Tokyo can be super overwhelming for a first time traveler. It’s hard to choose something in a city so endless with opportunity. Should you go see a robot show or check out the Lolitas at Harajuku? While you may want to do a plethora of things, it’s no secret Tokyo is insanely expensive. As the 16th most expensive city in the world, your wallet money will go fast since cash is king. Let me help a fellow traveler out and tell you how to have the most fun in Tokyo without breaking the bank.
Blog Posts You Might Like
- Where To Stay in Tokyo – This list will help you find everything from great location, luxury, and convenient places to stay in Tokyo.
- Robot Restaurant in Tokyo – This is a tourist trap you WANT to get caught it. It’s crazy, lively, and all sorts of fun!
- Where To Stay: Tokyo Accommodation/ Hong Kong Accommodation – Check out both of these comprehensive guides so you know more great places to stay!
- The Ultimate Tokyo Itinerary for Weeaboos – If you are a self proclaimed Otaku or Japanophile, then these are places you absolutely CANNOT skip while visiting.
- Where To Rent Kimono in Tokyo – If your dream is to dress up like a Japanese princess, then I cannot recommend Kimono Rentals Yae enough. Check out all the details and how to book.
- The Best Places for High Tea in Tokyo – Afternoon tea gets a whole lot fancier in Tokyo. Check out this top five list of my favorite high tea spots in Japan’s capital.
- Asakusa Night Foodie Tour – This area is more than just temples and culture. There’s actually a hidden foodie culture as well.
Cheap Flights to Tokyo
While we’re on the subject of being cheap, raise your hand if you want a cheap flight to Tokyo. The best time to book a trip to Tokyo is from March, mid May to early June and September-mid December.
[tp_search_shortcodes slug=”528684ff”]Where To Stay in Tokyo
If you’re looking to splurge or where to stay in Tokyo on a budget, check out these awesome places to make your life so much cooler. The best places to stay are Shinjuku, the Tokyo Station Area, or Shibuya. If you’re a tourist in Tokyo, I also suggest staying in Ginza or Nihonbashi as well. Basically, the best places to stay are off the JR Green Yamanote Line.
Budget
- Irori Nihonbashi Hotel & Kitchen – Well located in the Chuo Ward district of Tokyo, Irori Nihonbashi Hostel & Kitchen is located 500m from Asakusa Mitsuke Memorial and 600 from Hatsunemori Shrine. Featuring a shared lounge, the 1-star hostel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom.
- Oak Hostel Cabin – They are located a 7-minute walk from Suitengumae Subway Station. It offers capsule rooms, coin launderette and free WiFi. Showers can be used before and after check-in, and guests can also use the common kitchen to prepare their own meals.
- Guest House Fete – They are located 600m from Edo Tokyo Museum. The property offers a vegan and vegetarian cafe on the ground floor.
1. Odaiba
Tokyo’s famous man made island off Tokyo Bay is super cool. It boasts a magnitude of activities from a theme park, rainbow colored Ferris Wheel, Rainbow Bridge, the Fuji TV Building, shopping, dining, and my personal favorite, the life-size Gundam. Having seen Gundam Wing as a child and Gundam Seed as an early teen, it was like stepping into the world of my earlier years. Any Gundam fans out there? This is worth it. In front of the Gundam, there are performances and around the park as well. How many musicians can you spot?
See the bay where you can observe a replica of Lady Liberty and gaze at the Rainbow Bridge in the distance. I recommend touring Odaiba late evening to enjoy the lights at night.
The month of August is the hottest time of year on mainland Japan. The multitude of brick buildings in Tokyo absorb heat during the day and make it just as uncomfortable at night. Stay hydrated, my friends—you will soak through your clothes and the chances of heat exhaustion are high. I hid inside DiverCity Tokyo Plaza to escape the heat and found solace in the Godiva chocolate shop. The bottom floor has a large food court and selection.
How to get there: Getting to Odaiba is a treat itself as the JR Line takes you across the Rainbow Bridge and gives travelers a view of the island. Get off at Tokyo Teleport Station.
2. Asakusa Asahi Building
Travel to Asakusa where you can see the Asahi (sperm) Building and the Tokyo Sky Tree. Asahi is one of Japan’s leading manufacturers of drinks and alcoholic beverages. Wanna be a cheap ass and not pay an expensive amount and wait a long time to go up the Sky Tree? Go up to the 22nd floor of the Asahi (sperm) Building and enjoy an ice cold beer with a great view of the Tokyo Sky Tree.
How to get there: Get off at Asakusa Station and walk out of Exit 4. Follow the Sky Tree. You can’t miss it.
