If like us, your budget doesn’t allow for eating in a top restaurant every day then I have some suggestions for how to eat well when you’re on a budget.
Ramen Noodle bars are generally good value and one of the few things that are cheaper in Japan than in London. Ramen noodle bars can be found all around the country.
The noodles shown above are from a Ramen bar in Matsusaka and cost ¥900, which in August 2019 equates to £6.95. On average a bowl of Ramen in London will set you back about £12.00.
Eating in restaurants at train stations and in shopping malls is also good value, often they have wax models of the food that you can point at to let them know what you want to eat, which is very useful if like me you only know a few words in Japanese.
The quality of food is always good in these places, much, much higher than you would get in a UK shopping mall or train station. Often you can get a set meal with lots of side dishes, like a salad, noodles, rice, bit of fish or meat, some pickles, miso soup all on a tray and it is always very good. The photos of meals shown above were taken in the Aeon Mall, Tsu City. Most of them work out at about just less than £10 each and the quality is outstanding considering this a food court in a shopping mall.
The two meals shown above are the actual food we chose from the was models at the Food Court in the Aeon Mall.
Likewise, motorway services are also good value places to eat. Often low budget restaurants will require you to order from a vending machine. Simply match the number on the vending machine with wax model or picture of the food you want, insert cash and take the resultant token or ticket to a member of the restaurant staff and they will then prepare your food.
We stopped at a motorway service station in Mie on the way to Nara and the food on offer was again presented in wax model form.
The pictures above are of the actual meals we bought at the Motorway services station and again the food was really good and great value at about ¥1100 each. There was free unlimited green tea and water. Unlike the UK, Motorway services station offer great value food for the traveller on a budget.
If you’re travelling and want a packed lunch, buy stuff from the 24hr convenience stores, such as 7/11, Lawson, Family Mart, Circle K and Ministop. You can get great sandwiches, unusual crisps, decent fried chicken and Onigiri, all quite reasonably priced and tasty. This is what we do when we’re heading off on family day trips.
You will be able to buy cold drinks and water just about anywhere in Japan, vending machines are all over the place and are never, ever, vandalised and always in working order, even in the remotest of rural areas. Most vending machines will contain at least water, iced coffee and green tea and these drinks will cost around ¥120 – ¥200 each.
Most supermarkets sell hot food to take away such as croquettes, Fired Chicken, Tempura prawns and vegetables. Supermarkets are another good place to stock on food when you are planning to travel all day
The above selection of bento boxes, onigiri and tempura was on sale in a supermarket in the Aeon Mall in Tsu City.