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Save Money Shopping in Tokyo

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Steve

Here’s a quick guide on where to shop for affordable yet durable products in Tokyo and what’s offered at the shops.

Asakusabashi Station (East Exit) – There is a chain called Shimojima that has about 5 different buildings full of items from traditional Japanese to supplies, food, housewares and more. Their main building is approximately 3 minutes from the East exit and has about 8 floors of things to look through.

The Asakusabashi area is great to find many different traditional items from toys, food, kimono accessories, faux flowers and decorations and Japanese party supplies. There are many shops that sell inexpensive Japanese gifts, even little stalls run by very old Japanese grannies (I used to buy traditional Japanese furoshiki and tenugui 70% cheaper than anywhere else from one granny in this area).

Harajuku (Takeshita Exit) – Walking down Takeshita street will certainly be an interesting experience. Here you will find many clothing shops (mainly for younger people) but also the largest 100 yen shop in Tokyo. Daiso is famous for many people as the cheapest place for souvenirs and this one has about 5 floors full of stuff from housewares, stationery, decorations, to toys, clothing, snacks and more.

Asakusa – Also a great place to buy traditional items. The entire area is filled with sweet shops, small toy shops, souvenir shops and many stalls, but because it’s a very common tourist spot, some things may be more expensive than Asakusabashi.

Shibuya (Hachiko Exit) – If you are looking for Japanese fabrics (like kimono style fabric) there is a great little shop near the station. When you exit from Hachiko, walk towards the l’Occitane shop on the left (when facing the giant Starbucks), you’ll see tons of fabric on the street and a small shop filled.

Clothing/Accessories – If you would like to find some nice clothing, try Uniqlo and Muji. They are near all of the major stations (like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Akihabara, Ginza and Omotesando ) throughout Tokyo. They have many different styles, great quality and inexpensive compared to most other places. Muji also has many different items for home, stationery, toys and also fun snacks and food.

Train Stations – There are many train stations that have a shopping area in the basement area where items are usually cheaper than normal. Some of the stations are: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo, Ikebukuro and Ueno.

* Avoid large malls like Isetan, Marui (0101), Takashimaya or Daimaru because they are very expensive.

Happy Shopping!

japanese market shopping in japan

Enjoying Affordable Bars and Night Life

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Steve

Izakaya are fantastic. There are also quite a few “one coin bars” around the city. There are a few in major areas like Shibuya and Shinjuku or even Ebisu. They will literally have a sign that says “one coin bar” and it’s easy to ask anyone because they all understand this term. These places generally have drinks at ¥500 –which is quite cheap in Tokyo, trust me.

Roppongi Night Clubs

Alcohol is readily available in many vending machines (though you might need to swipe id at some) and all combini will have beer if not more (many places will sell wine, chuhai, sake and more).

Some restaurants have a set deal if you have 4+ people eating where you usually pay 3000 Yen (and up) per person and get a set course and all you can drink for 90 minutes. Also if you hit the clubs where foreigners hang out, many have an “all you can drink all night” special for one fee. Keep this in mind when you’re enjoying the night life!

Tokyo Most Expensive City to Live

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Steve

With an average monthly rent of $4,847 Tokyo is once again the most expensive city for Expats! Though the economy of Japan remains sunk deep in deflation, Tokyo continues to hold the #1 position as the most expensive city in world for expatriates to live in.

The cause of this can partly to blame on the relative strength of Japanese currency against the U.S. dollar and price movements of products like housing over the last 12 months, using New York as a benchmark. When I moved to Japan back in 2007 I started off at 120 Yen per 1 USD. That’s a 20% increase on my U.S. income! These day’s it’s a struggle to see 1 USD match 80 Yen. If you calculate the beginning of my move until now, I’ve lost 40% of my U.S. based income spending power when I convert it to Yen, but if you look at it in a positive light, it’s really only a 20% drop of income.

Japan has been an expensive place to live for a long period of time and this year is the 12th year that Tokyo was ranked as one of the most expensive cities since 1994. Though it hasn’t been number one, it has been ranked among the top three every year except for 2007, when it slipped to fourth.

A night shot of the glorious city of Tokyo

Costs for even smaller items in the city can pinch your wallet. To give you an idea just how expensive things are in Tokyo, a cost of one cup of coffee in Tokyo is equivalent to two cups of coffee in New York so it runs you about $8.29, a daily newspaper will cost you $6, and a liter of milk can cost you $3. Even for watching movie, the city is considered the most expensive place with an average admission of $22.97 which is $3 more expensive than in Sydney, the next most expensive city to watch a film.

