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Learn How to See More for Less!: Tsukiji, Ginza, Asakusa Edition
We at DiGJAPAN! know how important it is to stay on budget while traveling. But even in a big city like Tokyo, sticking to a budget doesn’t have to mean missing out on great things to do! To prove it, we sent our editorial team members Jeongyeon and Chiharu, our resident “budget expert,” on a mission to see just how far they could get in one day in Tokyo on just 3,000 yen!
7:30am Pick up a 1-day subway pass
Cost: ¥600
Meet our staff: Jeongyeon from South Korea and Chiharu the budget expert.
Passes can be easily purchased from ticket machines.
You can ride the Tokyo Metro as much as you want for an entire day for just 600 yen!
8:00am Fresh seafood for breakfast
at Tsukiji Market!
Tsukiji
Cost: ¥700
Uogashidon Kanno
Shake up your morning routine with a mouth-watering seafood breakfast at Uogashidon Kanno. All the fish used here is purchased fresh that day from nearby Tsukiji Market. Their huge salmon-tuna rice bowl or their delicious tuna rice bowl are a steal at only 700 yen. Uogashidon Kanno opens at 5am every morning so you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast and still have the whole day to see Tokyo!
With 30 choices on the menu, you’re bound to find something you like.
The hard part is choosing which one you want most!
At the counter seat, you can watch as the chef prepares your food.
The Tuna Salmon Bowl. Look at how much fish is in this thing!
The day is just getting started, but the team is already all smiles.
Uogashidon Kanno
- Address: 4-9-5 Tsukiji Ichiba-gai, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Hours: 5:00am - 3:00pm / Open 7 days a week
- Phone: 03-3541-9291
- URL：http://www.tsukiji-kanno.com/jp
A world-class Japanese cultural facility!
From Tsukiji Market, our team walks for about 10 minutes towards Higashi Ginza, home to Matsuya, Mitsukoshi, and the other popular department stores and shops that fill the area!
10:00am Enter the home of Kabuki!
Ginza
FREE
Kabuki-za Theatre
While seeing a kabuki performance costs money, visiting the Kabuki-za Theatre is free! You can check out the various kabuki souvenirs at the shops inside Kobiki Town Plaza. There’s also a lovely rooftop garden on the fifth floor where you can relax for a bit while you enjoy the kabuki-themed commemorative statues and stone lanterns.
Let’s pose like kabuki actors in front of the theatre!
…are you sure this is a kabuki pose?
Kobiki Town Plaza, with its hanging lanterns, recreates the atmosphere of the theatre district.
The agemaki soft serve at this little stand is really popular, but at 300 yen it would put them over budget… sometimes a little restraint is necessary.
The rooftop garden is a great place to relax for a bit before continuing on with your day.
Kabuki-za Theatre
- Address: 4-12-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Hours: Depends on show schedule, facilities, and shops / Open 7 days a week /
- Phone: 03-3545-6800
- URL：http://www.kabuki-za.co.jp
A temple that gets over 30 million visitors a year!
Jeongyeon and Chiharu head off to Ginza Station, stopping for a picture at the famous Ginza 4-chome intersection on the way. From Ginza Station, they take the Ginza Line to Asakusa!
11:00am Experience Tokyo’s “old downtown”
atmosphere at Senso-ji Temple
Asakusa
Cost: ¥105
Senso-ji Temple
With a history of nearly 1,400 years, Senso-ji is the oldest temple in Tokyo. The giant paper lantern that hangs from its bright red gate called the Kaminarimon is a symbol of Japan. The Nakamise, the street that runs from the gate to the main hall, is lined with small shops selling sweets like the famous ningyo yaki, kimono accessories, and other souvenirs. The bustling stores and temple are sure to make Senso-ji a memorable stop!
There’s no way we could leave out Senso-ji Temple!
This is the famous gate you often see in guidebooks!
The smoke from this incense is said to cure ailments, so visitors often waft the smoke onto themselves.
While there is no set amount of money that visitors must give at shrines and temples, many give 5 yen as its Japanese pronunciation is the same as that for “good luck.”
At 2 for 100 yen, our team couldn’t resist some delicious ningyo yaki– tiny sponge cakes shaped like dolls and other cute figures.
Asakusa Temple
- Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
- Hours: 6:00am - 5:00pm (Oct. – Mar. from 6:30am) / Open 7 days a week
- Phone: 03-3842-0181
- URL： Senso-ji Temple http://www.senso-ji.jp
Nakamise http://www.asakusa-nakamise.jp
Honke Bairin-do
- Address: 1-18-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
- Hours: 8:00am - 7:00pm / Open 7 days a week
- Phone: 03-3843-4311
Cheap eats!
After about a 3 minute walk from Nakamise, Jeongyeon and Chiharu reach Denbouin-dori where the restaurants and food stands offering classic Japanese meals give the area a retro vibe.
12:00pm Outstanding ramen at a great price!
Asakusa
Cost: ¥600
Ramen Tei
Asakusa is full of great places to grab a bite. But when it’s ramen you want, head to Ramen Tei. This ramen shop has been serving out of this world ramen to its patrons for 30 delicious years. What’s more, their ramen is only 330 yen a bowl! Other budget-friendly options include the thick wonton noodles at 550 yen and the handmade meat dumplings at 140 yen for 2.
Look at all those toppings!
How is this only 330 yen?!
Our “budget expert” turns “taste tester” to make sure Jeongyeon’s getting the perfect ramen experience.
According to the staff, they get many foreign visitors.
The store specialty is their shoyu (soy sauce) ramen with wavy noodles and plenty of roast pork loin.
Ramen Tei
- Address: 1-39-9 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
- Hours: 11:00am - 8:30pm (weekdays), 9:00am - 8:00pm (Sat./Sun./holidays) / Open 7 days a week
- Phone: 03-3845-0514
Asakusa Kagetsu-do
Opened in 1945, this little bakery is famous for its crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside Jumbo Melon Bread! At only 200 yen a piece, it’s not surprising that they sell more than 2,000 a day on the weekends! (Note: melon bread gets its name from its melon-like appearance, not for its taste.)
Free cultural experience!
That’s all for volume 1!
As our duo walk down Denbouin-dori towards Kaminarimon-dori, you can hear the energetic voices of rickshaw pullers. Where are they headed to now? Will they stay on budget? Find out in volume 2!
- Vol.1
- Vol.2
THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 12 01,2015
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THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 12 01,2015 Author：DiGJAPAN! Editorial Team
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