Type and hit ENTER
  • HOME
  • CATEGORY
    • Japanese Apartment Life
    • Moving Tips
    • Interior Design
    • Local Area Guides
  • COMPANY
  • PRIVACY POLICY
GET CONNECTED
Facebook
Instagram
  • HOME
  • Japanese Apartment Life
  • Moving Tips
  • Interior Design
  • Local Area Guides
  • Village House

ENG

  • 日本語
  • ENG
  • PT
  • VI
Japanese Apartment Life

Living on the Cheap in Japan

2020-10-13

Living in Japan can bring with it many great experiences, but it can also be taxing on your wallet. Check out our article for cheap living in Japan.

Japan is a country that has many great aspects of living there. The beautiful seasons, the great cities, and the outstanding culture. If you decide to live in Japan you will find that the countryside and the city will come with different price standards.

Living in the city will have more expenses and it will also have the most opportunities. If you find yourself living in the city limits of a major city you may find your bank account gets drained faster than the living in the countryside. You can offset the increase in price by shopping smart and knowing where to get the best deals.

You have a large number of places to choose from when you want to save a few dollars. Here are some of the main places you can use to try and cut down your overall costs.

1 4

Inexpensive Food

One of the main living costs in Japan is food. You can end up paying large amounts of money if you don’t look for the right foods at the right time. The number one rule is to stay away from import foods. It may be difficult since everyone wants to have a taste of home from time to time, but it would be best to keep those purchases as few as possible.

The best way to find the best priced vegetables and fruits is to shop locally. Many places have small farms or people will take small plots of land and grow various vegetables. They usually set a small stand and put the produce in baskets and other containers for people to purchase. It is usually on the honor system so there won’t be a person sitting in the booth or shack. Just drop the appropriate amount of money in the change basket to cover anything you decided to take.

Eating out regularly can put a strain on your budget as well, and it may not be factored into your cost of living in Japan. The best option is to try to cook at home as much as possible, but if you have a small kitchen, or in some instances no kitchen, there are places you can go to get a reasonably priced, filling meal.

There are some stores that make bentos that are inexpensive and can fill the emptiest of stomachs. They sell some boxes for as little as 400 yen. Limit yourself to going out only once or twice a week and it should leave you with some extra cash at the end of the month.

768x300 EN

Supermarkets will usually run specials on their produce and meals in the bakery section at later parts of the day. As the day goes on they will begin to mark down the price of meat, vegetable, and other fresh foods that can’t be held for more than one day. You can find discounts as steep as 50 percent or more. You can find some pre-made meals at discounted prices as well.

Be warned that the locals also know this and they wait for the best time of the day to clean out as much food as possible. You will need to learn the best times and try to get it before they do.

2 4

Second Hand Stores

When it comes to furnishing your apartment or house, you don’t have to get all new top of the line products. The basic price of appliances in Japan tend to be higher than normal, and you may think that you won’t be able to fund your basic needs.

Second-hand stores are perfect for those looking for appliances and machines that are in moderately good condition and go for a cheap price. Some of the notable places for everyday appliances are Hard Off.  Hard Off carries all types of small to medium-sized appliances like washing machines and vacuum cleaners. You will even find some that are almost like new. The same goes for electronics as well.

For other furnishing needs, you can go to Home Off and find furniture and bedding. Some dent and scratch stores sell new items that received some punishment during shipping too. They can be hard to find but they are worth the time investment.

The same can be said for clothing as there are a large amount of second-hand clothing stores. You can find many fashions and styles that can fit your specific needs. The problem will be finding things that are in your size. General Japanese clothing sizes are smaller than western versions and if your size runs larger than the Japanese average you may find it harder to find your size. This is the same for shoes, and if your size goes above a US size 10 you will have a hard time in general finding shoes that fit anywhere.

These shops are also great if you find yourself in a pinch and need some quick money. They will buy almost everything you may want to sell. You will get less than you may have expected, but when you need the cash it can be a lifesaver.

