If you read our post The Plan for Japan, you’ll know we planned an incredible two-week trip to Japan using miles and points. We stand by what we said. With a solid plan and direction, anyone can book their dream vacation. Let’s take a look at our two weeks in Japan and how we made it happen.
The Flights
Our first step was determining which award program would best get us to Japan. A quick search on www.pointsyeah.com showed us that American Airlines (AAdvantage) requires 35,000 miles one way—or 70,000 miles round trip. From Salt Lake, this was perfect.
When we first initiated “The Plan for Japan,” the Barclays Aviator Red card was offering a sign-up bonus of 75,000 AAdvantage points when adding an authorized user. With the two of us, we opened one card with the 60,000 points offer and another with the 75,000 points promotion. As three of us needed to travel to Japan, we used 35,000 points from one card and 70,000 points from the other to book our tickets.
To get home, we utilized Air Canada’s Aeroplan program. With lots of transfer partners, and set award charts, it’s often an excellent option. It helped that we already had 85,000 Aeroplan points in one of our accounts from a previous credit card. Since a one-way flight from Japan to the U.S. requires 50,000 Aeroplan points, we used these along with an additional 65,000 points transferred from Capital One to book our flights to Salt Lake City
To see the finer details of our flight bookings, go back to our Plan for Japan post.
The Flights Concluded
The round-trip cash value of these flights from Salt Lake City was approximately $1,400 per person, totaling $4,200 for all three of us. Instead, we redeemed 105,000 AAdvantage points and 150,000 Aeroplan points, for a total of 255,000 points and $326 in taxes and fees. While it was more than I’d ideally like to spend, it was a redemption we’re happy with—especially since we got to Japan for next to nothing. If it had just been the two of us, we could have used only AAdvantage points, covering the entire round-trip for a total of 140,000 points.
At the time of booking, the fare was $1,400 per person. While this is a fairly average price, it’s worth noting that round-trip deals from Salt Lake City often range between $700 and $1,000.
Check out How We Find Cheap Flights.
Hotels
Our first night in Japan was spent just down the road from the airport. We chose this for the airport shuttle. We booked it using the Amex Delta Gold card’s annual $100 hotel statement credit, reducing the cost to just $39. This also included a $24 breakfast buffet.
We spent the next three nights at the Hotel Villa Fontaine, which cost $427. However, we used the $300 annual travel credit from our Capital One Venture X card to bring the total down to $137. While there are much cheaper options available throughout the city, we opted for a bit more space, which came with a slightly higher price tag.
Our next three nights were spent at the Minn Nihonbashi, on the other side of the city. By using Hotels.com gift cards earned through Capital One Shopping and Amex Business Gold credits, we brought the cost down from $715 to $428. Similar to our earlier stay, there are plenty of cheaper options in Tokyo, but we opted for a bit more space, and the added convenience of an in-room washer and dryer.
Our next stop was Kyoto, where we spent four nights at the IHG ANA Crowne Plaza, booked for 87,000 IHG points (thanks to the fourth night free when redeeming points). This saved us $714. With any refundable hotel, flight, or rental car reservation, it’s always worth checking rates regularly. I canceled and rebooked this hotel four times, ultimately reducing the cost from 100,000 points to 87,000. Had we booked an IHG hotel in Osaka, just 35 minutes from Kyoto, we likely could have dropped the price down to only 54,000 points instead.
Our last two nights were spent back in Tokyo, where we booked two single-night reservations at the Kawasaki Nikko Hotel. This allowed us to take advantage of a $100 Capital One price match from a previous booking for the first night, as well as another $100 Amex Delta Gold credit for the second night.
Hotels Conclusion
We spent 14 days in Japan and paid $750 for the hotels. While that still feels like a bit much, I remind myself of a few key points. First, Japanese hotel rooms are notoriously tiny. This isn’t typically a big deal, but with a baby and her bed, we needed more space.
Second, without using points and credits, our hotel costs would’ve totaled $2,285.36, which is absurd. By using miles and points, we saved roughly $1,500.
Lastly, we specifically chose hotels close to metro stations to minimize daily walking. If we’d stayed farther from downtown or metro stops, we could have saved even more.
I bring this up because finding budget-friendly accommodations in Japan is surprisingly easy. Plenty of options are available for under $100 a night, making a two-week stay without using points range from $1,000 to $2,000, depending on your comfort level and spending habits. Whether you’re after a cozy hostel, a charming guesthouse, or even a budget-friendly hotel, there’s something for every traveler’s style and wallet.
Food and Activities
Travel hacking can save you a ton, but when it comes to food, there’s no real shortcut. For a trip like ours, grocery stores and convenience shops were lifesavers. One of our accommodations had a kitchen, making it easy to store and prepare meals. Breakfast was usually something quick in the room or grabbed on the go, and we stuck to one big meal each day—typically a late lunch or early dinner. In total, we spent around $400 dining out and another $300 on groceries, snacks, and convenience store goodies. The grocery stores in Japan are a hidden gem—surprisingly affordable with an amazing selection of ready-to-eat meals like sushi, bento boxes, and fresh produce. Delicious and budget-friendly!
Activities can be tricky to travel hack, but they’re more of a ‘nice-to-have’ compared to essentials like food. For us, the biggest splurges were Tokyo DisneySea, the bullet train, and general transit. DisneySea tickets were $122 for both of us—not bad for such a unique experience. The bullet train set us back $365, and other transit costs came to just under $200. Still, Japan is packed with free or low-cost experiences. You can explore stunning parks, wander through serene temples and shrines, and soak up the culture without breaking the bank. There’s no shortage of budget-friendly adventures.
For more of what we did, check out our Japan Itinerary.
Japan in Action Conclusion
Paying cash for our trip would have been an eye-watering $7,466—a figure that’s out of reach for most people. Instead, by using miles and points, we managed to bring the cost down to roughly $2,900 for a two-week trip to Japan for three people. To take that further, with a few tweaks—like leaving Hadley at home (sorry, Hadley!) or scaling back on our food adventures—we could have trimmed that down to just over $2,000. The bottom line? With thoughtful planning and smart strategies, these kinds of savings and experiences are achievable for anyone. Travel hacking isn’t some exclusive club; it’s about being savvy and making the most of what’s out there.
Not sure where to begin? Where to Begin with Travel Hacking
Have any questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out.