Whether you are a student, working in Japan, or even just on vacation, I believe these tips can be of use to you. I think trying to save money in Japan can be super difficult for everyone because the convenience of everything. In my home, I rarely bought those bottled drinks in the US, however here in Japan, I buy them ALL the time.
I think the biggest expenses in my opinion are food and transportation in the long run if you plan on living in Japan for a while.
Food because it’s so easy to obtain and overspend on it especially if you live near a convenience store or stop by a busy station on the way home. There are just so many options for food everywhere. Also because Japan is primarily a cash-based society, those spare coins will be gone before you realize how much you spent on food.
Transportation because the cost of public of transit all over Japan is just ridiculously expensive. For trains, they charge you for fee to enter and then the distance on top of that. The buses also do the same, though some are fixed costed or become fixed costs late at night. The cost of traveling across Japan is also quite expensive if you don’t have a JR Rail Pass (you can get it if you are a tourist).
Tips
*Shop at supermarkets not convenience stores for food
Convenience stores are obviously more convenient, but supermarkets tend to have lower prices on mostly everything from deli food to packaged food. Plus if you go the last hour or so before closing, they start to discount the deli food. Some of the discounts include 20%, 30%, and 半額（はんがく/hangaku) half-off.
*Buy large jumbo bottle sizes of drinks instead of the individual bottles at the vending machine or convenience stores
The cost is maybe 30-50円 (more like 150円 to 180円), but the average individual small bottle costs about 110円 – 160円, and you get about 3-5x more with a big bottle. It’s way more cost efficient.
*Try instant versions of popular drinks (such as milk tea sticks)
The taste isn’t as bad as you would think it would be and you can get a pack of 10 for 200 – 300円.
*Get a point card and use discount cards
All the convenience stores and a lot of stores have some form of a point card or app you can download to that you can get discounts on things. Some stores like Don Quixote also give you discount cards when you go to check out.
*Buy and bring reusable bags everywhere
You can buy super cheap foldable reusable bags at DAISO or Don Quixote, and just bring them everywhere with you. You never know when you suddenly want to buy food. The cost of bags is pretty cheap, but for the environment, it’s better to have less waste.
*Use a tap card for the buses
If you traveled in Tokyo, most likely you own a SUICA/PASMO already, but you can also use them for the buses. Besides just being more convenient because you don’t have to carry coins around, you can sometimes get a slight discount like 10円 off for some buses.
*Use buses for cross-country travel
Shinkansen is fast, but it is also really expensive. If you have the time, I recommend taking the bus or night bus instead (longer trips with nothing planned on the day you arrive). If you want to take the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka, the Platt Kodama is a slightly discounted Shinkansen train. It’s a good option if you want to still want to take Shinkansen, but it’s a bit cheaper. You can buy it online or the day before at the station.
*Walk when you can
Pretty self-explanatory. But as I’ve mentioned earlier, transit is expensive, so if you can, try to walk.
I hope some of these tips will be helpful if you plan on visiting or staying in Japan.
framed in beige 