As a whole, the deciding factor in the regional rankings is the currencies. While Europe lost ground, Asia is dominating. Hong Kong and Singapore kept their places among top 10, while Australian countries have made a big jumped where Sydney moved up to 11th having 14th last year, Melbourne at 15th from 21st last year, Perth at 19th from 30th last year, and Brisbane at 24th from being 31st last year.

In the end it all boils down to where you want to live. Japan can be expensive depending on where you live, but finding really good deals and a change in lifestyle helps offset the cost.

Finding an Apartment in Japan as a Student

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Steve

It can be a cumbersome task for foreign students to find apartments in Japan, because of some major differences in the language limitation and renting systems. Also there is a factor as to how the Japanese view a foreigner, because they usually base their relationships upon trust.

If you are coming to study at a university, then you may ask the university officials to arrange a living space for you in the student dormitory. The rent is comparatively cheaper and you have the ease to get along with other students from various nationalities.

It also gives you an easy way to interact among the Japanese students and communities. However, an early enrollment into the student dormitory can be convenient.

There are many housing companies that offer furnished apartments based on rental system to foreign students. However, as a matter of fact, these apartments are highly expensive and will cost you too much if you plan to stay for long. Contrarily, the apartments from the residential housing schemes are also far too expensive to live for a longer period. There is a lot of cash-in-front required to arrange a private housing in Japan.

While you are looking into getting an inexpensive place to live, do not go for cheap places either. These will save you money, but will bring in many other issues that might be costly to you. For example, you will have to spend extra money to get warm water during the winters. You might also have to share toilet and kitchen with other tenants as there are only one each located outside the building.

In addition to monthly rent, you should also expect to pay off monthly maintenance charges, environment cleaning fee, utility fee etc. These costs are clearly mentioned on the fliers so you should look into then with detail before deciding.

There are several things you should take notice of; some of these are described below.

Key Money: Reikin is an amount of money which is usually given to the landlord (ooyasan) as a gift. The amount may vary but usually it is equal to a month’s rent. Shikikin is another amount which prevents you from disappearing from the house without prior notice, whereas Tesuuryou is an amount payable to the housing agent, if you hire any.
Maximum Length of Stay: Usually, all rental housing schemes ask you to mention a minimum period of your stay. If you breach the contract afterwards, it might result in a penalty. If you plan to reside for less than a year, then inform the ooyasan early.
Room furniture: Generally, apartments do not contain any furniture, but you will be given some equipment, such as gas stove, common washing machine, an air conditioner and maybe an internet connection.
Miscellaneous items: There are several other matters, such as fire insurance, gas usage, neighbors, room size and type. These directly link to the housing agent and the homeowner.

The last thing to keep in mind as a foreigner is that people mostly do not prefer to rent out to foreign students. You might come across some fliers that clear mention their reservations about foreign students. Just hire a housing agent and ask for moderately priced rental location with basic utilities.

About the author of this contributed article:
Andrew has been travelling to Japan as a student a few years ago. Andrew is now distributing sushi conveyor belt and sushi maker

Japan: It’s cheaper than you think

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Steve

Ok, so no one is saying it is the cheapest country in the world – flights to Japan alone make most people shudder – but on arrival and with a few ’in the know’ travel tips, you can get by in Japan on a budget. After all, this trip could turn out to be one of the most compelling experiences of your life as you absorb a country that is both technologically driven yet deeply committed to its historic traditions. So, take your travel essentials; accommodation, transport and food, and let’s see what cut backs we can arrange to make your travel currency go further…

Accommodation

Turn your attention away from the slick high rise hotels, especially in the big cities. Instead, look for cheap Tokyo accommodation in a local hostel, many of which are family-run and which operate on a friendly and more intimate scale. Suddenly, you will find yourself paying more like €15-€25 per person ($22-36 / 1750-2900 JPY), per night in a shared – and sometimes private – room in a hostel, than in excess of €50 in a hotel ($72 / 5800 JPY). You will still have plenty of great facilities to hand including air-conditioning, self-catering facilities, free Internet access and a central location. Geared to budget travelers, you can also quiz hostel staff on the best budget places to eat, drink and where to experience life as a local. You can find cheap accommodation all over Japan including a Kyoto hostel or the family-run ryokans some with traditional tatami sleeping mats if you fancy an authentic experience.

