A week in Tokyo for under $1000

[Mulboyne]

The ticket price determines a lot here. as the writer says: "I found an amazing fare for $563.76 round trip -- including fees and taxes -- from Atlanta to Tokyo during a United Airlines winter sale to Japan." There are some helpful links with the article and it's not a bad outline of a budget week in Tokyo.

Washington Post: Tokyo Is Expensive

Well, it can be. Our reporter spent a week there for under $1,000 -- including air. And he only had to sleep in an Internet cafe once

I'm sitting by the corner window 32 floors above the Japanese capital, enjoying one of the menu's most expensive lunches in the world's most expensive city. A bouquet of flowers at my elbow, I nibble a piece of sashimi and dreamily watch the metropolis stretch toward a hazy, distant line of mountains...Before you start decrying the excesses of the leisure class, allow me to add a few details: My lunch costs less than $6, the flowers are fake, the sashimi could be fresher and I'm eating with bureaucrats on lunch break in the dining hall of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building...more...

[billyDe]

There's no way to spend a week in Tokyo, have a good time and stay under $1000! Impossible. Food, travel, hotel and entertainment will run you well over $1G. Plan to spend $2000 and you'll be safe.

[Charles]

There's no way to spend a week in Tokyo, have a good time and stay under $1000! Impossible.

Possible. I did it.

[Greji]

Possible. I did it.

Details Charles, details. People want to know how and where!

[Charles]

Details Charles, details. People want to know how and where!

What's to tell? Cheap flight, cheap hotel, cheap fun. It helps a lot if your idea of fun is a 1000Y museum ticket, rather than an evening downing a dozen 1000Y mixed drinks.

I barely spent $1000 in a whole MONTH in Tokyo, and that includes lodging, food, transport, entertainment, everything. But I can see how a helpless newbie with zero Japanese language skills could blow a lot of money, since they are totally dependent on expensive international hotels and exploitive services for tourists.

[billyDe]

Sounds like you're an exciting guy to hang out with. 1000 JPY museum ticket is out of control! Let me know when you're here next and I'll be sure to get in contact with you.

For the people who actually want to have FUN...you'll spend well over $1000 doing normal things that any visitor would do. Eating, drinking, traveling around, staying in a decent place, banging a couple hookers...etc. I guess I shouldn't have said 'impossible' because obviously there are some dweebs out there that spend an entire day in a museum stairing at paintings while they could be out blowing money on Chinese massage parlors and guzzling booze. You could just sit in your room all day and watch cartoons like some other idiots I used to know when I taught English. You'll save a bundle doing that.

[Charles]

You can blow your money on liquor and whores back in your home town. Why spend thousands of dollars just so you can say you did it in Tokyo?

Let me give you a little parable about frugal travelling. At the cheap hotel I stayed at, all the gaijin used to whine about how they hated the local food, many of them ate at McDonald's almost every meal, even breakfast. I just went across the street to the grocery store, bought a box of cereal and milk, and kept it in my room's refrigerator. Every morning they bought a couple of Egg McMuffins for 700Y, I spent about 75Y for cereal. Then they'd eat Bic Macs and fries for dinner, for about 1000Y. I went down to the corner tempura stand and got some rice and some shrimp and vegetable tempura to go for about 350Y. The first time I went there, I asked the woman for just one set of chopsticks by saying "hashi, ippon kudasai," and she corrected me, "hashi, ichiZEN." We got into a brief conversation, and I thanked her for teaching me the correct counter for chopsticks. She was surprised at my language skills and I joked around, calling her "tempuraya-sensei." So from that time on, every time I visited the tempuraya and ordered a couple of pieces, when I sat down to eat and opened the bag, I always found a LOT of extra tempura, almost DOUBLE what I'd ordered.
I could go on and on, like the stories I could tell about the local izakaya where the cab drivers used to hang out, they always tried to get me drunk by sending over bottles of sake and shochu, and bought me all sorts of weird sushi just to see if I'd eat it. You should have seen their reaction when I loved the weird glow-in-the-dark hotaru. Yes, there were times I ate and drank like a king, and complete strangers picked up the tab.

I am firmly convinced there are two different countries in Japan, there is one plane of existence that runs through Roppongi, travels along in tour buses, everyone eats at McDonald's, and nobody speaks Japanese. Then there is the REAL Japan, it's rather a nice place if you just OPEN YOUR FUCKING EYES and SEE IT right in front of you.

