TsukuBlog A Local Perspective on Life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Finding the cheapest gas in your neighborhood

Hi, all. I'd like to share my secret since Shaney brought up the gasoline prices on highways. You all know that the gas prices have gone down significantly in the past few months, but some places still charge a lot.

　I've been using General Express on R354 in Inarimae, next to a camera shop since it opened. It's a self-service gas station and the cheapest one in the area. The last time I checked, the gas price there was 118yen per liter. I'm sure that some of the TsukuBlog readers are familiar with this, but you can pay by using the "Speedpass" when you buy gas at this gas station. It's very convenient when you are in a hurry!

The only problem with this gas station is that since this is the cheapest place to fill up the tank, it gets crowded very often. I think its location being so close to Inarimae Intersection is making the situation worse. I've had quite unpleasant experiences with hot-tempered drivers at this gas station, so I always try to go there very late at night or early in the morning. It's open until midnight though it used to be open 24-hours.

Another cheap gas station is also on R354. If you head to Tsuchiura from Tsukuba on R354, you'll see a small gas station on your right soon after you drive past Joban Expressway Sakura Tsuchiura Exit. This gas station also has the lowest gas price in the area.

If you can read Japanese, I recommend checking out gogo.gs, a comparison-shop site. A list of gas stations in Ibaraki is here. Some of the prices listed are the member rates, but as far as I know, you don't need to be a member to get the lowest price at the gas station in Inarimae.

As the Christmas/New Year's break approaching, I really hope the gas prices won't go up like they did in summer!

Frugal(ish) Option for Putting your Child on Your Car Insurance Policy

Not sure how many of our readers have children who are old enough to drive, but those of you who do might find this useful. I found this information in the latest JAF Mate magazine and thought I would share it.

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Q: I have an age limit set on my optional car insurance. Only people over 35 years of age can be covered as drivers under my policy. However, my son just got his license and I want to add him to my policy. Which is more frugal: removing the age limit or adding my child as a supplemental driver?

A: It is cheaper to add your child as a supplementary driver. You can add a "special supplementary contract for one's children" (子供特約, kodomo tokuyaku) to your policy and keep your regular age limit intact. Your insurance premiums will still increase, but you will pay marginally less with the special contract than you would with no age limit.

For example:

Current payment: 32,830 yen per year (paid in one lump sum) for your current policy with the age limit
Policy with no age limit: 82,070 yen per year (paid in one lump sum)
Policy with age limit intact and special supplementary contract for children: 73,440 yen per year (paid in one lump sum)

The child must live with you and the car cannot be used primarily by the child. Other conditions may apply, so please contact your insurance provider for more details.

(These rates were calculated with the primary driver being the father, holding a grade 12 policy and a gold license, with the car being using mainly for leisure and daily activities. They are also based on specific rates of reimbursement in case of accident, the age of the father and the son, and the year and make of the car. The figures are from Tokio Marine Nichido)

From: JAF Mate magazine June 2007 (Vol. 45, No. 5, page 53)