| Japan, and especially it's capital city of Tokyo, have | | | | day to day living in Japan is that of food. The overall |
| been notoriously famous throughout the years as | | | | cost can be reduced substantially if you cook meals |
| being among the world's most expensive places to | | | | at home using traditional Japanese items such as |
| live. Those who have experienced a ten dollar cup of | | | | seafood, seasonal fruit and vegetables, soya bean |
| coffee in the Ginza, or noticed the stylishly packaged | | | | products, and rice. One of the best times to do your |
| melons for sale at airport tourist shops for 10,000 | | | | weekly shopping is shortly before closing times in the |
| yen will attest to this fact. Yet the truth of the | | | | evening, when supermarkets offer perishable |
| matter is you don't have to spend a fortune to | | | | products that have yet to be sold at big discounts. |
| enjoy a comfortable and enjoyable life style in Japan. | | | | Inexpensive restaurants offering dishes such as |
| One of the major considerations in regard to avoiding | | | | ramen noodles, curry rice, grilled chicken yakitori, and |
| the potentially high cost of living is deciding where to | | | | kaiten sushi, at prices ranging between 500 to 1,000 |
| reside. As rent will consume as much as thirty | | | | yen are also numerous, and can be found around and |
| percent of your income, choosing a suitable area to | | | | inside major train stations. Many restaurants also |
| live becomes a number one priority when trying to | | | | provide set menus (teishoku) at lunch time for 1,000 |
| hold on to your yen. | | | | yen, and box lunches known as bento sold in |
| The first rule of thumb when looking for affordable | | | | convenience stores, kiosks, and department stores, |
| accommodation is to stay clear of the central areas | | | | are also an excellent bargain. |
| of the major cities, where even small apartments can | | | | Other expenses incurred such as electricity, gas, and |
| be very expensive. Housing costs however are | | | | water are relatively expensive in Japan, but are |
| significantly lower in the suburbs or outlined areas, | | | | basically on par with rates of similar services provided |
| and despite the additional time spent riding trains if | | | | in Europe or the U.S. Telephone fees under NTT, |
| you need to enter the city on a daily basis, you will | | | | Japan's number one telecommunications company |
| still come out ahead financially in the long run. | | | | have been routinely high for decades, but with the |
| Commuting costs are usually compensated by the | | | | emergence of more sophisticated and economical |
| money saved on rent, and most Japanese companies | | | | mobile phone service now available prices are |
| pay a portion if not all of their employees travel | | | | beginning to come down. For international calls, |
| expense by providing a monthly allotment. Train | | | | callback services and free calls transmitted via |
| passes purchased at a discounted set rate which | | | | computer through companies such as Skype are |
| feature unlimited travel between home and office are | | | | making the prospect of calling long distance a more |
| also available for commuters. Those wishing to avoid | | | | affordable one. Japan's broadband Internet service is |
| riding trains altogether also have the option of driving | | | | also among the least expensive in the world, with |
| to work, but the cost of parking and maintenance in | | | | service available from around 2,500 yen a month. |
| the form of insurance and various taxes is expensive, | | | | Clothing in Japan can also be purchased quite |
| not to mention coping with the crowded conditions | | | | inexpensively surprisingly enough. Supermarket chains |
| of most Japanese roads and streets during peak | | | | such as " Ito Yokado" or discount clothing stores like |
| hours. One possible compromise is that of riding a | | | | "Uniqlo" offer quality clothing at very reasonable |
| small 50-CC scooter, which are economical and mobile | | | | prices. Used clothing stores are also becoming in |
| enough to negotiate the narrow lanes that constitute | | | | vogue, with shops such as "Thank You Mart" offering |
| most Japanese cities. Another potential money saver | | | | a set price of 390 yen for all items sold. And if you're |
| in regard to finding suitable lodging is to take | | | | in need of a haircut don't be discouraged by the high |
| advantage of the recent increase of real estate | | | | prices that most Japanese hair dressers are currently |
| agents geared toward working with foreigners. Many | | | | charging. There are still many shops that offer |
| of these companies offer apartments that don't | | | | haircuts for around 1,000 yen. New arrivals who also |
| require the large output of cash in the form of | | | | wish to furnish their apartment with household items |
| deposits and agent commission fees that are often | | | | without breaking the bank will want to check out the |
| necessary when obtaining housing through more | | | | "100 Yen Shops" that offer a huge selection of |
| conventional sources. | | | | items, from kitchen goods to clothing, all at the set |
| Possibly the second biggest expenditure in terms of | | | | price of 100 yen. |