If you know, where to go and what to do, you can have a really great day in and through Tokyo with only a little amount of money. ^^
To show you, that and how that really works, I prepared a day plan for you - starting here at our hostel (Asakusa Hostel).
In my example, to start refreshed and relaxed in your day, you spent a night at our hostel in one of our dormitory beds.
Accommodation total costs: 2940 Yen (but it's always a good idea, to check our special offers ^^)
That you can start without feeling hungry, you take our breakfast and eat and drink as much, your stomach has place for! ^^
Breakfast total costs: 315 Yen
Your first step - and totally for free - is to go to Senso-ji and step a little bit into Tokyo's history: Senso-ji is the oldest temple in Tokyo and really very impressive! You couldn't miss that, when visiting Tokyo.
Then you step along through Kaminarimon Street, watching the traditional market stores, where you could buy traditional sweets and souvenirs.
Your aim now is Asakusa Station (Ginza Line). On Asakusa Station you now buy a Tokyo Metro One-Day pass, which allows you unlimited rides on any Tokyo Metro Line for an entire day from the first tot the last trains.
Train total costs: Adult 710 Yen, child 360 Yen
So with the Metro line, you can drive to Sakuradamon Station, walk 8 minutes and you are in the middle of the Park of Imperial Palace! ^^ Another must seen, if you are in Tokyo.
This Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace as the Emperor moved from Kyoto to Tokyo after the Meiji Restoration. And the East Park of Imperial Palace is open to the public.
The Nijubashi Bridge in front of the main palace is really famous and popular. So I recommend this place, too, not only because of its historical importance, also of the atmosphere around it.
There's so much space there. And the skyline which is around you there is really fantanstic! And that's all for free!
Time for lunch now! ^^
You can eat traditional food without spending amounts of money. Just only take the restaurants (I wouldn't say "fast food chains", because they are so much more!), so many Japanese people choose for their own lunch. So there are big names like Sukiya, Yoshinoya, Fuji Soba, Matsuya and much more, where you can find really delicious Gyudon, Udon, Ramen, Curry in many different variations. Tea you get for free to every meal. Depending on the restaurant you go, you can calculate with in average 500 Yen to get a great meal! ^^ So let's take Gyudon!
Lunch total costs: 500 Yen
Do you know the movie "Lost in Translation"? Time for our next travel spot: Takeshita Dori. It's located in Harajuku, so you take the metro to Meiji-jingumae station, walk 5 minutes and are in the start of the street, popular for character and idol goods, crazy and newest fashion and much young people in fantastic outfits buying the newest things there.
If you are finished in looking things, you surely cannot find in your home country and want to take a break from these much people surroundings in Takeshita Dori - no problem. The big Yoyogi Park is direct next to Takeshita Dori. And guess: it's for free!
You can walk there really long, feeling a little bit beamed to another world.
Yoyogi Park is so big with this old old woods, you'll feel like taking a walk in a big wood somewhere else! ^^
In the middle of the park you find a central square with a beautiful lawn and fountains.
Hungry again? What's about a set of Udon and small curry dish or katsudon? I told you before, where to go. ^^
Dinner total costs: 500 Yen
You are still energetic? Then it's time for night life after dinner. So the next station: Shinjuku! From there, you walk 5 minutes and are in the middle of the major entertainment town in Shinjuku: Kabukicho. There are many more restaurants, theaters, movie theaters and game arcades.
You maybe will say: Yeah, but everything will cost money. Right. But only to walk through, can be very cool, too. You can watch new things, so cool people, the atmosphere there will arrive you for sure, and this costs nothing. When visiting Tokyo, Kabukicho is a must, I think. ^^
Oh, hurry now to get one of the last trains back to Asakusa, your day full of places of interest for free is almost over!
But don't forget to take your way back a second time through Senso-ji! At night, it's so unbelievable beautiful! ^^
So, let's calculate the whole costs for one adult person in total:
4965 Yen!
For this whole day of fun.
And you have seen such cool places of interest from the middle east of Tokyo to the middle west, accommodation is included!
Tokyo expensive?
Not for us! ^^
But I don't calculate souvenirs and drinks like cocktails or beer in these costs, so how much to spend on these extra things depends totally on you. ^^
If you have more time than one day - I recommend you really to rent a bike. You can rent it only around 5 min per foot away from our hostel - for 200 Yen the whole day! ^^
And it's really convenient to ride a bike in Tokyo. So many people ride bikes here and you haven't to ride it on the busy street, you can take the sidewalk (like everybody does so here). That's the perfect way to check the local area and all places of interest around there! ^^
And if you get hungry and want to have a little snack, you can go to the 100 Yen Conbinis and stores, where you can buy almost everything to drink and eat for 105 Yen. (I like their big Melonpan there very much!) ^^
So tips for saving money in Tokyo:
- Rent a bicycle
- Get in use of the many 100 Yen Stores
- Check evening grocery in stores and conbinis
- Check out, if there are special museum days (for free entry)
- Look at the many great places of interest, you can visit for free
- Eat at one of the tasty "fast food" chains, you won't regret it!
- Look at your travel expenses and decide, if a one-day ticket may be cheaper than buying single tickets
Do you already think, Tokyo is expensive? ^^
By: Vanessa (Asakusa)
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