10 TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY IN JAPAN

There is a pre-conception floating around that Japan is really expensive. I'm not out to challenge that view head-on and say that it's a budgeter's paradise, but it does seem that ideas about Japan's average prices come from people who've never stepped foot outside Tokyo's business districts. The cost of living in Japan is probably one of the highest in the world (close to Australia, Euro-using European countries or the UK), but the money that you can make here is pretty good, too. If you're careful and wise (and take on some private English lessons on the side), you could put away around $1000 a month in savings! "HOW?" I hear you cry. Well, let me give you some suggestions... 

Japanexperterna.se

1) Chill out, stay in, invest in some home entertainment

2) Nomi and Tabe-hodai!

3) Learn to cook!

4) Special Offers

5) Karaoke – free time!

6) On your Bike!

7) Buy Second Hand

8) Supermarkets over Combinis

9) Cheap Food Recommendations

10) Avoid Traps 

Just by reading through the list of things, you will never know a thing. If you really want to save some, you gotta visit Gwynnei blog. Having lived in Japan many years, she's got much to explain.

More Japan

8 MOST EXOTIC, BIZARRE AND  WACKIEST BARS AND RESTAURANTS IN TOKYO / 

By Joonmo

AMAZING VEGAN RESTAURANT IN TOKYO, THE HEAVEN FOR VEGETARIAN TRAVELERS / By Jesse

KYOTO'S 17 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES / By Drunken Whale

JAPAN'S 9 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES BETTER THAN THE OTHER 8 / By Macrus

TOP 6 SUSHI BARS IN TOKYO : IF YOU DON'T GO, YOU ARE AN IDIOT / By Shibasaki Tabong

7 VERY IMPORTANT TIPS YOU WILL FIND IT EXTREMELY USEFUL WHEN TRAVELING JAPAN / By Mira

10 JAPANESE FOODS YOU GOTTA HAVE WHILE IN JAPAN / By Shibasaki Tabong

YUMMY OR SEXY TOP 12 JAPANESE SOUVENIRS / By Shibasaki Tabong

TOKYO'S 6 TRANSPORTATION PASS THAT WILL MAKE YOU A SMART TRAVELER/ By Karly

JAPANESE GEOGRAPHY FOR DUMMIES / By Macrus

11 MUST-VISIT NEIGHBORHOODS FOR YOUR PERFECT TOKYO EXPERIENCE / By Karly

 COMPLETE GUIDE FOR YOUR NAGASAKI TRIP / By Mira

 BEST OF THE BEST RAMEN PLACES IN JAPAN, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY HIT WHILE IN JAPAN / By Ramen Adventures

5 MOST SUCCESSFUL JAPANESE MOVIES IN JAPAN

As you may well know, Japan is an animation powerhouse. Actually, Japanese anime sweeps the whole Japanese box office hit list. Here, I present top 5 record hit Japanese movies.

Sadly, most of the movies are directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Why am I so sad? Because, the legendary animator announced retirement in 2013. Please somebody change his mind.

5th Ponyo on the Cliff (2008): $155 million profit

Writer and Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Starring: Tomoko Yamaguchi, Kazushige Nagashima, Yuki Amami

A cute and curious fish-girl Ponyo who lives underwater, runs away from home to land and meets a boy. Though she is forced to go back to underwater by her father, she runs away again to meet the boy.  Millions of girls, deeply obsessed with the cute little Ponyo, start mimicking the way Ponyo speaks, and trying to be as cute as possible. Trust me. It's not what you would want to see. 

4th Bayside Shakedown 2 (2003): 174 million

Director: Katsuyuki Motohiro

Starring: Yuji Oda, Toshiro Yanagiba, Eri Fukatsu

The film is based on a popular TV series, and it has unique and humorous depiction of the Japanese police force. The humorous scenes of the film will make you giggle again and again even long after the movie. One tip for you - you must watch the first series too, it is more hilarious.

3rd Princess Mononoke (1997): $192 million

Writer and Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Starring: Yoji Matsuda, Yuriko Inshida, Yuko Tanaka

Princess Mononoke portrays the fight between the nature and human. Japan has been rapidly modernized last 100 years and forests have been damaged extensively. Mononoke is a symbol of nature while other women characters reflect the life of women during the period of modernization.

2nd Howl's Moving Castle (2004): $196 million

Director: Hayao Miyaziki

Starring: Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa

This film is about Sophie, transformed into an old woman by a curse of a witch. While making this film, Hayao was very upset by the US invasion of Iraq, so he added anti-war message into the film. The more you watch, the more hidden messages you get from the director.

1st Spirited Away (2001): $250 million

Writer and Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Starring: Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki

Yes, it is the best of best film by Hayao Miyazaki. This film held no.1 for 15 years. This movie with a fantastic story is about a 10 year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and monsters, and humans are changed into beasts. This film also has a lot of hidden messages, so you should google for the behind story of this film.

