2017 Travels - Tokyo via Haneda @ 8,000 Yen/Day

Travel Journal

A Tokyo Weekend Blitz: Budgeting, Hobbies, and City Life

*Making the most of 72 hours in Japan's capital on a strict budget.*

3

Days

6

Locations

16,000

Yen Spent

1,030

Yen Shower

Table of Contents

• ①Journey Overview
• ②Budget Overview
• ③Trip Highlights

Section I

Journey Overview

I took advantage of the 3-day weekend and jetted off to Tokyo via Haneda Airport. During my short blitz, I managed to visit six key locations across the city.

 

• →Shinjuku / Kabukicho — The starting point and evening hub.
• →Akihabara — Early morning sightseeing.
• →Shinagawa / Sengaku-Ji — A historical escape.
• →Ginza — High-end tea and people watching.
• →Shibuya — Hobby hunting and city culture.
• →Haneda — The final stop and departure point.

My goals for the trip were specific to my personal interests and lifestyle:

• →Hobby Indulgence — Exploring headphones, fountain pens, shoes, coffee, and reading.
• →Literature — Finishing a novel during the weekend.
• →Budgeting — Staying within a strict financial limit.
• →Fun — Simply enjoying the experience.

I’m pleased to report that I achieved all my objectives! The highlight was staying within budget while enjoying nearly everything on my list.

Section II

Budget Overview

I took 66,000 Yen with me and used cash only, which made tracking my spending easy. I ended the trip with 50,000 Yen remaining (5 x 10k Yen notes).

Section III

Trip Highlights

 

Night 1: Arrival and Shinjuku

Upon arrival, I took the train to Shinjuku and checked into Capsule 510, which was a bargain at 2,600 Yen. It was a basic capsule hotel, much simpler than Nicoh Refre in Sapporo, but perfect for my needs of washing up and sleeping.

   

For dinner, I stumbled upon a sushi restaurant a few blocks away. Initially, it seemed sketchy, but the food was excellent and incredibly cheap. I feasted on Toro, Hamachi, and Maguro. I wandered around Kabukicho, visited a few bars for a drink, and turned in around midnight.

 

Morning: Akihabara and History

I woke up early at 6 am, slightly hungover from the previous night. I headed to Akihabara; while I knew nothing opened until 10:30-11 am, I enjoyed a simple breakfast at Beck's Coffee while taking in the sights before the crowds arrived.

 

Next, I took the train to Shinagawa and walked about a mile to Sengaku-Ji Temple, famous for the 47 Ronin story. I relaxed here for an hour, enjoying the serene atmosphere that made me feel as if I had traveled back in time 200 years.

 

Afternoon: Ginza and Shibuya

I couldn't resist stopping by Ladurée in Mitsukoshi, Ginza. I arrived just as they opened at 10:30 am and scored a window seat. It was delightful to people-watch, but I vacated after 30 minutes to give others a chance at the spot.

    

I spent the remainder of my day (about 5 hours) in Shibuya, indulging in my specific hobbies:

• →Headphones — Unfortunately, Bic Camera had no deals this time.
• →Fountain Pens — Tokyu Hands had Iroshizuku Ink (Murasaki Shikibu) for 1,500 Yen!
• →Shoes — I searched for Onitsuka Tiger Serrano's but couldn’t find any in stock.
• →People Watching — I relaxed at Starbucks on the second floor, soaking in the atmosphere.
• →Lunch — I opted for Bibimbap; it was okay, but it couldn’t hold a candle to what you find in Korea.

Departure: Haneda Airport

Feeling tired and realizing the weather was sweltering, I returned to Haneda Airport four hours before my flight.

 

Facility	Cost	Time
Shower Room	1,030 Yen	30 Mins
Capsule Hotel	2,600 Yen	Overnight

The shower facilities at Haneda were worth it, though I wished they provided shower slippers.

• →Dining — The food at Haneda is on the pricier side; my tuna bowl had bits of oyster mixed in, but the beer was excellent.
• →Comfort — Haneda boasts the most comfortable angled chairs, perfect for relaxing before a flight.

A successful, low-cost blitz through the heart of Tokyo.