On this page, we introduce foreign-owned or foreign-friendly businesses and services around Japan. If you know of a Frugal Friend-worthy business, or would like to introduce your own business to our readers, contact us!!
Accommodations
Japanese Guest Houses
http://www.JapaneseGuestHouses.com//
Looking to travel within Japan, or hosting guests from overseas? Why not experience a night at a traditional Japanese inn (ryokan) or guest house? However, finding and reserving these accommodations can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you don't speak Japanese. Well, Jeff Aasgaard in Kawanishi, Hyogo, has a solution for you. As he writes:
"I operate Japanese Guest Houses, which is a free service to help English-speaking travelers make reservations at ryokans all over Japan. We represent over 500 ryokans in all price ranges."
Japanese Guest Houses features extensive, reliable, and detailed listings of various traditional accommodations within Japan, and also offers excellent general advice as to what kind of ryokan to choose, travel tips for beginners and seasoned Japan veterans, and even what to expect when staying overnight in a Buddhist temple! The photos, guest comments, and guest ratings for each property are particularly valuable, and the range of accommodations starts at a relatively frugal (in Japan) 7,000-10,000 yen per person with two meals. If you're planning a trip soon, or just curious, do check out this extensive gem of an English website.
Tama Ryokan
http://www.tamaryokan.com
Finding inexpensive, and convenient, accommodations in Tokyo can be quite a hassle. What's more, at a certain point many travelers become weary of the whole backpacker hotel/youth hostel scene. Well, if you're looking for a frugal yet very centrally located accommodations in a traditional, family environment, why not try Tama Ryokan?
Run by longtime foreign resident Michael Turner, the "Tama Ryokan provides basic accommodations for a reasonable price in a central Tokyo location." Located three minutes on foot from the Yamanote Line Takadanobaba Station, and literally seconds from the Tozai Subway Line station of the same name - you really can't get much closer to the action than this.
The neighborhood is also a great draw: "offer[ing] a splendid variety of cuisine: Indian, Thai, Italian, French, Cambodian, Nepali, Burmese, and others, with some very reasonable lunch-special prices."
"Other neighborhood attractions include a movie theater (not too common in Tokyo), an English-language bookstore (the Blue Parrot), and several hangouts popular with the gaijin crowd, most notably The Fiddler, a British-style pub with live music and no cover charge most nights of the week, and Ben's Cafe, a New York-style cafe and bistro, with free internet access."
The ryokan itself has four Japanese-style rooms, with rates starting at 4,500 yen for one person. Payment should be made in cash, and reservations are a necessity, as the ryokan is often booked up. A refrigerator and 24-hour customer lounge (with one desktop PC for Internet surfing and email) are available.
For very thorough information about the ryokan (and pictures), please visit the website.
For both a frugal night's stay and a chance to view a unique, old-style Japanese ryokan in a convenient Tokyo neighborhood, the Tama Ryokan is definitely worth a visit.
Children
Blue Sky Tokyo
http://www.blueskytokyo.com
Blue Sky Tokyo is run by Tokyo resident Iona Macnab. If you have a child under the age of three in Tokyo, you might have heard of her already! Blue Sky Tokyo is a children's activity and class center in Setagaya, and Iona also acts a certified Lactation Consultant, and is a representative for the highly regarded Maya Slings (TM) brand of baby carrier.
I'll let Iona tell you a little bit more about her business:
"I know how important it is for mothers to get good breast-feeding support, as so many have difficulties getting started in the early days after the birth. I am a Lactation Consultant, so I offer monthly breastfeeding classes in English for expectant parents too. (I also offer free telephone breast-feeding support after birth.)
"I also know how crucial it is for new mothers to get out of the house and meet other mothers for friendship and support when they have little babies, so I have aimed to create a small community through my Little Angels mother/baby group... I only charge 500 yen a session for that group.
