#13 Prices in Japan 2012

Whilst it may look like I've been slack at this blog, I have actually been cooking up something quite delicious. In many senses of the word. The one thing (actually that's a lie, there are many, many, many things) that annoys me about the internet is that it's hard to find relevant information. An example of such is the prices for things in Tokyo, or Japan in general for this year. Any ones I found seemed a little outdated, so I have begun compiling a list of the 2012 prices I have seen for food and other items over here, in shops such as 7/11, Lawson, Family Mart, Fuji, Maruetsu, Hac etc.

¥100 Store 

(The most popular one is called Daiso, but others are around. Also in reality everything is ¥105 because of tax)

Noodles, Sweets

Arts and crafts (and I mean lots)

Bathroom and toiletries

Every type of household item (bowls, hangers, dustbins, brushes, lunchboxes, etc etc)

Random items
*There are also some Lawson Store 100 convenience stores around (a version of the regular Lawson store), where nearly all the food is ¥105 or ¥210, and they have milk, meat, vegetables, snacks, bread etc).

Groceries

Generally, fruit is expensive to buy in stores, but cheaper if you get it from stalls (although I think more likely to go off faster). There are lots of fish (the prices can be quite reasonable considering there is so much choice), lots of noodles and not so much meat. Most common is beef and then maybe pork, but it can be difficult/pricey to get chicken or anything like that. Breakfast cereal is expensive, bread is thicker than home and tastes a little sweeter. There are lots of breads available such as croissants, cakes, rolls (like the hotdog buns), cheese slices and pizza slices. These are all well priced, usually no more than ¥150. There are food items available from UK/USA (like ketchup or sauces), but while at first you may be excited to see it, after you catch a glimpse of the price you'll see it's far more expensive.

Sample prices include:
Instant ramen cup ¥185
Small vegetable mix ¥100
Small frozen veg (such as corn) ¥100
900ml Porari Sweat (energy drink) ¥168
1l water ¥168
1l milk ¥198
Breakfast cereal (small box) ¥208
Curry soba noodles 3x pack ¥198
Tomato pasta sauce ¥298
Spaghetti ¥298

Household items (you can probably get some of these at the Daiso)
Dove shower gel ¥258

Hand soap ¥298

Washing detergent ¥198

Dove facial cleanser ¥980

Listerine mouthwash ¥398

Herbal essences conditioner ¥298

Kitchen cleaner ¥98

I got all of these for less than ¥200 at a stall

Ready meals: You can also get ready meals at places like 7/11, and they are fresh, tasty and really cheap. Prices are around ¥398. Apparently they contain lots of additives and stuff, so although great value and super convenient I wouldn't recommend them as a long term option.

Rice and some tasty chicken balls

Dining out

Fast food places such as McDonalds are pretty much the same as at home (about ¥600 for a meal), pricewise and menuwise. Generally you can get quite a decent meal in a restaurant for around ¥1000-1500. Sukiya is a ramen place with prices at like ¥500, and is renowned as one of the cheapest places to eat in Japan. If you're in Tokyo I recommend Chikara Meshi, it's really cheap, the food is really tasty, and I basically used to eat there all the time. A lot of restaurants have wax models and prices of the food outside, and inside the menu will likely have pictures, so if your Japanese isn't good you can really just point. Alternatively, there are even more restaurants that just have a vending machine as you walk in, so you press the picture of what you want and put in your money, then you get a voucher and you hand it to the waiter - no speaking involved!

'Ebi fillet-o' or a shrimp burger, one of the menu differences

Some plastic deserts in a cafe window

Vending machines

Unlike in Western countries, vending machines in Japan sell only drinks, no food. There are exceptions, but as you find at least one vending machine per every few steps (no exaggeration, they really are EVERYWHERE) you will notice they will not have food. The main drinks are water, energy drinks and types of tea and coffee in cans (which are hot!!). Some machines are only ¥100, but you will find prices in most are around ¥120-¥160.