"I would love to go there but its just too expensive." This is a phrase I hear too often from people when talking about travelling overseas. But today, I am here to change that for you by giving you tips on how to make the best of your visit to Tokyo, Japan. As someone who grew up in Japan, I want to share with you the great things you can do in this fascinating country all within a college student's budget. I hope to write several articles like this in the future to show you different parts of Japan and what each place has to offer.

Tokyo is the capital of Japan located in the Kanto region, Southeast of the country. It is also the largest city in the country with a population of 13 million with this number increasing by 2.5 million during the day, as many people commute from the surrounding areas to Tokyo, where major office buildings are located. With the upcoming Tokyo Olympics 2020, the city has grown to become more accommodating to international tourists with English signs in most tourist destinations and more English speaking people everywhere you go. It has also been awarded first place in the categories of Best Overall Experience, Helpfulness of Locals, Nightlife, Shopping, Local Public Transportation and Cleanliness of Streets of TripAdvisor's World City Survey. If you are not used to travelling in Asia, I think Tokyo is the best starting point for you.

Seasons

January and February are generally very cold with temperatures dropping to -2℃ (35℉) with some snow. This might be a great time for you to visit if you want to experience the traditional New Years celebrations at various temples and shrines around the city. Personally, I think March and April are the nicest seasons to visit, as the weather is warm with very little rain and you will get to see the cherry blossoms. I would avoid visiting in May as a college student because the airfares are the most expensive at this time of the year, due to a holiday in Japan called the Golden Week. June, I would avoid if you do not like rain because it will rain nearly every day for the whole month. July, August and September is a nice time to visit if you like humid and hot weather. After September, the weather begins to cool down, and reaches a low temperature by December, just in time for the Christmas season.

Public Transport

The key to saving money when travelling in Japan is to use public transport. The system here is amazing, the trains are never late and there are usually trains going into the city every 20 minutes. The tickets are usually about 200 yen, but if you get a 'tap and go' card called Suica or Pasmo, it will save you time from buying tickets every time. This way, you can hop on and hop off at any of the stations on the map below and explore the area at a very low cost. In addition, the places I will introduce to you in this article are only a few train stops apart.What to see:

Shibuya

I think this is a place college students will enjoy exploring the most because it is just like the stereotypical Japan that they have in mind. The streets are flooded with people, it is loud with thousands of billboards and you occasionally see people dressed up in interesting costumes. It is also very close to Harajuku, which is also well known to tourists and these areas are free to explore unless you decide to buy something at the hundreds of stores located in the area.

Chidorigafuchi Moat

This picturesque location which was built in the Edo Period (1603-1868) is located next to the Imperial Palace and is the place to be if you are in Tokyo for the cherry blossom season. It is free to view the cherry blossoms on display and at the same time you can soak up the rich history of the surrounding area. Trust me, it looks exactly like the picture in real life, it's one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

Asakusa

This is one of the most well-known tourist spots in Tokyo. If you want to enjoy a traditional atmosphere without going to other parts of Japan, I think you would like Asakusa. Once you pass the well known Kaminarimon, as shown in the photo below, you will enter a street call Nakamise-dori. This is one of the oldest shopping streets in Japan, dating back to the Edo Period (1603-1868). There are close to ninety shops along the street, selling various things from traditional Japanese sweets to souvenirs. If you are lucky, you might be able to see a traditional festival around the temple area. Be careful, though, the streets are always packed with visitors.

Tokyo National Museum

This museum in Ueno may not be the most well-known tourist destinations in Tokyo but this has been my favorite places to visit since I was little. It is located in a huge park along with the Ueno Zoo and the National Art Museum. The National Museum is set up in a way that takes you from the exhibitions of the stone age in Japan to the more recent historical items. I think it is a great way to visually learn about the history of Japan and its culture, while viewing some extremely rare artifacts that can only be found at this museum. If you are looking for a place to relax and to immerse yourself in the rich Japanese history, this is the place for you. The entrance fee for college students is only 410 yen, which is around 4 dollars, and entrance is free for anyone under eighteen years old.

There are so many ways to travel around the world even with a college student's budget, if you don't limit yourself to only the well known tourist destinations. Always keep an open mind and do a bit of research because there are much more to each country than its iconic locations.