Frugal Hive says:

Answer 1

Here are some ideas for fun and frugal stuff to do. Sorry, I don’t have the exact details off the top of my head but they can be easily found by searching.

1. Wandering through the small streets of Harajuku and Shibuya is free and fun, and people-watching is great there. And Yoyogi Park is just there as well.

2. There is a free 1-hour guided tour of Asakusa once a week and Ueno twice a week given by Tokyo Goodwill Guides. See: http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=357&pID=1067

3. Pick up a copy of the Tokyo Metropolitan Guide Book (orange in colour). Available at Tokyo Metropolitan tourism info counters and major stations. It has coupons for all the major museums, parks, and some theme parks.

4. Odaiba is good for a day of strolling. There’s the miniature Statue of Liberty there.

5. Rent a bicycle from the Asakusa bicycle-rent place and cycle along the Sumida River.

6. Visit the Metropolis magazine events listing for matsuri (local festivals) and free exhibitions.

Answer 2

Walk Akihabara. Haven’t spent time there in years; used to be all tech stuff, but I understand it’s more of a pop culture mecca now.

Walk from Omote-Sando, through Harajuku, to Meiji Shrine, maybe Yoyogi Park.

Head to the top of the Tokyo government building; last I checked, the observation deck is free. Same view as Tokyo Tower, without the ridiculous fee. (And Tokyo Tower is pretty inconvenient to get to, too.) Lots of electronics shops on the way, on the west side of Shinjuku Station.

Do a Gin-bura (walk around Ginza): traditional craft shops, dept stores, Apple Store… Nearby in Yurakucho, the huge Bic Camera electronics shop and smoky yakitori joints under the tracks, with
Hibiya Park and Imperial Palace not far away… Don’t know whether that’s all of interest to a teen, though. (And I don’t think there’s much to see at the Palace – mostly moat.)

Shibuya is fun for people-watching, but massively crowded. Some tourists love the Tokyu Hands store – pretty fun. (Ikebukuro has one too; also a small one in Takashimaya shopping center at Shinjuku south exit.)

Don’t plan the traditional tour of the Tsukiji fish market; I heard that they finally stopped letting the tourists disrupt work. (Anyone know the truth of that?)

Answer 3

Free guided tours in Tokyo. The guides speak English and are really nice. I sent my parents on a few of these when they were visiting and they enjoyed them a lot

See: http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/guideservice/guideservice/index.html

Frugal Hive questions and answers are taken from the Frugal Japan mailing list. If you have a question about living frugally in Japan, subscribe to our list and ask the Frugal Hive!

“I operate Japanese Guest Houses (http://www.JapaneseGuestHouses.com/), 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.

Note that here are as many different types of ryokans in Japan as there are hotels in the world. Prices range from top-end luxury down to the rather more affordable. Jeff’s site will help you find frugal options, but don’t expect all ryokans on his site to be frugal. Remember, his site exists to tell you about various ryokans in Japan, not only the cheap ones. Use the classification system he has developed in order to find the cheapest option. (“D” seems to be the cheapest.) If you can’t find a cheap ryokan in a particular area, look into other options for accommodation in that area.

“FJ Friends” are foreign-owned or foreign-friendly businesses and services around Japan. If you know of a worthy business, or would like to introduce your own business to our readers, contact us!!

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.

“FJ Friends” are foreign-owned or foreign-friendly businesses and services around Japan. If you know of a worthy business, or would like to introduce your own business to our readers, contact us!!

So, in honor of all those new to Japan, or those who will be arriving soon (be you fresh-faced English teachers , backpackers, Expo tourists, or exchange students), here are my Top Five Frugal Things I’d Wish I’d Done.

1) I wish I’d brought more cash.

Japan is certainly more overseas credit-card/ATM friendly than it was in 1995, but regardless – it is still the land of cash. I had no idea how expensive things would be, and when I couldn’t read or write Japanese, I really couldn’t find out. I used my credit cards at hotels, train stations, and … wherever I could. Anyone familiar with the US credit card system knows that, well, … it takes forever to pay those things off. In terms of total payment, taking more cash (or using a debit card) for my travels would have been a lot smarter.

2) I wish I’d been a more adventurous eater.

