Why is Japan so expensive?

[john holmes]

A new thread to answer Go Blue's questions on this:

Go Blue,this should be a new thread "How expensive is Japan?" as theres so much to say!

Its not so much the cost of food or drink (Shanghai is more expensive for a glass of Guinness beer, for example) its the rent: think 1300 USD for either a shoebox in Tokyo or a decent sized one outside the city, which sounds ok BUT you have to pay 4 months up front (including a "gift" (!), agency fee, and so on).

The second recent development is raised tax and tying it to getting a visa. 10% income tax, plus 10% city tax (regardless if you live in a good or bad area) and after one year, compulsory payment into a government insurance/pension scheme. Think 400 dollars a month down the drain.

Best thing to do is visit and stay for just one year before this insurance thing kicks in. Or keep coming for less than one year visits, tho of course you cant do that forever.

Finally, travelling AROUND Japan is also horrifically expensive; its cheaper to fly from Tokyo to Korea or Taiwan than it is to fly to Kyushu or Okinawa. Think 400 USD for that, tho cheaper can be had.

Hotels; again, there may be deals but if you visit, say, a Hot Spring Resort in summer, it ll cost you 150 USD to stay in a mouldy old place with cockroaches in some place like Atami or Aburatsubo. Just because there arent that many hotels, but there are a lot of visitors.

For a nice one in Tokyo, think 300 USD or more, BUT you can always stay in a business hotel or weekly mansion (like your own one room aprtment) which will set you back 50 USD a day.

Couple of social things: women generally expect you to pay for them on dates as they are economically disadvantaged. Third world country with first world gadgets in that respect.

a lot of real estate agents, or owners, used to refuse to hire to foreigners. In 1990 when I tried, out of 28 apartments, only 4 said "gaijin OK".

But its getting better now in that respect, at least in Tokyo. Grudgingly, perhaps.

[ggrooe]

legalized corruption. I have ever paid around 115,000 yen (around USD 1150 at that time) for round trip air ticket sapporo-fukuoka. Luckily it was my office who paid for it.

[dawickedman]

Yes, it's all about the rent I think. And the price of land of course.I once saw a land in Mitaka (20min from Tokyo centre), I thought there was a mistake in price...Then I got confirmation!
On the other hand you can find good deals for food, clothes, etc. And taxes are much higher in some other countries.