Balancing Your Budget
Tokyo, Osaka, and other large cities are expensive, and the cost of owning a house is prohibitive. The average Tokyo family can't hope to own a house, and many call a manshon (condominium) home. Space is at a premium. A tiny studio in Tokyo rents for 68,5000 yen ($650) per month, and prices rise as you get closer to the city center. Many families choose to live in another prefecture where housing is more affordable, leaving the breadwinner with a two-hour commute to work. Once you get away from the metropolis to outlying regions, you can expect to pay 30 percent less for housing; it may also be possible to build or buy a traditional house. As far as food is concerned, try to develop a tate for Japanese cuisine. If you shop like the locals do and eat vegetables, fish, tofu, and rice instead of steak, you can maintain a healthy diet without breaking your budget. You may even discover the secret to Japanese slimness.
(excerpt from p. 138)