Transport

The efficiency of the Tokyo metro is infamous and late-running trains are almost unheard of. They are also a cost-effective way to get around and a one-day ticket for use on the Tokyo metro costs about €6 ($9 / 700 JPY). A combi ticket which includes unlimited journeys on the metro, Toei lines and buses will set you back €12 a day ($18 / 1400 JPY). If you don’t want to mess around with tickets each day, order yourself a PASMO card. Similar to the London Oyster card, this is a reloadable card which you place on an electronic reader as you go through the gates. You can use it on all Tokyo public transport too so it is very convenient. Purchase at ticket machines and station offices. But the ultimate cheap way to get around Tokyo is…on foot.

Tokyo underground subway sign

To travel further afield, skip Japan domestic flights, these are pricey. Instead, buy a JR Rail Pass before your trip – you cannot buy these within Japan – which permits travel on trains (except the fastest bullet train, ‘shinkansen’), ferries and buses too. You might also want to consider overnight buses which are not only cheap, they will save on a night in a hotel. However, this can be quite a tiring and uncomfortable way to travel.

Food

Hit the supermarkets and pick up some ingredients to cook back at your hostel’s guest kitchen. These might include fresh produce, but you’d be forgiven if you reach for the ultimate cheap food in Japan – instant ramen noodles at about €2 pop! You can also pick-up little containers of pre-prepared sushi and rice balls from the supermarket too which are ideal for a picnic.

The conveyor belt sushi shops in Japan are a world apart from the stuff you are used to back home. As long as you can demonstrate some self-control – the bill starts adding up if you scoff too many dishes – you can expect to pay between €2 and €4 per plate ($3-6 / 233-466 JPY).

convenyor belt moving sushi

Standing will also save you money. You can slurp away at a bowl of hot noodles in low-key noodle shops and curry houses. The cheapest can be found down the backstreets, away from the main roads. It’s a sort of Japanese fast food with business men and locals after a quick bite before heading to the office. The yatai, small mobile food stands serve a similar purpose in the evenings, but while you might have experienced dodgy kebab vans or questionable hot dog stands back home, here, the yatai dish up grilled skewered fish, octopus legs and frozen yogurt.

Madeleine Wilson is a travel writer for HostelBookers, the budget accommodation specialist. She lives and works in London.

Q&A: Japan Post Office ATM Fees

Posted on October 1, 2010 by Steve

Question:

Gabe wrote in: I was an exchange student in Japan for a summer while in high school, and now in college i will be going back. I had a question about the post office ATMS. I think you said that they don’t charge a fee? Is that for all cards, or just who you are banking with. Thanks!!

Answer:

I think you’re referring to my old post: ATM Currency Conversion

The Post Office ATM have never charged me an ATM fee, so I’m assuming it’s for all US banks. However my bank account charges a 1% fee for the currency conversion and Master Card charges 1% so I’m dinged a total of 2%. If I withdrawal $100, I’m charged $2 which is reflected on my bank statement. However my Capital One (High Yield Money Market) account covers all conversion fees so it’s a straight up currency conversion without fees. The ATM at 711 charges me 200 yen or something like that as an ATM fee.

What I do is I have multiple Capital One saving accounts (with interest, wow!) so I have multiple debit cards. Then online I transfer from my regular checking account (a US bank account) to my Capital One accounts. With a max of $500 daily withdrawal per Capital One account I can withdrawal a large amount if I need to ($500 per account). I get a fair exchange rate and no ATM fee and no % currency conversion fees. I can also play the timezone game, where I withdrawal in the morning (it’s the evening in the US) then withdrawal in the evening (it’s the next day, morning in the US).

On a side note: My Capital One accounts offer a debit card only (with a Plus logo on the back), so I can’t use this at a store. If I use my checking account debit MasterCard (Non Capital One account) I’m still charged the 1% conversion fee from the bank and 1% from MasterCard so I try to limit the amount of times I do this. You can compare some rates here:
http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Credit/Debit/ATM_Cards_and_Foreign_Exchange

The USD in other countries isn’t in our favor right now, so it’s always good to save as much as you can when converting to another currency. It’s also a good idea to setup your accounts in the US before traveling. I setup my first Capital One account in America, and others while abroad, and I can log in to one account and manage all of the Capital One accounts. Here’s an example of what the debit card looks like.

