45 FREE & CHEAP ACTIVITIES IN TOKYO YOU’LL WISH YOU KNEW | Japan Travel 2025 Update

45 FREE & CHEAP ACTIVITIES IN TOKYO YOU’LL WISH YOU KNEW | Japan Travel 2025 Update

Hi everyone, my name is Tina and in today’s video I want to show you how you can do Tokyo on a budget. I came to Japan for the first time when I was a student and I had no money and I actually never ran out of things to do here in Tokyo. So for this video, I picked activities/places that are either completely free or that you can do for very little money. Let’s get started. Bueno Park is one of Tokyo’s largest and most well-known public parks. It opened to the public in 1873, making it one of Japan’s first official parks. The area was originally part of Kaniji Temple, a powerful temple complex during the Edeto period, which explains why you still find several historic buildings and shrines here today. I’m currently standing here in front of the entrance of Weno Park and also Weno Zoo. It’s actually way more fun to walk around here than for example in other parks because you have at every corner you have another temple or shrine. But there are like several museums here in this area. Maybe the most important one of them being the National Museum which I’m standing in front of right now. The Tokyo National Museum is the oldest in the country and has an impressive collection of art and artifacts from ancient pottery to samurai armor. shrine. Right when you enter the park at the main entrance, you will see the entrance to the shrine as well. Scattered around the weno park are several historic religious sites. One of the most famous is Toshogu shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Yasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogun. I just quickly Googled why this shrine is so important. It was dedicated to Tokugawa Yasu, very important figure in Japanese history. And it survived the bombings of World War II. [Music] On one side of Hueno Park, you will find a Shinobazu pond that was modeled after Lake Biva. And in the middle of it, there is Benendo Temple, which is dedicated to the goddess Benzen, which is the goddess of wisdom and fortune. Shinobond is located on the park’s southwest side and divided into three sections. A lotus pond, a duck pond, and a boating pond. In the summer, the lotus leaves spread across the water, creating a unique view you won’t see in many other parts of Tokyo. Apart from taking a walk around the lake, you can also take a boat ride on the lake. [Music] Just outside the park on the west side is Amayyoko, a lively market street filled with small shops and food stalls. It’s a completely different atmosphere, noisy, colorful, and full of energy and worth a quick visit after your time in the park. Cherry blossom season is one of the most popular times to visit Tokyo. The season usually lasts only a couple of weeks with peak plume often falling in late March or early April depending on the weather. During this time, parks, riversides, and gardens across the city are lined with pale pink flowers, and people gather to enjoy them in a tradition called hanami, literally flowering. While cherry blossoms are the highlight of spring, Tokyo has seasonal attractions all year. In autumn, parks and gardens are filled with red and gold leaves. Summer brings fireworks festivals such as the Sumida River fireworks and lively local festivals with street food and parades. In winter, many parts of the city feature elaborate light displays, especially around Christmas, like those in Longi Hills or along Marunoi’s Nakadori. No matter when you visit, there’s almost always some kind of event or seasonal highlight in Tokyo. [Music] And I came to another place that many tourists probably don’t know about which is Kane Park. The reason why I’m actually here is the Tokyo Edeto Open Air Museum. Another thing that you can do in Japan that doesn’t cost a lot of money is to go to museums. You’re going to have a lot to do like it’s it’s a big place, several zones. The Edeto Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum is a place where you can step directly into Tokyo’s past. Located in Kane Park, this outdoor museum preserves and displays historic buildings from different eras of the city’s history. My plan was to come to Sony E first. Here are a couple of more interesting buildings. The other ones are interesting as well, but the other ones are partly buildings of famous Japanese people that I’ve never heard about. The museum covers structures from the Edeto period, the Maji period, and the early Shoa period. This means you can see how the city evolved from wooden merchant houses to early modern western style architecture. One of the more popular buildings is the old public bath house that we’re going to next. I definitely wanted to mention Sakura in this video because we just had Sakura season and like case in point now it’s