Japanese food grows on you. The longer you are here, generally, the more of the stranger foods you can eat. In all respects, eating like a local is probably cheaper than eating foreign foods. In particular, I wish I’d had the courage to try the great lunch/dinner specials available at restaurants, strange Japanese ingredients at supermarkets on specials, and unfamiliar vegetables. Would have saved me a fortune! (I once, embarrassingly, spent 3,000 yen ordering 12 frozen bagels from Hokkaido!)

3) I wish I’d started an automatic withdrawal savings plan.

If you’re in Japan on a year-long work contract or longer, chances are you draw a monthly salary. Chances also are you are hoping to pay back some of your school loans or save money while you are here. Starting a “teiki yokin” or automatic withdrawal savings plan is the idiot-proof way to make sure that happens. Banks, post office savings, and other financial institutions offer this service, which simply “adds” a special savings account that automatically withdraws a specific amount of money from your main account on a certain day of the month. Start with 1/10th of your monthly salary at first, and build up if you like. Personally, I could have saved at least $15,000 over my three years of low- cost/reasonably paid single lifestyle if I’d known about this. DO IT!

4) I wish I’d not bought so much *stuff*.

If you’re in Japan “temporarily” (less than a year or two), there really is no reason to fill your apartment with stuff. You’ll just have to sell it, give it away, or trash it when you leave. The market for used electronics, furniture, clothes, and other items in Japan (even among other foreigners)is not great: you should probably expect to get maybe 10-20% of your initial investment back. If it’s not absolutely necessary, why buy it? You’ll not only save some money, you’ll save yourself a headache as you pack up to move.

5) I wish I’d traveled smarter.

Unlike many young intrepid foreigners in Japan, I limited most of my travels to within Japan (very expensive), trips back home (also expensive), and only one trip to a third country. I also traveled mostly at peak times. If I had to do it again, I’d make a special “travel fund” that I contributed to each month. I’d also try and travel off season as much as possible. Travel (where to go and how to do it) is such a personal choice, but I do wish I’d done it smarter.

“20-20 hindsight” frequently makes us wiser about our past than our future, but I hoped some of my recent thoughts on the matter might be helpful for budding Frugalites in Japan out there too.

© 2005 Wendy J. Imura.

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.

(Note: Where do I find these? Jalan — Japan’s premier discount travel magazine & website. Yes, it’s only in Japanese, but it really does have some of the greatest deals around. The magazine is on sale at most bookstores, and the title is “Jalan” in hiragana (じゃらん). Use a partner, friend, or co-worker to help decipher it — it’s worth it.)

Two-night, Three-day Trip to Ishigaki-jima, Okinawa
25,800-45,800 yen per person (includes airfare, hotel, rental car). Departure from Tokyo, Haneda. Two-nights stay in Sanmarina Hotel — right on Ishigaki-jima’s golden beaches! Trip can be extended one day for an extra fee, flights can be chosen. Trip price depends on date.

Two-day Christmas Fantasy in Hakodate, Hokkaido
19,800-48,800 yen per person (includes airfare, hotel stay). One or two nights in Hakodate’s Fitness 303 Hotel, with possible upgrades. Enjoy a real white Christmas in Japan’s city with a ‘million-dollar night view’. Trip can be extended an extra day or two, flights can be chosen. Trip price depends on date.

Two-night, Three-day Onsen Trip in Zao, Yamagata
19,700-34,700 yen per person (includes round-trip flight from Haneda, stay at ryokan, and meals). Enjoy two nights in Zao, Yamagata – one of Japan’s best onsen areas, with temples galore. A trip in January might also let you see the region’s famous ‘ice monsters’ and let you get in a little skiing.

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

As a result, I’m always on the lookout for good deals on accommodations in major cities in Japan that also provide a relaxing, semi-private stay. This last trip, I decided to check out one of the untried hotels on my the Frugal Japan Wiki Hotel Tips list, Andon Ryokan.

The ryokan’s website looked very promising: an architect-designed building, only 1 1/2 years old, filled with unique spaces, Japanese antiques, and all for a reasonable price. I reserved a room for three nights, at 7,800 yen per night. The price is the same regardless of how many people stay in the room, and a room will fit up to three people, making this a good bargain option for couples or small families. The hotel requires a credit card for reservations, but you can pay in cash. A 2,000-yen key deposit is required, but refunded when you leave. (Note: a triple room is 10,800 yen, or around 3,500 yen per person.)

