Japan’s Surprising Affordability Draws Growing Number of Russian Travelers

Japan, long seen as an expensive dream destination for Russian tourists, has suddenly become a realistic option for many more travelers. The reason? A roughly 30 percent drop in the value of the yen over the past few years has made the country far more accessible, according to Sergei Obrashchev, a representative of a Japanese travel agency.

“Japan was always considered a costly place, and it was,” Obrashchev told reporters in Tokyo. “But the weaker yen has changed that. In the past, only wealthy travelers could afford a family trip here. Now we see visitors of all ages and budgets. It’s hard to pin down a typical Russian tourist anymore.”

Obrashchev noted that the range of spending habits is broad. Some guests book luxury suites in five-star hotels, while others carefully watch their spending on food and transport, just to make the trip happen. But nearly everyone shares one reaction: surprise at how much cheaper Japan feels than they expected.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re splurging or pinching pennies,” he said. “Almost all our clients tell us that restaurants, cafes, and shopping cost less than they imagined. That gap between perception and reality is a big reason for the surge in interest.”

With the yen still low, the trend shows no signs of slowing. For Russian travelers looking for a world-class experience without breaking the bank, Japan has quietly become one of the best deals around.