The Cost of Living in Japan

Japan, and especially it's capital city ofPossibly the second biggest expenditure in terms of
Tokyo, have been notoriously famousday to day living in Japan is that of food. The overall
throughout the years as being among the world'scost can be reduced substantially if you
most expensive places to live. Those whocook meals at home using traditional Japaneseitems
have experienced a ten dollar cupsuch as seafood, seasonal fruit and vegetables, soya
of coffee in the Ginza, or noticedÂbean products, and rice. One of the best times to do
the stylishly packaged melons for sale atyour weekly shopping is shortly before closing times
airport tourist shops for 10,000 yen willin the evening, when supermarketsoffer perishable
attest to this fact. Yet the truth of the matter isproducts that have yet to be sold at big discounts.
you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy aInexpensive restaurants offering dishes such
comfortable and enjoyable life style in Japan. One ofas ramen noodles, curry rice, grilled chicken
the major considerations in regard toyakitori, and kaiten sushi, at
avoiding the potentially high cost of living isprices ranging between 500 to 1,000 yen are
deciding where to reside. As rent willÂalso numerous, and can be found around and inside
consume as much as thirty percent of your income,major train stations. Many restaurants also provide
choosing a suitable area to live becomesset menus (teishoku) at lunch time for 1,000 yen, and
a number one priority when trying to hold onbox lunches known as bento sold in convenience
to your yen.stores, kiosks, and department stores, are
The first rule of thumb when looking for affordablealso an excellent bargain.
accommodation is to stay clear of the central areasOther expenses incurred such as electricity, gas, and
of the major cities, where even smallwater are relatively expensive in Japan, but are
apartments can be very expensive. Housing costsbasically on par with rates of similar servicesÂ
however are significantly lower in the suburbs orprovided in Europe or the U.S. Telephone
outlined areas, and despite the additional time spentfees under NTT, Japan's number one
riding trains if you need to enter the city on a dailytelecommunications company have been routinely
basis, you will still come out ahead financially in thehigh for decades, but with the emergence of more
long run. Commuting costs are usually compensatedsophisticated and economical mobile phone service
by the money saved on rent, and most Japanesenow available prices are beginning to come down. For
companies pay a portion if not allÂinternational calls, callback services and free calls
of their employees travel expensetransmitted via computer through companies such as
by providing a monthly allotment. Train passesSkype are making the prospect of calling long
purchased at a discounted set rate which featuredistance a more affordable one. Japan's broadband
unlimited travel between home and office are alsoInternet service is also among the least expensive in
available for commuters. Those wishing to avoid ridingthe world, with service available from around 2,500
trains altogether also have the option ofyen a month.
driving to work, but the cost of parking andClothing in Japan can also be purchased quite
maintenance in the form of insurance and variousinexpensively surprisingly enough. Supermarket chains
taxes is expensive, not to mention coping with thesuch as " Ito Yokado" or discount clothing stores like
crowded conditions of most Japanese roads and"Uniqlo" offer quality clothing at very reasonable
streets during peak hours. One possible compromiseprices. Used clothing stores are also becoming in
is that of riding a small 50-CC scooter, which arevogue, with shops such as "Thank You Mart" offering
economical and mobile enough to negotiate thea set price of 390 yen for all items sold. And if you're
narrow lanes that constitute most Japanese cities.in need of a haircut don't be discouraged by the high
Another potential money saver in regard to findingprices that most Japanese hair dressers are currently
suitable lodging is to take advantage of the recentcharging. There are still many shops that offer
increase of real estate agents geared towardhaircuts for around 1,000 yen. New arrivals who also
working with foreigners. Many of these companieswish to furnish their apartment with household items
offer apartments that don't require the large outputwithout breaking the bank will want to check out the
of cash in the form of deposits and agent"100 Yen Shops" that offer a huge selection of
commission fees that are often necessaryitems, from kitchen goods to clothing, all at the set
when obtaining housing through more conventionalprice of 100 yen.
sources.