Eating cheap in Japan

 


Most people in Europe think Japan is a very expensive place, but that's not the case at all! It was indeed in the end of the last century and early 2000s, but since then the Japanese yen lost much of its value and the country is actually quite cheap with Western standards. Since my last visit in 2020, it even became cheaper (a little bit) as the yen was further devalued. Even eating the finest red caviar in a restaurant is not a luxury!

The cheapest option to eat is in one of the convenience stores, such as 7eleven, Family Mart or Lawson. In the past, almost all these shops had a sit-in area, but unfortunately they fell victim to the Covid measures. These sitting areas were closed during the pandemic but many didn't open afterwards. You can still find convenience stores like this below, but they are not the majority anymore. This one in Hiroshima is exactly as they all were once. There is a sitting area with electric/USB sockets, free WiFi, microwaves, hot water, ATM, bill paying machines, toilet, and even a smoking room. Today, even if there is a sitting area, many don't have electric sockets as they sell single-use, disposable power banks, and hardly any has a smoking room. Still, they are a good option to have a cheap meal that you bought on the premises.






My favourite cheap restaurant chain is Matsuya. You have to order and pay via a machine when you enter, then you have to pick your food up at the counter when it is ready. A bowl of rice with fine Salmon caviar and miso soup is ¥ 980 (GBP 5.15), about the same as a cone of potato chips on a beach in England. They also sell quite nice curries, grilled salmon, beef, in the ¥ 600-1,200 range (GBP 3.15-6.30).







While at Matsuya you have to pay at the time of ordering at the entrance machine, in other restaurants such as Yoshinoya there is a tablet at each seat to order. This gives you the option to order further items along the way. The food will be delivered to you and you pay after finishing at a cashier. They have a wide range of dishes (no caviar though) that cost the usual ¥ 600-1,500 range (GBP 3.15-7.90). I had a nice beef hot-pot (not pictured) and Japanese style curry in a Yoshinoya restaurant. 




The most famous Japanese curry house is CoCo Ichibanya, serving only curries in the same price range as the other restaurants mentioned. On the picture, it's fried chicken with beef curry and rice for ¥ 1,200 (GBP 6.30).


At Sukiya, you order the same way as at Yoshinoya, but here they also have caviar. Served on top of a bowl of rice, and with an extra slice of grilled salmon, this dish cost ¥ 1,200 (GBP 6.30).



I forgot the name of this restaurant, but it was slightly more expensive than the previously mentioned ones. Still, this meal set with salmon, and the grilled beef, were quite affordable.



I never had oysters before, so it was time to try them. These two big oysters cost ¥ 600 (GBP 3.15). 


In a Thai restaurant I had my favourite Thai dish: green curry with chicken and rice. It cost ¥ 990 (GBP 5.20).


Indian food tends to be the most expensive, but it is still affordable. This mutton curry with naan, on the upper picture, was ¥ 1,280 (GBP 6.70). But they also have cheap lunch offers, such as the ocra and chicken curry with naan, salad, and lassi for ¥ 790 (GBP 4.15) on the lower photos.




If you still think eating in Japan is expensive, then you must be absolutely broke. In that case, I suggest to get a free meal in the Haginochaya Minami Park in Osaka.


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