Living alone in Japan can be exciting, but it also comes with a variety of challenges. There are many things you’ll need to know before starting to live alone, such as managing living expenses, safety measures, daily habits, and adapting to a new environment. In this article, we’ll introduce practical tips and tricks in easy-to-understand categories to help make your solo living more comfortable.
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Table of Contents
1. Daily Life & Habits
Routines & Well-Being
Living alone can bring unexpected challenges, such as disrupted daily routines, physical or mental health issues, and stress from being in a confined space. In this section, we’ve compiled simple routines and easy self-care practices that can help you maintain balance and stay comfortable both physically and mentally, even in a compact living environment.
Housework & Cleaning Basics
Housework and cleaning habits are essential to maintaining a comfortable daily life. Putting off cleaning can lead to issues such as mold growth or pollen buildup, which can affect your health negatively. In this section, we’ve compiled simple maintenance methods for washing machines and air conditioners, along with practical ways to keep your home clean.
2. Cost of Living & Budgeting
Living Expenses & Actual Costs
When you start living on your own, you’ll need to cover various expenses such as rent, utilities, food, and daily necessities. In this section, we’ve gathered practical tips and insights on how to live on a limited budget, the average living costs for students living alone, as well as some tips on saving money.
Utilities & Bills
The second biggest expenses after rent are utility bills and public service fees. In this section, we’ve compiled practical ways to reduce your electricity bills while staying warm during winter, energy-saving measures you can try at home, and methods for cutting down on gas bills when living alone.
Food & Groceries
Relying too much on eating out or buying meals from convenience stores can quickly add up to your food expenses. On the other hand, cooking at home allows you to save money while maintaining a healthy diet. In this section, we’ve compiled practical tips on how to keep your food budget under 20,000 yen, creative ways to cut down on food expenses, and useful insights into Japanese eating habits.
3. Safety & Security
For Women Living Alone
For women living alone, paying attention to safety and security is extremely important. If you are not careful when choosing a property or in your daily life, you may get caught up in unexpected problems. In this section, we have compiled points to keep in mind when looking for a property as a woman living alone, along with practical security measures and useful information on how to avoid common safety risks that women may face.
Noise & Neighbors
In apartment buildings, noise from upstairs neighbors and relationships with neighbors can become sources of stress. However, it is possible to prevent these kinds of issues by taking precautions and strategic planning in advance. In this section, we’ve gathered useful information on noise control measures and some key points to consider when choosing a property.
Disaster Preparedness & Safety Measures
Being aware of disaster prevention and preparedness in advance is key to staying safe and secure when it comes to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons. In this section, we’ve compiled essential information on emergency response measures, earthquake safety measures, and how to prepare emergency food supplies.
4. Lifestyle & Location
Living & Commuting Convenience
When choosing an apartment for living alone, commuting access and daily convenience are also important points to consider. In the following articles, we explain the benefits of living within walking distance to essential places, as well as the pros and cons of long-distance commuting.
Urban vs. Rural Living
Commuting convenience, shopping accessibility, natural surroundings, and cost of living can vary greatly depending on where you live. In this section, we’ve compiled useful information on things to be aware of when moving to rural areas, the appeal of living in the countryside, comparisons between life in the city and the countryside, and regions with a lower cost of living.
Housing Ownership
When choosing a place to live, your lifestyle will change depending on whether you rent or buy a house. Each option has its own advantages and considerations, so it’s important to make a decision that suits your lifestyle and future plans. In this section, we’ve compiled useful information about the housing situation in Japan.
5. Living Situations
For Single Parents
The following article explains the average cost of living and public support programs for single mothers, providing useful information to help you live safely and comfortably with your child.
For Young Renters Living Alone
When you start living on your own, you may feel a sense of freedom along with anxiety and challenges in your daily life at the same time. In this section, we’ve gathered useful information for university students and those moving away from their parents to live alone for the first time.
For Those Starting a New Chapter in Life
Starting a new chapter in life often comes with both excitement and anxiety. There are many unfamiliar situations that can make you feel overwhelmed, such as the moving procedures, paperwork, and adapting to a new environment. In the following articles, we explain common challenges people face when starting a new chapter in life, ways to solve them, as well as the necessary procedures and precautions to keep in mind for moving after a divorce.