[Papa-Lazarou]

When i see Americans, an increasingly Japanese, qeueing up at McDonald's in such gastronomically wonderful cities like Rome, Paris, Bangkok. Tokyo, Singapore et al, a little part of me dies.

Come on guys, try and meet me half way here!

[Greji]

Come on guys, try and meet me half way here!

Hey, Papa! We're talking the cheap course and hookers here! A big Mac and a pint, followed by a half-gainer into the futon! Less than a museum ticket!

No need to take her home to Mums for a 12 course sit down! It's always acceptable to dine at the Golden Arches!
Hehe

[Papa-Lazarou]

How much to the nice girls outside Shibuya 109 charge? I dont speak good enough Japanese to understand what they are talking about.

Anyway, so $460 for 7 nights in Tokyo not including acomodation isnt going to be any fun unless you find some poor girl to put you up for free 1st night in.

The reporter seems to have had a good time anyway, i hope he tried to put the moves on Tomoko, his guide

[Greji]

How much to the nice girls outside Shibuya 109 charge?

There are no nice girls in Shibuya! That's what makes it such a great place!

(I should clarify that there are none since GG left!
This was a paid political announcement made under duress)

[GomiGirl]

There are no nice girls in Shibuya! That's what makes it such a great place!

(I should clarify that there are none since GG left!
This was a paid political announcement made under duress)

Where did I go? And who paid you? And why are you wearing a dress?

BTW my hangout of choice is Shinjuku!!

[Greji]

Where did I go? And who paid you? And why are you wearing a dress?

BTW my hangout of choice is Shinjuku!!

Yah, I heard that already. 2 Chome right? I suppose I would fit right in (in my dress)!

[nullpointer]

I am firmly convinced there are two different countries in Japan, there is one plane of existence that runs through Roppongi, travels along in tour buses, everyone eats at McDonald's, and nobody speaks Japanese. Then there is the REAL Japan, it's rather a nice place if you just OPEN YOUR FUCKING EYES and SEE IT right in front of you.

Well said Charles.

[billyDe]

Charles. You're right. I agree with your point and sorry for acting like and ass. I just think that it would be iffy advice to lead someone on to believe that Japan is cheap. As you know, $1000 can be blown in a single night if not careful. I thought that the person who started this thread has never been to Japan before...and would most likely want to enjoy Japan as a tourist. Visiting an onsen, sightseeing, eating out...etc. are things that I would recommend to a visitor. I'd also recommend trying all of the foods which would get expensive. So I was wrong to say that it's impossible...but I would strongly suggest working an extra couple of weeks before coming over here so you don't have to eat cereal. A real Japanese breakfast would be much better for the newbie.

[Yorik]

Well for my trip coming in the next few months I am budgetting about $1000 a week, but this does not include Accomodation or transport, I already have the flights sorted, accom and a rail pass. Hoping that I can "survive" on this much money.. Should be good.

[Charles]

...I would strongly suggest working an extra couple of weeks before coming over here so you don't have to eat cereal. A real Japanese breakfast would be much better for the newbie.

Well, it depends on your priorities, I happen to LIKE just a small bowl of cereal for breakfast. On my first trip to Japan, I had a Japanese breakfast in a fancy place, it was like 2500Y. That would buy one day of lodging in the cheapo hotel I stayed at last time. What's your priority, would you rather have a sumptuous breakfast, or one more day in Tokyo?

[Taro Toporific]

would you rather have a sumptuous breakfast, or one more day in Tokyo?

Come on now! A "susumptuous" Japanese breakfast?!?! Japanese breakfast is the worst meal on earth: dead burnt fish-head glaring up at from the plate, raw egg and natto, void-of-nutition white rice, full-of-funk miso, and lots of breakfast pickles. Look at the Japanese folks at the breakfast tables of the hotels----They're not dumb--- all are eating the Western breakfast.

[Charles]

Come on now! A "susumptuous" Japanese breakfast?!?! Japanese breakfast is the worst meal on earth: dead burnt fish-head glaring up at from the plate, raw egg and natto, void-of-nutition white rice, full-of-funk miso, and lots of breakfast pickles. Look at the Japanese folks at the breakfast tables of the hotels----They're not dumb--- all are eating the Western breakfast.

Read carefully, did I say a sumptuous Japanese breakfast? No. Actually, this 2500Y breakfast was in a hotel, and at those prices, I was the only person in the restaurant eating either western or Japanese breakfast. Everyone seemed to be hitting the coffee kiosk, eating cheap, crappy bread things.

