Yes it’s true! Japan does not have to be an expensive country to visit. Here are just a few ideas for shopping, getting around and eating out.

Eating out

Fast food restaurants offer a variety of cheap meals. These are usually found in and around train stations, and can range from hamburger and sandwich shops to Japanese style fast food outlets. Popular Japanese dishes are Gyudon (rice topped with cooked beef and sautéed onions), Tendon (rice topped with tempura), Soba (cold noodles) or Udon (Japanese style thick noodles). Fast food restaurants usually offer very reasonable breakfast menus too. Prices normally start from around ¥500.

Restaurants in shopping, entertainment and business districts usually offer weekday lunch menus at very reasonable prices, ranging anywhere from between ¥600 to ¥800. Lunch time is generally between 11am and 2pm

Most department stores have food halls located on the basement level offering a wide variety of lunch boxes and takeout meals.

Sushi

Sushi can also be affordable! Look for restaurants that serve small plates on conveyor belts. These normally start from about ¥100 per plate. Most sushi restaurants offer set menus usually starting from about ¥1,500 with lunches starting from around ¥800

Shopping

¥100 shops are everywhere, and are great places to buy food, as well as a whole variety of goods and souvenirs. These stores are normally located near train stations and in shopping districts.

For great discounts on electronics, the Akihabara district is the place to visit. Take the JR Yamanote line to Akihabara where you will find a wide variety of electronics dealers, wholesalers and discount stores.

Bargain sales

Bargain sales usually take place in January and July in most department stores and goods can be discounted anywhere in the region of 30-50%.

Getting around

JR’s Japan Rail Pass is not only excellent value but also a convenient way to travel around Japan. For the price of a round trip on the Shinkansen (bullet train) between Tokyo and Kyoto you can enjoy unlimited travel around Japan’s extensive rail network for 7 days. (Japan Rail Passes are also available for 14 day and 21 day travel)

Large cities such as Osaka and Tokyo also offer special cost saving 1 day free kippu tickets. These tickets are for use on local transport within designated areas for limited periods of time.

Welcome cards

Discounts on accommodation, meals, shopping and entertainment are also offered to visitors from overseas with the Welcome Card. Welcome Cards are available free of charge form Japan National Tourist Office (JNTO) tourist information centers at New Tokyo International Airport and Kansai International Airport, as well as other locations throughout Japan. For more information see http://www.jnto.go.jp/

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