One frugal way to make sure that you pay a relatively standard amount every time the bi-annual inspection comes up is to develop a relationship with a single garage or a single mechanic and take your car to that person for tune-ups every six months. For example, my shaken is due in April of odd years, so it will come up in April 2009. I will have the full inspection done at that time. Then, in October 2009, I will have a “six-month checkup” (６ヵ月点検, rokkagetsu tenken). Usually there isn’t much to be repaired six months after the shaken, but I can get my oil changed and get advice on anything that might look like it is wearing down. This can usually be done for under 3000 yen if no major repairs are needed. Then, in April 2010, I will undergo the 1-year inspection (一年間点検, ichinenkan tenken). If I have been having regular checkups, nothing surprising should come out of this inspection, and it can usually be done for 10,000 yen or less. In October 2010, I will again undergo a six-month checkup before the next shaken in April 2011. By taking my car to the same place for all of these checkups, I am ensuring that I can’t be hit by a HUGE bill when it comes time to have the biannual inspection. One or two things might crop up, but there shouldn’t be a huge collection of major things that need to be repaired, since they would have shown up at one of the earlier inspections. Also, by doing it this way, my mechanic knows that I will come back in six months, so he is able to tell me whether something really needs to be repaired NOW or if it can wait for another six months and be looked at again.

By the way, there is also a way to do the inspection yourself. If you have some knowledge of cars and feel comfortable with both Japanese and making critical decisions about the safety of your car, then you might want to go that way. I believe it is called “user shaken” (ユーザー車検) in Japanese. You should be able to find information about it online by searching for that term.

However, for someone who knows nothing about cars, I find that the “six-month method” is a good way to give me both peace of mind and a better sense of how much I will need to pay when the biannual inspection comes my way.

Petrol and Tolls are the Big Yen Traps when Traveling by Car

Petrol costs vary somewhat from place to place if you live in a large town or city but tend to be pretty static most places in the country. (A good hint is if petrol stations are advertising their prices is to shop around. Petrol costs differ by area, and if it appears that costs are lower in one area, it might be cheaper to fill up there if it is ‘on the way’. If there are no signboards out, more than likely all the stations in the area will have the same price.)

Saving Money at the Gas Stand

Paying by cash and becoming a cash member ‘genkin kai-in’ can save you some money. Each petrol station chain has its own system but becoming a member is often as simple as filling in a form. Then you just show the attendant your card each time you fill up and you will automatically receive the member’s discount (usually 2-3 yen a litre.) Self-service petrol stations are becoming increasingly common, and offer a slight discount of between Y2-Y5/litre.

Expressway or Local Road?

The easy answer to avoiding expressway fees is to avoid the expressway! However, if you value your time as well as your yen this is not always a very frugal alternative. Don’t know whether you’re better off using the expressway or taking the back roads? Like to avoid the expressway but not sure how to get to your destination on local roads? A car navigation system would be wonderful but is still just a dream for many of us.

Maps Help

Not quite as good but certainly a lot cheaper is the service offered by Mapfan. You can search for maps based on address, postcode or station name. The best feature for the kanji-challenged is you can even enter it all in hiragana! Using the route map function (requires free registration) you can find the shortest route between two places or alternatively a route that does/doesn’t use the expressway, has the least turns etc. Print out a rally map and you have turn-by-turn directions from your parking lot to your destination. You can also compare routes and decide whether or not the expressway is a necessary evil in your frugal holiday plans.

Another analog option is purchasing a ‘nukemichi’ or short-cut map at the local bookstore. This map book (useful for local areas) features maps of ’secret’ short-cuts to intersections and other roads where traffic jams frequently occur. Although you might find yourself traveling along lonely mountain roads or tiny paths between rice fields, it is an interesting way to go.

Calculating Tolls

If you will be traveling on the expressway and you’re traveling on a budget, the Japan Highways site has a great trip planner. It’s called “Highway Navigator,” and by inputting your nearest expressway interchange and that of your destination you can see at a glance both the estimated length of your trip (in kilometers and hours) and the cost in tolls. The URL is http://search.jhnet.go.jp/route/hinavi.html. The site is only in Japanese but there is an explanation and tutorial on the Japan Highways English site at http://www.jhnet.go.jp/english_new/.