Wisteria. Remember the name Wisteria. [Music] Visiting temples and shrines in Japan is usually very much for free or they only want a very small entrance fee for um usually for maintenance. Gindai is Tokyo’s second oldest temple. I’ll let you guys guess which one is the oldest, but it’s another famous site in the city. Gindai is located in Chofu, about a 30inut train ride from Shinjuku. The last time I came here, there was some festival going on and there were so many people I couldn’t really film the temple itself. Jindai temple is dedicated to Gindai Daikokuen a goddess associated with good fortune prosperity. What most actually most really most of them are. You have Emma. These are these wooden plates where people write wishes on and then they leave them at the temple so that the wish might come true. So and then you have these places where you can buy um Modi and things for good luck. Next to the temple is the Gindai Botanical Garden. One of the largest botanical gardens in Tokyo. A lot of people will tell you that the botanical garden here is very beautiful and worth visiting. In this area, you should try the handmade soba. And I’m on my way to a soba place that should open that should be already open now. Cha is one of the best places in Tokyo to try soba made fresh each day. The restaurants near Chindai often grind their own buckwheat flour. And the noodles are served either chilled with dipping sauce or in hot broth. So they have a couple of soba sets here on their menu. Cold soba and hot soba. Usually like cold soba in the summer, right? I cannot slurp. In Japan, slurping your noodles is a sign that you that they are good, that you enjoy them. There are several small stores near the temple selling traditional crafts, sweets, and local specialties. It’s a nice place to find souvenirs that aren’t mass- prodduced. Things like handmade pottery, wooden items, or regional snacks to take home. [Music] The streets around Chofu Station and the road leading toward Chindai have shops and decorations inspired by Gigo Kitaro. This place is famous for quite an old anime or manga series that is called Gigo. Can you see it behind? Yeah, a little bit. This is a show about Yo-kai um supernatural creatures. Well, we got Pudatan Shrine directly here in front of me. So, this is where you get first when you arrive at the station in Chu. A short walk from Chofu station, Fa Tenjin Shrine is a quiet place of worship. It’s dedicated to Tenin, the deity of learning. So many students visit to pray for success in their studies. [Music] When people think of city fuse in Tokyo, the first places that come to mind are usually Tokyo Tower or Skytree. And both of those require an entrance fee. You might also have heard of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. But there’s a newer option you might not know about. In 2023, Azabuda Hills Complex opened in central Tokyo and with it came the Modi JP Tower, currently Japan’s tallest office building. Inside the Muri Tower on the 33rd floor, there is a cafe. And if you go there and you just have to buy a coffee, you have an amazing view over this area here in Tokyo, including the Tokyo Tower. I think this is the best view that you can get of the Tokyo Tower or I haven’t found a better one. So, Azabuda Hills is a complex, a modern shopping complex, slightly upscale. You can see here is like Dior directly behind me. Asabur itself is an upscale district known for its mix of business offices, luxury residences, and high-end shops. [Music] [Music] Good start into the day, but you can definitely call it a hidden gem because nobody else is here. [Music] was not the best decision to come here today. I hope you can imagine that it looks better when it’s not raining. Anyhow, the ground floors of Azabuda Hills are filled with shops ranging from international brands to Japanese designers. There are also cafes, bakeries, and restaurants serving everything from casual lunches to high-end dining. in one of the buildings on the ground floor, on the basement floor, there’s also like a very good um food market that you can check out. I was just reminded that here at Azabuda Hills, you can also find one of the team lab exhibitions, which would not be part of this video as it’s not on a budget, it’s not cheap. I’m standing in front of Hamiku Garden. If you haven’t heard about this garden, don’t worry. We’re going there. The cool thing about it is that it has a little tea house in the center of it. Cost only 300 yen to get in here. Hamadiku is part of Tokyo’s rich collection of Japanese gardens, each offering a different style and atmosphere. Others include Koishikawa Kurau, one of the oldest gardens in Tokyo. Dikian Garden, famous for its autumn colors and landscaping inspired by classical poetry, and the eastern garden of the imperial palace, which offers wide open spaces and historical ruins. Hammediku