Yen for Living

Recent posts

• Annals of cheap: Kitchen Dive

  If the bento are the barometer of the national economy, then the ¥250 bento from Kitchen Dive will tell you that times are tight.

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• Debit cards are the way to go

  Credit cards are more widely accepted in Japan, but think about how easy things would be if you could use a debit card anywhere.

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• Assisted living: You can’t take it with you

  There gold’s in the silver sector and everyone wants a piece of the the kaigo hoken (nursing care insurance) system.

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• Checking out affordable resort condos in Chiba

  If you’re willing to look beyond the more well-known areas, a second home in Japan can come at quite a bargain.

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• Annals of cheap: Hanamaru

  Outside of Shikoku, sanuki udon is a premium dish at premium prices, but that’s simply not the case at udon chain Hanamaru.

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• Foreign currency saving: Norway or the highway

  Why save yen at zero interest in Japan when you could make your savings become a money-earner overseas?

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• You too can be Hatoyama!

  Why bequeath tomorrow when you can help out your kids today? To help the housing market out of the doldrums, the DPJ might even sweeten the exemption.

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