When I go to Japan, I stay in business hotels (paying prices that would buy me a nothing more than a dirty and dangerous fleabag hotel in New York or London), eat in mom and pop restaurants, and ride public transit. I stayed in a luxury ryokan in Kyoto ONCE many years ago, just to see what it was like, but otherwise, I have no interest in fancy hotels.

All in all, I can travel in Japan for about the same price as a I do in the U.S., maybe less.

If you want high prices, try Scandinavia, especially Norway, on for size. I'd go again in a heartbeat, but this time I'd be better prepared for the prices.