Tokyo Cheapo: Is Japan Expensive?

Above, the Tsukuba Hotel in the Ueno area of Tokyo last February. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the most talked about topics when it comes to Japan and costs is that "Japan is expensive."

To put that misconception to rest, Tokyo Cheapo has an article discussing this "lie" and they also present people with the facts.

They begin it with:

People say Japan’s expensive, which is crazy. But then people say lots of things—like Japan’s “high-tech” and “polite,” so clearly their minds are all mixed up after their round-the-world tour … like, What country was that? Denmark? Singapore? Switzerland? Wasn’t everybody wearing lederhosen and yodeling? Drinking cocoa with mini marshmallows? Well, all right, maybe it was Japan. Ah, Harajuku, how I love your alpine ways.

Included in the article are common prices in Japan such as hotel rooms, dinners, hot spring spas and other things.

Speaking of hotel rooms, the Tsukuba Hotel (a business hotel) only charges ¥4,400/night for a single room with bath and free Wi-Fi. ¥4,400 converts to $37.02 at today's exchange rate. Expensive?

To read more, go here.