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Visiting Japan’s capital doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket.
Mabel David-Pilar offers eight ways to experience the city for free
or at least without going broke
I
remember creating a spreadsheet
ahead of my first trip to Japan. My
husband and I had been dreaming of
traveling to Tokyo and other Japanese
cities, but we didn’t want to drain our
bank accounts to make that dream a
reality. Japan’s reputation as one of the
world’s priciest destinations for tourists
has no doubt prompted more than a few
budget travelers to temper their visions of
carefree strolls beneath cherry blossoms.
Travelers’ tales of taxi rides that cost
¥25,000 (more than PHP10,000) and
sushi meals selling for an eye-popping
¥1,000 don’t help. But there are two sides
to Japan, a place where, yes, a cab ride
might cost you a small fortune but one
where visitors can also prowl 100-yen
shops for treasures. Tokyo may be best
known for it flashy, neon-lit streets and
high-priced real estate, but there are
still experiences to be had for travelers
without a whole lot of yen to burn. You
just have to knowwhere to look.
PHOTO
ALFIE GOODRICH
