Mundane Post About Japanese Prices

Post X

I do not get Japanese pricing. It makes no sense. Some, seemingly random, stuff is really expensive, and other things are so cheap! So here is a quick list of stuff that is really cheap, and stuff that is crazy expensive:

Cheap stuff!

1.) Udon noodles... I have never paid more the 3 quid (500 yen), and quite often pay half that, for a delicious bowl of steamy noodles, and that is including the meat noodles. Now I hear in a fancy place you might pay 800yen (a fiver!).... but yeah, so so cheap it is silly.

2.) Eating out in general. Can comfortably eat out with a beer for less that 7 quid. I have been to three places that have offered all you can eat and drink (no time limit) for less that 18 quid.

3.) Whiskey. Japanese and some scotch, are about 6 quid for a litre (Johnnie Walker Red label, eg, or some of the cheaper Japanese whiskey like Suntory's cheap one). It is worth saying now, that it is also 6 quid for a box of spam. And yes, I am serious. I have never eaten spam in my life (thank god), and it cracked me up so much when I saw it priced at like 700 yen!! Crazy.

4.) Buses. So the bus I have got a few times now is supposed to be 100 yen (60 pence). But, I am yet to discover how you actually pay so never have. And I have also never seen any Japanese people pay either. So in my book that makes it free, which is very good value!

5.) CD's. New CD's won’t cost you more than 6 quid (rather than the UK's 12 quid)

6.) Bike rental. 60 pence for 6 hours!

Expensive stuff.

1.) Spam. As already mentioned.

2.) Cereal. It is about 5 quid a box!!!!! I also saw a box of Dorset cereals muesli for 1500 yen. That’s nearly a tenner! Laughable.

3.) Beer. I have bitched about this before. 330ml cans for over a pound a pop is a joke. Even if you bulk buy, its still very expensive. What’s worse, these stupid 330ml cans go down in 2 or 3 mouthfuls..... Quickest way to waste money.

4.) Apples. Even Japanese apples, which are like a hybrid of a pears and apples and are really tastey, are about a quid for one!!

5.) Cheese. Real cheese. About 25 pounds per Kilo. Yikes. Haven't cracked and bought any yet.

6.) Gas! Gas is all done by canisters (because of earthquakes they can’t have pipes). And that means it is VERY expensive. No hot showers for me!


That's all I can think of for now.... But I just don’t understand why some stuff is so cheap and some random things are really pricey!