1. Introduction to Budget-Friendly Tokyo
2. Dining on a Budget
3. Affordable Accommodation Options
4. Shopping Smart in Tokyo
5. Free Attractions Around the City
Looking for tips to travel to Tokyo on a Budget? Who wouldn’t want to get lost in the head-spinning maze of neon-drenched streets of Tokyo?
One moment you’re dazzled by the ultra-modern skyscrapers and the next, sipping green tea at a centuries-old temple, disturbed only by the soft sound of sozu.
Visit Tokyo On A Budget
Tokyo is a global powerhouse with an old spirit, bustling with energy and the promise of adventure and excitement which it most certainly delivers.
Just like a lot of great things in life, visiting Tokyo comes at a price – for many years now, the city’s been considered one of the world’s most expensive capitals, a major put-off for budget-conscious travellers.
Tokyo: Not As Expensive as You Think
That being said, while the Japanese capital most certainly isn’t cheap, its costs are often exaggerated. In fact, they can be comparable to those of Paris or London; therefore, it is entirely possible to travel to Tokyo on a budget.
If visiting Tokyo has been on your bucket list, but you’re worried about the impact on your wallet, fear not! I’m about to show you how to enjoy Tokyo even with a tight budget!
It’s perfectly doable and surprisingly easy. Let’s just jump straight into it!
Where To Eat In Tokyo On A Budget
Tokyo is arguably the world’s most exciting dining destination.
From the irresistibly cute, or kawaii, eats at Akihabara’s Maid Cafes to mouth-watering street food and top-notch fine dining, Tokyo is full of options when it comes to food.
The good news is that the choice extends to budget dining. You will be surprised how easy it is to eat in Tokyo on a budget!
Street Food
You can’t go wrong with Japanese street food – it’s delicious, filling, and cheap!
Some of the most popular options include:
- yakitori (grilled chicken skewers)
- dango (dumplings on a stick)
- shioyaki (baked fish served on a stick)
All will cost you around ¥150-700 (€1.00-5) depending on the portion size.
Chain Restaurants
Tokyo is filled with food chains that offer delicious and authentic meals, although they may not be the healthiest options.
Typical dishes include gyudon (shredded beef) or tempura (fried meat) served over a bowl of rice, often paired with a bowl of miso soup.
Japanese-style chicken curry and noodle soup are also available at affordable prices. Meals often come as a set, providing great value for money.
A meal at a chain restaurant will cost you around ¥500-900 (about €4-7).
Go Where the Locals Go
Save your precious pennies and enjoy a truly authentic experience by visiting local spots.
Known as Izakaya Alleyways, these small bars with unassuming traditional decor serve some of the most delicious and inexpensive meals.
Some meals cost as little as ¥350-400 (around €3.00).
Shop at Supermarkets
Shopping at a supermarket can be a smart choice when you’re on a budget, but Japan somehow manages to elevate this mundane experience into something nearly magical.
Browsing through aisles packed with irresistible goods could make you forget about restaurants altogether.
Here’s a handy tip: all seafood/sushi meal sets, which resemble an actual restaurant meal in quality and presentation, are freshly made in the morning. They can get discounted by up to 50% by the end of the day because they are no longer considered fresh by Japanese standards.
This means that you can buy a delicious and filling meal for as little as ¥300-900 (€2-7), depending on the size.
Staying In Tokyo On A Budget
Tokyo offers an exciting array of ultra-cheap hotel alternatives.
It wouldn’t be Tokyo if they weren’t all slightly quirky and unusual. These are two things you have to be ready to embrace during your stay in Japan’s capital.
Capsule Hotels
Let’s start off with my personal favorite – capsule hotels!
As the name suggests, capsule hotels offer tiny, capsule-like rooms or sleeping pods, large enough to fit a bed, a small ceiling-mounted TV, and a radio.
These rooms are immaculately clean and modern, and some have access to sauna facilities and even a room filled with comic books.
A night at a capsule hotel will set you back a mere ¥2,000-4,000 (€15 -31).
These types of hotels are extremely popular and are scattered all over Tokyo.
Manga / Internet Cafes
If you’re a manga enthusiast travelling to Japan on a budget, then you’re in luck.
Manga cafes started off as places to read manga and surf the Internet, but they soon became a response to the expensive hotel and accommodation costs.
Manga cafes offer private cubicles equipped with a desk, a computer with unlimited internet access, and a large chair or sometimes a sleeping mat.
While staying at a manga café may not be as comfortable as a night at a hotel, and you’ll probably want to limit your stay to one or two nights, it’s significantly cheaper (around ¥1,500–2,500, or €11-19).
Staying at a manga café will also give you a fantastic glimpse into Japanese youth culture while allowing you to meet other travelers. The two biggest manga café chains are Gera Gera and Manboo.
Airbnb and Hovelstay
If none of the above options sound appealing, there’s always the more conventional Airbnb and Hovelstay, where you can find rooms ranging from €40 to €150 per night.
SHOPPING On A Budget
It’s hard not to be tempted to shop when every perfectly packaged product, from skincare to chopsticks, screams “buy me!” Surprisingly enough, you can actually shop till you drop in Tokyo without breaking the bank.
If you want to stock up on souvenirs and accessories while brushing shoulders with the famous Harajuku girls, head to Daiso on Takeshita-dori, Harajuku’s main shopping street.
Most items cost only around ¥100 (€1). There are many other 100 Yen stores all over Tokyo that stock pretty much everything under the sun, from cosmetics and snacks to kitchenware.
You don’t have to limit yourself to discount stores, though – many shops have sales and offer budget-friendly products.
If you’re looking for a more traditional and meaningful gift, most temples in Tokyo sell talismans that can cost anywhere from ¥500 to 1,500, depending on the size, type, and the temple from which you purchase them.
FREE TOKYO ATTRACTIONS
Tokyo offers endless opportunities for those who want to explore for free. A stroll down Takeshita-dori or the famous Shibuya crossing is an eclectic feast for the senses and an experience in its own right – you don’t actually have to buy anything to enjoy it!
If you want to escape the chaos, visit one of Tokyo’s many gardens and parks (I recommend Ueno) or indulge in a little temple hopping – many temples (such as the famous Senso-ji in Asakusa or Meiji Shrine) are free to visit!
And there you have it – who knew visiting Tokyo on a budget could be this easy!
Do you have any budget tips of your own? Feel free to share in the comments.
BIO
Marta is a digital nomad and the creator of A Girl Who Travels, where she writes about budget, solo, and female travel as well as location independence. You can also follow her adventures on Instagram.
