Budget Tips for Tokyo

Tracked every yen over 10 days in tokyo. Heres exactly how to eat well on ¥2000 daily:

breakfast: konbini onigiri ¥110 + famima coffee ¥150 = ¥260 total. Hotel breakfast buffets at ¥1500+ are highway robbery

lunch: teishoku sets ¥600-800 at places with plastic food displays and salary worker lines in marunouchi business district. Avoid english menus in harajuku tourist zones

dinner: ramen yokocho ¥700-900 or standing bar tachigui gyoza + beer ¥800-1200. Happy hour yakitori ¥100/stick between 17:00-19:00 near jr stations

supermarket hack: bento boxes 50% off after 20:00 at life and summit. Way cheaper than konbini for drinks near shibuya center gai

total savings: ¥8000 over 10 days vs roppongi tourist restaurants. Thats 2 extra days in tokyo right there

Daiso is everywhere but not all 100 yen shops are equal. Here's the breakdown:

daiso: best selection, reliable quality. Phone chargers ¥110, umbrella ¥110, basic toiletries ¥110 each. The 3-story harajuku location has everything.

seria: better design, same prices. Their travel containers and compression bags are superior to daiso. Smaller stores but higher quality items.

can do: cheapest but hit-or-miss quality. Good for disposable items like rain ponchos ¥110, snacks ¥110, but avoid electronics.

Budget impact: bought umbrella, phone charger, snacks, and toiletries for ¥770 total vs ¥3000+ at convenience stores.

Everyone talks about expensive tokyo food but you can eat well for under ¥500 if you know where to look. Yoshinoya beef bowls are ¥380 and genuinely filling. University cafeterias in shibuya and shinjuku serve students and the public - ¥400 for massive portions.

Convenience store hot food is legit - karaage chicken ¥200, onigiri ¥150, instant ramen ¥300. That's ¥650 for a full meal. Standing sushi places near train stations do 2 pieces for ¥200-300.

Avoid anything touristy obviously but also skip the fake cheap places that charge ¥500 for tiny portions. Stick to chain restaurants and places with salary worker crowds.