Ed’s note: The Highway Navigator site has since been replaced by Drive Plaza and, unfortunately, there are no English instructions.

Highway cards

Once you know how much your toll fare will be, you can save a tiny amount of money by using a highway card to pay for your toll rather than cash. Highway cards are sold at convenience stores, some supermarkets and department stores, and toll way service areas. Ask for a ‘haiueii ka-do’ . Buying a 10,000-yen card gives you 10,500 yen worth of credit. Not much, but enough for a can of coffee for the driver at least! You can save enough for a coffee for your passenger as well if you buy your highway card form a ticket shop.

Frugal Hint!

Ticket shops (chiketto shoppu or kinken shoppu in Japanese) are a great find for the frugal traveler. Highway cards, shinkansen and airplane tickets, even accommodation packages can be bought at discounted prices. The best way to find one near you is to look in the phone book under chiketto baibai.

Know Before You Go

Even the most well planned trip can quickly turn into a nightmare if you get stuck in traffic. It’s amazing how quickly an accident or snowstorm can turn the ‘expressway’ into a giant parking lot! For up to date road conditions information (including accidents, traffic jams and closed roads), check the Japan Road Traffic Information (JARTIC) site before you leave. You can search both expressways and regular roads by area. The site is in Japanese but if you select the area you will be traveling through the road condition is indicated using a color code described in the top left hand corner.

• Black- Road closed
• Purple- Accident, breakdown or road obstruction
• Red- Traffic jam
• Orange- Road congestion
• Blue- Chains necessary
• Green- Other
• Grey- Awaiting further information.

Service Areas

Many service areas have large TV screens explaining current regional road conditions that are worth taking a look at. Be warned though that rest areas become full very quickly over the holiday period so it is worth planning frequent toilet/ refreshment breaks so if you are not able to stop at one you won’t be too desperate! Be sure to take advantage of the free area maps and green tea while you’re there, too!

So, do your research, pack your bags and join the hordes and head for the hills over your break. Wherever you drive this holiday season take extra care on the roads and plan ahead for a fun, frugal and fret free trip.

© 2004 H. Fukase.

www.flyertalk.com

This web site features a wealth of information about airline frequent flier mile programs, and also contains very interesting topics boards that tell you when and where you can find the best deals for both gaining and spending points.

An example: During my recent trip to the US, I used Flyertalk to look up any special deals that might be available for persons flying my route with Northwest Airlines. I found a special offer granting persons with an address in Asia free elite status on Northwest for 90 days.

After signing up, we were able to use Northwest’s gorgeous business class lounge before departing from Narita — for free. We were also upgraded from Coach to Business class for the flight itself, as
priority for upgrades on the business class flight were given to Elite members. While I think I was
extremely lucky to be given an upgrade, Flyertalk is a great resource of information of this kind. Check it out!

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

As always, an excellent question! And this week, I’ll answer it.

A kinken shop, simply, is a combination of the Japanese characters for the words “money” (金) and “ticket” (券). As the name states, these shops essentially deal in the buying and selling of all kinds of tickets, gift certificates, discount cards and other items. The shops offer significant discounts on some tickets (train tickets, amusement park tickets) and a markup on other (for concerts, soccer matches, et cetera).

The hardest part about using a kinken shop is finding one. These literally hole-in-the-wall shops can be found tucked around corners, in underground malls, and in out-of-the-way places near to major stations. In Tokyo, Shinbashi has the largest concentration of kinken shops, followed by Ueno and Shinjuku. There are several a few blocks outside of the Yaesu exit of Tokyo station.

In Osaka, the basements of the Dai-ni and Dai-san Buildings in Umeda are known to be a treasure trove of kinken shops. If you are curious, ask taxi drivers, shopkeepers and other locals in your area where the nearest kinken shop is. Most will be happy to tell you, as long as they are not competitors themselves.

After finding the shop, the next challenge is using it well. The shop usually is filled with glass cases,
behind which lie an confusing variety of tickets. Signs or posters sometimes list the prices. If you are in search of a specific ticket — say, a discounted shinkansen ticket from Tokyo to Osaka — the fastest method is to ask.

