Ok, i have a serious question for you guys that are still living in Japan...
First my thoughts/ research.....
I went to Japan last year late May for 2 weeks. My flight was $900 Dollars round trip and i brought $1500 spending money.
Im going to Japan again this year late May but i plan on staying for a Month this time. So i figured i would need about $3,000 dollars spending money.. As for flights i cant seem to find any lower than $1,400. But i can swallow that because im gonna stay for a month this time so wont seem like such a waste... But then i started thinking, why is the air fair so much more expensive for the same flight, same time one year later?? Especially since fuel prices are much less expensive than they were this time last year..
So i figured, maybe the reason why is because the economy here went to $hit since May of last year.. Well, i did a little research on the Conversions rates for Dollars to Yen since May 2008 until right now and i almost had a heart attack... May of 2008 conversion rates were 1USD =104.308 JPY today's rates 1USD = 89.4449 JPY
So that's 16%.. as of right now I'm gonna need 16% more money.. And since it hasn't even been a full year yet, im just gonna assume by time its May the numbers might fall somewhere between the 20-25% range
This, kinda throws a wrench in my plans to stay for a month.. Pretty much im gonna have to bring an extra $1,000 a total of $4,000 spending money..
My question...
For you guys living in Japan, has the cost of living or eating over there decreased at all? I know Japans economy is doing better than here in the US, but i hear its not as strong as it was last year.. Have you noticed even a slight change in prices of things?? Increase or decrease??
Any help on this subject will be greatly appreciated.