Food
Breakfast food & snacks, courtesy of the Seiyu
- avoid Western restaurants and popular regions
- dine local
- most menus have pictures
- be adventurous, play Russian Roulette
- price ranges heavily ($5 to $20)
- lots of seafood, rice & noodles
- onigiri for quick snacks
- Seiyu grocery store (Ikebukuro)
- department store basements for depachika
- Matsumoto Kiyoshi or drug stores for snacks & sweets
One of my favourite meals in Ikebukuro, and it was only C$13 for two (can’t remember the restaurant, but if you take me there, I’ll show you!)
Szechuan in Takadanobaba (some back alley off another alley — again, take me to Tokyo and I’ll show you)
It’s important to eat while in Tokyo. You’ll be very active and hours in bookshops will go by so fast. So take time to eat.
I found Ikebukuro one of the cheapest regions to eat in Tokyo. The moment you hit an expat region or tourist area, the prices go up. Avoid any Western restaurants (unless you want the novelty of a Japanesized seafood burger) as they’re overpriced and really – you didn’t come here to eat Westernized fast food, did you? But if you do get a hankering for a Western burger, I suggest Freshness Burger.
Quick snacks like onigiri can be had at corner stores (i.e. Family Mart) as well as Seiyu. Seiyu has a great selection and they usually have some out in the morning. Take them back to the hotel refrigerator or carry them around with you for a while until you’re hungry.
My own preference is to hit Seiyu every morning and buy: a yoghurt, juice and something that took my fancy. At the same time I might grab my lunch which comprises of anything from a sandwich to salad, onigiri etc. Honestly – the cost was nominal. Go grocery shopping – you will save money this way.
Sometimes for lunch I go to a sushi bar and load up before heading out. Other times, depending on where I am, I eat at some other local venue. And that’s the trick – eat where the locals eat. Avoid tourist and Westernized places – unless you wish that sort of thing, of course.
Sushi in Ikebukuro
Dinner is either another trip to Seiyu (for when I’m absolutely knackered) where they have inexpensive hot dishes and ready to eat meals prepared. Or, I spend no more than about ¥1,000 on a fabulous meal at a restaurant. Sure, you can spend $100 on a meal easily, and if you have that kind of money, please do.
If it’s the end of the day and you’ve just come off the train at Ikebukuro station, wander over to the basement of the Seibu Department Store for a range of just reduced prices on all manner of ready to eat foods. Most department stores have Depachika (mini grocery stores) in their basements that offer up all sorts of ready to eat meals to take back to wherever you are staying.
There are vending machines for drinks all over the place. This is very handy, and they’re so good! Side note: drink their iced tea any chance you get — Oolong was my favourite… so delicious! And their iced coffees are like nothing you’ve ever had before.
A row of vending machines
There is a liquor store in Ikebukuro and I don’t remember the exact location (it’s almost right across from the station as you heading towards Sunshine City); as you leave the train station to head back to the hotel, swing left and it’s along the main road across from Seibu.
It IS possible to eat and eat well in Tokyo for C$25 a day.
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