If you have some machines or appliances that have become broken or junked you can still sell them for parts. There are entire sections of the second-hand stores that have all broken devices that people can use for parts or tinker with.

3 4

The Convenience of Konbinis

Convenience stores have all the small things you could need in one place at generally low prices. The snacks and drinks stay around 100 yen and some of the stores make and sell their own versions of products which makes them even cheaper.

You can find some basic freezer foods and produce there as well, but the vegetables and fruits tend to be a little more expensive and in smaller supply. The freezer items will be in smaller amounts as well and there will be fewer choices, but they are helpful when you need something fast.

768x300 EN

The ready-made meals are the best part of the convenience store since they are inexpensive and can be heated in the store. Getting a hot meal is simple and at any will save you money at any store you can find.

4 3

Buy, Sell, and Trade

Many social media websites and groups are built around people selling and giving away unwanted items. Facebook alone has groups that you can track and get your entire house finished for only a few thousand yen. These sites aren’t always reliable, though, and you need to be extremely careful when using them. It is recommended to set up meetings in public places and try to get as much information as possible about the items in question.

These are some basic things you can do to try and bring down your cost of living in Japan. It won’t be the same for everyone, some people will have an easier time dealing with cutting costs than others. Look carefully at where your money is going, create a budget and stick to it as much as possible.  This will give you the best chance at keeping your wallet full.

2020-10-13
Email
PREVIOUS POST
Foreign Item Names in Japan
NEXT POST
City Guide: Akihabara
Image Not Found On Media Library

RANKING
  • thumbnail 2
    How to Save Money? Kakeibo!
    2022-07-25

    As a result of the increasing cost of living many of us are …

  • square ville jiro
    The Village House Mascot: Who is Ville-Jiro-Kun?
    2022-04-28

