Given Japan’s economic prowess and the relative strength of the yen, most people assume that living in Japan is prohibitively expensive. While it is true that Japan does offer the well-heeled expatriate ample opportunities to live in the lap of luxury, luckily for the rest of us, it dishes out an affordable and comfortable lifestyle if we partake in various cost-saving measures - without even having to tighten the purse strings. Check out the following ways to save money in a comprehensive range of areas: rent, food, transport and shopping!

First off, the start-up costs for renting an apartment are quite startling; one must hand over the equivalent of up to six months’ rent in cash, inclusive of your first month’s rent, shikikin (security deposit that can amount to two months’ rent), a non-refundable reikin (key money to give thanks to your landlord) and not forgetting an agency fee. Hence, if you are just staying in Japan for several months, it will be worth exploring other options that will not incur such a dent on your wallet. International students can seek the help of their host university to be paired up with a host family where they can enjoy the intricacies of life in a Japanese household while businessmen and other jet-setters can opt for weekly manshon (mansion). As its name suggests, it is an apartment that can be rented on a weekly basis and comes equipped with basic amenities like linens and kitchenware.

If you plan to stay in Japan for longer than a few months, check out the more established agencies that have extensive experience working in foreigners. Probably the most prominent agency that springs to mind is Leo Palace which has developed a niche for securing low-cost housing options for foreigners in cities all over Japan. Most of their apartments only require you to pay a one month deposit before moving in!

Practically speaking, cooking your own meals will help you spend less money than dining out or even buying bento sets at convenience stores, so be prepared to sharpen your culinary skills! Ingredient-wise, shopping at wholesale markets - where restaurant owners patronize to buy ingredients for their stores - will be cheaper than doing so at supermarkets. So check out for such markets like Costco and Gyomu Suupaa in your prefecture. Nonetheless if you have to shop at a supermarket, be sure to visit it during late evening. Japanese supermarkets have this amazing concept called ‘time sales’, in which they slash off prices at increasingly enticing discounts as the evening progresses. You just may be able to get that sashimi platter to complement your meal at 50% off if you shop at the supermarket around 9 p.m.!

Many must-visit historical monuments and landmarks are scattered all over the Land of the Rising Sun, so getting to them can cost a bomb. Thankfully, the possibilities are plentiful when it comes to selecting transportation options. For instance, shinkansen tickets can be bought at a discounted price at discount stores all over Japan than at the JR counter itself! Just take note that you will have to exchange this ticket for a ticket denoting the specific details of your journey at a Midori-no-Madoguchi (Green Window) counter at a JR station before you embark on your trip. Additionally, you can purchase a Seishun 18 ticket that empowers you to travel to everywhere in Japan via JR local and rapid trains for five days. Selling at a wallet-friendly price of 11,850 yen, it is really a steal. Last but not least, you can make use of overnight bus services like Willer Express and ferries to traverse across Japan too. You can even get yourself to Busan, Korea and boost your intercultural understanding by taking a JR ferry from Fukuoka!

100-yen shops like Daiso and Seria are ubiquitous in Japan and should be one of your first stops to facilitate you settling down to life in Japan. During this period, you will also probably need to furnish your apartment, so check out second-hand shops like 2nd Street that boast a mind-bogglingly collection of pre-loved electrical appliances. Similarly, consider joining a Facebook group called “Mottainai Japan” in which foreigners leaving Japan are more than happy to pass on their possessions to new arrivals in Japan FOR FREE. And no doubt, no section on shopping will be complete without an introduction of point card systems, a loyalty system often utilized to great effect by convenience stores, drug stores, electric shops, among others. Essentially, the more you purchase, the more points you will accumulate (which can be redeemed and used to reduce your bill eventually)!

I hope all these tried-and-tested tips to stretch your dollar go towards alleviating your apprehension of living in Japan. Have the time of your life appreciating and savoring all that Japan has to offer!