"Of course I hope the mothers enjoy Blue Sky's activities enough that they would like to come to the Go Baby Go! music and activity groups when their babies begin to walk, but that is always up to them. Lots of friendships are made here, and that has a value that money can't buy.
"As any mother will tell you, when your kids are signed up for classes here in Japan,...there is always the ubiquitous "nyukaikin" "nenkaikin" and then the "gessha" monthly fee, which very often doesn't allow makeup classes if the child is sick and misses a class, and doesn't take into account public holidays, on which lessons are not held, when fixing the price. So when I started my Go Baby Go! classes, I decided I was definitely not offering that style, as mothers end up wasting so much money!
"So I don't charge nyukaikin, nenkaikin or gessha. I charge for a whole term at a time, but mothers only pay for the days on which lessons will be held, @ 2,000 yen a class. So if a term has 12 Mondays but 2 are public holidays, that means payment for 10 classes only. I offer a special makeup class at the end of the term for people who missed a class during the term.
"The Go Baby Go! classes have also expanded to offer mobile classes, where existing groups of friends or existing mother/baby playgroups can book a 6-week series of music and activity classes in their own part of Tokyo. This has proved quite successful too, and more mobile groups will be on offer after the summer.
"Lastly, through Blue Sky I also sell Maya Wrap Baby slings. Baby slings are so much more economical and versatile than bulky heavy baby strollers, especially when using public transport here in Japan. And the baby who is carried around is much more content and cries less, and develops good muscle tone from responding to the movements of the adult carrying them. I offer a range of Maya Wrap sling fabrics for parents in Japan, plus the opportunity to attend the baby groups and get some breastfeeding advice all at the same time!"
Iona's Blue Sky Tokyo school provides not only valuable services that are difficult to find in English in Japan, but also at a frugal-friendly way. Stop by her website for more information!
Maebashi International Kindergarten
http://community.webshots.com/user/koalaenglish
Looking for a unique place to enroll your children in a safe, caring international environment? Frugal Japan reader Janine Boyd introduced us to Maebashi International Kindergarten, in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture. Located 1.5 hours north of Tokyo, the kindergarten serves both local children, and visitors who can enroll for a day while Mom and Dad visit the local ski slopes.
The kindergarten is staffed and run by Qualified Early Childhood Education specialists from Australia and licensed Japanese yochien teachers, and runs classes from 9am - 2 pm with additional extended hours available for an extra fee. Established in April 2002, the school boasts a dual-language Japanese/English immersion method education, and houses two rooms and two playgrounds: the 3-6 years old room (Kindy) and the 2-3 years old room (Prep), which have separate playgrounds.
Janine adds that "the fees are super frugal!"
Interested? Contact:
Janine Boyd
Manager
Maebashi International Kindergarten
9-10 Kita Shirota, Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture 371-0055
Tel/Fax: 027-230-9330
Email janinebbboyd at hotmail.com
PreemieLove
http://www.preemielove.com
As introduced by the site's owner, J. Tamura, "We just opened our website business and I wanted to invite anyone with interest to check it out. Our Japanese site specializes in selling clothing and diapers for preemie and small newborn babies. Our goal is perfect fit clothing for preemies and small infants."
This well-designed site, while in Japanese only, fills a definite need in the marketplace for clothing for preemie or small-size baby clothing. Please spread the word on this new undertaking from a Frugal Friend!
Communications
T-1 Communications
http://www.t-1.co.jp
Get high quality connections of Japan's largest international carriers from your home, office, cellular or PHS phone at wholesale discount rates.
Pregio Inc
http://www.yasukonodenwa.org
This is a cheap way to make international or domestic calls from your cell phone for 20 yen per minute. This service just started up in the beginning of this year (2005).
