Being a college student in Japan doesn't mean that every meal has to be purchased inexpensively at a convenience store or a low price eatery by school. Part of being a student in a foreign country is that it's an amazing opportunity to explore—and that includes finding cool places to dine and try different types of foods with friends. While it may seem hard to find an affordable restaurant in an unfamiliar place, all you really need is your computer.

The internet has made it easy, even for foreigners in Japan, to find food and cuisines they are looking for. When it comes to restaurants, the two most important things for college students are price and area. The internet makes it easy and convenient to find a restaurant in an area you like, for the price you want without having to spend a lot of time searching. Another benefit is that many websites directed toward foreigners offer reviews in English, written by average people. Moreover, especially in Japan, the internet can be a valuable resource for students with special dietary needs, such as vegetarians or vegans.

As more foreigners decide to study, work and live in Japan, more and more websites have been created to fit their needs. On these sites, foreigners can exchange recommendations for the best dining, nightlife, shopping or even grocery stores. Since the internet can be accessed anywhere, it provides a great opportunity for U.S. agricultural exporters to explore Japanese food from the point of view of a fellow foreigner. Anyone interested in the Japanese market can get an idea of what kinds of foods are popular, and in which areas there is potential for growth.

Bento.com Bento.com offers listings and reviews for restaurants in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Users can search via area, cuisine, features (i.e. non-smoking, buffets, late night), and type of restaurant. In addition to well written reviews, Bento.com has recommendations and suggestions for popular areas based on criteria such as “Western” or “Budget.” They also offer articles on Japanese food, dining, galleries and recipes. Finally, you can also access them via cell phone, and post restaurant information on Facebook and Twitter.

Sunnypages.jp So if you’re looking for a nice Mexican restaurant in Shibuya for that date Saturday night, with a $30 budget, Sunnypages.jp is definitely the place to look. It's catered towards the foreign community in Japan, and users can search via region, cuisine, budget and occasion for restaurants, bars, nightlife and other places such as supermarkets. You can also read reviews from other users, as well as write your own. As an added perk, sunnypages.jp also offers discounts to various restaurants listed on their site.