Eating cheap in Japan

The first thing the travelling gaijin encounters that looks open and friendly is the Matsuya and Yoshinoya chains but there are even cheaper ways to eat…

The Supermarket

The supermarket is an interesting alternative to the convenience stores but much like Don Quijote there are some pitfalls. Some brands may not be available and the prices can be different by only 10 yen! The savings are more apparent with bigger bunches of items for example 6 packs of beer but the real draw is the discounts on sushi near the end of the day.

398 yen for 8 slices of sashimi.... that's...
398 yen for 8 slices of sashimi…. that’s… the same as the price of one in a restaurant

Sometimes the reductions come early evening, you just have to be lucky. Just as in Akiba, you can squeeze the most out of your yen by visiting a combination of Donki, conbi (convenienience stores) & the supermarket as long as you have time. If your accomodation gives you access to a fridge and a microwave, you’ll be OK with just the supermarket.

147 for 2L vs 120 yen for 330ml .. soooooo ...
147 for 2L vs 120 yen for 330ml from the vending machine .. soooooo …

Ideas for cheap ass food

Depending on your area you can find street food such as chicken skewers for around 150 yen….

After that… welll……….. it’s……….. instant Ramen and………..

More ramen…

Let’s do the math:

Matsuya gyudon beef bowl = Mini 240 / Regular 290 yen / Large 390 / XL 500 yen 

vs

Ramen from the supermarket… 80 yen…!

The 100 yen shop

These exist – with food items too.  Be wary, the business model for these stores is to charge less for items and more for others (that would usually less than 100yen), so again it’s a matter of time and taking notes to max out the use of your yen!

Yes you can travel like a NEET and eat like one too. Hope you don’t have to travel far…

Got any tips? Leave a comment!

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