When people google things like “What is a decent salary in Japan” or “How much money do you need to survive in Japan”, many articles and blogs with examples, statistics and opinions appear in the results.
Of course, whether the information is applicable to the person or not depends on where they are going to be living, and whether their situation is similar to the writer, or example in the article. So instead, let’s look at how to make things more affordable.
Renting an apartment
The prices tend to be higher for places closer to the station, so if you want to stay 5 min from the station, you will either have to pay slightly higher rent, or opt for a smaller apartment. If you don’t mind staying 20 min from the station and either riding a bicycle (which is really common) or taking a bus to the station, you will be able to get more affordable and generally more spacious housing options. Prices also tend to be more expensive if the closest train station is an express stop station.
Transportation
The transportation in Japan is fast, clean and reliable, and while not overly expensive, there are definitely some ways of stretching that dollar.
Commuter pass
Cash can be used on buses and trains, but instead of paying for single trips each time, consider getting a Commuter pass. There are usually 3 options – 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. The longer the period, the bigger the discount.
If you own a iPhone or Apple Watch, you can also download the app and use it instead of using the physical card. Last I checked, there was still no option for us to go back and forth between the physical card and app; Meaning, the card and the app are counted as separate accounts.
Kaisuuken
There are also Kaisuuken, which are sets of tickets that you can buy, that will give you an extra for free; think buy 10 get 1 free.
1 Day Pass
For buses, purchase them directly from the bus driver. For trains, buy them from the ticket machine or get them at the station office.
Traveling within Japan
The usual options are pretty much the same as most countries. Shinkansen (bullet trains), flights, trains, buses and car rental.
Shinkansen (bullet trains)
Discounted tickets can be purchased as Kinken (金券) shops which are found in many different areas. Do make sure you check the dates on the tickets though. Kaisuuken can also be bought for Shinkansen tickets as well, but companies seem to be the main ones that purchase these tickets.
As of 1 April 2021, JREast Pass (Tohoko area) has a pass that allows for 5 days of unlimited travel in the Tohoku area. According to their website, only those with non-Japanese passports are eligible to use these tickets.
Buses
There is a network of long distance bus routes that crisscross Japan, so a trip from Tokyo to Osaka could cost you less than 10,000 yen if you don’t mind taking an overnight bus.
Flights
Japan has a number of LCC airlines so while food may not be included, that may not be an issue if the flight is only a few hours long.
Shopping
This is such a huge category it probably needs its own page, but I am going to try to summarize it into a few main points.
100 yen shops
A favourite of locals, foreign residents and tourists alike. 100 yen stores are both a blessing and a curse! You can find a myriad of things…some you actually need, and some you didn’t know you needed.
Second hand shops
Japan has many second half shops so if you are looking for a cheaper alternative, are interested in vintage items, or want to get designer stuff for less, check out these interesting stores.
Bicycles
Bicycles can be bought from local bicycle shops, online auctions, second hand stores and so on, so do a bit of research to get the best deal.
Point Cards and Coupons
All kinds of stores give out Point Cards, from your local drug store to the cosmetic counters in big department stores, to the actual department stores themselves. Companies that have Line app corporate accounts also encourage customers to add them as friends so they can receive the latest news and ….you guessed it…Coupons!
Companies that have their own dedicated phone app also allow their customers to use those special app coupons.
Personal shopping bag (Eco bag)
As of July 2020, stores have stopped providing free plastic bags when customers make purchases. Depending on the size, they can cost between 3 yen to 10 yen per plastic bag, so the locals tend to carry their own reusable shopping bag now.
Supermarket (Time Sale)
Unless you live in a posh area, your local supermarket prices will generally be in the same range as all the major supermarket chains, so running around comparing prices doesn’t really make much sense. BUT, most of the cooked food will have stickers of between 20% to 50% off after 8pm on them, so if you are looking for an affordable dinner, try the supermarket cooked food section around 8pm!
Whether you lead a more comfortable lifestyle, or are one of the working crowd, these tips should give you few ideas on where to start getting the best deals and saving a big more money.
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