Loading...

Sep 15, 2026

What’s on your City-Cost feature wishlist?

Hi everyone! I’ve been browsing City-Cost a lot lately for articles and info. But it suddenly crossed my mind—if the City-Cost admins were to add some new features to the website, what would actually make our lives as expats in Japan easier? Personally, I’d really love to see: 1. A Direct Message (Chat) Feature: So it's easier to connect, make friends, or ask follow-up questions to members who live nearby. 2. A Member Marketplace (Sayonara Sale): Just for us members! Sometimes it’s such a hassle hunting down cheap second-hand stuff on other apps. What about the rest of you? Do you have any "dream features" you wish existed on this site? (Like maybe a dedicated mobile app, a cost-of-living calculator, or local community groups?). Drop your thoughts in the comments below! Who knows, maybe the admins will read this and actually make it happen.

Education
1 18
Report as spam
achmadz

achmadz

Follow

18 Answers

Best Answer

  • andikurnia

    andikurnia

    on Sep 15

    Live chat between member would be good. AI Chat is also best to have!!!!

    1
  • BigfamJapan

    BigfamJapan

    on Sep 15

    I also think a private direct message option could work well. I have often thought it would be useful for members to chat among themselves.

    1
  • BigfamJapan

    BigfamJapan

    on Sep 15

    Seen as we are talking about dream scenarios, I'd also love to see some incentives to keep us motivated! Such as, a bonus for writing more. For example, a x point bonus for ten blog posts written in one month (I'm thinking 100 yen - only works out at an extra 10 yen per post for City-cost), but tiered so you get more for more: so, say 300 yen for twenty blog posts, 500 yen for thirty posts written etc.

    2
  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Sep 16

    I definitely miss the theme posts, where you'd get a higher amount for blogging on certain topics. There used to be topics like how to, health, work life, and so forth where you'd get 400 yen for those posts. I think with the cost of living going up it would be nice to have those back so we could earn a bit extra! I also like BigFamJapan's approach for extra rewards, that would be nice, too!

    2
  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Sep 16

    On the note of private chat, too, the only concern I have with that is the potential for spammers. For a while there were a lot of spam posts happening on the site, and I would worry that it could potentially extend to spammy-style messages to members.

    1
  • achmadz

    achmadz

    on Sep 16

    @andikurnia Yes, AI Chat seems like it should be added for post searches, reviews, and product reviews seem good

    0
  • achmadz

    achmadz

    on Sep 16

    @genkidesu Yeah, I know, so I think it's better to have a chat AI to help with searching blog posts, reviews, and product reviews

    0
  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Sep 16

    @achmadz yes I can definitely see that as being a promising option!

    1
  • BigfamJapan

    BigfamJapan

    on Sep 16

    @achmadz so long as it doesn't slow the site down!

    1
  • achmadz

    achmadz

    on Sep 17

    @BigfamJapan @genkidesu This seems like it's going to be heavy, but hopefully the city cost admin sees our discussion

    0
  • TonetoEdo

    TonetoEdo

    on Sep 17

    It would be great to have an editor or use lightweight markup language in the review fields.

    0
  • TonetoEdo

    TonetoEdo

    on Sep 17

    @BigfamJapan This! Not necessarily live chat, but a simple messaging option so members can support each other with specific info about our communities. We've got lots to share!

    1
  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Sep 18

    Something else I think would be cool is a bit of a "life admin directory". I know we have place reviews for some spots, but tips for banks, phone companies, doctors, dentists, vets, moving companies, and so forth within each prefecture that might be useful for people.

    2
  • BigfamJapan

    BigfamJapan

    on Sep 18

    @genkidesu that would be great and I am sure they could be worked into the statistics page for each prefecture, working as a larger guide for a prefecture, alongside the statistics

    0
  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Sep 18

    @BigfamJapan yes! I think it would naturally fit in that section nicely.

    0
  • achmadz

    achmadz

    on Sep 18

    @genkidesu This is a very interesting idea, hopefully the City Cost admin listens to our idea aspirations!

    0
  • TonetoEdo

    TonetoEdo

    on Sep 20

    @genkidesu This! I'm reasonably literate and communicative in Japanese, but I still sometimes scratch my head about life stuff in Japan. I'm looking for a trustworthy 便利屋 (benriya) for household repairs and deep cleaning. It would be great to have a guide on what they're certified to do and where to find good ones.

    0
  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Sep 21

    @TonetoEdo a very good point you make there, that it's not just Japan newbies that would need this kind of info. We all get stumped from time to time living here, even when we've been here for quite a while!

    0

Awaiting More Answers

7 Answers

Do you have a very good breakfast!?