Here’s an article I found interesting that talks about credit cards and fees. Yen & You: Plugging the money leaks in your credit cards and one talking about something that’s not discussed often enough, Why You Need an Emergency Fund

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The Q&A section of my blog is kind of new. People like my “contact me” link on the blog! Every month I get asked some questions and many tend to be similar so I thought I’d share a few along with my answers.

Cheapest Ramen Shop I Found in Japan

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Steve

I love ramen, all varieties. Good ramen comes at a price though, usually 500 Yen or more, so I was excited to try out the 280 Yen ramen at the Hakata Kinryu restaurant. The price was good, but the taste was just average. And what’s with the corn in the ramen? I guess it’s not as strange as ice cream, but it not that tasty and hard to grab with the chopsticks. After my 2nd trip to this store I decided I’ll stick with the good stuff from the because it’s worth it.

If you’re serious about ramen, I recommend checking out these sits
Ramen reviews
Ramen Adventures
Ramen Walker
Order Japanese ramen online

The restaurant entrance

I had to add some extra ingredients

The menu of cheap ramen! You can click the pic for a bigger picture.

Q&A: Was it expensive to move to Japan?

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Steve

People like my “contact me” link on the blog! Every month I get asked some questions. A lot tend to be the same questions so I thought I’d share a few along with my answers. Here’s the first one. If you have more to add, feel free to do so in the comment section.

Estand Info

Question:

Andrew wrote in – Man, this blog is great, I think I’ve read every post! Found this today, and I love it. Going to Japan has been my dream since I was like 10, and I love sites like this that detail personal experiences! It’s great to hear about your time in Japan and really adds realism to the dream

Was it expensive moving there? I’m 19 and living in the UK, and I currently have no idea what I’m doing with life :O I sometimes wonder if I’ll ever get to go (I need a better Job!) But your blog gives me hope my friend ^^ Keep up the good work!

Answer:

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the feedback! I’m glad you enjoy the posts that I’ve made. It was expensive to move to Japan because I had to sell everything I owned in the U.S. The other alternative would be storage (monthly fee) or keep stuff at my parents house (they wouldn’t like that). On top of that I had to have money to move into a new place. This included damage deposit that I would not get back, 1st months rent, last months rent, and money for setting up things like internet, electric, cell phone, and not to mention the $1400 plane ticket.

I don’t remember clearly but I’d say a rough estimate of the first month cost around $8000-10000 USD, but this is for two people. If you budget well and are a minimalist, and if you had a job lined up, you could spend $3000-5000 USD depending on where you live. Then your monthly budget would be between $1000-2000 before including food.

These figures are just estimates so you’d really have to break everything down to match your own personal tastes. But I have some friends that are working in Japan as English teachers and they’re making about $1600-2000 USD a month and they’re able to live in a decent place, have a cell phone, internet, and some have cable TV. So it is possible. Just remember that the apartments are very very tiny compared to Western style living.

If you move to Japan you should considering getting a job in advance because finding work in Japan is a tedious task. If you’re just doing some soul searching then you might consider going to Japan on an extended vacation instead of moving right away. One way to keep things affordable is to make some friends by learning how to get free accommodation in Japan and stay at somebody’s place for free or a minimal fee.

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Good luck with everything!

(photo credit: flickr.com/photos/ivanwalsh/)

Fish at the Grocery Store

Posted on September 30, 2008 by Steve

It feels like half the grocery store is dedicated to fish. And the price is always right in Japan!

Fresh sliced fish perfect for grilling

Egg stuffed fish… I stay away from this. I don’t like the exploding eggs when you chew it.

Tiny fish, great for a yakitori style dinner. Slap it on a stick, grill it, eat it just like that.

Now let’s work on getting some Chicago style pizza cookin’ in the bakery Mr. Grocery Store! If they had a suggestion box I’d be dropping notes every day. Non-seafood-non-mayo pizza, big steak, some Diet Dr. Pepper please and thank you.

Sushi Lunch For 1000 Yen

Posted on September 21, 2008 by Steve

We found a sushi restaurant that serves fresh fish daily. Dinner costs a person no less than 3000 Yen and can easily run 5000. But lunch is a steal! For 1000 Yen you get this tray of fresh sushi, soup, green tea, and a fruit desert that feels like you’re eating clouds of happiness. This is one of the many reasons I really like Japan.

Besides the last picture, the quality isn’t bad for a 2 megapixel camera phone.