7 Budget-Friendly Ways to Enjoy Tokyo

Budget travelers can get plenty out of their visit to Tokyo without breaking the bank. There are many cost-friendly things to do across the city, from museums to attractions. You can take advantage of services and spaces built for locals, plus enjoy tourist-only perks that give you access to the best deals. If you know where to look, you'll find no shortage of affordable ways to enjoy every corner of this amazing city, whether you visit as a solo backpacker or as a family of five.

Use Japan's one-of-a-kind accommodations, secret spots, and local know-how to see Tokyo on a budget and still get your fill of excitement. In each listing, you'll find the best low-cost Tokyo activities with other nearby attractions you can enjoy without straining your budget.

Yoyogi park should be the first stop for travelers looking for fresh air and quality outdoor time. During the summer, the area comes alive with local bands and craft markets, and spring sees throngs of budding nature photographers and couples looking for a good spot to see the cherry blossoms. Any time of year, you can stroll around and enjoy some people-watching.

Next to the impressive Ryugoku stadium lies a hidden gem with a secretly stunning view of Tokyo Sky Tree. This park, the Kyu-Yasuda Teien Gardens, is free to enter and has plenty of lovely photo spots, plus the world's friendliest turtles. It's a bit off the beaten track for tourists, offering a near-private experience only minutes away from hubs like Asakusa. While you're near Kyu-Yasuda Teien Gardens, explore the surrounding neighborhood, where you'll find the impressively cost-friendly Hokusai art and Japanese Sword Museums.

For every Ginza or Omotesando storefront, there's a store selling vintage Louis Vuitton at a fraction of the price. You just need to know where to look. Second-hand shopping is on trend in Tokyo for visitors and locals alike, so there are plenty of options.  

There is no better place for shopping on a budget than Tokyo's fashionable Cat Street, lined with curated used goods stores and chains like Flamingo, Chicago, and Second Street. You can find upscale items at a fraction of the price. Many second-hand stores feature a particular theme or style, which helps narrow down the options. Popular venues like RAGTAG Harajuku and Kiji used clothing have well-known brands.

Just one stop from Shibuya is the vintage haven of Shimokitazawa, home to some of the best retro fashion in the city. Shimokitazawa is trendy and walkable, making it a great area for some window shopping. Even if you don't plan on buying anything, the energy and culture of this stylish pocket of Tokyo make it a worthwhile trip.

Shopping can still be fun without spending a dime, especially when you take a moment to stare at the amazing storefronts in Tokyo's trendiest neighborhoods.

World-class architecture meets fashion along the main streets of Ginza and Omotesando. Visit Ginza 4-chome crossing to see impressive facades, a giant clocktower, and the newest in Nissan innovations at their streetside showroom.

Omotesando features elegant architecture in the form of European-style chateaus and stores like the Comme Des Garcons with its art-gallery-esque interiors. In Harajuku, you can ogle at slick styles on display at La Foret or see them worn live on Takeshita Dori shopping avenue.

Shibuya's newly opened lifestyle centers are located right next to fashion plazas and multi-level foreign giants like Ikea and H&M. Even train stations offer exciting window shopping mid-transit with attached malls. Newly opened wings at Haneda airport, Ueno Station, and the looping shotengai shopping avenues of Asakusa and Nakano are exciting places to check out some of Tokyo's most unique stores on your way through town.

Even if you’re not going beyond Tokyo’s borders, snagging a JR pass before your trip (it must be purchased outside of Japan) is a worthwhile investment that will save big bucks as you zip through town. Save time and money with multi-day rail passes that make day trips to locations like Kyoto possible, thanks to free Shinkansen access on certain trains.

Without the JR pass, you can easily buy one-day or three-day passes that grant unlimited access to the Tokyo Metro and Tokyu rail lines too. If you’re traveling on a budget, make the most of Tokyo’s public transportation with these handy tickets.

Visit travel hubs like Haneda and Tokyo Station for English guidance on making the most out of your trip and helpful ticketing centers made just for tourists.

Cultural hubs like Shinjuku and Shibuya offer excellent views of the city, but you have to know where to go to find free access without fighting for a spot.

You can scale Tokyo Tower and Skytree, but how about a view where you can see their impressive structures from afar, too? For free?

From the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No.1 in Shinjuku, you can overlook the North and South of Tokyo. Plus, you can see the daily life of Tokyoites doing paperwork on the floors below, a novel addition to your list of Tokyo adventures. In Shibuya, the windows of the Hikarie offer a great view as well.

Off-the-beaten-path Bunkyo ward is a student haven where you can find great used bookstores and art museums and the impressively tall Bunkyo Civic Center with its grand city views. Scale to the top for an often-overlooked overlook of the Tokyo skyline.

The Tokyo dome is nearby, too, just off Suidobashi station. Take in the sights and then a game from the stands, if it suits you. For a look at older Tokyo, the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center is a great place to watch crowds of kimono-clad tourists and the bustle of Nakamise shopping street, which leads to Sensoji Temple.

Japan is a country of culinary excellence, and this is a truth that includes the offerings at the nation's convenience stores and chain restaurants. Eat like the locals at price-friendly family eateries and taste the real Japan.

When eating out, choose restaurants like Saizeriya or enjoy the novelty of a Japanese Denny's. Lunch-time-only deals can nab you a full meal for 500 Yen at some neighborhood spots! Or swing by the closest Family Mart, Lawson or 7-Eleven for a delicious bento lunch box for less than 500 Yen.

After a long day of walking, you might just want to return to your hotel for an easy meal. Supermarkets mark their bento down to half-price before closing, and even convenience stores will give you a deal on unsold onigiri (rice balls).

Capsule hotels have become part of Tokyo travelers' folklore. These budget-friendly accommodations offer guests a cozy little place to rest, wash and recharge all for a bargain price, and the only cost? A little extra legroom. Originally capsule hotels were designed for late-night workers and hard partiers that missed the last train, but thanks to their popularity among visitors, this genre of hotel has undergone a reinvention over the past few decades.

The best part of staying at a capsule hotel is often the location; you can spend the night in the city's center for a fraction of the cost of a regular hotel but still retain more privacy than you could get at any hostel. These capsule hotels, however, offer more than just a place to pass out, from authentic salaryman-style living to luxury bed booths that come with immersive cinemas screens, to beds that double as sleep labs ready to read your body's rhythms while you snooze, the capsule hotel is more than an accommodation option, it's a cultural experience. Check out our guide to some of the best capsule hotels in the city.

One of the best things about exploring Tokyo is that the city is home to plenty of budget-friendly accommodations. Sure, if you want to spend big, there's the option, but if you want to travel on a budget, there are equally as many, if not more, options to choose from.

From simple business hotels to the aforementioned capsule options to hostels, there's something to suit your taste. Check out our list of the best budget hotels in the city to snag yourself a deal.