Budget activities in Tokyo
Before the crowd kicks in this big 20-20 Tokyo Olympics, there’s no better time to visit the beautiful city than this year’s end! A trip to Tokyo can easily rack up the bill so we’ve compiled a list of cheap thrills perfect for your holiday. Featuring live sheep, firework festivals and more, keep reading to find out how to keep your holiday lit without breaking the bank.
*All prices are accurate as of November 2019
Tokyo essentials
Before embarking on your trip, you’re going to need a couple of essentials:
- Stay connected with a 4G SIM Card or 4G Portable Wifi
- Save yourselves the hassle of buying single trip tickets with the Tokyo Subway Ticket
- Get to Tokyo in a jiffy on the Nankai Line Airport Express Train
1. ONE PIECE Tower Park Pass + Tokyo Tower Main Observatory Combo Ticket Tokyo ($11.25)
Calling all Otakus and anime lovers, you can’t miss a visit to the Tokyo One Piece Tower, a PERMANENT pirate-themed paradise catered to all wannabe pirate kings like our favorite Luffy!
Featuring 9 attractions across 4 floors, tackle challenging missions, unlock puzzle games and slay your photo ops with the larger-than-life cast of One Piece across the complex. This includes Brook’s Horror House, the Soul Edge of Zoro and plenty of snippets you’ve seen on screen.
Opening Hours: 10 am – 10 pm (Last admission at 9 pm)
That’s not all, after a satisfying One Piece escapade, head up to the Main Observatory of Tokyo Tower for a refreshing change of scenery. The overarching red tower resembles the Eiffel Tower, sans the hefty price tag for a spectacular view of Tokyo’s city landscapes. On a clear day, you may even chance upon the Gulf of Tokyo and even up to Mt. Fuji in the distance.
Address: 4 Chome-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato, 〒105-0011 Tokyo, Japan.
Opening Hours: 9 am to 11 pm (Last admission: 10.30 pm)
Nearby Stations: Akabanebashi Station, Kamiyacho Station, Onarimon Station, Daimon Station or JR Hamamatsucho Station
2. teamLab Borderless ($12.50)
You’ve seen the room of floating lanterns and you’ve envied the ‘gram shots of the wall of flowers,. Now, you too can experience it at teamLab Borderless. Guard your heart because every exhibit engineered in this trippy world of illuminated animations and mind-boggling art will wow you – widening eyes and dropped jaws.
With 11 IG-worthy backdrops and fascinating themed zones to explore, mark our words when we say ‘guard your hearts’. You can easily spend 4 hours in this indoor exhibition and still not get enough!
Address: Odaiba Palette Town, 1-3-8 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Opening Hours: 10 am to 7 pm on weekdays, 10 am to 10 pm on weekends
Nearby Stations: Tokyo Teleport Station or Aomi Station
3. Chiba Mother Farm ($18.65)
Tucked away in the heart of Tokyo, Chiba Mother Farm is a haven for nature-lovers. Fitted with a petting zoo, animal shows, flower foliage and even a versatile farm that harvests tomatoes, strawberries, sweet potatoes and more across the season, make sure to clear your itinerary for a day at Tokyo’s alternate amusement park.
If you’re planning your visit, here are some produce you can get your hands dirty harvesting:
Photo credits: ajari on Flickr
Photo credits: Raita Futo on Flickr
A great hang-out spot for families to lay back and enjoy the refreshing change of scenery from the city’s hustle and grind, stroll alongside the field of white fluff balls aka sheep and bless your eyes with the farm’s stunning seasonal blossoms.
Address: Mother Farm, 940-3 Tagura, Futtsu-shi, Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo
Opening Hours:
Nearby Stations: Kimitsu Station or Sanukimachi Station
4. Atami Fireworks Festival in Beach Cafe ($18.79)
Photo credits: prelude2000 on Flickr
Right in Atami, Japan’s fireworks display is nothing like what we’ve seen at home, earning the famous rep as ‘Niagara Falls in the Sky’.
Surrounded by mountains, the echoes of the explosives create a clear reverberating sound effect throughout the night, much like you’re in a cinema equipped with cinematic sound technologies. This is one dating spot to include when you’re Tokyo bound!
Address: 2F, 11−19, Higashikaiganchō, Atami, Shizuoka, Japan, 〒413-0012
Meet-up Time: 7.30 pm (Only on selected dates)
Nearby Station: Atami Station
5. Cruise between Asakusa and Odaiba by Tokyo Mizube Line ($15.05)
Traveling in Tokyo can be a daunting task – a maze of colored routes and confusing train maps to navigate – so why not hop onto a scenic cruise and spare yourself from the sweat and stress?
