Here are some great tips for visiting Tokyo:
- From 6pm onwards, supermarkets offer significant discounts on prepared dishes, sushi and sashimi—a smart budget traveler's secret.
- You should also try finding a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) where you sleep on tatamis, enjoy an authentic meal served on the floor, and can soak in Japanese hot spring baths.

Neighborhoods to explore in Tokyo:
- Ginza, for its sophistication and luxury
- Shibuya, youthful, trendy and vibrant
- Shinjuku, for its architecture and edgy atmosphere
- Harajuku on Sundays (for cosplay culture and fashion boutiques)
- Asakusa (old Tokyo with its temple and charming narrow streets)
- Ueno, for its market and park, and the traditional Yanaka neighborhood nearby (quiet alleyways, beautiful homes, an enchanting cemetery)
- Akihabara for its electric energy, maid cafés, and tech culture


A few observations:
- The cities are strikingly modern and above all exceptionally clean.
- When returning from Japan, you can bring back duty-free purchases (tax refund is called Kanpu in Japanese). While these aren't typically taxed in your home country, it can happen: I know someone who claimed a tax refund and had a stamp in their passport proving they'd been tax-exempt in Japan—yet they were still taxed at 20.6% on their purchases back home. In the end, they paid the same price as if they'd bought locally.
- For nightlife, head to Shinjuku.
- For souvenirs, the Ueno Market is right near the station. It's actually three parallel streets where you'll find everything.
- For dining, you absolutely must try okonomiyaki!

Budget breakdown for a Japan trip:
It's moderately pricey, but if you're under 25, you qualify for youth and student discounts on many things. A direct flight ticket (with Air France, for example) costs around €850 including tax; with a connection you might find rates around €700 with carriers like Aeroflot (note: Russian airlines have a questionable reputation).

For accommodation, youth hostels offer both private rooms (€25–50 per night) or dormitories for multiple people (3, 4, 6, or even 10 beds) at lower rates, typically €10–20.

In local currency:
- Youth hostel: ¥3,000–5,000
- Mid-range hotel without luxury: ¥7,000–9,000
- Three meals per day + beverages: ¥2,000
- Transport: subway/train within Tokyo: ¥120–400 (varies by distance)
- Tokyo–Osaka on Shinkansen: ¥15,000
- Museum: ¥300–600 (higher for private museums)
- Various attractions: ¥600
- ...

Total budget for Japan: roughly €2,000–2,500.


Japan's 10 largest cities and their populations
1 - Tokyo - 8,535,792
2 - Yokohama, Kanagawa - 3,602,758
3 - Osaka, Osaka - 2,635,420
4 - Nagoya, Aichi - 2,223,148
5 - Sapporo, Hokkaidō - 1,888,953
6 - Kobe, Hyōgo - 1,528,687
7 - Kyoto - 1,472,511
8 - Fukuoka - 1,414,417
9 - Kawasaki, Kanagawa - 1,342,262
10 - Saitama - 1,182,744