A Guide To A Hearty Meal Under 500 Yen In Japan!

Gyudon Bars

Gyudon is a bowl of rice topped with beef and onion cooked in a salty-sweet sauce. A medium size gyudon costs about 380 yen at most major gyudon restaurants. They also have some other dishes such as Japanese curry with rice, pork and rice bowls, seafood rice bowls, and so on; prices range between 400-500 yen. The good thing is not only they are cheap, but also that most of them are open 24 hours a day.

There is an option to “eat in” or “take away”, the preparation time for the meal is very fast, and some branches even have drive-thrus. The most famous franchise gyudon bars are Yoshinoya, Sukiya, and Matsuya, although you can find plenty of regional ones as well.

Since the dishes have rice as the main ingredient, the stomach remains full for a longer period of time. These restaurants serve a delicious bowl of filling food at a very good price, which makes them a favorite of travelers and locals alike.

100 Yen Shops

In Japan, 100 yen shops are a paradise for those who are on a budget and who fancy purchasing a wide variety of items all in one place. The biggest 100 yen shop brands are Daiso, Seria, and CanDo. Daiso can be conveniently found in most major shopping streets or malls.

They sell everything, including food, drinks, chocolates, chips, and snacks at 100 yen. Major condiments, noodles, or day to day useful items are sold at 100 yen shops as well. The quality of the products is never compromised. Have a great time exploring and shop to your heart’s content.

Closing-Hour Discounts at Supermarkets

Supermarkets in Japan sell ready-made side dishes called osouzai. Many of them must be sold on the same day or else they have to be disposed of, which means that as the night progresses, many supermarkets sell them for discounts from 30 to 50% or more. Usually, the prices start going down from around 6:30 to 7 pm. You can identify the products that are being discounted by their brightly colored stickers; these discounts increase with time, so a single package may have multiple stickers on it by closing.

Ready-made food consists of a variety of dishes such as salad, fries, grilled food, rice, sushi, full bento boxes and more. They are sure to exceed your expectations. There is often a microwave at supermarkets that anyone can use along with free disposable chopsticks, so anyone can buy food, warm it up, and eat it at the same time. Closing hour discounts are one of the best sales on food you can find, and the dishes are all made of high-quality ingredients. Try it and see what I mean!

Conveyour Belt Sushi (Kaiten-zushi)

Literally translated as conveyor belt sushi, these restaurants offer sushi from 100 yen and up. Many serve their sushi on color coded plates which are displayed at the entrance to let the customers know the prices of each type of sushi. You can find various types of sushi, from salmon, tuna, crab salad or even natto sushi available for 100 yen.

These restaurants are as good as many of the more expensive ones, and also offer more varieties of foods too. If you fancy a hearty sushi meal, these restaurants are worth visiting even just for the experience, never mind the taste. They won't let you down, and will have your stomach satisfied and you ready for your next adventure in no time. You can find a kaiten-zushi restaurant at almost every station, and they are especially common in restaurant-filled areas.

In Conclusion

Many locals, as well as international visitors, find dining in Japan quite cheap and affordable due to the sheer variety of options available. If you are hungry, then why not visit one of the places mentioned in this article, and enjoy a meal along with a glimpse of everyday life in Japan? If you try out any of the above options, let us know what your experience was like!