How to Save Money Living in Japan: Tips for Foreigners

Japan has a reputation for being expensive. And yeah, Tokyo rent isn’t cheap. But a lot of day-to-day living here is actually very affordable if you know where to look. Here’s how to keep more money in your pocket.

1. Cut Your Phone Bill First

This is the single biggest win for most foreigners. A lot of people arrive in Japan and end up on a big carrier plan out of convenience — and pay for it.

What you might be paying: ¥5,000–¥8,000/month with Docomo, au, or Softbank

What you should be paying: ¥900–¥2,000/month with IIJmio, Mineo, or LINEMO

Same coverage. Much lower price. Switching takes about 30 minutes online.

Annual saving: ¥36,000–¥72,000. That’s real money.

2. Shop at 100-Yen Stores Seriously

Daiso, Seria, Can Do — these places sell genuinely good stuff for ¥110. Before you buy anything household-related, check a 100-yen store first.

Kitchen tools, storage containers, cleaning supplies, stationery, cosmetics, seasonal items — you’d be surprised what they carry. In Japan, 100-yen stores aren’t just for random junk. A lot of locals do serious shopping there.

3. Hit the Supermarket Late

This is one of the best-kept secrets of daily life in Japan. Supermarkets discount prepared food heavily in the evenings:

• After 7pm: 20–30% off discount stickers appear on bentos, sushi, prepared dishes
• After 8–9pm: 30–50% off (look for the orange stickers)

High-quality sushi and bento boxes at half price. It’s completely normal to shop this way — locals do it all the time.

4. Cook More Than You Think You Need To

Eating out in Japan is cheap compared to the US or Europe. But cooking at home is still significantly cheaper:

If you’re eating out for every meal, that adds up to ¥60,000–¥130,000 a month just on food. Cook a few times a week and you’ll notice the difference.

5. Stack Your Point Apps

Japan has an obsessive point culture, and you should take full advantage of it.

• PayPay — cashback deals at tons of restaurants and stores
• Rakuten Point — earn at McDonald’s, FamilyMart, online shopping
• T-Point / V-Point — FamilyMart, Doutour, GEO
• Nanaco — 7-Eleven

Link your IC card (Suica/ICOCA) to a credit card that earns points. You’ll accumulate points without thinking about it, and they add up over time.

6. Use the Library

Japan’s public libraries are excellent and completely free. You can borrow:

• Books in Japanese and other languages
• Magazines
• DVDs and CDs (free at many libraries)
• Use the space as a quiet workspace

Get a library card at your local branch — just show your residence card. It takes five minutes.

7. Check If You Qualify for a Health Insurance Discount

If your income was low last year (under ¥1 million), you may qualify for a reduced National Health Insurance premium. Go to City Hall, bring your tax records, and ask about it.

Potential saving: ¥50,000–¥100,000/year. Worth checking.

8. Use Public Sports Facilities

Private gyms in Japan can run ¥7,000–¥10,000/month. Municipal sports centers (スポーツセンター) offer the same equipment for ¥200–¥600 per visit — and they’re usually well-maintained.

Same deal with public baths (銭湯): ¥400–¥600 for a soak that beats most home setups.

9. Send Money Home More Efficiently

If you send money to your home country regularly, the method matters a lot.

• Using a Japanese bank transfer: ¥2,500–¥5,000 in fees plus a bad exchange rate
• Using Wise or SBI Remit: fraction of the cost

If you’re sending ¥50,000/month, switching from bank transfers to Wise can save you ¥3,000–¥6,000 per transfer. Over a year, that’s significant.

Monthly Budget Reality Check

Here’s what living in Tokyo actually costs, budget vs. average:

The gap between budget and average is almost ¥70,000 a month — and most of it comes from small choices repeated daily.

Bottom Line

Japan actually rewards careful spending. The infrastructure is there — cheap SIMs, discount stores, point systems, public facilities. You just have to use them. Start with the phone plan, then work down the list.