book review

'A Cheapo's Guide To Tokyo' - Enjoying the city without breaking the bank

2 Comments
By Peter Lackner

In this era of uber-connected smartphones and tablets, and with every tourist attraction and locality rushing to make travel and navigation apps, I was surprised to find a new guide book out to try and help people discover Tokyo.

Upon seeing the title, "A Cheapo’s Guide To Tokyo," I was expecting information on tiny and inexpensive capsule hotels, youth hostels and hole-in-the-wall, “one coin” ramen joints. I was pleasantly surprised, however, that it was filled with a plethora of tips on how to best enjoy and experience the sprawling metropolis without breaking the bank — and from the perspective of people that actually live here, not some template-style guide written by those just passing through. This guide is like getting a ton of great advice from that friend in the know who can always get the best deal on anything.

The book is over 500 pages, so is really more like an encyclopedia of thrifty ways to enjoy your trip, stay or live in Tokyo, but that doesn’t make it a tome you’ll need to lug around in an overstuffed backpack. The book is available in Kindle and .epub formats so you can read on your Amazon-powered devices or your iOS and Android phones and tablets.

Busting the city’s reputation for being overly expensive, "A Cheapo’s Guide to Tokyo" is out to prove that Tokyo is far better value to visitors than London, Paris, New York and other major cities. With its excellent food, fascinating culture and the highest standards of hospitality, Japan’s capital city is one that can be explored and enjoyed without making a huge dent in your wallet.

A fun and informative read, the book includes:

  • Heaps of ideas for free and great value entertainment
  • A special chapter on visiting Tokyo with kids
  • Superb Japanese eateries that won't break the bank and that locals love, too
  • A guide to seasonal events and activities
  • Special topics including traditional Tokyo as well as its quirky side and nightlife
  • The basics, like the transport system, Internet and local customs
  • Where to sleep at night at places that don’t cost a fortune
  • Detailed guides and maps for all the key areas

Whether you’re looking for suggestions on free and great value entertainment, places to take the kids other than Disneyland or are a long-term resident like myself, this is a good book to have — and it’s cheap, too.

"A Cheapo's Guide To Tokyo" By Tokyo Cheapo Cheapo Guides, 2015; 500pp, US$15.00 https://cheapoguides.dpdcart.com

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2 Comments
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I'm kind of surprised by the surprise of the author. The Tokyo Cheapo website (http://tokyocheapo.com) is one of the best for finding local experiences in and around the metro area. It also has a ton of resources for people living, working and traveling in Japan. I don't work for them, but I vouch for them! Great resource!

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