The Ultimate Guide To Tokyo
Discount ticket shops have been around for about as long as there have been tickets. Typically you’ll find them under elevated railway tracks, or squeezed into small spaces between buildings. The deals seem impossibly good but the grimy appearance of […]
Summer evenings in Japan are a great time of year to enjoy a few beers and otsumami (snacks consumed with drinks) with friends in the open air. Aside from expensive restaurants with terraces, there are two popular options – rooftop […]
To each season its traditional stockpiling. Around New Years’, you get the grab bags filled with assorted items and sold at substantial discounts (called fukubukuro—”lucky bag”), the winter bargains, and, of course, the consumerist blowout of all blowouts: Japan’s summer […]
In a recent article, we investigated convenience stores with alfresco cafe seating as a way to comfortably enjoy food and drink under the stars on the cheap. Now it’s time to put that to the test. In the evening of Thursday, […]
The dress code at restaurants in Akasaka certainly isn’t strictly pearls and diamonds but something tells me that my disintegrating Cons would not be welcome to lunch. Deutsche Bank has its offices in the area, as does a handful of […]
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 […]
** This store is permanently closed ** Why haven’t I known about this? Freshly-made pita & made-to-order falafel right here in Tokyo since 1993? Was my honing device recalled? I could not sniff-out such extraordinary food? In an average week, […]
Store closed: Sadly, Happy Salada closed its doors at the end of November, 2014. When I visit Happy Salada in Akasaka, owner Raphael and his multinational staff are flat out preparing salads for the lunch rush. The store itself is […]
Tsurumaru Udon is a chain of udon noodle shops located throughout Tokyo. Despite having udon in the name, they are surprisingly soba friendly, with a soba variant of all dishes available. The menu (with tiny English text!) offers up 12 […]
As Tokyo shifts into early summer and rainy season mode, there’s an explosion of events. The next two months offer a chance to see two famous and historical festivals – so get your camera ready. This is the second instalment […]
So you’ve finally summoned up all your courage and asked out that cute coworker, you know, the shy one that is always smiling. And for some reason, they actually said “yes!” Now what? It’s time to plan your first date(s) together. […]
Finding a great burger that doesn’t cost a crazy amount in Tokyo is no easy task! In the recently published The Burger Map Tokyo, there were over 40 shops listed, and those were just the ones considered “the best of […]
Napoli’s is a chain of pizzerias that has expanded rapidly across Tokyo and beyond in the past couple of years. Although they all share a similar concept and similar names, there are two distinct types – the flagship Napoli’s Pizza […]
There are so many fantastic free events happening in Tokyo in November and December that it was tough choosing just five for this bimonthly events wrap. But we had to (because the editor said so). After much discount coffee fuelled […]
Tokyo may seem shiny-shiny and new – and parts of it are. It can feel like everyone has new stuff all the time and you certainly wouldn’t be the first one to look, agape, at what people are putting on […]
Chinese Café Eight is a chain of Chinese Restaurants with four Tokyo locations, including Roppongi, Shinjuku, Akasaka, and Ebisu, as well as another location in Shinsaibashi, Osaka. The restaurants all have a unique atmosphere with a few … er, interesting decoration […]
Although the Chinese are one of Japan’s largest minority groups and there are Chinese restaurants aplenty, most Chinese food in Japan has been adjusted to suit local palates. These dishes are called chūka ryouri (which literally means “Chinese cuisine”), but if you’re […]
The dog days of summer are upon us, and what better way to escape the heat than in a cool, dark, air-conditioned theater with a frosty drink in hand and some boom bang on the big screen? But movie ticket […]
New to Tokyo Cheapo? Read this. We’ve put together a Tokyo for Beginners introductory guide that will help you use our (invaluable) resources to get the most out of Tokyo on a budget. From reasonable ramen to inexpensive ways of […]
Settle in close with fellow diners at Kien — an affordable one-star Michelin restaurant in Akasaka.
A quick lowdown on serviced offices, for cheapos with business ambition in the capital.
Indoor, outdoor and year-round options included.
Christmas shopping season is upon us, but we're here to make it a whole lot easier.
Kimono never go out of style—read our insider tips and tricks to buying one of the most sought-after Japanese souvenirs.