How to Travel Tokyo on a Shoestring
Good food is cheap, drinking on a budget is easy, plus Tokyo is a beautiful city filled with sights, sounds and cultural opportunities that won't cost you more than a train ticket.
In previous years, Japan garnered a reputation for being an expensive place to visit. In part due to its obsession with technology and the economic boom of the 80s, Tokyo specifically seemed like a distant dream for the budget traveller, however, these days it’s quite the opposite.
Good food is cheap, drinking on a budget is more than doable and if you play your cards right, you can party for next to nothing. Beyond all that, Tokyo itself is a stunning city filled with incredible sights and day trip opportunities that will usually cost you nothing more than your train ticket. So, we’ve put together a guide to the very achievable dream of travelling Tokyo on the cheap. Read on to discover where to eat, drink, play and party without emptying your entire wallet.
There’s really no bad time to go to Tokyo — it all depends on what you want from your trip. To avoid the Australian winter, head over in June or July for Japanese summer. If it’s snow you’re chasing but bills you’re saving, then plan to go towards the end of the snow season from February to March. You’ll still catch the white stuff but won’t have to pay premium fares. Cherry blossom season is beautiful, and if you want to catch the pastel blooms you’ll need to get yourself there between March and May. Instead, look from August to November, one of the most underrated (but beautiful) times of the year. Those red and gold autumn leaves (koyo) definitely give cherry blossoms a run for their money.
What once seemed like a far-away holiday destination is now easily accessible from Australia, with the major airlines now taking travellers directly to Tokyo. Overwhelmed by the vast number of activities to do, sights to see and bites to eat? Look no further than Klook, the fun-driven travel company making your overseas adventuring as seamless as possible. With everything from rail passes to hotels, theme park tickets and fantastically different activities, you’re certain to lock in a bargain and have a standout time. Your best option? A Klook Pass, which saves you time (with a singular e-ticket in your phone’s wallet), money (up to 48% off Tokyo’s hottest activities) and stress (one ticket, valid for 30 days).
In terms of how much you should put aside per day, it really depends on what you want to buy and where you want to go. If you’ve already pre-purchased your transport and are willing to walk a bit, too, you’ll be able to eat well and get around comfortably with about 4000 yen a day ($45 AUD). If you’re adding more transport to the mix, though, expect to fork out another 1000–1500 yen on top of that.
Even if you’re avoiding touristy spots, places like Harajuku and Shibuya Crossing (and the newly opened Shibuya Sky, for the best openair view) are well worth a visit to, at the very least, snap a photo and soak up the atmosphere. Otherwise, check out something more local at Shimokitazawa, where vintage stores abound with some of the most meticulously collected vintage and secondhand clothing you’ll find anywhere. And for eating and people watching, look to Commune 246, a culinary hub in the center of Aoyama. Surrounded by a rotating cast of food trucks and portable bars, watch some of Tokyo’s coolest locals live their best lives.
FREE: TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE SIGHTS
One of the best things about touring Tokyo on a tight budget is that some of the city’s most interesting and iconic sites are completely free. The city is home to some of the most stunning parks and gardens in the whole world like Inokashira Park, Ueno Park, Yoyogi Park and The Imperial Palace East Gardens, all of which are free to enter.
Beyond park hopping, you can witness the famous Shibuya Crossing, the bustling Tsukiji Outer Market or get a bird’s eye view of the whole city from Tokyo Solamachi (a multilevel retail complex located in the Tokyo Skytree tower). All of these adventures will cost you nothing more than your transport ticket to get there.
UNDER $10: BOOK YOUR KARAOKE SESSION OFF-PEAK
After drinking, the next logical step is of course karaoke — basically Japan’s national sport. A night in a karaoke booth can vary price-wise from regrettably expensive to ridiculously cheap, but the secret is to know when to go and, of course, where. If you’re feeling confident in your Japanese and want to stray from the tourist-attracting mega karaoke houses, keep an eye out for the smaller, more independent-looking establishments. These spots generally offer better deals to compete with the monolithic mega houses of Karaoke Kan and Big Echo.
When it comes to snagging a karaoke bargain, timing is key. As expected, peak times mean premium prices, so Friday and Saturday nights and before public holidays are the worst times to go. Also, avoid getting a booth a few hours before the last train (11.30pm–12am) as it’s typically the most popular slot. If you’re going out during the week and are ready to commit, book a room at 12am and stay until first train, which is around 5am, so you can blow out your vocal chords without blowing out your budget.
UNDER $10: DIG INTO FAST (YET QUALITY) FOOD
Even those with a vague passing interest in the culinary world know that Tokyo is a city overflowing with great food, but great food doesn’t have to mean Michelin stars and lavish price tags. Japan is a country obsessed with quality, and this obsession permeates every aspect of everyday life, including the nation’s fast food culture. Fast food in Japan doesn’t mean greasy hamburgers and crappy sandwiches. You can fill up on some of the most delicious curry, ramen, gyoza and, of course, sushi for less than 1000 yen (around $10 AUD) — you just need to know which chains to visit. The whole mentality of ‘you get what you pay for’ doesn’t really apply here.