Today is "Very Good Breakfast Day" in Japan. Do you eat breakfast every day? Japanese or Western? The day also encourages families to eat together, which unfortunately just isn't practical in my home due to all 6 of us having very different schedules. Do you get to eat breakfast with someone or do you eat alone?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Oct 11

8 Answers

What Traditional Japanese Culture Would You Like to Learn?

I'd love to be part of a club where I could learn some traditional plant growing, harvesting, and cooking. Learning Japanese calligraphy (shodo) and previously flower arranging (Ikebana) is great too. I've always thought it would be awesome to learn bamboo crafts, more than a short experience making a small already prepared basket. I'm wondering what you'd be interested to learn that is in danger of disappearing if young people (including foreign residents) don't learn it. There are small local efforts to teach students how to grow and harvest rice for a seasonal example. It's a tiny experience that could influence the future supply of an important staple food. I've never had the chance but that would be great and potentially helpful to local farmers.

helloalissa

helloalissa

on Oct 8

9 Answers

Favorite Japanese artists, past or present

With Yayoi Kusama's passing being covered in the media today, I wanted to know about your favorite Japanese artists, past or present. Obviously Kusama is one of mine, but I always like hearing about other artists that I haven't been introduced to before.

genkidesu

genkidesu

on Aug 27

10 Answers

What do you most associate with Shizuoka?

Today, is also Shizuoka Citizen's Day, so - the same as Fukushima - what first comes to mind / do you most associate with Shizuoka Prefecture?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

10 Answers

Car Essentials for a Road Trip?

I feel like this may have been asked before, but I can't find it through a search. Or maybe I thought of asking it and never did! Either way, tell us what things you like to have in your car when you are going on a road trip?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

6 Answers

What do you MOST associate with Fukushima Prefecture?

Given that today is Fukushima Prefecture Citizen's Day; what is the FIRST thing that comes to mind when you hear Fukushima? And / or what do you most associate with the prefecture?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

5 Answers

Summer Festival Changes - Yay or Nay?

Earlier I wrote about how my neighborhood's "summer" festival has been moved to autumn. I also wrote a separate post about a summer festival in Kasukabe that has been moved indoors. I know there is a bittersweetness about these changes, but some would argue that something needs to change in the face of rising temperatures. So, I am curious, what would you vote for: 1) Leaving Summer Festivals exactly as they are - same date, same set up etc. 2) Shifting the time of day the festival is on, say for example, from afternoon until after dark 3) Moving the festival from summer to another season or at least to earlier in summer, such as June 4) Moving summer festivals indoors - not really possible for the larger festivals especially those with large floats etc. but maybe they could shift some elements indoors

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 3

7 Answers

Which movie will you see this summer?

I am not a movie-goer at all, but every year I bring the kids to see a film (and they often go with their friends too) during the summer holidays. There seems to be a good choice this year, including Toy Story 5, the Chiikawa movie, the real live action adaption of Moana and the usual annual Crayon Shinchan movie among others. Which movie are you planning to see this summer? Or have you already been to see one (or more)? If so, which one?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Jul 30

5 Answers

What are our consumer rights in Japan?

Do you know your consumer rights in Japan? And if so, would you be willing to share anything about them? For example, what is the policy on returns? I am very familiar with my consumer rights in my home country, and they are very widely publicized back home, but information doesn't seem to be as transparent or readily available here. Or is that just me?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Mar 15

18 Answers

What do you most associate with Ehime Prefecture?

Today, February 20th, is Ehime Prefecture Day. What do you most associate with Ehime Prefecture, what is the very first thing that comes to mind when I say "Ehime Prefecture"!?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Feb 20

8 Answers

Do you have a favorite mascot?

The other day, on "Strawberry Day" I wrote about "Yoshimin", the strawberry mascot of Yoshimi. I thought it might be fun to introduce a few others, so I've just written about "Tokimo" the mascot of Kawagoe. And I plan to introduce a couple of my favorites. It begs the question, do you have a favorite mascot? And how about writing a post on City-cost about your favorite or a local mascot? Pictured "Umerin" who I plan to write about next!

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Jan 17

6 Answers

Hair Color Treatments for Greying Hair

For those of you who have colored grey hair, I'm curious about the hair color treatments available in most drugstores. They seem simpler to use than box dyes. It's been many years since I've colored my hair. It's a chestnut brown and my grey is more silver. I don't hate it but the grey is dry and making me feel like I look older than I am. I'm especially interested in the natural brands that are non-permanent. For example Rishiri Kombu sounds like a decent option. Looking forward to your recommendations and experience.

helloalissa

helloalissa

on Aug 3