If you are just window shopping, take a look at several shops in area to find the best price. You will
need cash for your purchase, as these small shops rarely take charge cards. If the aging gentleman
behind the counter seems too threatening, bring a Japanese friend or colleague to help. Business at
these shops is quick and efficient — they are unlikely to want to strike up a conversation.

These days, the best deals to be found at kinken shops are usually for movies (sometimes Y300-Y500 off the ticket price), airline tickets (usually 15-20 percent off), and for amusement parks or other attraction tickets (sometimes as much as a 50 to 75 percent discount).

Shinkansen tickets are still a fairly good bargain for the slower trains, but the Nozomi (fast train) discount between Tokyo and Osaka is only about Y300-Y500 these days.

However, there are always surprises. You might find yourself picking up a great deal on beer tickets, book tickets, or stamps as well. It all depends on what’s in stock. You can also sell your new phone cards or other gift certificates here for cash too. The surprises, it seems, are the real joy of using kinken shops. So next time you pass one — take a glance inside. You might find yourself with a fantastic frugal find on your hands.

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

The Seishun Juhachi Kippu is Japan’s original bargain ticket, and it’s something everyone should try (or think about trying) at least once. The name translates roughly as “youthful 18 ticket,” but anyone of any age can use it, including foreign tourists, Japanese nationals and foreign residents.

The deal is simple, as the Japan-Guide Web site explains: “Five days of unlimited, nationwide travel on local and rapid JR (Japan Railways) trains for only 11,500 Yen, or 2,300 Yen per day!” It is only on sale for three periods of the year during school holidays.

The next sale period runs from July 1 through August 31, and the tickets are valid from July 20 through September 10.

The ticket is best suited for folks with some time on their hands, as (again from the Japan Guide) “the ticket is valid only on local trains (futsudensha/kakuekiteisha) and rapid trains (kaisoku). It cannot be used on express (kyuko), limited express (tokkyu) and bullet trains (shinkansen).”

Some overnight trains can be used. For example, it takes about nine hours to reach Kyoto from Tokyo (and typically one to four transfers) using only local and rapid trains, versus three hours via the bullet train. There is, however, at least a Y5000 savings in price for that one trip, still leaving four days left to travel.

The ticket is transferable and non-personal — meaning you could use the ticket for five days straight, or you and four friends could use it for one day if you are all travelling together.

Interested? Check out Japan-Guide.com’s in-depth guide to Seishun Juhachi Kippu travel. The site even offers sample itineraries to destinations such as Sapporo (in two days!) or Aomori. While not for the impatient or faint of heart, the Seishun Juhachi Kippu offers a fun and frugal way to get around Japan at a decidedly slower pace.

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

Trips to Northern Japan (Hokkaido in particular) might provide a respite from the oppressive heat, while a trip to Okinawa, Kyushu, and even Izu penninsula can provide access to some great beaches. However, sometimes airfare and trainfare within Japan can even surpass the price of off-season international flights! While Japan’s major domestic airlines, JAL and ANA, have long offered advance booking discounts (Tokuwari), people without the luxury of planning so far in advance get stuck high and dry.

Well, a new set of discount fares from ANA and JAL might help. Called “totsuzen waribiki” (‘all-of-a-sudden discount’) at ANA and “taiimu waribiki” (‘fire sale discounts’) at JAL, these fares are for
flights booked any time between 10 and 3 days before departure. Both companies have several restrictions on the fares (mostly for weekend departure dates, bookings for two or more persons, and round-trip tickets between the same destinations), and the number of seats on these fares are rather limited. However, the savings can be quite large — with flights from Nagoya to Fukuoka starting at Y9000 (ANA), and Tokyo to Fukuoka at Y10,000 (JAL).

ANA’s homepage clearly shows these fares: a flight on the ANA “totsuzen warikibi” fare from Tokyo to Sapporo on Saturday, July 24, for example, is Y16,300, almost 50 percent off the regular fare of
Y30,300. JAL’s Web site did not show these fares for the Tokyo-Sapporo route, but did show very cheap fares for the Tokyo-Fukuoka route on July 24 — with the lowest price fare at Y10,300 for an early morning flight. This is less than 1/3rd of the price of the normal fare of Y33,300! Flights to Osaka from Tokyo start as low as Y7,300! This is almost Y6000 less than the Nozomi shinkansen fare. Apparently,the discounts apply on different routes to different airlines.