No questions asked – the highlight of this luxurious tour is their open-air deck, promising uninterrupted views and a panoramic view of Tokyo’s iconic sites and attractions like the Tokyo Sky Tree and Tsukiji Bridge.
Address: (Asuka) 1-1 Hanakawado, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0033, Japan / (Odaiba) 1-4-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 135-0091
Nearby Stations: Asakusa Station or Tokyo Teleport Station
6. Kimono Rental ($15.27)
There are many iconic ways to immortalize your time in Tokyo; exploring the streets in a Mario-lookalike go-kart, selfies with the robots at the Robot Restaurant, and definitely for the gram’, touring Tokyo in a kimono.
Donning a kimono is an expensive affair but with Klook, rent the Japanese costume for just $15.27! This even includes hairstyling services!
These kimonos are available for kids above 85cm so grab one for the entire family and level up your family portrait.
Address: 〒111-0033 Tōkyō-to, Taitō-ku, Hanakawado, 1-chōme−2−6
Opening Hours: 9 am to 7 pm
Nearby Stations: Asakusa Station
7. Fujiko F Fujio Museum ($17.90)
Attracting droves of fans when it first opened in 2011, Fujiko F Fujio Museum features the journey of Fujiko Fujio’s brainchild, Doraemon, and his thought process to making the evergreen manga series.
Photo credits: MIKI Yoshihito on Flickr
Have your cameras ready as you get access to the artist’s collection of original pictures and never-seen-before films exclusively shown in the museum. Judging from the size of the crowd, make no mistake and pre-book your tickets on Klook instead of getting stuck in the queue for your tickets!
Address: Fujiko F Fujio Museum, 2-chome 8-1 Nagao, Tama-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 214-0023
Opening Hours: 10 am to 6 pm
Nearby Stations: Mukougaoka Yuen station or Shuku-Gawara station or Noborito Station (with shuttle bus)
8. Oedo-Onsen Monogatari ($18.79)
There are onsens, and there is the Oedo-Onsen Monogatari, Tokyo’s hot spring retreat bustled with festivals, an Edo-period dining hall, foot baths and dessert shops alluring patrons into its humble storefront. With so many things to do, you can bet this is definitely not your typical hot spring experience.
Despite the hustle and bustle, this part-eatery, part-onsen still retains its authentic vibes: a traditional hot spring area bubbled with strong alkaline hypertonic hot water. Dip yourself into the comforts of the onsen and let your worries sip away.
Address: 2 Chome-6-3 Aomi, Kōtō-ku, Tōkyō-to, Japan 135-0064
Opening Hours: 11 am to 9 am
Nearby Stations: Telecom Center Station or Tokyo Teleport Station (with free shuttle bus)
9. The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation ($7.89)
If there is anything Tokyo is pro at, it would be breaking frontiers at the technological forefront – and you can attest to that at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, aka Miraikan!
There are plenty of experimental exhibits to sate your curiosity and blow your mind. Nothing in the museum is run-off-the-mill, which even includes a talking human robot! Skip the snaking queue and Klook your tickets to the future straight simply by flashing your e-ticket at the entrance.
Address: 2 Chome-3-６ Aomi, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
Opening Hours: 10 am to 5 pm from Wednesday to Monday (Closed on Tuesday)
Nearby Stations: Tokyo International Cruise Terminal Station or Tokyo Teleport Station
10. Underground Shrine Walking Tour in Saitama ($12.55)
Japan’s steely fighting spirit against natural disasters has impressed the world, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Right under Saitama is a 6-kilometer long container, meant to store the damage of a potential typhoon or flood, before diverting it into the nearby river.
For security concerns, you will need to speak their language or bait your Japanese-speaking friends over to have access to this ‘underground shrine’. Lucky for you, pre-book the Underground Shrine Walking Tour in Saitama on Klook and have access to the ‘underground shrine’ worry-free!
Address: 720 city, Kamikanasaki, Kasukabe-shi, Saitama-ken 344-0111, Japan
Meet-up Time: 10.50 am
Directions: Board the Aeon Mall Kasukabe Line from Minami-sakurai St, Tobu Noda Line Urban Park Line (10 minutes)
Enjoy bigger savings this year-end holiday
From now till 31st December 2019, save up to $100 for your year-end getaway to Tokyo! Load up your carts and unlock $30 off with <EXPLORE30> (minimum spending at $300) or $70 off with <EXPLORE70> (minimum spending at $550). If you’re a new user at Klook, score 12% off with <EXPLORENEW> before using the 2 promos to save more!
