Discover the best of the city with this budget-friendly Tokyo guide
Photo Credit: Yuya Uzu
Tokyo may be one of the most exciting places you’ll ever visit, but that doesn’t mean it has to be the most expensive. Despite its Michelin-starred restaurants, luxury hotels, and designer shopping districts, the city has way more to offer than a high-flying lifestyle, and fortunately for those who want bang for their buck, a lot of the best things to see and do are budget-friendly.
So, stop stressing about how to pay rent and save for a holiday at the same time because we’ve got you covered with the best things to do in the city with this budget-friendly Tokyo guide, including cheap eats, tips on where to stay, and quirky Japanese experiences you don’t want to miss. So, if you’re ready to experience Tokyo on a budget, read on below!
10 tips for your Tokyo travel guide
1. Getting around with train passes
Luckily for budget travelers, Tokyo’s public transport is actually the preferred mode of getting around the city. It’s reliable, efficient, clean, and safe and as a bonus, it’s inexpensive to boot. You can pre-purchase your Keisei Skyliner Narita Airport Express ticket, which will take you from the airport into the heart of the city. You can also combine it with a Tokyo Subway pass for the duration of your trip with prices starting from only USD 5.09.
Oh, and hey, you can also get this JR Whole Japan Rail Pass to enjoy unlimited travel across Japan with just one ticket! Forget about buying multiple tickets — all you need is this one pass, and you’re good to go. The JR Pass covers JR trains, airport transfers, local JR highway buses, and the JR ferry.
2. SIM cards & portable WiFi
Imagine saving all this money and then coming home to a whopping big phone bill because you ate up all your data? *gulp* No, thanks!
With a 4G SIM Card or pocket WiFi device, you no longer have to worry about finding a free WiFi spot and you are able to snap your stories and scroll through TikTok as you please! You can even pre-purchase your SIM card or pocket WiFi and pick it up at the airport too. How convenient is that?
Klook Tip: A local sim card will allow you to use the internet without roaming charges
3. Experience more with multi-attraction passes
Deciding between two or more attractions in Tokyo? Don't just choose one, and instead, why not go for all with a multi-attraction pass, such as the Greater Tokyo Klook Pass or Nippon Pass?
The Klook Pass allows you to bundle two or more of your preferred top attractions in Tokyo, including theme parks and museums, at a discounted price. If you'd like to squeeze your visits to as many attractions into one day instead, then the Nippon Pass will be more worth it as you'll get to maximize your travel in Tokyo with unlimited entries into various attractions in a day!
4. Visit underrated theme parks
Photo Credit: @kazutaka_imai on Instagram
Japan is no stranger to having some of the best theme parks in the world, and in Tokyo, you’re bound to find one that you’ll like no matter your age or interest!
Sanrio Puroland is a great place for kids and the young at heart — especially those who never grew out of their Hello Kitty obsession. This indoor theme park is small but jam-packed with tame rides, arcade games, live performances, Sanrio-themed food options, and a cool gift shop! It’s a full day’s entertainment in any weather.
A haven for game and tech geeks, Tokyo Joypolis is the largest indoor theme park in Japan operated by SEGA, a name that may be familiar to many of you gamers! Featuring cutting edge entertainment facilities, the theme park gives you access to over 20 different thrilling rides, VR attractions, realistic simulators, and arcade games.
5. Explore quirky themed cafes
Japan is also famous for having some of the most unique cafés and restaurants in the world, with themes including animals, robots, vampires, and prisons, so this Tokyo guide won’t be complete without a visit to one of these quirky-themed cafés.
At Maidreamin Café, you will be swept away into a dream world and doted on by your waitress come dream girl as she serves you up desserts that are almost far too cute to eat. Almost.
If your idea of a dream scenario involves less humans and more cute animals, we have just the place for you! You won’t be able to hold in your squeals once you meet the cutest micro pigs at Mipig Cafe! Have a fun time sipping on free-flowing drinks and munching on a mipig-inspired donut. Micro pigs are quite delicate, so it’s important to wait for the pigs to approach you and play with you.
6. Get the best city views
How can you see the entire city of Tokyo on a budget? By viewing it from 450 meters in the sky, of course!
Tokyo Skytree is the tallest building in Japan, standing at 634 meters above the ground. With two viewing platforms, you can take in the whole cityscape and even catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji if it’s a clear day.
Other great observatory alternatives in the city include Shibuya Sky and the Roppongi Hills Observation Deck. For an even cheaper option, you can head to the iconic Tokyo Tower instead!
7. Race or cruise across the city
Could there possibly be anything more fun than zipping around the streets of Tokyo on a go-kart? Yes, the actual streets, like, where the cars drive. And did I mention you’ll be dressed as a cartoon character while you do it?