For curry, check out Coco Ichibanya, the ubiquitous home of fast Japanese curry; head to Harajuku Gyoza Lou to nab six gyoza for 290 yen (about $3.15 AUD); or if you’re after something heartier, check out Seiya Ramen, which serves up dishes from 500 yen (less than $6). Finally, Uobei Genki Sushi is a must-visit destination for lovers of a bargain and sushi alike. The plates here cost as low as 100 yen ($1 AUD) and the futuristic delivery service is peak Japan.
UNDER $10: DISCOVER THE BEST TIMES TO LUNCH
It’s typical in Japan for many places to serve ‘lunch sets’, so if you’re wanting to treat yourself to something special each day but don’t want to blow out the budget, the heavily discounted lunchtime slot is your best friend. A lunch set usually consists of a main meal, side dishes and a drink (if you’re lucky, unlimited drinks) for less than $10 AUD. Even the Michelin-starred restaurants of Tokyo go in for this lunchtime special. Hot tip: starred restaurant Nakajima in Shinjuku serves lunch sets daily for around 800 yen ($8 AUD).
UNDER $20: PLAN DAY TRIPS TO EASILY EXPLORE MORE OF JAPAN
Though Japan is a pretty easy country to travel around thanks to its meticulously managed network of Shinkansen (bullet trains), travelling too far can get a little pricey. So if you want to explore wider Japan while avoiding the sting of high ticket prices, consider taking a few day trips.
Mount Takao in Hachioji is just an hour and a half away by train, offers great hiking (which is free — bonus) and a view of Mount Fuji that money can’t buy. If you want to visit the beach for the day, consider buying an Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass, which will get you a return trip from Shinjuku and free transport around the area for only 1470 yen ($15 AUD). Enoshima itself is a laidback beachside city located just a few hours from Tokyo city, while Kamakura is a traditional-style town commonly referred to as mini Kyoto.
UNDER $30: GET TO KNOW NOMI-HODAI (ALL YOU CAN DRINK)
If you like to drink, one keyword you should learn is nomi-hodai, which basically means ‘all you can drink’. An at times dangerous but money-saving prospect, many local izakayas offer nomi-hodai specials the same way Aussie pubs do happy hour. Usually ranging between 1000–3000 yen ($10–30) per one- or two-hour slot, you can simply order as much as you want within the time window. Many places will require you to order a small snack plate, which on average costs around $3, but if you can drink a lot it all balances out.
If you want to take your time, local izakaya chains Kinno-Kura has drinks for around 280 yen (around $3 AUD) and beers at Shinjuku’s Izakaya Medaka are a crazy 110 yen ($1.50ish AUD).
UNDER $50: TAKE A TRIP TO THE WORLD HERITAGE SITES OF NIKKO
Although a pineapple is no small amount of money to play with when travelling, some experiences are worth it. Take, for example, experiencing the wonder of Nikko. Head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site via train using Klook’s Nikko Pass ($46.15 AUD). The digital pass gives you all-you-can-ride access to the local buses and trains once you’re there — giving you complete control over how you travel. Head to Chuzenji Temple and walk through the picturesque towns; discover the magnificence of Toshugo; or bus it up the mountain to ride the Akechidaira Ropeway (and marvel at world-class views across Lake Chuzenji).
ACCOMMODATION
Hot spots to stay around town on the cheap.
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Nui Hostel
When it comes to accommodation in Japan, guesthouses are the best way to go. A kind of hostel/hotel hybrid, the guesthouse revolution has truly hit Japan. Want the social aspect of living in a hostel, but still want the luxuries of reliably clean showers and fashionable decor? Then check out Nui Hostel in Kuramae. With a variety of rooms on offer, prices range from 3000 to 8800 yen a night (around $35–95). -
Nine Hours Capsule Hotel
It’s all in the name at Nine Hours, a chain of capsule hotels with a few central locations. When you book a capsule, you have nine hours to spend in your room, with a recommended breakdown of one, seven, one. Take one hour for showering, seven hours for sleeping and then one hour for getting ready in the morning. Though capsule hotels have started to become more popular in other cities, Japan is the birthplace of pod sleeping, so it’s only fitting you experience at least one night snoozing in a hotel room of the future. Nine Hours offers a cheap accomm option if you’re only after a clean, easy spot to rest your head — pods can cost less than $30 AUD a night if you book in advance and only $10 if you need to recharge during the day between 1–9pm. The hotel also features a women’s-only location in the Kanda district, plus each hotel has 24-hour access to showers for less than $10 if you just need to refresh after stepping off the plane.
