Tokyo, Japan Part II ~ Cost of Living

 

Many people told me cost of living in Japan is high but they never tell me specifically in comparison of where I live. I do heard about the extraordinary pricy property which could cost to an extend where they pay off over 3 generations. So how expensive it is to living in Tokyo?

 

I made a bit of research on accommodation prior to my trip. Generally the lowest accommodation I could get for private twin occupancy was USD80 per night. Don't be shock, the cost of private twin occupancy of guest house can cost the same as a 2-3 star hotel. The only difference was Hotel charge per room and Hostel charge by  no. of pax, either way, still cost the same. After a bit of deliberation, I chose Hostel because it provides kitchen facilities plus overall amenity like TV, dinning table, more so the hostel carries bit of Jap culture.

Tadah

 

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This is where we stayed for 5 days in Tokyo

 

 

We put a night in Town Hotel due to early arrival than ETA. Town Hotel located middle of the town of Kaminarimon, yes, the hotel name call TOWN HOTEL literally. It was only 1 hour different from Kuala Lumpur during Autumn. It's  cold and breezy when we stepped out of train station, it was 12am. I finally made it to Japan (exclaim)! Although it was midnight, the cold does awake us a little.

One strict rule in Japan was most smaller time hotel do not allow kid, so if you bring a child make sure you check.  The possibility was kids affect their business if there were misbehave one.

The receptionist in Hotel speak only 5% of English but it's ok for just one night (why? I will explain later). The room was kind of small with bathroom attached, kinnnd of unexpected, oh well.

This is the one person bathroom, you can imagine how big the room will be!!.

 

 

 Typical single bathroom in Town Hotel, Tokyo

 

Accommodation

 

We check-in hostel the second day, Khaosan Tokyo Samurai, it's a three storey guest house, the front view look the same as I saw from Internet. In fact things look the same as per Internet, nothing hidden or beautified (You know some photos were advanced via editing and angle they took to make the space look bigger, then when you check-in you realised you got deceived! right? sound familiar to you? ^^. Well  I find most hotel does but not Khaosan).

There were small reception, small foyer and common computer as we entered, but it was clean and doesn't feel dodgy!! Plus we were welcomed by a strong handsome looking Japanese receptionist! haha well. Guess what he carried my 20kg luggage up to first floor without panting! Bravo (Imagine a receptionist can be so good looking, you can tell how many more in Tokyo, well. Please note, we brought quite a lot of clothes there, 20kg check-in luggage was just nice for both of us spending 6 days in Tokyo). As expected we exceeded check-in luggage upon coming home (you know shopping = =), so you might want to consider extra weight upon purchasing the ticket. Anything purchase in the airport is priceeeeeeey.

 

Although I've seen how small the room will be from Internet, seeing it with my own eyes was still caused me a bit "deep breath", the room was rather small than the one we stay in Hotel! It's long narrow which practically fits only one double bed and a study table! Other than this, washroom, bathroom and basin are populated in different section outside the room. A typical guest house, but, it was clean ....and new and doesn't smell..at all (I luv it!)

 

I'm smart for not bring any bigger luggage (mine is 29" luggage, well that's the largest I guess, silly~~), because it layS just nice in the room with bit of space for a person go in and out from the bed. well. My friend told me a studio in Tokyo cost USD 1millions! So you could imagine why the hotel/hostel were so small with the price I pay. Nevertheless, I like the guest house, it's clean plus muscular handsome receptionist haha. well. Nah, most importantly, hostel popular with foreigners, so they speak good English which guide us places to go and you will find really helpful to get a Japanese who can speak english! That's why I encourage to stay in Hostel than Hotel.

Second floor will be the kitchen and dinning area which gives you more room to move around than Hotel, autumn has short day and long night. I like the outdoor dinning area where you could enjoy breeze and cold clean air!

 

Typically a studio of 500 sqf  cost about USD1million in Tokyo, you can imagine how precious the land in Japan. To break into measurable unit, USD22,600 per sqm or USD 2,260 per sqf. I'm not comparing the cost in town centre like the Golden Triangle here, this is just an average cost!!

 

 

 

 

Taxi

The hostel also given proper guidance and cost indication on various transportation mode from Airport to Hostel. Bear in mind the cost from Airport to Khaosan Samurai could cost easily USD200! Taxi meter start at USD15 for the first 1 km. So be advised not to take taxi!

Food

Many friends of mine told me how expensive the food here in Japan, well, it's slightly expensive as compared here but it's worth because the portion is big (I do noticed Japanese eat a lot, even a gal!)! So the portion is just nice for me and my daughter. A meal with fried rice, ramen and gyoza cost me around USD9! Cheap right? Ocha is free of charge. If there are more than one adult, some places offer "big" size at the same price, to me it can be shared by 3 persons! Other option is you can consider get some ready made packet food from the nearby supermarket, heat up in the kitchen, the price is relatively reasonable.
 

 

    This one cost only USD9, for two persons! The Gyoza is reaaaaaaal yummy, some people came here for just the Gyoza!!

 

 

 

She's grinding sesame for her noodle

 

 

 This one? USD9 for two persons, hmm actually 3. We ordered big size by misperception. It's yummy!

 

 

Fresh and yummy sushi! USD1~2 per piece.

 

 

 

  This ready made ramen? USD3

 

 

 This one? USD2.5

 

 

Vending machine ~ USD1.5. There served hot and cold drinks, this one? is hot.

 

 

 

Transportation

 

We go by train most of time. remember the train map I shown in my previous post? I spent quite a fair bit in train, BUT if you are smarter (Yeah I didn't realize we can purchase multiple route in a ticket, "Kao Gong"-> Hokkien), you would able to save some money as some route may required bit more in a ticket than purchase the ticket separately. Generally it cost about  USD 1~2 per person per route and usually you need to reach a destination via multiple routes.

Shopping

Shopping is my least priority as they carry mostly autumn/winter apparel. A brandless tote handbag cost min USD100 and same goes to clothing, although it's pricey but it commensurate with the quality. If you don't intend to shop there make sure you bring sufficient clothes. My gal wore three layers of stokin but still feeling cold. Camera is relatively cheap though, I bought a Fujifilm model  cheaper by couple of hundreds.


Assistance for Routing

 

A helpful friend directed me to this Japan Travel Bureau who offer free routing adivse on cost and train as well as itinerary. So if you are going on free and easy trip, do pay a visit for advise, it's very useful!

 

JAPAN TRAVEL BUREAU (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD
Unit 16.05-16.07, Level 16, Amoda, 22, Jalan Imbi,
55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: (603) 2141-9991 Fax: (603) 2142-5344
E-mail: jun.y@jtbmalaysia.com.my
URL: http://www.jtbmalaysia.com

 

 

So where did we go? Look out my next post. Frankily, travelling with kids on own itinerary is exciting, it's real challenging for mommy and real training for them to be independent and foster bonds in between...