Alexis and Stephanie, the new guides are out so can I jump the gun and ask which ones made it? I found one of mine posted on your on-line travel news section in February so am terribly curious.

We just finished 2 days in Tokyo. Definitely a hard town to be budget-friendly in, but we did our best. Two things we found. First, the noodle soups at the restaurants which employ a vending machine-type device to take the order were delicious. And it only cost us round $6.50 a person. Secondly, we were able to get extremely fresh, delicious sashimi at one of the stalls near the fishmarket for breakfast for only $10. Finally, the best deals are definitely the conveyor belt sushi. Our first was ok, but the second was delicious. You're forced to eat slow and therefore, don't take too many of the $1.50 plates. One thing to remember too is that you almost always get tea with your meal, so why waste money buying something to drink (besides sake or beer of course).

Thanks again for all the great tips.

Tips from Alec, lcuy, mrwunrfl, Sydney2K, WillJame, mjs, shandy, and you, Cilla_Tey were included in the Japan book.

Tips from Alec, lcuy, mrwunrfl, teacherhiker, Sydney2K, mjs, mdn, hawaiiantraveler, and you, Cilla_Tey were included in the Tokyo book.

Katie sent out emails to those quoted in the guide earlier this week. If you didn't receive an email Cilla, you can email Katie at [email protected]. Congrats to everyone---there were more great tips that we had room to include.

Not worried about the free book. Here's another $.02:

Vie de France.

It's the Japanese equivalent of Au Bon Pain and it's great. The pastries are very good, rarely more than 300Y, and baked fresh daily. Major JR train stations and department stores will have them (we visited the one in Kyoto Station almost daily). Way better than Circle K, Lawson's or 7-Eleven.

Check the tourist information desk at the train station of each city for special and often free activities for foreign tourists. In Nara, we went for the kimono wearing and tea ceremony offered by local volunteers. It was quite fun to have 4 Japanese housewives fuss over me, wrapping me up in a kimono and putting up my hair. My husband had it easier with the simpler men kimono.

We then literally crawled through a hole in a wall to an adjoining room to participate in a tea ceremony. (Strange, but they said the traditional Japanese tea room often has a small entrance like this.) A woman explained to us in English how to participate in the tea ceremony, from appreciating a painting on the wall to watching the tea preparation to drinking it.

Afterwards,they asked us if we wanted a student volunteer tour guide, and we said sure. He was studying tourism quite fun to hang out with. He showed us the main sites of Nara, and told us to crawl through the Buddha's nostril in the temple, etc.

Anyhow, it's worth checking out these free activities offered by the local tourist board.

Thanks Alexis. Thrilled to hear I'm in both books. Didn't get an email from Kathie so will send her a note.

thanks! Katie has mail

Thank you Alexis. Katie has more mail.

Hello Alexis, wanted to say that my copy of the Japan Guide came in this week, and am thrilled to see my tips published.

Opps Katie. Have updated my email address.

We buy food to cook and food ready-to-eat at Shop 99 (interperet as the dollar store for food and some other basics like stationary and very basic household supplies and cleaners.) Nearly everything in the shop is 104 yen. This is a chain store and seems to be in the major cities at least on the main island. Shop 99, grocery stores and the convenience stores often mark down the parishable foods including very good bento boxes and sashimi some time after 5pm each day. We get bento boxes for dinner for half price, or btw 250 and 400 yen. Japanese convenience stores are famous for the fresh decent food they have--not like the reputation convenience stores have in the US. We also have discovered the 300 Yen shop or "3 coin shop" as I keep hearing it called. I bought a picnic "blanket", a pillow case, squirt guns and a hand towel there today. I'm ready for napping on the beach, I guess.
Go to an old style market or outdoor mall located in most cities to find better prices--Not the fancy underground, out of the weather places. Oso Kannon in Nagoya for instance. This week, I found folding fans for 200 yen, used double layered kimonos for my kids (very nice quality) for 3000 yen. Kimonos of this quality range in the hundreds to thousands of dollars and it is hard to find a fan under $20 We had a very filling rice omelet at one of the small restaurants there as well. 380 yen each.

Thanks Alexis and Katie, I've just received both Japan and Tokyo guides.