Garden was the family garden of the Tokugawa Shun. I just checked the map and there are actually several tea houses. the one uh in the middle of the pond. Uh many Japanese gardens feature a pond. Hamariku Garden is a historic Japanese garden located near Tokyo Bay in the Chu Ward. Originally a feudal Lord’s private garden in the Edeto period, it was later open to the public in 1946. This garden is really so beautiful. I glad that I came here even though it is raining. Inside the garden, the traditional tea house offers a chance to try matcha green tea paired with seasonal vagashi sweets. It’s a quiet spot to rest and enjoy Japanese tea culture in an authentic setting. One of the best free activities in Tokyo is finding great photo spots. The city is full of iconic and quirky places perfect for capturing memorable images. This is very, very obvious, but Tokyo is full of really interesting photo spots. And I’m going to show you another one that you might not have heard about. Let me know in the comments if you know about this place. [Music] There it is. If you’re looking for it, look for the Shiod Tower. It’s in front of that. [Music] So, if you have no idea what you’re looking at here, this is a clock designed by Haya Miyazaki, the guy behind the Ghibli movies. And if you don’t know what that is, that is basically the Japanese version of Disney. Basically, when you come here at one of these times, you can see the clock moving. [Music] Count myself lucky today because it’s not that crowded. Actually, I’m on Omando right now, which is like the shops of Tokyo. Window shopping and just walking around and exploring in Tokyo can be very exciting and interesting. You don’t even have to buy anything. You can walk along Taeshta Street, famous for its colorful shops and crowds. Explore the quieter Ura Harajuku side streets with smaller boutiques or visit a sando for high-end brands and modern architecture. When we’re talking about Tarajuku, you will probably think about Teshta Street. If you’re coming for the first time and you definitely want to see it, please go. But I would recommend you instead, for example, to explore the backside of Harajuku, which is like here, Uda Harajuku. Harajuku is one of Tokyo’s most famous fashion districts with a long history. It became a fashion hub in the 1960s when Japan’s youth culture started blending western styles with their own. Harajuku isn’t just about fashion though that’s the main attraction. It’s popular among young people who often dress in unique styles like visual K Lolita fashion kawaii culture and street wear. Takesa street is not a street that I would recommend you to go to but for the sake of it. Walking through Teshta Street and the surrounding areas is great for window shopping and discovering unexpected finds. The side streets have small stores and vintage shops worth exploring at your own pace. You get a lot of street food in Harajuku these days and not necessarily traditional street food, but like modern. Harajuku street food scene offers treats like crepes, rainbow cotton candy, and other snacks that are fun to eat on the go and perfect for a quick energy boost while exploring. Tokyo is full of unique restaurants and cafes, and you don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy them. A coffee and cake at a local cafe is affordable and offers a chance to experience Japanese cafe culture. Eating out in Tokyo can be very affordable, and going to a cafe doesn’t always mean just coffee and cake. Many cafes serve savory items, lunch sets, and more. It’s a great way to relax during a day of exploring. But this cake is so good. It tastes like matcha obviously cream. It’s very sweet. There are also chain restaurants that you can go to. For example, all the family restaurants like Caesaria. There are also cheap sushi places like I’m just standing right next to Auda Sushi. But today, I thought I just found a better place that we can go to and that I can show you that you probably haven’t heard about. So, the two spots that I went to for this video are Sunday branch in Shimokasawa and Otoya in Nakameoro. These places are popular but don’t necessarily have high prices. If you want to check prices before you go, you can either use Google Maps to get a rough idea, look at the cafe’s homepage or menu online, or simply check the menu when you arrive. I haven’t been to Ottoya in a while. First of all, very cheap, very delicious. Can highly recommend it. Many people don’t know about this chain restaurant. So, yeah, this was my top 10 list of things in Tokyo that you can either do for free or that cost very little. I hope you enjoyed this video. If you have the feeling that I forgot anything, please let me know in the comments. Also, as always, if you like this video, if you thought this video is useful, don’t forget to give it a like and also subscribe to this channel.

