IMG_1518
Here's the secret to visiting Ginza on a budget. This is a fresh package of Toro, with 11 pieces for about $16 USD. That won't mean much to anyone who doesn't eat sushi, but you can easily pay $16 for two pieces of this cut of tuna at an American sushi bar. You can buy an assortment of fresh sushi at local convenience stores here for a few dollars, along with various noodle dishes and hot food for the same price range. If eating at 7-11 is too down market for you, you can shop at places like this department store and pay not much more for excellent trays of local foods for very low prices. Grab a bottle of Sake (rice wine) or wine from a local store, combine it with some cheese and bread and you've got an outstanding meal for well under $20 USD. You can also locate some affordable restaurants, such as the rooftop Sapporo beer garden where there's an all-you-can-eat-and-drink dinner for $30 USD per person, about 1/4th to 1/10th what you'd pay at most of the other restaurants in this area. Convert your airline miles or credit card points to hotel points and stay for free (like we are) and you can enjoy a great visit to a very expensive destination at bargain prices. Ginza, Tokyo, Japan.