Nowadays, I prefer a bowl of cereal, I need a little fiber to start the day. I don't need a sit-down meal for breakfast.

[dimwit]

I have no idea what a dirt cheap business hotel runs you in Tokyo as someone is always paying my hotels when I visit. Here they run about 4000 yen a night.

[billyDe]

would you rather have a sumptuous breakfast, or one more day in Tokyo?

Dude, I just ate Sabashio yaki for 500 JPY. It was excellent! Don't get me wrong...I love me some CoCo Puffs...but if you're in Japan then enjoy what's here.

[Charles]

Dude, I just ate Sabashio yaki for 500 JPY. It was excellent! Don't get me wrong...I love me some CoCo Puffs...but if you're in Japan then enjoy what's here.

Like I said, it's all about priorities. Cheap breakfast means a bigger budget for lunch and dinner. At breakfast, I'm not even awake enough to appreciate a nice meal.

[GomiGirl]

Well for my trip coming in the next few months I am budgetting about $1000 a week, but this does not include Accomodation or transport, I already have the flights sorted, accom and a rail pass. Hoping that I can "survive" on this much money.. Should be good.

You should be fine - just take into consideration that you cannot use the rail pass on subways in Tokyo. Running around on the trains will cost you a few dollars each ride and it adds up quick.

Now I have "heard" that a cheap (read free) way to get into some temples in Kyoto is enter through the exit - but that is just what I have heard.

But with your budget there is no need for you to deny yourself anything other than the outrageous prices at Roppongi or hotel restaurants and bars. It is fairly easy to eat well cheaply but as soon as you start adding alcohol (or even coffees) it adds up quickly.

The nice thing is that you don't have to haggle or worry about being ripped off by cab drivers here - they will take you the fastest and most direct route.

Have a great time.

[mr. sparkle]

The nice thing is that you don't have to haggle or worry about being ripped off by cab drivers here - they will take you the fastest and most direct route.

I thought that cab rides in San Francisco were expensive. Not in comparison to Tokyo cabs. They have got to be the most expensive in the world. What is it? Y600 just to drop the flag?

I'd avoid cabs altogether if you can. They're necessary from time to time, but as a rule walk and take the train/subway when at all possible.

[Mulboyne]

[dimwit]

I have always wondered to what degree those 200 dollar dinners are corporate expense account embellishments?

[Jack]

The mistake often people make is that they take the most expensive thing in isolation and label Tokyo as expensive. It's true that there are very expensive things in Tokyo whether or not it's a restaurant, club, fruit or just shopping for clothing. But there is also the cheap stuff. That's what I tell everyone here. When they here I visit Tokyo they ignorantly say "oh that's an expensive place". When you know how cheap Canadians are you can understand where they're coming from. Everything in Canada has to be under $20.

Anyway, I have had dinner for $500 per person in Tokyo something that's not available in most cities in the world. Frankly, even in LA I don;t know where to go for a $500 per person dinner without drinks. But in Japan, you got the $20 dinner and the $500 dinner. That's the difference. You got the $1.50 peach and the $10 peach. You have the choice in every category, something that doesn't exist in this part of the world. Next time someone tells me that Japan is expensive I'm just gonna killem.

[DrP]

You're joking, right? Almost every cab I have taken is driven by a shabu toking, gas pumping, chain smoking, over charging completely utter lost geriatric from Saitema. Case in point. Last week jumped in a cab in Shibuya - asked the drivert to go to Roppongi. He promptly drove 90 degrees the WRONG F+ng way! I yelled at his ass to go to Roppongi and he said -- OH it's crowded that way. Total crap - we went the way I insisted -- straight up the Roppongi Ass Dori and there was very light traffic. In fact his friggin GPS ALSO showed LIGHT TRAFFIC. Why the f* don't they EVEN use the shit they have IN their cabs??? So much for fastest and most direct.

The nice thing is that you don't have to haggle or worry about being ripped off by cab drivers here - they will take you the fastest and most direct route.

Have a great time.

[Captain Japan]

[canman]

First off when did it start to take 18 hours to fly from Chicago to Narita. Did they go via Europe or something. I also was interested that the daughter picked them up in her pickup truck. Did he mean a SUV, or did she haul his fat ass around in a k-truck. Now that would have been a sight to see. The rest is just another typical f#$%cked up gaijin extolling how great North America is compared to Japan. I guess its guys like that that really must get Takepoo in a tizzy.