Japan's bad reputation for being expensive

compared to the netherlands, that isn't that much.
Here we pay 竄ャ1,35 for 1 litre.
 
um, correct me if i'm wrong, and its slightly off the topic <gomena!> but isn't it cheaper to go to college in japan than in the u.s., for example? i looke it up a couple a years ago and it said tuition yearly was around 2 million yen or 1 million yen- anyways, it was about $19,000 a year for a foreign student to go to college in japan, as compared to some american colleges that charge $40,000 a year.
 
If you go to your states sponsored school, almost any U of ---, as a resident sudent you will pay much, much less than 19,000 dollars a year. (Some state schools are on par with the best in the nation and are highly selective. When I turned down UW as an undergrad (they are taking me back in the fall as a grad student! yeah:)) I was one of two students from a high school of 2700 - most of who applied for UW thinking because the lived in Washington they would have an easy time getting in.) Just my long way of saying don't count out state schools.

If you want to go to a private school like Harvard or Yale or a state school out of your state, then you will pay 18,000 plus.

However, a degree at 40,000 USD from Harvard will win you respect around the world. A degree from Waseda or Todai usually has to be followed by "one of the best schools in Japan." That is not to say they are poor schools, but when you put where you went to school on the resume, a degree from Harvard or Yale will open the same, and most likely more, doors than a degree from Japan.
 
i guess my dilemna comes from the fact that i've always wanted to college in japan and i have to decide soon what i'm gonna do as far as college. there's this int'l univ called Ritsumeikan Int'l University that i was considering...i had hoped that by bringing up the question of price my parents would be more willing to send me there if i waished rather than my other main choice (which is harvard or one of those more expensive schools -_-;;)
 
You know you've been in Japan too long.....

When you think, "Jee, is 30,000 yen enough for this weekend?"


:D
 
duff_o_josh said:
its all because of canada and the one bad cow that caused a international ruccus..

The problem has more to do with America's refusal to test their cows. Only a tiny fraction of the cattle gets tested for BSE. So it shouldn't be very surprising that BSE hasn't shown up in America all this time.
 
about how much does gas cost in japan now? in south carolins, usa, i think its approaching $2.00 a gallon, and some predict it'll rise to $3.00 a gallon by the end of the summer...<lol> i can hear the screams of agony from the suv owners...:)
 
ashuri2 said:
about how much does gas cost in japan now? in south carolins, usa, i think its approaching $2.00 a gallon, and some predict it'll rise to $3.00 a gallon by the end of the summer...<lol> i can hear the screams of agony from the suv owners...:)

In Japan, 1 litre cost a bit more than 100 yen.
To the best of my knowledge, 1 US gallon = 3,79 liters. 1US$ = about 110 yen today. So 1 gallon cost about 380yen (maybe more like 400yen), which means about 3,6 US$. Still cheap compared to the EU, where it's over 1 euro/litre, so approximately 4,5US$/gallon at current rate or more than 5 a few months ago (everything depends on the exchange rate). Anyhow, it's about twice more expensive, so no need to scream in agony. 😊
 
Hi,

I am going to carry out an internship in Japan for 6 months (mid august, beginning of feb.) and I would like some advices :)
I'll have arround 1000竄ャ/month and I was wondering if it would be enough...
 
where in japan? props for posting it in here as opposed to starting a new thread
1000 euro = 130,557.84 en according to xe.com
80000 en = month @ sakura house in tokyo...
 
Well, last August, I enjoyed a delightful (though short) week in Tokyo, spending around $2,200.00, breaking down like this if memory serves:

Airfare: $846.00
Hotel: $620.00
Spending money: $700.00

I was damn lucky to get such a low price on airfare while the hotel I stayed at (the Shinagawa Prince) was about $98.00 for their cheapest room. And I managed to have a pretty darn good time spending around $100.00 a day. I made a note to do a lot of studying via tourist books before I departed so I'd know how to spend my money best.

So, it is possible to enjoy a stay in Japan without taking out a second mortgage! :-)
 
This was one of the first topics I ever posted. Now after my recent trip to Japan, I'd like to make an amendment. When I was living in Japan, making a Japanese wage, I didn't think Japan was all that expensive. Now that I've gone there while making an American wage, it seemed a bit more expensive. I cut through my $500 spending money in no time. When I exchanged my money, I was shocked how little Yen I got back. I realize that I part with a Y1000 bill in Japan much more thoughtlessly than I would part with the equivilant amount at home.

I still think one can travel fairly cheaply in Japan if you do so carefully. Japan is about as expensive as most European countries, but much more expensive than other countries in Asia.
 
Brooker said:
You're right, flying is not a recommended way to travel within Japan.

Another option is train passes available to foreigners who buy them from outside Japan. A 7 day pass costs Y28,300, which isn't cheap but allows super easy travel to anywhere in Japan.

there's also now an airpass. i think it helps a bit.

http://www.japanair.com/e/travelplan/yokoso_japan.php

i think the rail pass is a good deal. round-trip kyoto -tokyo just about covers the cost. last year i travelled to kyoto, osaka, hiroshima, nagasaki, and fukuoka all on one 7 day pass. true, that's not much time to explore each city, but i saw a lot of things. :-)

but, neither is useful if you're just living there. :|

Brooker said:
When I was living in Japan, making a Japanese wage, I didn't think Japan was all that expensive. Now that I've gone there while making an American wage, it seemed a bit more expensive.

but the exchange rate has also been dropping by quite a bit (from a USD standpoint). how long ago did you live there?
 
I lived in Japan a little over a year ago and, yes, the exchange rates have changed unfavorably since then.
 
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