Tips to visit Tokyo, Japan on a Budget
Tokyo is one of the most exhilarating places one can visit. And this is not only due to the unique cultural blend but also due to its diversity. This definitely makes it a magnet to tourists, coming from all parts of the world, including Asia. But usually, the places that are the most remarkable are the most expensive as well. And the same goes for Tokyo. Still, you don’t have to get discouraged, as there are still some ways in which you can keep your costs low during your journey.
We’d like to outline a few key strategies that will come in handy when trying to visit Tokyo, Japan on a budget!
Eat at Vending Machine Restaurants
Eating out is one of the joys of traveling. It gives you the opportunity of indulging in different dishes and you can pamper your taste buds. What if we told you that you could still do that even if you’re on a budget? There are numerous vending machine restaurants in Tokyo you can choose from. At this type of restaurants, you pay $3 for one meal, which is surprisingly little considering how hefty the prices can be in other venues.
Aside from this, even if you might feel doubtful, the thing is that there is little chance to get things wrong when it comes to eating out in Tokyo. Most establishments serve incredible food. This is excellent news for tourists – especially tourists visiting Tokyo, Japan on a budget.
Get Food At Local Restaurants
This is also related to food as eating out usually comes with a lot of expenses when traveling. Another way in which you can minimize your costs is by shopping at local restaurants, where the food tends to be in the affordable range. The best part is
that you can get plenty of delicious meals in the prepared foods section – you won’t believe the variety you can find there. Visiting Tokyo, Japan on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing on food!
Travel Off-Season
Most people hesitate to travel in wintertime, and it is crystal clear why. The weather is the major impediment. But if you can get past this, you should definitely take this into consideration, as it can be a lot cheaper. This means you can save a lot of money on accommodation and even some major tourist attractions – depending on what you intend to visit during your trip.
On a different note, even if you aren’t too keen to see Tokyo in the winter, you should still refrain from visiting this vibrant city during holidays or special events such as the Golden Week in May. This goes without saying but choosing your traveling dates wisely will pretty much determine the overall cost of your journey.
Steer Clear of Shinkansen (Bullet Trains) and Go for Highway Buses Instead
If you’re travelling on a budget, you should definitely avoid going on a Shinkansen. You might know by now that these bullet trains usually connect important cities. With that in mind, if you want to explore the areas in the proximity of Tokyo as well, as most people do when traveling here, you should opt for highway buses.
The price discrepancy between the two categories of buses is astounding. Therefore, if you want to keep your costs low, this is something you should consider.
Aside from this, when it comes to public means of transportation in Tokyo, you should definitely take the bus, as opposed to the metro, as the buses are much more affordable. You can even get bus passes that are available for several days, depending on the duration of your stay in the big city.
Visit Tokyo’s Free Attractions
Let’s move on to another key tip – choose the attractions you visit wisely. Evidently, you might already have a list of things to do when in Tokyo. And this is perfectly fine. But what if we told you that there are also some mind-blowing attractions you can visit free of charge?
Just as this is the case for London or other major cities around the world, Tokyo also has its share of free attractions – this is something you should definitely take advantage of. We’ll outline some that shouldn’t miss your attention – the famous Shibuya Crossing, the Piss alley, which is also renowned as the Memory Lane, Asia’s largest red district (Kabukicho) and the list may go on.
If you want to see Tokyo from above – and you should if you’re in for a complete traveling experience – you have to schedule a visit to the observatory platform at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
Final Thoughts
Although many people say that traveling to a renowned destination such as Tokyo can be quite expensive, it doesn’t necessarily have to be like this. There are plenty of ways in which you can keep your costs down starting with the times you choose to visit, your accommodation, your means of transportation, where you choose to eat, and so on.
Thus, by making some savvy choices, you can cross Tokyo off your bucket list and do that on a budget. Here you go, 5 simple steps to visit Tokyo, Japan on a budget.