Counselling
Andrew Grimes (Counseling, Psychotherapy and Support)
http://www2.gol.com/users/andrew
Bilingual (E/J) site with free information on finding approved counseling centers, Japanese Federation of Psychotherapy registered psychotherapists, and licensed psychiatric clinic services. Includes information on how to tell whether a counselor, clinical psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist is certified, registered or licensed in Japan to offer mental health care and emotional, social and psychological support services. Provides a forum where anyone experiencing emotional difficulties can communicate his or her feelings and find support.
Meguro Counselling Center
http://www.megurocounseling.com
Counseling and psychotherapy in English or Japanese in Meguro with American qualified therapists.
KNT Co. Ltd
http://www.kntnet.jp
At certain times in one's life or career, it becomes necessary to take an inventory of your personal strengths and weaknesses. Likewise, sometimes the encouragement or help of a professional coach can be a true motivator in achieving a personal, career, or even family goal. To help meet these needs, I'm proud to introduce Terry Nii and KNT Co. Ltd. Learn a bit more about KNT from Terri herself:
"We established KNT 5 years ago and 2 years ago we started the Coaching division. The focus is individual personality assessment to promote self-understanding and personal development. I use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, an excellent tool in helping people to objectively view themselves and identify their personal strengths. Through improved self-understanding, people are better able to set personal and career directions."
"Details on the process, etc. are on the website. I have tried to set a frugal fee so that individuals can take advantage of this great assessment. The Press section has a Japan Times article that describes application of the Myers-Briggs (MBTI)." Indeed, please visit the KNT wesbite (www.kntnet.jp) to learn more about the MBTI and its unique applications.
Looking for some frugal, but valuable, life direction? Check out KNT!
Hair
BOY
Cut/Color/Perms Without Worry in Shinsaibashi, Osaka!
Finding a foreigner-friendly place to get a haircut in Japan can be quite stressful, especially if you color your hair, don't speak great Japanese (hard to explain your desired style through gestures alone), or simply have had a 'bad experience' before. BOY, a small salon in Osaka, offers a friendly, convenient location, English-speaking stylists (ask for Ai Nishino), and great prices - a 20% foreigner discount to boot! The salon seems particularly popular with NOVA teachers and other locals, and many are long-term clients.
'BOY' Higashi Shinsaibashi Bldg. 5F
(1-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station, Midosuji Subway Line, Osaka)
TEL: 06 6252 7630
Call in advance for directions!
Cuts (20% of these prices): cut, 4,500 yen; color, 8,000-10,000 yen
J-Cool
http://www.j-cool-japan.com
Longtime Frugal Japan/Frugal Watch supporter Shaney Crawford recommends this hidden jewel of a hair salon in Tsukuba, a university town in Ibaraki with a large number of foreign residents. Shaney swears by Kubota-san's excellent service and reasonable prices, and told us a bit more about J-Cool.
"The shop is called J-Cool and it is owned by Masaru Kubota. Masaru has studied in both the US and Japan and opened his shop with the express purpose of catering to the foreign population in Tsukuba. He can speak in English and he is working on training his staff to speak English too. He has experience dealing with a variety of hair types and styles."
Finding a reliable barber/hair stylist in Japan that doesn't cost an arm and a leg is something I view as a necessity to a happy long-term stay in Japan. Interested? Check out the website.
Hobbies
Two Paper Cranes
http://www.twopapercranes.com
While not a direct introduction, I thought I'd feature a unique online e-commerce site devoted to Japanese paper products - Two Paper Cranes. Started by Nicky Biwaki, a resident of Japan since 1987. Two Paper Cranes offers a unique and attractive range of Japanese paper products at affordable prices. As Nicky's website elaborates:
"Nicky became interested in Japanese paper, particularly yuzen washi when she started to make greeting cards with a Japanese theme.
"On trips to Europe and the UK Nicky found a significant lack of Japanese paper products at reasonable prices and in appropriate sizes and packaging. This prompted Nicky to take her card-making business one step further, exporting Japanese paper and embellishments direct from Japan, and leading to the birth of Two Paper Cranes in 2004."
