The Ultimate Guide To Tokyo
Everyone’s heard about Tokyo’s big gardens—the Kiyosumi Teien in Fukagawa, the Hamarikyu near Sumida River in Chuo Ward, the Rikugien near Komagome or those around the Imperial Palace and in the Meiji Jingu park. But if you happen to be […]
For most visitors to Japan the word “ryokan” (or traditional Japanese inn) evokes images of really old, really expensive lodgings in idyllic rural settings with kimono-clad staff, classic kaiseki meals and prices that can be easily compared to some of […]
With spring giving way to summer, expect hotter, more humid weather. Summer in Japan also usually begins with tsuyu, or the rainy season, so prepare for some wet (but still hot and humid) days in June. But neither hot weather […]
Like the event roundup for Japan Cheapo, deciding what events to feature was a hard one, what with the many events to be held in Tokyo. Despite the heat, summer is a great time to be in Tokyo, because there’s […]
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 […]
For a country that has the whole world convinced it moved on to the 25th century 40 years ago, Japan is, for the most part, surprisingly lo-tech. Sure, a ride from Toyosu to Shinbashi on the self-driving Yurikamome Line can […]
There are several things to do in the broader Morishita area, east of Sumida River, but Cattlea alone is almost worth the train ticket. On the outside it’s a small neighborhood bakery (named oddly enough after a Costa Rican orchid), […]
If the Edo Tokyo Museum is for not just Edo lovers but anyone interested in Tokyo, then the Fukagawa Edo Museum is more for the otaku of the old city. Aptly set up in an area oozing with old shitamachi history—the Fukagawa […]
A little while back I said that for some things it’s better to avoid konbini (aka convenience stores). As I had predicted, this statement raised some eyebrows, but I stand firmly behind it and use Kagetsudo‘s melon pan to support it: […]
It’s nearly two weeks into 2016. Did you welcome the New Year the Japanese way—hatsumode (a temple or shrine visit) and all? If it still hasn’t sunk in that it’s already 2016, perhaps you can kick the year off by going […]
With winter giving way to spring, it’s time to welcome the new season with another roundup of events worth attending. This article doesn’t cover cherry blossom viewing, as it’s such serious business that there are several other articles to cover […]
After being in Japan for a couple years I realized there is such a thing as too much Tokyo. Shinjuku simply becomes too loud, Akihabara game centers all start to look alike, and Shibuya just becomes a mass of people and buildings. Sometimes you […]
I have never met a single person who didn’t cry during that first montage of UP, and I hope I never do. Pixar has consistently managed to combine the latest technology in computer animation with expert storytelling, creating fan favorites such as […]
Who doesn’t know what a geisha is? Apparently most people: they aren’t prostitutes, they aren’t exclusive to Kyoto and they do exist, even today. Obviously, though, in smaller numbers and for the most part they’re linked to very rich businessmen who […]
For a martial art, yabusame (horseback archery) isn’t very popular, not even in Japan. This comes as little surprise considering there are only a couple of schools/traditions that teach it, plus you need an actual horse (and the space for […]
Tokyo abounds with family-friendly interactive museums and art galleries to keep the little ones entertained.
Hotels all look the same, you’re over hostels and you want to set up a good base for your explorations. Airbnb is the answer—and there are plenty of unusual choices in Tokyo. Despite the slightly contentious legal status of Airbnb in […]
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 […]
Looking beyond sushi for your Japanese foodie experience? Try these seafood-based dishes that'll leave you just as satisfied and wanting more.
Sukiyabashi Jiro may be one of the most famous sushi restaurants, but reservations are tricky and they aren't always nice to foreigners. Try these instead.
Tokyo is a truly vast sprawling city, and one of the absolute “must-do” things here is getting a view of it from up on high. Chief Cheapo video presenter Angela An (of Internationally Me fame) hosts the first video on our brand […]
Tokyo is the epitome of a modern-day Japan. Sushi comes straight to your table, bullet trains are (almost) never late, and who needs a full-sized hotel room when you can sleep in a capsule? But, if you are looking for […]