The Ultimate Guide To Tokyo
As I’m not very interested in the brand stores that line Omotesando, I couldn’t help noticing the little coffee truck parked just off the main drag on a side street next to the Benetton shop. This is one of four […]
After playing changing room parkour and handing over upwards of fifty dollars for a cardigan or somesuch, I am often so overwhelmed by the exhausting nature of the exercise, plus residual guilt at trading the month’s phone bill for an […]
The cost of seeing releases on the big screen can be daunting–or colloquially, a total rip-off. General admission-slash-extortion at any of the Toho Cinemas locations is 1,800yen, and the college student rates of 1,500yen aren’t much better. The additional 650yen […]
I wish someone much cooler than myself had told me about Shimokitazawa when I first moved to Japan, because the novelty of Shibuya can wear off mighty quick and there is really only so much gaudy crap you can buy […]
Slog slog. Get around wet people with big umbrellas we bump and walk in pedestrian holdups chilly. And then, like that longrunning Campbell’s Soup commercial, with the warmth of our hearty bowl of soup, we melt off our outer snowmen, […]
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 […]
Nos Ancetres de Demain is permanently closed. Sometimes “chance” is fantastic and in my meanders, I happen upon something exquisite–a breadcrumb or baguette that shows me I’m on the right road. Stumbling upon Nos Ancetres de Demaine, in Ogikubo, was […]
In the simplest terms, Musashino Place is a library. In reality, though, it is so much more. Musashino Place is a gem of a building located across from the Musashi Sakai station of the Chuo Line. I call it a […]
The mascot of Inokashira Park Zoo is a squirrel, so to be completely honest, you shouldn’t really be expecting much in terms of animal variety. However, at 400yen for a passport-less adult (with a passport, foreigners get a 20% discount), […]
Wonder of wonders, I have never sauntered into Freshness Burger until this month. I was surprised by the choices offered, both in the obvious burger department, and in the vegetarian burgers. Not bad, Freshness. I also had no idea they […]
If you’re a freelancer, a location independent entrepreneur or you just need a space where you can concentrate and get some work done, then the Open Source Cafe in Shimokitazawa is worth a look. While not as cheap as a […]
The cheapest clothes in Tokyo tend to come from second-hand shops, but used clothing isn’t for everyone. I’ve met plenty of perfectly awesome and sincere Cheapos who never buy used clothing. Used clothing may have “soul,” but they also have […]
The impression that Tokyo is a pricey town to live in is an old trope, but unfortunately it isn’t far off from the truth. Otherwise you wouldn’t be visiting a site offering tips for saving money on sex by forgoing […]
Asking locals in Tokyo for advice on a good, affordable place to live in Tokyo is usually an exercise in futility. Tokyo is so damn big that people can only give you their opinions on the area immediately around where they […]
Twice a year, Japanese variety TV program Ikinari Ougon Densetsu (Sudden Golden Legend) runs a competition called Setsuyaku Battle (Economising Battle) in which two Japanese celebrities compete against each other for 1 month living on less than 10,000yen. The competitor […]
On the surface, New York JOE Exchange seems like just another resale shop. However, when you dig a bit deeper, you will discover something new, something magic, something bohemian. Located along the Ichiban Gai Street in Kichijoji (arguably the most […]
The Showa Memorial Park, also known simply as Tachikawa Park, is a family favorite in Tachikawa – just off the Chuo Line. With 11 kilometers of bike paths, weekly events, a variety of ponds, flowers, and nature formation, Showa Kinen […]
Transportation in Japan is expensive. Rental cars, trains, and busses can often drain your wallet faster than those rotation sushi places we all seem to love. So what is the alternative if you want to travel around Japan but save […]
With all it’s pomp and fanfare Japanese Beef or Wagyu has a reputation for being expensive and high quality fodder. Non-Japanese will no doubt have heard of Kobe beef, which is one of the “Beef Brands” in Japan, though I […]
Download Podcast Boroichi Flea Market On location this week from the Boroichi Flea Market in Tokyo. Hear your favorite cheapos scramble around Tokyo’s oldest flea market (dating back hundreds of years!), checking out the broad spectrum of wares and battling […]
Make the most of the pleasant weather in Tokyo this March and April with our guide to the best festivals and flowers. This is the first instalment of a new bi-monthly events wrap where we’ll be giving you the lowdown […]
Whoever invented ramen is a mad genius. Seriously, have you met anyone who dislikes the stuff (except maybe vegetarians and the gluten-intolerant*)? To me, it’s the new chicken soup for the soul. So when our cheapo editor asked me how […]
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 […]
It’s hard being a Cheapo in Tokyo. Between train tickets, housing, food, and internet, there isn’t always a lot left over for “secondary costs” such as liquor and coffee. Fine wines don’t often make the shortlist of necessary expenses. Unless […]