Two Paper Cranes offers shipping of Japanese paper, mizuhiki cords, embellishments, ephemera, collage sheets, books, and gift certificates in a safe, fully-automated online environment. The items, while useful in card making, would also be attractive gifts for scrapbookers.
Pets
Sea Creator 2004
http://www15.plala.or.jp/sea_creator2004/home/
If you're like me (allergic to anything with fur), fish can be a great (and often frugal) pet to keep. They don't need to be walked, don't need a litter box, and often make for fascinating, relaxing watching.
In what happens to be the most unusual of the Frugal Friend businesses so far, one Frugal Friend notified me of her family business, Sea Creator 2004, which (according to proprietor Myra P. Ohara) is "a pet shop for marine creatures like live corals, clams ,and other invertebrates. We also direct import aquarium equipment from Germany and the U.S."
You are also welcome to contact Myra or Akira Ohara (in English) at 0262-241-2333 (phone/fax) for answers to all your aquarium needs. If you're interested in visiting the Oharas in person, you might have to travel: their shop is located in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture! Check the home page or call for directions!
Enjoy some frugal fish-watching!
Photography
Solveig Boergen
boergen AT ecatv.home.ne.jp
Solveig, a long time resident of Niigata, Japan, and university instructor, contacted me a few months ago regarding her new business as a professional photographer. In addition to professional, Western-style portraiture, Solveig offers beautiful coffeetable photo books, DVDs or CD photo collections, and one-of-a-kind photo collections. As Solveig says:
"I started to work as a photographer last year due to popular demand, ...and I'm slowly taking off.
"I offer Home Portrait Parties, as are popular in the US. I can travel to any place in Japan and take pictures of you and your friends and family. I do mostly maternity, newborn, baby and children`s portraits...not the style that is offered here in Japan - my pictures are different, and more artistic."
"I also have two jewellery designers work on photo jewellery, and one-of-a-kind photo bags... beautiful things!"
"I should also mention how FRUGAL hosting a Portrait Party is....the host of those parties gets 15 % of what his/her guests order as credit towards her order. So with some luck, he/she could get all her session plus orders for free. Also, it is never too early to think about X-mas presents! Every order of photo jewelry and bags received until November 1, 2005, gets 10% off."
(Wow!)
(Be sure to mention Frugal Friends when you contact her!)
Translation
Nihongo Benriya
http://www.nihongobenriya.com
In need of frugal, yet convenient, translation services for visas or passport paperwork? Occams Inc.'s affiliate service, Nihongo Benriya, provides affordable, quick-turnaround service for koseki tohon (family registry) translations, marriage certificates, drivers' licenses, and even automobile registration/export paperwork.
Travel and Tourism
Tokyo Day Tripper
http://www.tokyodaytripper.com
Having family visit Japan soon? Ever interested in exploring a new part of Tokyo, but at a loss as to where/how to go? Tokyo resident Emily Dixon offers a unique solution to your problems: Tokyo Day Tripper! Featuring "fun, unique and original programs exploring Tokyo's best-kept secrets," this service might be just what you were looking for.
Emily's tours include a full-day tour of Kamakura's secret temple gardens, a "We Love Cafes" tour of Tokyo's trendy Shimokitazawa district, a "Girl's Day Out" with a pedicure or back/shoulder massage at a local salon and delicious lunch, an afternoon kimono party (with the chance to try on and be photographed in a real kimono!), or a tour of Tokyo's famous Tsukiji fish market. Prices range from 4,000 to 29,000 yen (including bullet train tickets). While not as cheap as struggling around with a Lonely Planet map on your own, Emily's unique perspective on Tokyo and full-service, small group tours are certain to make for a memorable experience.
Women
Being a Broad
http://www.being-a-broad.com
Started in Tokyo in 1997, Being A Broad has already helped thousands of women make the most of their lives in Japan through an active discussion board, a personalized life-coaching service, and a number one best-selling book.