Adress: Asahi Sky Room, Japan, 〒130-0001 Tokyo, Sumida, Azumabashi, 1−23−1 アサヒビール吾妻橋ビル 22F
Cost: 700-1200 yen
3. Sensoji Temple
Asakusa’s main tourist attraction is the famous Sensoji Temple—completed in 645, it is Japan’s oldest temple. When I arrived on temple grounds I was greeted by a long procession of souvenir shops on Nakamise Street. They have a variety of goods from yukata (the Japanese summer kimono) to geisha dolls and samurai sword umbrellas. The temple grounds were incredibly breath taking as not many tourists stray from the main temple. When, I think of old Japan, I think of these grounds as the symbol of Japanese culture. It’s also a great place to shop for souvenirs.
How to get there: Get off at Asakusa Station and walk out Exit 8. Turn right and walk down the street. Follow the signs to the temple.
Address: Sensō-ji, 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
4. Tokyo Tower
After my visit to Sensoji, I made my last stop at Tokyo Tower. If you enjoy history and culture like I do, the Tokyo Tower may not be the coolest, most modern place to be, but it has character and is well-known. As Tokyo is now the host of the 2020 Olympics, the tower is lit up with 2020 at night. The Tower has two observation decks, but the first deck was sufficient to enjoy the city view.
Bonus for all you Sailor Moon fans out there. You will feel a sense of nostalgia as you go up the tower. Seriously, watch the episode where Usagi and Mamoru are trapped inside the elevator of Tokyo Tower waiting meet their death by their evil nemesis, Zoycite. After you watch it, compare your experiences and feel like you’re in the anime. Thank me later.
How to get there: Walk out Akebanebashi Station, cross the street and turn right. You’ll come to a cross roads and make a left. Follow the bend up and once you see Tokyo Tower, keep following it.
Address: 4 Chome-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato, Tokyo 105-0011, Japan
Cost: 820 yen
5. Zojo-ji Temple
A site also worth seeing is the Zojo-ji Temple in front of the tower. Whilst wandering I walked past and found many statues with colored hats or offerings in front of them. I think the statues were to represent children or the playful spirits of nature, but it felt Japanese and like I was stepping into a time warp of the past. It’s really awesome seeing the modern Tokyo Tower in the background from a traditional temple.
How to get there: From Tokyo Tower walk out of the store in the back. Walk toward the street and make a right. When you get to the intersection, cross the street and keep walking.
Address: Zōjō-ji, 4-7-35 Shibakoen, Minato, Tokyo 105-0011, Japan
6. Go on a Free Suntory Beer Tour
One of Japan’s most popular beer brands, Suntory offers free tours at their Tokyo factory. The Suntory Musashino Factory is located in Fuchu City Tokyo. You can do a 70 minute FREE tour at the factory and taste the beer after for FREE. Don’t worry if you can’t speak Japanese. They can provide an audio guide in English for you.
Address: 3-1 Yazakicho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-0025, Japan
Hours: 9:30am – 5pm
7. See Mount Fuji
Did you know you can take a really cheap day trip from Tokyo and take in one of the most stunning sites to ever grace Japan? There’s nothing like looking at Mount Fuji’s stunning majesty. You’ll get to stop at the fifth station and also get to dip into an Onsen.
8. Go to an Onsen
Oftentimes, when Japanese need to relax and rejuvenate, they play trips to onsen. An onsen is a public bathhouse where everyone strips down to their birthday suit. The best onsen are actually located outside the bustling city, so I recommend the Gunma Oligan Onsen for all your relaxation and picturesque needs.
Would you try out this itinerary? Have you been to these places I’ve mentioned? Let me know in the comment box below!
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29 Comments on Fun and Cheap Things to do in Tokyo
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Haha! I love that you call it the Sperm, I call it the golden poop!
Hahaha. I call it the giant sperm building. It was suppossed to be a flame, but the Japanese can agree with you. It definitely looks like a giant, golden poop. Hahaha.
Having a beer on the 22nd floor of a building sounds exactly like something I want to do! Also, cheap + Tokyo never went together in my mind but now they do. Thanks!
When you’re a budget traveler, you have to make do! The only expensive thing is public transport but you can make up for it when you eat at the convenience store.
I love how quirky and eclectic Tokyo is! A gigantic transformer, a sperm (!) building, and a temple from the 7th century is like the prettiest mish mash of styles and history I’ve ever seen! The pics are beautiful too 🙂
I love reading posts about my home country. It’s always interesting to see it from a visitor’s perspective. One of the places I haven’t visited is the Asakusa Asahi Building. I love beer, so it’s definitely something I should check out the next time I go home 🙂
I didn’t know that one of you was Japanese! I’ve read your blog before and I’m so excited that you checked out mine! I actually lived in Japan for 3 years so I guess I was a foreign resident! Let me know if you have any Japan posts! I’d love to read them!
