I lived in Japan for more than three years, late 90s to early 2000s. Back then it was much more expensive than US and even most of EU. But things have changed. A lot.
A few months ago I took the Keisei-sen from Narita to Ueno. Knowledgeable Japan travelers know that this is the most cost-efficient way from the inaka stands at NRT to civilization.
2025: NRT-Ueno fare on Keisei-sen. 1060 JPY
1997. NRT-Ueno fare on Keisei-sen. 1000 JPY.
Nominal increase (not adjusted for inflation): 6 percent. In TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS.
I challenge you to produce a similar example from any other industrial economy over that period.
I stayed at a small but decent hotel near Yokohama-eki for 5000 JPY. Twenty-eight years ago, 8000 plus was minimum. etc.
Japan has slid down the cost of living table from near the top to low for a highly developed nation.
Some high jumpers I follow are still in Tokyo, one month after the competition finished.
What gives?
They didn't even medal.
Are they rich?
How can they afford it?
And no, it's not the Russian/Cypriot.
This is a stupid post but you would be surprised that there actually are track and field athletes who make good money. Many of them live in Europe where the cost of living is much lower than most of the US.
Other than lodging, Tokyo is cheap - at least compared to the US.
At a convenience store, a Coke is $1 - in the US it's $3. At McDonald's, the meals were almost exactly 50% of the cost as in the US.
You eat at McDonalds? Reminds me of the time Wilson Waigwa pointed at my dinner plate which included shrimp. He winced and said, "You eat THAT? Back home we feed that to the dogs."
I must admit though, McDonalds beef in Japan must be a big step up from what you get in America? Was it?
i've competed in my new sport in international circuit events and i usually build in some tourist time after the event. if you ever did an overnight meet in college, you'd know that if you want to do well in the meet, you probably just chill in the hotel a lot and rest. that if you go tour the city and walk miles, your legs feel it during the meet. and that you may be on a bus or plane home as soon as the medals get handed out.
in this situation, they probably got free tickets, free hotel, free gear, and are now in a cool foreign city. if they have spare change, why not play tourist? you just redo the FREE return ticket for a few days later.
and you're acting like it's been a "month." it's been like 10 days. bit drama queen to exaggerate just because it flipped from september to october.
you just need a grand or two to hang around a few extra days and sightsee, they are pros, and for that matter, if this is one of the culminating events of your life, maybe you splurge and put it on a card if you have to.
and like i said, the airplane ticket home is paid for. you just reschedule it or tell USATF to put it a few days late. a big chunk of the cost of a trip is plane ride. free. another chunk is hotel. the part during the meet was covered. so it's basically hotel or rental for the post meet, and food after the meet was done. and tourist cost.
Japan is cheap. Change brings new perspective, recovery is better and brings new energy. Mental health recovery is amazing in Japan.
Besides, they don’t pay for flights hence they saved tons of money and anyone with common sense would do the same. Saved on biggest traveling costs for Japan.
I'm sure a lot of people have done it, but I am only familiar with these types from a very narrow snippet and a very zoomed-in, particular searching zone.
In other words, I have no clue how common this behavior is, but I suspect that it's rather common, considering only fans, party culture, and my own experiences participating in both sides of it