First, please remember the hotel is geared for international travelers visiting Japan on a budget, so there are common showers and bathrooms (all very clean), and the rooms are rather small. The single shower per floor is made up for a very lovely private jacuzzi bath, available for use by reservation at the front desk. Each room features a simple double futon set, a TV, DVD player, table, and small closet. It ALSO (for internet junkies like myself) features some of the speediest optical fiber Internet I’ve had the pleasure of connecting to ever — in each room. The ryokan even has LAN cables available. The front desk also boasts a movie library, discount train tickets, phone cards, iron/ironing board, and other amenities. Overall, very impressive.

The hotel common areas include, standard for most accommodations of this type, a lounge and kitchen. Free coffee and tea are available 24/7, as well as common Internet access. Breakfasts are a real treat, with a French toast and cinnamon toast option for 300 yen, and a full breakfast option for 500 yen. Absolutely delicious, and cheap to boot. Finally, both the unique architectural atmosphere and friendly staff made for a great stay. The hotel is located in Tokyo’s historic Taito district, a five-minute walk from the Minowa subway station on the Hibiya line, two stops north of Ueno. It’s a bit difficult to find, so download the map from the hotel’s website before you go.

All in all, I can recommend Andon Ryokan without hesitation, and would really love to go back, especially to get some more of that excellent French toast!

Note: The owner/operator of the hotel is fairly interesting herself. Check out the staff’s online diary in English, both for some funny insights into these artsy people, and to get a feel for the place.

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

The New Koyo, Tokyo Japan
“Hotel New Koyo is the cheapest hotel in Tokyo for travelers touring the country on a limited budget,” says the website – and indeed, the rooms are cheap, at 2500 yen per night per person for a small single Japanese-style room. According to the Andon staff (they are apparently sister hotels, though the Andon is more upmarket), these rooms are precisely “2-jo”, or two tatami mats large. That’s about enough space for a 5-foot person to lie down in. Really, the rooms are for sleeping only! A medium single is 2,700 yen. The hotel has common bathrooms, showers, and a kitchen/lounge, as well as laundry facilities available. One cute extra is the yellow shopping bikes available for rental.

Tokyo International Youth Hostel
In many cities, the youth hostel is almost always the cheapest option, but not in Tokyo! However, Tokyo International Youth Hostel has location, location, location. Located literally atop Iidabashi station in the 18th and 19th floors of Central Plaza Building, TYIH offers shared-dormitory style accommodations for 3,500 yen for adults, and 2,000 yen for children. Shared baths and showers are a given, as well as the standard youth hostel curfew (10:30). You also cannot stay in the hotel between the hours of 10:00AM-3:00 PM. If you’re young, robust, and on a budget, and like meeting new people and then sleeping in the same room with them, this might be an option. Families are asked to inquire about family rooms.

Hotel Villa Fontaine
This chain of hotel is definitely NOT the cheapest for single travelers, but it does provide a very nice room at a reasonable price for couples travelling together. With locations in Osaka’s Shinsaibashi, Nihonbashi, Hakozaki, Ueno, Otemachi, Hamamatsu-cho, Jinbo-cho, Roppongi, Tamaike, and Kayaba-cho, you’re bound to find a convenient spot. Villa Fontaine’s hotels are all fairly new, clean, traditional hotel rooms with private baths and toilets, double beds, and a free breakfast service. Some hotels have Internet access. While single prices range from 8,925 yen to 9,450 yen on weekdays, and 10,550-11,500 yen for double-use (still cheap, but not amazingly cheap), the real deal is the special “Otoku na Shumatsu Plan” (Weekend Deal Plan) for all double-room type rooms for 8,925 yen PER ROOM (with two people using it) on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, holidays, and the day before holidays. At around 4,400 yen, that’s only 1,000 yen more than the youth hostel above. You get your own room, bathroom, and shower, plus a free breakfast. Check the website for locations, or call 03-5339-1200 for reservations at the entire chain. While they do not advertise English ability, I saw plenty of foreigners there the last time I stayed.

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

The day starts with a convenience store run to stock up on provisions, then on to the revamped Ueno Station. Passengers board the scenic (?) Yamanote Line for a 20 minute trip to Hamamatsu-cho, for Y160. A fifteen-minute stroll to the Hinode Pier puts you in line for the Sumida River Cruise, which costs about Y800. The tour is completed with a walk down to Asakusa Shrine and Nakamise Dori. Enjoy!