Airline Websites:

JAL: www.jal.co.jp

ANA: www.ana.co.jp

Interested? Have a Japanese friend or partner help you with the online booking process if you’ve never done it before. You don’t have to pay with credit card either — payment is accepted at most
convenience stores using the in-store kiosks. Here’s to wishing everyone great summer travel, wherever you go!

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

The recent (over two years ago, actually) rule changes have meant that many foreign residents have had to troop down to their local Testing Center to either change over their license or acquire a Japanese license from the start, depending on nationality. Check out Tsukuba’s Alien Times for information about the changes in the law, nationality issues and links to information on how to change over your driver’s license.

One FrugalJapan members had this useful tip for frugally passing the driving test:

If you want to pass the test in the fewest number of tries, arrange for at least one lesson at a driving school. You should be able to arrange for a one-time “help me pass the test” class for about 5000 yen.

There are often driving schools located near the licensing center and they are the most likely to offer this kind of service. This lesson will not only help you acquire the skills to pass the test, but will also let you say that you have taken driving lessons. This will come in handy if the tester asks you if you have taken any lessons — answering in the affirmative seems to put you in higher standing.

(Taken from the Frugal Japan YahooGroups list, July 2, 2004.)

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

• Use multi-grade, energy conserving (EC) motor oil to improve fuel efficiency 1 to 2 percent or buy re-refined oil to support recycling of oil.
• Purchase the lowest viscosity oil recommended by your car’s manual. Change your oil every 3,000 miles. Recycle your used motor oil and oil filters at an approved collection center.
• Keep your tires inflated at the maximum recommended pressure (check once a month) and properly aligned (get your alignment checked every 5,000 miles)
• If you drive a car with a manual transmission, upshift at the lowest speed possible to reduce fuel consumption.
• And my favorite: Avoid carrying unnecessary, heavy items around in your car. On trips, avoid using roof-racks, car-top packs or towing a trailer if at all possible. (Finally – a real reason to clean out the trunk of your car! It saves money!)

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

Following a global trend towards record high oil prices, Nippon Oil Corp and Idemitsu Kosan (two of Japan’s largest oil companies) announced they were raising wholesale prices by Y4/litre. According to a May 27 Japan Today article, the average price for a litre of gasoline is likely to exceed Y110 for the first time since February 2001.

For those of us that grew up using standard, not metric, measurements, price per litre doesn’t mean that much. Translated into dollars, the average price at the pump in Japan is $4.24/gallon — which stings a bit more.

In this case, Tokyo isn’t actually the most expensive city on the planet. London gasoline costs $5.22 a gallon, and Paris gasoline $4.92 (according to the Pasedena Star News). Cries of “that’s outrageous” to gasoline prices slightly higher than $2.00/gallon by Americans somehow appear less convincing. Perhaps fewer SUVs on the road would help?

So how does this affect the Japan frugalite? Well a surprisingly large number of us own cars, either for pleasure driving or (due to a rural or suburban location) for daily life. The obvious way to wave money in the face of higher gas prices is of course alternate transportation — walking, bicycles, trains, buses and taxis. Combining errands can also be helpful, like going shopping in the morning after dropping your spouse off at the train station for work.

To those who must drive a vehicle, why not choose a hybrid car? The Toyota Prius, a hybrid electric/gasloine vehicle, was first launched in 1997. Don’t worry, you don’t have to plug it in — the Prius generates its own electric power. Used Priuses can be found at quality dealerships for a reasonable price, and the car itself not only saves money on gasoline, but also qualifies the driver for tax breaks on the yearly car tax paid in Japan. While the Prius and other hybrids are more expensive than gasoline powered automobiles, the savings potential might make up for the extra cost, particularly for a used vehicle.

Higher gasoline prices are an inconvenience and certainly help to lighten the wallet. However, they can also serve as a wakeup call, directing our attention to the “hidden” costs of how we live.

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.