By Billy Hammond
Mention Japan and everybody thinks of "sushi". While it's true that "sushi" is a popular Japanese dish, most Japanese don't go to sushi bars all that often because of the cost.
There are many alternatives if you want to eat affordable sushi. Ranked in order of decreasing price: there's the local sushi shop with a take-out window where you place your order that has its prices displayed on wax models in a showcase or printed on pictures of the selection offered; the sushi section in the food section of famous department stores (Takashimaya, Sogo, Hankyu, Seibu, Tokyu, Matsuzakaya, Mitsukoshi, Hanshin, Kintetsu, etc.); the local "conbini" (7-11, Lawson, Sun, etc.); and the sushi section in supermarket chain stores (Daiei, Itoyokado, Seiyu, etc.).
Pick up a box of green tea bags at the market or grab a few cans of beer at the liquor store on your way home and you're on the way to a low-priced sushi dinner. If you hit the supermarkets before closing, sometimes you can find your sushi marked down to less than 1/2 the regular price, so if you don't mind a reduced selection, timing your visit to the market can make your meal even less expensive.
The Ultimate - Instant Noodles!
While almost all Japanese will agree that this is not the most nutritious thing to eat, most will probably admit to eating a variant of this quite often. You can find them in any supermarket, "conbini" or sometimes even in vending machines. They come in their own container and all you have to add is boiling water.
