Go with the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G without a second thought, especially for a trip to Japan. Narrow alleys in Kyoto or crowded streets in Tokyo make a 50mm feel way too tight on a crop sensor body, trust me on that. The 35mm gives you a natural field of view thats basically what your eyes see, making it super versatile for both street snaps and grabbing food shots indoors. I used that exact lens backpacking through southeast asia and had zero complaints the whole time. It's tiny, weighs next to nothing, and the f/1.8 aperture is a lifesaver when evening hits or youre exploring dimly lit temples where flash isnt allowed. Plus it easily fits under your budget since you can find them used for under 150 bucks no problem. Sure, the kit zoom covers more focal lengths, but the image quality and low light performance you get from the prime lens totally beats out the sluggish kit lens. You wont regret leaving the zoom at home once you see the sharp, clean background blur you get out of this little guy.