I love Asahi beer and I didn’t know that it translates to sperm. Lol. The view from the bar at Asahi tower looks gorgeous!
Noemi, you are so funny! Your comment just made me laugh (in a good way, I swear). Asahi doesn’t translate to sperm but that golden structure on the top of the building sure looks like it! Hahahaha
Tokyo looks amazing with such awesome and varied architecture. I would love to visit and I would certainly try out this itinerary.
Thanks so much and let me know if you do try out this itinerary! I would love to know how your trip goes!
Gina!! Tokyo is #1 on my list of weekend trips this year in Korea. You, Expat and the City, and I should go – you can be our tour guide 😀 😀 :D. Sensoji Temple looks like my kinda vibe, for sure. I love seeing all the differences in temples through Korea, China, and Japan (I did Shanghai and Osaka last year). Your photos are amazing, by the way. What kind of camera are you using these days?
You will love Tokyo. It’s pretty funky and expensive but awesome. The temples of Japan are so different cmpared to those of Korea. We should definitely take a trip somewhere, but not Japan! 😉 I lived there for 3 years and I’m not trying to go back soon. If you ever need any help, don’t hesitate to contact me! I use a Cannon Kiss (I’m not sure what the Western name for it is because I bought it in Japan).
This is a very nice guide and reading your post, we would definitely try visiting all these places next time when we are in Tokyo.
This is a great post with something for everyone! I really love the idea of putting the maps in from one site to the next! Genius idea! I’ve never been to Tokyo, but I know that when I go this will help me so much! Thanks! Plus, you speak my language – budget! Cheers!
Budget is an awesome language for anyone and everyone. It’s kind of hard to communicate in Japan so having maps is definitely helpful! I honestly wish I had this guide when I lived in Japan. Let me know if you ever try this out! 🙂
I didn’t think there was anything cheap to do in Tokyo, so this list is super helpful! I’m not sure what I’d want to do first — possibly spend some time in the gardens and then at the Sensoji Temple before visiting the Tokyo Tower. Though depending on the heat I might have to lose myself in the chocolate shop, at least for a little while. 😉
It gets nasty in Tokyo in the summer! Kudos to you for hiding in a chocolate shop. It’s what I did around noon and I didn’t come out until two or three. I love the outdoors but not the extreme heat from a concrete jungle. The gardens at Sensoji Temple were legit the best! The best part… Hardly anyone was there! This is great for travelers who don’t like large crowds (and there will be) at Sensoji.
I’m so unfamiliar with Tokyo! Thanks for all of the tips. Some of the architecture is really interesting!! But what on earth is a Gundam?
*insert big grin here* Let me tell you about a Gundam. It’s kind of what Japan is famous for animation wise. It started in the 80s where animators envisioned a world of science fiction where giant robots could fight in space and humanity was expanding its reach over the universe. Geeky, I know, but the life size Gundam display is an imagination of what it would look like if it really existed.
I love this list. It veers off what I usually see and adds new persepectives to expensive highlights to things like the Sky tree. Did you know of a way up to the Tokyo Tower that isn’t utterly exhausting? Every time I’ve gone it’s always a long hike up a steep hill during summer, where I’m dying from the heat and humidity.
Actually, I do know a way to get to the Tokyo Tower that isn’t so exhausting. I’ve taken the bus there and there’s a stop close by that won’t make you sweat as much. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the bus, but I do know it’s super easy to find on Google Maps.
Even though it’s insanely crowded, I love Sensoji. I always take visitors there if it’s their first time in Tokyo. It basically has everything!
I like the temple too. It’s a bummer that it’s always so crowded. I do know it’s less crowded early in the morning, so if you want those awesome Insta pics, that is the time to do it! 😉
Another set of awesome things to do when I make it back to Tokyo! You can’t see this city just once, there is way too much to do! I was definitely that “overwhelmed traveler” when visiting my first…. and second time! Post like this make me feel way more prepared. Thank you.
Looks like you had quiet a lot of fun there 🙂 By the way, the things you mentioned to try out all sound amazing. I am going to save this list for my tokyo visit
This could not have come at a better time as I’m starting to research things to do in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka for our trip next March! Definitely bookmarking this and will most likely visit the Sperm tower haha!
Lots of things to do in Tokyo for a real fun experience. My pick of the lot would be Odaiba with its host of activities. The next one would be Sensoji temple which seems so beautiful and promises an immersive experience in the culture and heritage of Tokyo.
Tokyo is one of those cities that everyone will have their favorite things to do and everyones lists is a little different.