Gourmet Navi is a great website (in Japanese and English) for searching out recommended restaurants in a specific area, based on price, food style (Italian, Asian, etc.), and other preferences. Favorite features include online menus and coupons that offer real bargains (free bottle of wine, 20% of d [ ... ]
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 affor [ ... ]
This frugalite has been too busy with work and other pursuits to be much of a saver recently. Oh – the taxi rides! The convenience food! The pile of receipts waiting to be entered into my household accounts (probably won’t happen)! My wallet weeps. Yet, at the same time, I couldn’t [ ... ]
I’ve been too busy the last year to do much beyond holiday meals and the very basics. But, I’m determine to get back into the good ole daitokoro (kitchen) sometime soon. In the meantime, I’m beefing up on my Japanese cooking basics. Why Japanese cooking? Well, for one very good rea [ ... ]
Although I like to concentrate on frugal issues which affect a larger segment of the population, I felt it time to introduce one of what I consider to be one of Japan’s greatest cheap secrets: homemade baby food. Wait a minute, you say, generations of mothers in my family were a whiz at the mo [ ... ]
Buying recycled (or used, in real English!) items is actually quite popular among Japanese, with 84.2% of a recent Fuji Sankei Living newspaper poll respondents saying they had purchased used items in the past. The most commonly bought used items were: books, clothing, children’s clothing, CDs [ ... ]
This tip comes courtesy of an avid Frugal Japan reader, Curt Sampson. He has kindly given me permission to share with you some very useful camera and film buying tips! Many thanks, Curt! Unfortunately, I can’t recommend any of the major camera shops for electronics purchases. Even taking the p [ ... ]
This tip comes courtesy of an avid Frugal Japan reader, Curt Sampson. He has kindly given me permission to share with you some Shibuya food scavenging advice. Many thanks, Curt! Your supermarket article reminded me that Yamaya has moved their Shibuya shop closer to the station and expanded it greatl [ ... ]
While enjoying dinner at a friends’ apartment last night, I complimented them on their nice coffee table. With a grin, they let me know that it was a salvage from their neighbor’s “sodai gomi” pile. Then they let me in on a little secret: “In fact, all the furniture you [ ... ]
Have you ever wondered why even getting the smallest thing done seems incredibly complicated in this country sometimes? Buying food and supplies, and trying to save money at it, can be quite a chore. Try adding a new baby, an ill family member, or a busy work schedule to the equation, and you really [ ... ]