Tokyo: a city with endless offerings. From its embedded, rich, quirky culture to its vast array of technological innovations and its stunning architecture, Tokyo is truly in a class of its own.
The cleanliness of the city, the breath-taking scenery and the hustle and bustle of everyday life contrasted with the profound tranquillity of its Japanese gardens make Tokyo a valid addition to anyone’s bucket list of destinations.
But all of this comes with a price – a high one. It is well known that to visit Japan’s capital, you’ll have to dig deep.
Can it really be possible to Tokyo without re-mortgaging your house?
Take a look at my tips below to see how it just might be.
Flights
First off, let’s get you there. Unfortunately, there’s not too much you can influence in terms of flight prices, however, make sure you use a price comparison sites such as Skyscanner to get the cheapest deal.
A return flight in October from Heathrow to Tokyo direct is £2090 with British Airways, which 12 hours. Pretty steep, hey? Don’t panic – a much cheaper flight exists (with one stop) by Qatar Airways at £696. The only issue is that it takes 10 more hours than it would take you if you went direct. Or, go mid-way with a combination of Finnish and British Airways (one stop) for £1036.
If you’re not too bothered about having a stop en route and the amount of time it takes to get there, then go for the cheapest option.
Oh and another tip – subscribe to airline newsletters to stay current with any latest discounts – this also should help you reduce costs a little! Since Qatar Airways and British Airways fly frequently to Tokyo, subscribe to their newsletters.
Accommodation
Tokyo has a huge range of luxury accommodation, but if you look hard enough, you’ll see some really exciting cheaper alternatives on offer.
Ever heard of Capsule hotels? Me neither. Not for the claustrophobic types, these hotels offer small, compact rooms (pods) barely large enough to fit in a bed. You’ll have a wall-mounted TV and sometimes access to sauna facilities in the hotel – for about £30 a night, giving you opportunities to you use the cash saved on accommodation to really explore what this vibrant and quirky city has to offer. And as with most things in Japan, these rooms are generally spotlessly clean.
If you don’t want to spend the duration of your trip sleeping in a pod, another cost-effective alternative is booking a room via AirBnB which is really becoming popular in Tokyo.
Eating Out
From street food to exclusive fine-dining, Japan is certainly not short on options to eat out. But if we’re looking to save a little money as we go along, then perhaps by-pass the fine-dining establishments and look at cheaper, but just as delicious, alternatives:
Street food – Japan has some of the most appetising street food there is. The popular dishes include shioyaki (baked fish served on a stick), yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and dungo (dumplings on a stick) which’ll cost around £2. Street food is also immensely popular with the locals – so that tells you it’s a good idea to follow suit.
Choose restaurants where the locals eat, outside the main tourist hot spots. You’ll see some small, unassuming restaurants which will charge you a fraction of the price (usually around £4 a meal) for pretty much the same meal at another restaurant based in the tourist areas. Plus, you’ll get a slice of authentic Tokyo.
Chain / Fast Food Restaurants – Obviously not for every meal, but for the odd one when you’re out an about, you can’t beat the convenience – and the price.
The most popular chain restaurants in Tokyo include Matsuya (vending machine type-place – remember, this is Japan!) and Yoshinowa which serves an insanely famous ‘beef bowl’ (white rice topped with seared strips of caramelized onions and thin beef strips).
What To Do
Sensō-ji
Whatever you do, make sure you visit the Sensō-ji – Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. A short train ride from Tokyo, Sensō-ji is a stunning piece of traditional Japanese architecture. Admission is free too!
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
One of Tokyo’s largest and most popular parks and located just a short walk from Shinjuku Station, the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is home to extensive, well-kept (as you’d expect!) lawns anf beautiful cherry blossoms, providing the ultimate escape from the city’s hustle and bustle into true tranquillity. Admission is around £2.
Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi and Bullet Train Day Trip from Tokyo
Enjoy a well-organised, full-day guided tour to discover some of Japan’s most famous highlights which include the distinguished Mount Fuji, boat cruising on the beautiful Lake Ashi and climbing by aerial tram to the summit of Mount Komagatake. Return to Tokyo by a rapid bullet train in the evening. Expect to pay around £130 per person – hey, you can splurge a little with all that saving!
Whatever your budget, there’s something for you in Tokyo. It is possible to see Tokyo and not break the bank!
