For anyone having gone to Tokyo, they would know that trying to keep costs down is a challenge. Tokyo is an expensive place for a holiday. However, it does not mean that one cannot enjoy it without spending a lot of money.

Below are some tips on how you can achieve savings holidaying in an expensive city like Tokyo. There is no reason to do so the entire trip, but it is always good to save on certain areas so that you can spend more in others.

Hotels – Most hotels in Tokyo are highly priced and quite out of the reach of many budget conscious travelers. However, you can definitely find lower priced accommodations such as franchise chains of business hotels and backpacker lodgings. The only downside is that you need to book in advance for obvious reasons.

Ryokan – These are traditional Japanese homes that have been converted for tourists and locals for short term stay. They feature a classic setting of tatami mats and futon sets to sleep in. Most ryokans are quite reasonably priced and comprehensive meals are included.

Japan Rail Pass – The most convenient mode of transport in Tokyo is their rail network. As with most things in Japan, it is not cheap if you intend to use it very often. But you can save a lot of money by purchasing a Japan Rail Pass, which provides an overall discount over a period of days.

Vending machines – You can get just about everything from vending machines in Japan. Fancy a bottle of boiled ramen or some fresh underwear at a touch of a button? These, and many more, can be bought from vending machines at lower prices than if you had purchased them from restaurants or department stores.

Ramen shops – Some of you might have heard stories of food being expensive in Japan. That cannot be further from the truth with ramen shops. You can have a satisfying meal of noodles at only 300 yen. For 900 yen you can also have a choice of tasty ramen with thick slabs of meat included.

Onsen – Not many tourists are aware of this, but there are many onsens, or hot spring establishments, that operate 24 hours 7 days a week. For about 2,000 yen, you can stay overnight. Many locals actually turn to this if they stay out late, since Tokyo’s rail service ends at 1am every night. Onsens are therefore another alternative accommodation that you can opt for without paying hotel rates.