Eating well in Japan for under ¥1,000

Japan is one of the few countries where cheap food is genuinely good food. A ¥800 lunch can be excellent.

Where to look

• Gyudon chains — Yoshinoya, Sukiya, Matsuya. A beef bowl set is ¥500–¥800, served in minutes, open late.
• Standing soba / udon near train stations — ¥400–¥600, ready in 90 seconds.
• Conveyor-belt sushi (Sushiro, Kura, Hama Sushi) — plates from ¥120. Easy to eat well for ¥1,200.
• Supermarket & depachika — after ~7pm, bento and sushi get 20–50% off stickers.
• Convenience stores — onigiri (¥130), egg sandwiches, oden in winter. Not a compromise here.
• Ramen shops — a bowl is typically ¥800–¥1,100. Buy your ticket from the vending machine at the door.

Tips

• Lunch sets (teishoku) are far cheaper than the same food at dinner. Eat your big meal at midday.
• Free water and tea are standard — you are not expected to buy drinks.
• Tipping is not a thing. The price on the menu is the price you pay.
• Look for ¥ set menus on plastic food displays outside — you can point if the language is tricky.