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY)

Transport: $10–20/day (JR Pass or IC Card)

Verify before you book

Daily costs here are planning estimates, not quotes, and the visa and safety figures are editorial summaries rather than official determinations. Entry rules in particular change without notice and depend on your own passport — confirm them against these primary sources before you spend money or board a flight.

IATA Travel Centre entry requirementsPassport, visa and health rules by nationality and destination — the dataset airlines check at check-in.US State Department travel advisoriesOfficial US destination risk levels, entry requirements and country-specific safety guidance.UK FCDO foreign travel adviceUK government destination advice covering safety, security, health, entry, and local laws.Australia Smartraveller destinationsAustralian government destination advice levels and recent advisory changes.