As you may be aware, Japan ranks amongst the most expensive countries to live in the world. Check out our relocation cost survey to gain a better idea of the costs involved with education, shopping, accommodation and more.

The majority of expat housing includes one parking space, with the exception being the newer high-rise apartment buildings in Tokyo where the cost can be as high as JPY 80,000/month.

By law, you must have a registered parking space before leasing or purchasing a car in Japan. While Japan’s public transportation systems are easily accessible and convenient for singles, most expat families coming to Japan benefit from having a car, allowing them to easily take their children to school, go to the supermarket and other day-to-day places.
The following is a list of popular vehicles in Japan with costs for purchasing new or leasing over a 36-month period. Short-period leases are also available at higher rates.

Car Type	Purchase (New)	Lease (New) - 36 Months
Honda Accord 2.0 E Family Sedan	2,250,000	65,500
Honda Odyssey 2.3 M 7 Seater Family Wagon	2,400,000	70,000
Honda S2000 Sports Car	3,800,000	80,000
Toyota Camry 2.4 Family Sedan	2,500,000	75,000
Toyota Land Cruiser VX Ltd. 4WD	4,500,000	125,000
Mazda MPV 2.3 Sports 7 Seater Family Wagon	2,600,000	75,000
Mazda Atenza Wagon 4WD Station Wagon	2,600,000	75,000
BMW 320i Luxury Sedan	4,500,000	125,000
Mercedes E320 Avantgarde Luxury Sedan	8,085,000	181,000

Taxes:

• New car 5% consumption tax and 5% acquisition tax applies at time of purchase
• Used car 5% consumption tax and 5% acquisition tax on present value applies
• Yearly Prefecture tax is due in May approximately 40,000 Yen
• Yearly Light Vehicle tax is due in April about 10,000 Yen (based on the size of the engine)

Shaken:

• Compulsory inspection done after 3 years for new cars and then every two years (75,000 - 200,000 Yen)

Insurance:

• Mandatory Insurance/Compulsory Accident Liability Insurance (CALI) - Usually valid until the Shaken deadline (JPY 30,000). Coverage is only up to 30,000,000 yen per accident.
• Supplemental Insurance A comprehensive policy may cost as much as 120,000 yen per year.

Members can take advantage of the club’s eight restaurants and bars, extensive banquet services and meeting facilities, gym, bowling alley, squash courts, swimming pool, sports leagues, classes and lectures, organized domestic and international tours, Women’s Group, 25,000 volume library for every age group with Internet access, a video library with 10,000 tapes including the latest releases, an English language bookstore, child care center, barber, beauty salon, an outside ticket service, and much more.

For a complete tour of the facilities available, membership information, dues and online sign-up, please see the Tokyo American Club’s website at www.tokyoamericanclub.org.

Corporate Membership

Eligibility	• For residents of the Kanto region • Duration of membership is unlimited • Conversion to other categories is possible • Transferable to a succeeding applicant (can overlap for up to 3 months)
Entrance Fee	• 2,100,000 yen (non-refundable) • 1,000,000 yen for each subsequent membership transfer
Deposit	• 200,000 yen refundable deposit
Dues	• Single - 20,000 yen monthly dues apply for single • Family - 26,000 yen monthly dues will cover the individual, spouse, and all children under 21 years of age • Double monthly dues are required in June and December (bonus payment months in Japan).

There are numerous Japanese language schools in Tokyo with various types of courses available. The following schools’ costs are intended to provide you with an idea of the range in the standard fees.

Meguro Language Center
Please see www.mlcjapanese.co.jp for further information.

Private Lesson (excluding tax)
Registration Fee	None
Lesson Fee (90 minutes, 8 times)	JPY 54,000
Group Lesson (excluding tax) JPY 300,000 - JPY 600,000
Registration Fee	None
Lesson Fee (90 minutes, 32 times)	JPY 115,200/person

ABC International Preschool
Please see www.abcinternationalschool.com for further information.

Private Lesson (excluding tax)
Registration Fee	JPY 30,000
Lesson Fee (80 minutes, 15 times)	JPY 168,000
Group Lesson (excluding tax)JPY 300,000 - JPY 600,000
Registration Fee	JPY 10,500
Lesson Fee (80 minutes, 20 times)	JPY 75,600/group of 3 - 6 people