The Ultimate Guide To Tokyo
This is the time of year when everyone pretends that it's getting warmer even though it isn't. So if you'd like to join in with the mass delusions of spring, here are some ideas for the weekend. Around about the time that 'hanami' (cherry …
Sunday, February 3rd is Setsubun. Setsubun is a bean throwing festival to celebrate the beginning of Spring on the traditional lunar calendar. Traditionally, the father in a family will put on a demon mask and enter the house - upon which he …
It might be hard to believe in this chilly weather, but the strawberry picking season starts in Kanto this weekend. The season runs from mid January through until April or May depending on location. Some farms allow the public to come in and …
On a recent lunchtime stroll down the marvelously cheap Sakae Dori - a narrow street of small restaurants, bars and cafes that atarts just outside Takadanobaba Station - the newly opened Takadanobaba branch of Ginhachi-don caught my eye with …
Since the snow that dunped on Tokyo on Monday has frozen solid, there will be no frolics in the white fluffy stuff for Tokyoites this weekend - unless you head to the Tokyo Snow and Ice festival at Roppongi Hills. Obviously thinking that snow …
Welcome to the first Cheapo Weekend of 2013. Coming of Age Day on the 14th stretches this weekend out to a leisurely 3 days. While there's not much you can get involved in unless you're turning 20 or related to someone turning 20, if you're out …
Now that Christmas has been poured down the drain like milk that's gone sour the day after it's best by date, it's time to leave the twinkly lights behind us and look forward to all that the New Year break has to offer. Let's start with cosplay …
We've been doing this cheapo thing for almost 9 months now so we're starting to see the lay of the land a bit better. Here are top 5 picks for major cheapo trends that we saw in 2012 - and only four of them are food and alcohol related! 1. One …
If you missed the incredible Tokyo Station Vision projection mapping back in September, you have a chance to see a Christmassy version entitled Tokyo Michi Terrace 2012 (link in Japanese) starting this Friday. It's not clear if the projection …
If you live near a Y's Mart, you're a very lucky cheapo. I used to live near one and didn't realise what a treasure of a place it was until I moved somewhere where the closest supermarket was a Maruetsu Petite. While the fruit and veggies are …
If you're going to spend some time Christmas shopping this weekend, why not do it at one of Tokyo's unique winter markets? The 434 year old Boroichi (rag market) takes place in Setagaya on both Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th. Boroichi is …
Just to let that sink in properly - that's not just for a slice, that's 350yen for the whole damn pizza. All of their pizzas measure 30cm across so that's a full 706 sq. cm of goodness. To put that into further perspective, for the price of one …
If you're looking for something to do this weekend, you should really just ignore these suggestions and have a look at 101 Cheap and Free Things to do in Tokyo instead. If you do 4 of these each weekend you won't need to come back here until …
The Christmas/winter illuminations continue their roll-out this weekend with the giant battle robot Gundam getting in on the act. Stationed outside the Diver City shopping center in Odaiba, the Gundam statue will be decorated with lots and lots …
Labour Thanksgiving Day is observed this Friday so we have a three day weekend ahead of us. However, if you don't like Christmas illuminations there's not a hell of a lot on at the moment in the way of major events. Here are a few suggestions …
So you think McDonald's is fast? Well, they're not compared to Sanuki Udon Hanamaru. To watch the staff of Hanamaru is to see a marvel of Japanese service process design. The kitchen moves like a super efficient production line with commands …
Just as the cherry blossom front traverses Japan from south to North each Spring, the Koyo (changing Autumn Leaves) front comes at us from the opposite direction each Autumn. This weekend and the next will see the front descending on Tokyo …
'Zanmai' is Japanese for indulgence or luxury. While sushi is certainly an indulgence compared to a lot of regular fare, Sushizanmai serves it up at a reasonable price—especially if you follow the Cheapo maxim of 'posh lunch, cheap dinner'. …
Ever received a gift card which you can't seem to use unless you go to a flash department store in Ginza? At Daikokuya you can turn these into cash for more useful items - like beer. Daikokuya is a particularly large chain of what are known as …
Did you know it's Christmas? Just as Halloween runs for the whole of October in Japan, Christmas seems to run from about November 1st until the end of January. Aside from the Christmas jingles already playing at your local shops, the other way …
After an unprecedented one whole week of Halloween parties it's time to calm down and get civilised people! With the weather cooling and design events on everywhere, dig out that turtle neck and start practicing those moody, contemplative scowls …
Anyone who tells you that Halloween isn't a big deal in Japan (and Tokyo) is seriously lacking in perspective. Halloween in Tokyo runs for the whole month of October - our local supermarket put up their decorations before summer had even …
If you're one of the brave souls who has decided to eschew a diet of dead animal or perhaps if you're even a little veggie-curious, you should head down to the Tokyo Veggie Food Festa in Yoyogi Park this weekend. The festival runs on Saturday …
Beyond dull bronzes of early statesmen, public art in Tokyo is a relatively new phenomenon. Only in about the last 25 years or so have architects and urban planners started to incorporate public artworks into their projects. Luckily, there are a …