In this Japan travel guide, I will help you navigate Tokyo on a budget. Tokyo can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. At least when it comes to your travel itinerary and activities, Tokyo can be cheaper than most cities. There are a lot of places to visit in Tokyo that are either completely free or very affordable. I will not only give you a list of things to do in Tokyo for free or on a budget, but also introduce you to areas and places in Japan that many tourists haven’t heard about. As a Tokyo tour guide, I’m passionate about showing people some of the hidden gems in Tokyo and lesser-known spots in Japan.

⭐️ Hi, my name is Tina and I’m working in Tokyo as a content creator and tour guide / trip planner.

⭐️ You can find details about me here https://tinahuegel.com/
You can also book me as a tour guide & for trip planning | Whatsapp: +81 80 7854 3851

⛩️ Klook http://bit.ly/3qxssiV Discount Code: TOKYODIARIES5OFF

⛩️ If you are visiting Japan, you might want to take a look at Wabunka
https://bit.ly/4gHthv3

We offer unique, authentic experiences in Japan, that you shouldn’t miss

❤️ Experiences in Tokyo that I enjoyed
Sake Tasting & Brewery Tour https://bit.ly/45cV5E6
Kinryuji (Zasen Meditation) https://bit.ly/42Fw1UF
Bonsai Molding https://bit.ly/4jZivS7
Calligraphy https://bit.ly/3GPjtSi
Kintsugi (Pottery Repair) https://bit.ly/4mj99lG
Creative Flower Art https://bit.ly/4hWW92b

⭐️ I also got a shop on my website with several travel guides https://tinahuegel.com/shop-2/

📩 If you have any questions please leave a comment or send me an e-mail tina.huegel.business@gmail.com

❤️ Feel free to follow me on IG & Tiktok
→ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tina_huegel_travelguide/
→ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinas_travel_diaries
→ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/japantourguidetina
→ Patreon https://www.patreon.com/tinahuegel

❤️ Travel Recommendations
→ Airalo e-sim airalo.pxf.io/baYjPP
use this code to get 3USD credit “TINA4261”
→ Nomad Health https://bit.ly/4d02uHz
→ Nomad Insurance https://bit.ly/3TGjz1b

🎵 Music
Music from Envato Elements

00:00 Introduction
00:19 Exploring a Park, Ueno Park
02:51 Seasonal Activities, Cherry Blossoms
03:50 Visiting a Museum, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum
05:17 Go to Temples & Shrines, Jindaiji in Chofu
08:10 View Decks in Tokyo, Mori JP Tower Azabudai
10:23 Japanese Gardens, Hamarikyu Garden
11:58 Finding Quirky Photo Spots
13:01 Window Shopping, Harajuku & Omotesando
14:52 Eating Out, Cafes & Restaurants

Disclaimer: The products and services that I link on my social media platforms, including Youtube, may be affiliate links. If you click on any of those affiliate links and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I’ll earn a small commission. The commission is paid by the retailer and at no cost to you.

japan travel, tokyo travel, tokyo itinerary, travel japan 2025, tokyo travel guide, japan 2025, japan itinerary, visit tokyo, japan travel guide, japan tourism, things to do in tokyo, tokyo tourist guide, japan travel tips, tokyo sightseeing, tokyo trip planning, traveling in japan, tokyo vacation, japan travel vlog, tokyo japan travel, tokyo city guide, tokyo on a budget, free things to do in tokyo, budget travel japan, cheap tokyo itinerary, tokyo hidden gems, affordable things to do in tokyo, japan budget itinerary, budget-friendly tokyo ideas, how to save money in tokyo, tokyo budget travel guide, tokyo low budget travel, tokyo money saving tips, japan cheap travel tips, free places in tokyo, explore tokyo for less, tokyo budget itinerary 2025, tokyo cheap eats, budget tokyo activities