If this sounds like it’s right up your alley, you can choose a whole day’s outing or just a one-hour taste but either way, prepare to be gawked at by fellow drivers as you speed past them mere centimeters from the ground.
For something more laid-back, you can’t look past an afternoon cruise around Tokyo Bay. On this hour-long journey, you will be delighted with an afternoon tea as you sail past some of Tokyo’s most iconic places, like Tokyo Tower and the Rainbow Bridge!
8. Affordable dining options
Of course, this Tokyo guide won’t be complete without the mention of all things food. Like most Asian cities, some of the best and most authentic food you can eat comes from the markets. Not only will it be tasty and fresh, it will also usually be ridiculously cheap!
For street food, try Ginza Fukuyoshi or Memory Lane. If it’s seafood you love, check out the Tsukiji fish market, or if you really want to eat at a Michelin-starred establishment but don’t want to part with hundreds of dollars to do so, check out some of the cheapest (but by no means lesser quality) top restaurants, including Nakiryu, Kagawa Ippuku, or Kien.
9. Art and science experiences
Budget travel in Tokyo doesn’t mean you miss out on cool stuff and teamLab Planets is about as out of this world as they come. A culmination of efforts from light and graphic designers, engineers, architects, and more brilliant minds, teamLab Planets brings together light, water, mirrors, and a clever use of space to whisk visitors away into a world where they become one with the art.
This truly has to be seen to be believed and even if you’re not an art lover, the photos you’ll score should be drawcard enough.
Other budget-friendly museums and galleries in Tokyo that you should definitely check out include the Art Aquarium Museum, as well as the National Museum of Nature and Science.
10. Cheap places to stay in Tokyo
Photo Credit: Resol Poshtel Tokyo Asakusa
Japan’s living standards are incredibly high and unlike some countries where cheap accommodation translates to a ‘you get what you paid for (or worse)’ kind of situation, hostels and budget stays are genuinely very clean, quiet, comfortable, and safe facilities in Tokyo.
Depending on the location, time of year, and your personal needs, you can expect to pay low prices for a night stay at a hostel, or a three-star hotel. For something a bit different, you could also try a capsule hotel.
Money saving hacks for booking hotels in Tokyo 🏨
- Book your hotels at least three months in advance if you are visiting between March to April and the last weeks of November. These are the super peak seasons due to the cherry blossom and autumn seasons.
- Expect to pay 30% more if you are traveling on a Saturday or during the peak season. Even locals from other parts of Japan love to visit Tokyo and Osaka over the weekends, hence the surge in Saturday room prices.
- Taxi fares can cost an arm and a leg hence we strongly recommend staying near a train station where you can hop onto the subway or JR line easily.
Pre-paying for your essentials and activities in Tokyo will help you keep track of exactly how much you’ve spent, meaning you can enjoy the trip without worrying about a dwindling bank account! Safe travels!
FAQs about this budget-friendly Tokyo guide
1. What are the best budget-friendly accommodations in Tokyo?
There are a couple of hostels and capsule hotels that are perfect for budget travelers. Some include UNPLAN Kagurazaka, Sakura Hotel Hatagaya, Shinjuku Kuyakusho-mae Capsule Hotel, and Capsule Room Lightning Hotel Asakusa.
2. How can you get around Tokyo on a budget (transport, passes, IC cards)?
To get around Tokyo on a budget, use the efficient public transportation system, particularly the subway, and consider getting an unlimited day pass or a prepaid IC card like a Suica or Pasmo card for convenience. For passes, you can get a JR Pass or a Tokyo Subway pass.
3. Which free or low-cost attractions should you prioritize in Tokyo?
Free and low-cost attractions to prioritize in Tokyo are iconic landmarks like Shibuya Crossing and the Senso-ji Temple, spots such as Meiji Shrine and Ueno Park, and areas with beautiful city views like the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building's observation decks.
4. When is the cheapest time to visit Tokyo to avoid high season pricing?
The cheapest time to visit Tokyo to avoid high season pricing is mid-January to early March and during the less busy periods like late May to early June and late November to early December.
5. What budget dining options are good in Tokyo for travelers?
Budget dining options in Tokyo include family restaurants like Saizeriya and Coco's, ramen shops such as Ichiran and Menya Musashi, and popular restaurants like Yoshinoya and Matsuya for donburi.
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Klook is a leading pan-regional experiences platform in Asia Pacific, purpose built to digitalize experiences and make them accessible to every traveler.
Our mission is to build the digital infrastructure for the global experience economy — empowering merchants to share their passions and travelers to discover the heartbeat of each destination. We operate a mobile-first, curated platform featuring diverse experiences across global destinations.
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