Under $100: Shinjuku, Tokyo

Known as Tokyo’s “second center” and home to the busiest railway station in the world, Shinjuku is an exciting neighborhood to visit, packed with everything from dive bars to skyscrapers. While the area has an upscale feel, 12,300 Japanese Yen is plenty to take on the city for a day.

Before you drown in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, take a stroll through Shinjuku Gyoen, a national garden built during the Edo period by Lord Naitō of Tsuruga. It is a 10-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station, around which are the Lumine and My Lord department stores, where you can pick up some food for a light lunch in the park. Entrance to Shinjuku Gyoen is 200 yen for adults.

Shinjuku Gyoen © Dymfilms | Dreamstime

After the garden, or if you didn’t have breakfast yet, head to the TOTO Showroom, where you can check out some of Japan’s famous high-tech toilets, from luxurious bathtubs to eco-friendly and even talking toilets. The showroom has no admission cost and serves free tea and coffee, making it a nice albeit unusual stop for the morning.

Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum © Dick Thomas Johnson | Flickr

Just around the corner from the showroom lies the Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum, founded in 1923 and giving rise to Bunka Fashion College and Bunka Gakuen University, which have been responsible for a number of leading designers in the Japanese fashion industry. The museum houses the country’s largest collection of clothing, complete with ancient kimonos and samurai armor. Entrance is 500 yen.

© Masaaki Komori | Flickr

For dinner, save your money for Shinjuku’s rather expensive nightlife and chow down at one of Tokyo’s many ramen shops. One highly recommended place is Fu-unji, which does a unique take on ramen with their tokusei tsukemen (1,000 yen), which are thick, chewy noodles served with a creamy fish and chicken broth containing chunks of pork, nori (seaweed), menma (bamboo shoots) and egg. Keep in mind this isn’t a sit-down place, as ramen is meant to be quickly slurped away.

Golden Gai © Live Action Hero | Flickr

If you’re heading out for the night, take in some of Tokyo’s more authentic nightlife at Golden Gai, a small neighborhood made up of an eclectic assortment of tiny dive bars. The area has become a bit of a tourist attraction, but most of the business there is from locals who aren’t a fan of encroaching foreigners. That being said, it’s not hard to find a place with a welcoming crowd.