More Japan

1. KYOTO'S 17 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES / By Drunken Whale
2. JAPAN'S 9 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES BETTER THAN THE OTHER 8 / By Macrus

3. TOP 6 SUSHI BARS IN TOKYO : IF YOU DON'T GO, YOU ARE AN IDIOT / By Shibasaki Tabong

4. 7 VERY IMPORTANT TIPS YOU WILL FIND IT EXTREMELY USEFUL WHEN TRAVELING JAPAN / By Mira 

5. 10 JAPANESE FOODS YOU GOTTA HAVE WHILE IN JAPAN / By Shibasaki Tabong 

6. YUMMY OR SEXY TOP 12 JAPANESE SOUVENIRS / By Shibasaki Tabong

7. TOKYO'S 6 TRANSPORTATION PASS THAT WILL MAKE YOU A SMART TRAVELER/ By Karly 

8. JAPANESE GEOGRAPHY FOR DUMMIES / By Macrus

9. 11 MUST-VISIT NEIGHBORHOODS FOR YOUR PERFECT TOKYO EXPERIENCE / By Karly

10. COMPLETE GUIDE FOR YOUR NAGASAKI TRIP / By Mira

11. BEST OF THE BEST RAMEN PLACES IN JAPAN, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY HIT WHILE IN JAPAN / By Ramen Adventures

Written by Drunken Whale

Unlike other writers, I was born and grew up in Korea. I can't write English well - not to mention speaking. But I love travelling and writing something - of course in Korean. So if you don't understand anything about my articles, it's purely because of my English.

JAPAN'S NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN 2015

January ~ March

Coming of Age day in Japan                                                                                                                                                   wikimedia

Jan 1st (Thu) New Year

Yes, everybody knows this day.

Jan 12th (Mon) Coming of Age Day

Japan holds this day annually on the second Monday of January. It is to congratulate all of those who have reached the age of majority (20 years old) over the past year. On this day, newly became adults wear Kimono or suit and party all night long.

Feb 11th (Wed) National Foundation Day

The holiday celebrates the foundation of Japan and the accession of its first Emperor.

Mar 21st (Sat) Spring Equinox Day

Vernal Equinox day is usually March 20th or 21st.

April ~ June

Photo of Greenery day in Japan                                                                      wikimedia

Apr 29th (Wed) Showa day

Showa Day is birthday of Showa Emperor (Hirohito), the emperor from 1926 to 1989.

May 4th (Mon) Greenery Day

Originally, this holiday was April 29th, but it was moved in 2007. Eco-friendly Japanese love the nature so much they even set a day to go out and plant trees at a national level. 

May 5th (Tue) Children's Day

A day of the children, by the children, for the children! 

May 6th (Wed) Constitution Day

This holiday is originally on Sunday May 3rd in 2015, so they take holiday on the 6th instead. 

July ~ September

Photo of Marine day in Japan                                                                                                                                yakei-kabegami.com

July 20th (Mon) Marine day

Every third Monday of July is the day Japanese islander give special thanks to the bounty of ocean. Many people take a trip to beaches and lots of aquariums hold special events on this day.

Sep 21st (Mon) Respect for the Aged Day

This day celebrates long life for elderly people.

Sep 22nd (Tue) Bridge Public Holiday

The Japanese government is too kind to provide an extra bonus holiday for being between the two holidays.

Sep 23rd (Wed) Autumn Equinox

Due to bridge public holiday, this holiday brings happiness to Japanese.

October ~ December

Photo of Emperor's Birthday in at the Imperial Palace                                                                                                      wikimedia

Oct 12th (Mon) Sports Day

It has been held since Oct 10th, 1966, to commemorate the opening of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Nov 3rd (Tue) Culture Day

The holiday celebrates peace and freedom and promotes culture. 

Dec 23rd (Mon) Emperor's Birthday

It’s the reigning Emperor Akihito’s birthday. The Imperial Palace opens to the public twice a year and this is the day you could set foot on the palace and see the Emperor. Do you see people in behind the glass? They are the Royal Family and Emperor Akihito.

  

Something weird? eh? Yes, Japan has no Christmas holiday. 

More Japan

1. KYOTO'S 17 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES / By Drunken Whale

2. JAPAN'S 9 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES BETTER THAN THE OTHER 8 / By Macrus

3. TOP 6 SUSHI BARS IN TOKYO : IF YOU DON'T GO, YOU ARE AN IDIOT / By Shibasaki Tabong

4. 7 VERY IMPORTANT TIPS YOU WILL FIND IT EXTREMELY USEFUL WHEN TRAVELING JAPAN / By Mira 

5. 10 JAPANESE FOODS YOU GOTTA HAVE WHILE IN JAPAN / By Shibasaki Tabong 

6. YUMMY OR SEXY TOP 12 JAPANESE SOUVENIRS / By Shibasaki Tabong

7. TOKYO'S 6 TRANSPORTATION PASS THAT WILL MAKE YOU A SMART TRAVELER/ By Karly 

8. JAPANESE GEOGRAPHY FOR DUMMIES / By Macrus
 

9. 11 MUST-VISIT NEIGHBORHOODS FOR YOUR PERFECT TOKYO EXPERIENCE / By Karly

10. COMPLETE GUIDE FOR YOUR NAGASAKI TRIP / By Mira

Written by Drunken Whale

Unlike other writers, I was born and grew up in Korea. I can't write English well - not to mention speaking. But I love travelling and writing something - of course in Korean. So if you don't understand anything about my articles, it's purely because of my English.