Aside from his waning popularity just a few weeks in office, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is again under public scrutiny and facing criticism over a lavish lifestyle.

Japanese newspapers claim that Aso, except for four nights, spent the entire month on night outs at expensive bars and dining establishments. His favorite hangout is a hotel bar where coffee costs $15 (1,392 yen) a cup and a high-end restaurant where a plate of grilled eel has a minimum price tag of $175 (16,239 yen).

Although Aso comes from a wealthy clan, his spending habits during a time of economic turmoil has been hit by the opposition. Susumu Yanase from the Democratic Party of Japan said the favorite haunts of Aso are not the best places for him to know the concerns of the ordinary Japanese.

Aso defended his lifestyle because if he goes to less exclusive establishments, it would be a problem for his security staff. He added he paid for his drinks and meals from his personal money, not government funds.

The prime minister also said he is not limited to expensive places, pointing to his visit to a grocery in central Tokyo on Sunday to check prices of basic items.

According to a survey by the Manichi Shimbun daily, Aso's approval rating dipped to 36 percent, which was a 9 percent decline by late September following record losses in Japan's stock markets and lack of consumers' confidence in the Japanese economy. At the same time his disapproval rating jumped 15 points to 41 percent.