surviving on a budget
by thenugget31
Japan is quite expensive but there are ways to live very cheaply without complete suffering...
For example - you could eat a McChicken sandwich 3 times a day or pot noodles - so in this case food daily cost would 1.5 English pounds or 3 dollars - but thats pretty much rock bottom! 1000 yen a day is the more realistic minimum for food
Accommodation - stay in a gaijin or guesthouse for a few weeks at 1500 - 2000 yen a day (7 - 10 English pounds - 15 - 20 dollars)
The tap water is drinkable... A can of coke will cost you 60p (1 us dollar)
All you can drink nightclub will cost 2-3000 yen for the whole night - 15 pounds, 30 dollars
DVD rental - less than 2 pounds (4 dollars) for a week
Trains are reasonably costed at less than a pound for a short journey..
Gusto`s restaruants are good for Western style food and the drinkbar is a bargain.. All you can drink (unfortunately not alchohol!) for under 1 pound
When Travelling with Luggage to Your Hotel/Motel
by Breen
I learned this the hardway. Make sure your luggage has more than just handles or a carry strap, this is a country that investing in airline luggage with wheels and a pull strap will really help you get around. Considering the amount of walking you are going to be doing in Tokyo, including in the stations, it is best to have something easy to carry with you.
Roppongi Hill
by dennisKL
A redeveloped neighborhood in the district of Roppongi, consisting of residential, recreational and office space, an art museum, cinema complex, hotel and various shops, restaurants and cafes. In the center of Roppongi Hills stands the Mori Tower, a 54-storey skyscraper named after the company and company president that built it. One of the most modern technology building found in Tokyo.
Tokyo City Map
by machomikemd
unlike in beijing where you have to pay 5 remimbi for an english city map, here in tokyo, the english city maps are free and are available everywhere, in englih speaking kobans (police boxes) and in japanese tourism offices and even in the offices of the travel agencies and tours like Sunrise or JTB or Hato Bus or Grayline Tokyo. thge maps are detailed as you can see in the pictures below and has a separate map of the subway system and the Railway system in and around the tokyo area and more importantly it has the corresponding japanese language equivalent of the english language word written in the maps so that if you feel lost, you can still ask any japanese for directions using these maps. get a free tokyo map whenever you can, it is also available at the lobbies of the big hotels in tokyo.
Stay a Night at a Ryokan (Traditional Inn)
by Wild_Orchid
If you get the chance, there is nothing that beats putting up a night at a traditional inn or RYOKAN. There are quite a few within Tokyo city, but those that offer better facilities and a more traditional and culturally interesting experience, it is best to try those that are located outside of Tokyo (eg. around Lake Hakone, Nikko or Narita town). The one I stayed at was at Narita (see second pics) and I have done a more extensive write up under my Accommodation Tips in my Narita Pages.
The ryokan is usually family run and the room rate will include breakfast, with an optional dinner and lunch to be included. The food is usually of very high quality and standard at ryokans because the families that run the inns takes pride in their service and hospitality. Part of the unique cultural experience is to sleep on a futon (see pics) on a tatami mat floor.
Another interesting feature is the traditional bath ("furo") which is a delightful experience-similar to an "onsen" (public bath) but on a much smaller scale. The ryokans in Tokyo town are much smaller due to space constraints and therefore may not have furo facilities.
Don't miss this great experience!
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Dinner with family
A typical assortment of vending machines
Not London, Tokyo
Shichi-Bo-San Festival in November
