The Dime Travelers
  • Get Started
    • PLANNING YOUR TRIP
    • Packing
    • While Traveling
    • Traveling with Allergies
    • Holiday Ideas
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Asia >
      • Japan
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • North America >
      • Canada >
        • Eastern Canada
      • Cuba
      • United States
    • Europe >
      • Croatia
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Portugal
    • Central America >
      • Costa Rica
      • Guatemala
  • Travel Fails

​Travel Guide to Tokyo on a Budget

22/5/2017

9 Comments

 
Tokyo Gardens
Tokyo, Japan can be an overwhelming destination to visit. It's a huge city with lots of districts, and for most of us, a difficult language barrier. We learned so much in the little time that we were there that we thought we should share. Here's a quick little guide to help guide you in your planning process.

​TRAVEL GUIDE TO TOKYO ON A BUDGET

Tokyo Japan Budget Travel Guide - Click here for tips on how to stay on budget when traveling to Tokyo
Save the Tokyo Budget Travel Guide to Pinterest to come back later!

Where to stay in tokyo

​In terms of accommodations, we found Airbnb to be the most affordable option. Because we were traveling as a group (three of us), it was much cheaper to stay in someone's apartment than it was to share a hotel room, or even take three beds in a hostel!

For solo travelers to Tokyo, the option that will leave you in the best shape financially will be hostels. There are a ton of well rated hostels around the city - check out the popular pod hotels which are a cool option and offered at a decent rate. They are pretty cool as long as you're not claustrophobic! As a group however, we still found it cheaper to rent an apartment like we did.


When choosing which area you will be staying in, consult the sky train map and make sure you're within close distance and have easy access to one of the stations as that will be your trick to getting around efficiently! ​Shibuya is very popular for tourists wanting to get the Japanese experience, but expect to pay higher prices in exchange for that. Public transportation in the city is easy and efficient, so you might as well take advantage of it. 

Don't forget to read the 8 Reasons Why Thailand Should be Your Next Destination!
Cherry Blossoms Festival Tokyo Japan
Yoyogi Park is popular with locals as a picnic destination. Try it for yourself!

How to get around in tokyo

The sky train is the easiest way to travel around Tokyo, and also one of the most affordable. Don't take a taxi if you want to stay on budget! And don't worry about finding your way either because it's very well organized. Even during rush hour when it's packed with people, it's surprisingly peacefully quiet in there. People are super respectful and just generally quiet and keep to themselves. 

There are big maps showing the routes at the paying kiosks and usually an attendant who can assist if you need help. The most important part is to make sure you are buying the correct destination and that you get off at that destination as you will have to scan your ticket at the exit to prove you paid for the appropriate route. ​

We didn't even attempt taking a taxi because we were told that they were insanely expensive. Uber Black is a much more affordable option if public transportation is not accessible to you. Just remember to download the Uber app while you're still connected to your cell phone provider as you will need to confirm your phone number by entering a code received by text message.
​
Worried about your budget? Read 22 Ways to Save Money for Travels!
Tokyo Japan
Harajuku is a popular neighbourhood for shopping, eating and exploring in Tokyo.

Where to eat in Tokyo

After spending a few days in Tokyo, we found that the Japanese are very much into the French café thing. If you want an authentic experience, I suggest avoiding any restaurant with English signage (really!). Instead,  use Google or review sites such as TripAdvisor to select a good restaurant to eat at.

We absolutely loved the Japanese BBQ, and definitely recommend you try it. The server will bring you a menu with different options of vegetables, seafood and meat and you can order on a continuous basis until you're full. Your plates will come with everything on sticks and delicious! Try it with a cold Sapporo beer!

​We also tried the typical sumo wrestler meal which is a big stew of vegetables and meats, and was an interesting experience. Oh and sushi of course! Last but not least, you should definitely make a stop at the fish auction market to try some of their street food. The barbecued scallops were especially delicious! 
​
​
For a Tokyo itinerary, check out How to Spend 4 Days in Tokyo!
Sushi go round restaurant in Tokyo Japan
Eating sushi from a conveyor belt at a restaurant in Tokyo, Japan

What to do in tokyo

With a city this huge, there's always a ton of things to do and see. If you're limiting your stay to within city limits, you can visit the multitude of shrines and temples, museums, and parks pretty easily with only a few days.

The Asakusa Sensoji Temple was an incredible sight to see. We went later in the 
evening and got to enjoy the sun setting beyond the gorgeous architectures of the temple. Ladies dressed up in the traditional kimono walk around and shop keepers are close by for all your shopping needs. And although a touristic spot, the crowd was not overwhelming at all. Best of all, there is no entry fee to visit the grounds!

