Five popular restaurants with low prices to use when traveling in Japan

All restaurants in Japan are expensive! I’m bothered by the extra charge for foreigners.”
Are there any of you who feel such frustration?

For those who feel this way, we would like to introduce you to five of the best, inexpensive, and delicious restaurants in Japan.

From new noodle dishes that are the talk of the town, to family restaurants where you can easily take your children, there is a restaurant to suit your tastes.

Tsukemen Rokurinsha

Source: https://rokurinsha.com/

Rokurinsha is a very conveniently accessible “Tsukemen” restaurant, just a 2-minute walk from Tokyo Station.

Some may ask, “What’s the difference between tsukemen and ramen?” Tsukemen is a dish of firm noodles that have been cold-soaked and then dipped into the soup one bite at a time.

The price is 830 yen.

In Tokyo, where prices are high, this price is very reasonable.
The soup is very rich and full of umami from ingredients such as pork bones, chicken bones, and dried sardines.

Of all the soups, we recommend the “Nama Nanami Tsukemen” (fresh seven-flavor tsukemen).
It has a refreshing aftertaste that even those who do not like spicy food can easily enjoy.

Sake-Tsugaru

Source: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1314/A131403/13049580/

Sake-Tsugaru is an unpretentious izakaya.
In addition to serving alcoholic beverages, the restaurant also offers set menus for lunch, and when it opens at 11:30 a.m., there is a long line of customers who have heard of the restaurant’s reputation.

The restaurant is only a two-minute walk from the Konan Exit of Shinagawa Station, which is also easily accessible.
We recommend the “Bacon Steak,” which is so large that it almost overflows the plate. The savory aroma and slightly salty flavor will whet your appetite.

The set meal, which includes rice, miso soup, natto (fermented soybeans) and raw egg, costs 860 yen.
The price remains the same even if you order a large serving of rice, and it is surprising that refills are free.

Sobayoshi” standing buckwheat noodle restaurant

Source: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1302/A130202/13006306/

Did you know that Japan has a culture called “tachiki-yaki soba”?
As the name suggests, this style of eating soba is done standing at a counter, where you can enjoy your soba speedily.

Because it is inexpensive, tasty, and easy to eat, it is very popular not only among busy businessmen but also among overseas tourists!
Sobayoshi” in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, is owned by a long-established restaurant specializing in dashi (Japanese soup stock) that has been in business since the Edo period.

Especially popular is the “Kakiage Soba (410 yen).

The sauce is made from a blend of high-quality bonito and mackerel flakes, and is flavored with umami-rich soy sauce made in Shodoshima, a famous soy sauce production area.
The noodles have a smooth texture and are so delicious that you could eat as many bowls as you like.

Tsukiji Outside Market

Source: https://www.tsukiji.or.jp/

The best place to get fresh fish at a reasonable price is Tsukiji Jogai Market.

This is the wholesale market of “Japan’s kitchen” where various foods such as fish, vegetables, and meat gather from all over Japan. Of course, not only restaurant owners but also ordinary tourists can shop and dine here.

If you want to try sushi at the counter for the first time, Tsukiji is the place to go.

There are 36 sushi restaurants in Tsukiji where you can casually enjoy sushi without being intimidated.
At all of them, you will be served by a chef who will put his/her skills to the test and make sushi right in front of you.
If you want to visit, do it in the morning, as all the sushi restaurants close after noon.

At the general information center “Plat Tsukiji,” you can get a booklet with a map and recommendations for restaurants, so even first-time visitors can feel at ease.

Family restaurant “Saizeriya

Source: https://www.saizeriya.co.jp/

When discussing delicious and inexpensive restaurants, one cannot leave out the Italian restaurant chain Saizeriya.

It is very popular because you can enter the restaurant without hesitation, even with children, and enjoy authentic Italian home cooking for less than 500 yen per dish.
For a reasonable price, you can combine several menus into a course.

Conclusion

How was it?
Even in Tokyo, which has an image of being particularly expensive, you found that you can have a delicious lunch for less than 1,000 yen.

There may be many more hidden gems that you are not aware of.
We hope you will try to discover your favorite restaurant.