    A mascot is born! Introducing our Village House mascot; Vill…

  • Apartment room Plan
    Types of Apartments in Japan
    2022-04-11

    When looking for apartments in Japan, you’re likely to encou…

  • Energy saving solutions
    Apartment Energy Saving Tips
    2022-02-10

    Energy Saving More than ever people are looking into ener…

  • 0 7
    How to Properly Clean Your Apartment Walls
    2020-10-22

    You may think that cleaning your apartment is pretty straigh…

SEARCH
カテゴリー
  • Japanese Apartment Life

    Japanese Apartment Life

  • Moving Tips

    Moving Tips

  • Interior Design

    Interior Design

  • Local Area Guides

    Local Area Guides

CATEGORY
  • Japanese Apartment Life

    Japanese Apartment Life

  • Moving Tips

    Moving Tips

  • Interior Design

    Interior Design

  • Local Area Guides

    Local Area Guides

Image Not Found On Media Library

INSTAGRAM

villagehousejp

🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ 「真名井の 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
「真名井の滝」は、全長17mを誇ります。見事な絶景です。ぜひ、ボートから眺めてみて下さいね!💦  🇬🇧 The stunning Manaino Falls are 17 meters high, and the best way to enjoy them is from a boat! 💦  🇧🇷 As impressionantes cataratas Manaino têm 17 metros de altura e a melhor forma de aproveitá-las é de um bote 💦  📸 @sanbonsuge1986
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ 静岡は、と 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
静岡は、とてもいいところです!富士宮の蓮畑からは、富士山が見えます。
ビレッジハウス粟倉からは、車で約13分です。機会があれば、ぜひ訪れてみて下さいね。👉詳しくはプロフィールのリンクから!  🇬🇧 The view of Mount Fuji from this hidden lotus field in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka is breathtaking! Just a 13 minutes' drive from Village House Awakura 👉 Tap the link in our profile to learn more!  🇧🇷 A vista do monte Fuji deste campo escondido de flor de lótus em Fujinomiya, em Shizuoka, é de tirar o fôlego! A apenas 13 minutos de carro da Village House Awakura. 👉 Clique no link em nosso perfil para saber mais!  📸 @dologame
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ こちらが「 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
こちらが「黄牛の滝」です。なんとも雄大ですよね!間近で見る事もできますが、濡れないように気をつけて下さいね!💦  🇬🇧 Ameushino Falls is majestic! You can approach, but be prepared to get splashed! 💦  🇧🇷 As Cataratas Ameushino são majestosas! Você pode chegar perto, mas prepare-se para se molhar! 💦  📸 @rikisan_0110
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ 「高崎まつ 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
「高崎まつり大花火大会」は、毎年8月頃に開催されている花火大会です。群馬では、この花火大会をはじめ、様々なイベントが催されています。ビレッジハウスでは、群馬にも住まいをご用意しています。ぜひご検討下さい!👉詳しくはプロフィールのリンクから!  🇬🇧 The Takasaki Fireworks Festival usually occurs every year in late summer. Located in Gunma, it is one of many fireworks festivals in the prefecture! Be sure to check our Village House listings to experience all the events Gunma has to offer! 👉 Tap the link in our profile to learn more!  🇧🇷 O Festival de Fogos de Artifício de Takasaki geralmente ocorre todos os anos no final do verão. Localizado em Gunma, é um dos diversos festivais de fogos de artifício na província! Não deixe de conferir nossas ofertas de apartamentos na Village House para experienciar todos os eventos que Gunma tem a oferecer! 👉 Clique no link em nosso perfil para saber mais!
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ 夏になると 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
夏になると、浄瑠璃寺の境内全体が緑で覆われます。見るだけで癒されますよ!  🇬🇧 During this time of the year, Joruri-ji Temple is submerged by lush green vegetation, a great place for a refreshing experience!  🇧🇷 Durante essa época do ano, o templo Joruri-ji fica submerso em uma vegetação verde e exuberante. Um ótimo lugar para uma experiência refrescante!  📸 @yukidon0822
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ 世界第二位 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
世界第二位の長さを誇る「明石海峡大橋」が、ライトアップされています。なんて壮麗なんでしょう! 🌈  🇬🇧 A beautiful light-up view of the world's longest suspension bridge, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge! 🌈  🇧🇷 Uma linda vista Iluminada da maior ponte suspensa do mundo, a Ponte Akashi Kaikyo! 🌈  📸 @colu.426
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ 奈良公園で 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
奈良公園では、たくさんの野生の鹿が放し飼いされているんですよ!ぜひ、園内を散策してみて下さいね!🦌  🇬🇧 Let’s take a walk through Nara park! The wild deer are surprisingly tame! 🦌  🇧🇷 Vamos passear no parque de Nara! Os cervos selvagens são impressionantemente dóceis! 🦌  📸 @sharonros.e
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ ホウホウ! 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
ホウホウ!僕は、おトクな物件を見つけるのが大好きなんだ!✨最近見つけた素敵な物件を紹介するね!
ビレッジハウス十六間第二(埼玉県熊谷市)
✅ 教習所(バス停)まで徒歩5分 ✅ フルリノベーションされたお部屋 ✅ エアコン有👉詳しくはプロフィールのリンクから!  🇬🇧 Hoot hoot! I love finding great apartment deals! ✨ Allow me to show you my latest discovery: Village House Juurokken Dai 2! It's in Kumagaya-shi, Saitama Prefecture. ✅ 5-minute walk to the Driving School Bus Stop ✅ Renovated ✅ Air Conditioner 👉 Tap the link in our profile to learn more!  🇧🇷 Queente Queente! Eu adoro encontrar ótimas ofertas de apartamentos! ✨ Me permit ate mostrar minha mais nova descoberta: a Village House Juurokken Dai 2! Fica em Kumagaya-shi, na província de Saitama. ✅ A 5 minutos de caminhada do ponto de ônibus da autoescola ✅ Reformado ✅ Ar-condicionado 👉 Clique no link em nosso perfil para saber mais!
Follow on Instagram
GET CONNECTED
Facebook
Instagram
  • COMPANY
  • PRIVACY POLICY

©VILLAGE HOUSE. All rights reserved

Living on the Cheap in Japan