The parks are a must, especially during the cherry blossom season! We really enjoyed Yoyogi Park and the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. A small entry fee is required to enter the national garden, but it's worth it to escape the sometime overwhelming sights and sounds of the city. 
​Locals and tourists alike regularly meet up there for lunch, for an afternoon of frisbee or simply to enjoy a stroll in the sun. Make sure to bring a blanket and a snack or picnic with you and do it like the locals do!
​
Edo Museum in Tokyo, Japan
Inside the Edo Museum in Tokyo, Japan
Also, make sure to make your way to the Harajuku district to experience the Japanese anime fandom. Cat ears, great big hair and superb dress ups fill the streets and make for a vibrant sight. We heard while we were there that Sundays are the best for seeing the most people dressed up! ​​

​You may also want to take the time to go to Tokyo Tower. It has a 360° view of Tokyo from the top and a very reasonable entry fee. A few souvenir kiosks with many trinkets are located on the first floor where you can buy your ticket to take the elevator up to the platform. Once on top, you can enjoy an impressive view of the city and take a few steps on the glass floor for a bit of an adrenaline rush!
​
View from Tokyo Tower in Tokyo,  Japan
View from Tokyo Tower in Tokyo, Japan
Last but not least is the fish auction market. If you're an early bird (or just really enthusiastic), you can get up around 3AM to line up for a chance to view the actual auction. Although it definitely seems like an amazing experience,  we simply could not get ourselves out of bed that early.

The market itself is open until the afternoon and is really wonderful on its own. Food, trinkets, kitchen knives, ceramic place setting and so much more fill the tables in this indoor/outdoor space! It's definitely a place where you can spend a few hours exploring. Don't be shy to try some of the crazy looking food here!
​
Fish Market Tokyo, Japan
Crab legs at the Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan

​There you are, these are the basics of what you should look for when planning your trip to Tokyo! ​Have you been already? What would you add for your fellow travelers? Share your insights in the comments section below!

J&C
Tokyo Japan Budget Travel Guide - Click here for tips on how to stay on budget when traveling to Tokyo
Save this to Pinterest to come back later!
Tokyo Japan Budget Travel Guide - Click here for tips on how to stay on budget when traveling to Tokyo
Pin me for later!
9 Comments
Bianca link
27/5/2017 09:10:43 pm

I have yet to see Japan and super jealous whenever I read about other travelling there. I have heard so much about how organised everything is even during the rush hour. I definitely keen to check it out.

Reply
The Dime Travelers
29/5/2017 11:59:08 pm

It really is weird, yet awesome to see how orderly things are in Japan. We were especially surprised to see that nobody locks their bicycles outside! Thanks for checking it out, cheers!

Reply
Danielle link
28/5/2017 01:12:03 pm

I've always wanted to visit Tokyo! What a great guide to make it easier to reach the goal of seeing it!!

Reply
The Dime Travelers
29/5/2017 11:56:27 pm

Hi Danielle, glad you like our budget travel guide for Tokyo! I hope it helps convince you to visit Japan in the future. Thanks for stopping by, cheers!

Reply
Lauren link
28/5/2017 09:41:19 pm

Love this post! Very useful for a wannabe traveller-to-Japan in the future. Have you visited other places in Japan too? How do they compare?

Reply
The Dime Travelers
30/5/2017 12:02:15 am

Hi Lauren! Thanks for stopping by and checking out our Tokyo travel guide. Unfortunately we only had a few days in Japan, so stayed in the vicinity of the city. We recommend if you have more time to check out Kyoto. It is much more traditional than the modern Tokyo. We have heard so many wonderful things about it, it's on our list of musts for next time! Cheers!

Reply
Kris link
30/5/2017 11:21:14 pm

I love Tokyo. I was so young when I visited and I didn't appreciate it nearly enough. I would love to go back and experience it as an adult.

Reply
The Dime Travelers
4/6/2017 11:05:50 am

Hi Kris, thanks for stopping by! We hope you get to visit Tokyo again. We only had a few days ourselves, so we definitely need to go back!

Reply
guy link
27/12/2017 12:16:10 am

definitely not a cheap place to travel but every little bit you can save helps, some really good tips here to keep costs down

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Budget Travel Blog: Tips and tricks for affordable vacation planning. From cheap hotels to cheap flights and everything in between, prioritizing safety and comfort.

    The Dime Travelers

    It’s time to ditch your misconceptions about cheap travel and join us on our blog as we show you safe and comfortable ways to travel on a budget. We will guide you through the process of trip planning and share with you what we have learned from our own travels. Our advice and reviews come from personal experience and will offer easy to follow tips and tricks to make your vacation a positive experience you'll want to have again and again.
    ​Let's make your travel dreams come true!

    RSS Feed

​ About Us

​ Privacy Policy

Blogs

Work with Us​

Testimonials

Contact Us
2017 The Dime Travelers 
  • Get Started
    • PLANNING YOUR TRIP
    • Packing
    • While Traveling
    • Traveling with Allergies
    • Holiday Ideas
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Asia >
      • Japan
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • North America >
      • Canada >
        • Eastern Canada
      • Cuba
      • United States
    • Europe >
      • Croatia
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Portugal
    • Central America >
      • Costa Rica
      • Guatemala
  • Travel Fails