It’s a common misconception that it’s expensive to visit Tokyo, but it really need not be if you’re smart.
Firstly when you organise your hotel make sure it’s near a train station and have a map prepared of it before you get there, taxis are expensive and there is no need to use them when there is such an extensive rail and subway system across Tokyo.
Secondly avoid the hotel’s restaurant, these places thrive on guests who like to take the safe option. The best place for breakfast is 7 Eleven as they have a huge range of sandwiches etc that are perfect to get you started, you will probably find more than a few convenience stores near your hotel. For lunch or dinner do what the local businessmen and students do, try a gyudon or ramen café, these places are popular and serve meat on rice or noodle dishes. You could even eat at an Izakaya bar, look out for the red lanterns and head in for some Yakatori and maybe even a beer.
Yakatori is a popular BBQ chicken on skewers dish that is also sold in small cafes often near railway stations. Many of these places will have an English menu or pictures of the dishes, you should get a fair idea if this is the case before you enter.
Another cheap spot is to check out the basement of many of the major department stores like Matsuya in ginza as there often is a food court serving hot or cold take away food.
When it comes to attractions there are plenty of free or next to free attractions in Tokyo. Starting in Ginza check out the Nissan Gallery, Sony building or the nearby National (Panasonic) Centre for a bit of Tokyo high tech. Other things to do in Ginza for free are to check out the Tsukiji fish market or the huge Hakuhinkan toy store. While in Ginza, if you need to send an email back home head into the Apple store and up to the 4th floor where the internet is free.
Not far away in Marunouchi near the Tokyo station you will find the Imperial palace and it’s east garden that are open to the public. Also check out the magnificent building known as the Tokyo International Forum, it’s a great place to get some tourist info.
Odaiba is a huge entertainment district with companies like Fuji TV, Panasonic and Toyota offering up big attractions for free. Toyota’s Megaweb is huge and includes displays of cars old and new. There are a few reasonably priced attractions here as well.
More tech can be found in the shopping district of Ikebukuro at the Toyota Amulux or just walk the streets of Akihabara electronics town.
If you want to get a decent view of the city don’t go to the Tokyo tower or Roppongi hills, head on over to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Center in Shinjuku as its observation deck is free.
In Tokyo some of the simplest things are a great attraction in itself like taking a walk across the world’s busiest intersection in Shibya or down the offbeat fashion strip Takeashita Street in Harajuka or even relaxing in one of Tokyo’s exquisite shrines or parks.
Finally when it comes to shopping for gifts for friends back home you can go past a 100 yen shop, they are great for that weird and wacky Japanese gift or even just for a few basic items like snacks or toothpaste.
These are just a few examples of what you can do in Tokyo for next to nothing, there are plenty of things to do for the budgeting traveller if you do a bit of research.
Gary Watts is a frequent traveller to Japan and co-author of the Japan Travel Guide http://www.happyjappy.com - our aim is to make travelling in Japan easier.
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