Town in Gifu, Japan
Cost of living in Shirakawa-go
How much a month costs in Shirakawa-go
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,770–2,660 (¥280,000–420,000).
Prices in Shirakawa-go
Typical 2026 ranges in JPY, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | JPY | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ¥12,000–25,000 | $76–158 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ¥1,000–1,600 | $6.3–10.1 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ¥2,000–3,500 | $13–22 |
| Cappuccino | ¥500–800 | $3.2–5.1 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | ¥600–900 | $3.8–5.7 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | ¥200–700 | $1.3–4.4 |
| Work and life | ||
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ¥2,000–4,000 | $13–25 |
Value for money: 50/100
A value score of 50/100 means Shirakawa-go gives more quality of life per dollar than 49% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 78/100. It's the 28th most affordable of 36 places we cover in Japan.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Japan
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Kawaguchiko | $1,010–1,650 | 84/100 |
| Takayama | $1,080–1,710 | 86/100 |
| Nikko | $1,080–1,710 | 82/100 |
| Beppu | $1,140–1,650 | 82/100 |
| Hakone | $1,140–1,770 | 78/100 |
| Furano | $1,140–1,770 | 81/100 |
| Nagasaki | $1,200–1,770 | 78/100 |
| Hakodate | $1,200–1,770 | 80/100 |
| Otaru | $1,200–1,770 | 79/100 |
| Matsumoto | $1,200–1,770 | 79/100 |
| Hiroshima | $1,270–1,900 | 76/100 |
| Nara | $1,270–1,900 | 75/100 |
| Sendai | $1,270–1,900 | 77/100 |
| Kobe | $1,330–1,900 | 74/100 |
| Miyakojima | $1,330–1,960 | 76/100 |
| Ishigaki | $1,390–2,030 | 74/100 |
| Sapporo | $1,390–2,090 | 70/100 |
| Okinawa | $1,390–2,090 | 75/100 |
| Fukuoka | $1,390–2,090 | 69/100 |
| Kanazawa | $1,390–2,090 | 68/100 |
| Nagoya | $1,390–2,090 | 66/100 |
| Osaka | $1,520–2,220 | 63/100 |
| Kamakura | $1,580–2,220 | 62/100 |
| Kyoto | $1,580–2,410 | 58/100 |
| Yokohama | $1,650–2,410 | 58/100 |
| Shirakawa-go | $1,770–2,660 | 50/100 |
| Koyasan | $1,770–2,660 | 48/100 |
| Tokyo | $1,900–2,850 | 44/100 |
| Niseko | $1,900–3,170 | 44/100 |
| Hakuba | $2,220–3,490 | 33/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Shirakawa-go
Similar safety, lower cost, in East Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Takayama | Japan | $1,080–1,710 |
| Kawaguchiko | Japan | $1,010–1,650 |
| Nikko | Japan | $1,080–1,710 |
| Hualien | Taiwan | $1,130–1,730 |
| Hakone | Japan | $1,140–1,770 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Shirakawa-go?
About $1,140–1,650 on a lean budget, $1,770–2,660 for a comfortable month and $3,170–5,070 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much does food cost in Shirakawa-go?
A local meal is ¥1,000–1,600 ($6.3–10.1); a mid-range restaurant is ¥2,000–3,500 ($13–22) per person.
Is Japan expensive?
Prices in Japan are about 65% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Shirakawa-go
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Shirakawa-go Tourist Association
- Nohi Bus
- Hokutetsu Bus
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.