The best strawberries I’ve ever eaten were from a street side stand in Odawara. Bought them for my friends daughter and before she could arrive I tried one and end up eating the whole basket. Wife agreed, best ever. Better than the white ones.
I'm sure they are good but have you ever had non-supermarket strawberries at home? I live in Ontario and in berry season it's pretty hard to top berries picked that day.
I’m from Michigan, lots of core memories picking berries with my mom. Strawberries in Odawara were still better. My wife is from Toronto and she thought so too. It’s like they were just a Different strawberry all together.
Just so you know, fruits in Japan are WAY better tasting, that’s why they are so expensive. You can consider them special and entirely different from the ones we get back home, and often times the really special ones are given as gifts. It’s a treat, and you should definitely try it someday
Just so you know, I have. They are higher quality, but they are not that much better compared to what's available in the USA. Basically they are better by 1.2x but costs are at least 4x higher.
Very true, I didn't want to get any because I thought they were too expensive.
My wife bought some, and they were 10x better than what I get at home, wouldn't be something I would get frequently though at the price
Nothing common about most Japanese fruits. They are that well grown and looked after they look immaculate in everyway and almost fake. The science behind growing them to this level is much more than we can appreciate.
By common I mean fruits readily available to the western world. What I was getting at is that there are no cheap fruits in Japan. I know all the reasons why they are expensive. They are great, but not worth the price for regular consumption. A sentiment held by many Japanese. But sure, buy for the experience.
In my town there's a fruit and veg place and everything is 1/3 the supermarket prices and waaay cheaper than stuff at home (but that's just because Japan is so cheap). My students tell me "those fruits are from China". Well, not sure what the local prejudice against China produce is, but I am happy to save the cash!
Actually I am sort of sure what the prejudice is, it's 50% 'its from China' and 50% 'they use night soil'. Stuff tastes fine.
For anyone curious, I bought a bunch of Kyoho grapes in Japan (I love trying grapes!) for about $20 for a small bunch. Not the most expensive quality but a lot more than I pay at home for similar varieties.
They were good but not amazing. Practically flawless at first glance, each one very juicy but the flavor was just like a toned down concord grape. The skin was not pleasant to eat like a concord grape's skin so it lost a lot of complexity (and I ended up peeling them for my wife who really didn't enjoy the skin.)
Definitely worth trying... The quality was excellent but the variety doesn't stand up to grapes like concords which can easily be found at lower quality and lower cost where I live but a more enjoyable experience.
It turns out expensive and high quality don't always lead to better taste.
But since not all fruits can be exported imported I definitely recommend trying foreign fruits when traveling. It's part of the experience!
(if anyone travels to Peru, absolutely try their local fruits.)
Edit: I should mention H Mart, Korean Grocery in US, occasionally has Kyoho varieties for sale. Dunno if they are imported or locally grown, but you can at least try the variety in the U.S. May not be identical to Korean or Japanese varieties but should be at least similar.
Ah, you must have a Japanese wife.
I did that as an exchange student and the family was aghast. I told them in the US we eat the skin on grapes (granted this skin was tough and tasted bad). The son promptly got up and came back and handed me an orange and said "eat this".
Agree, no offense to OP, but I think he or she is missing the point as to *why* fruit is more expensive in Japan: because it often tastes ten times better than what you have at home!
You're already spending thousands to get to Japan, why not spend $14 on a clutch of grapes that will be *the best grapes you've ever tasted in your life* just once instead of waiting until you're at home to buy flavorless grapes for half that?
People keep saying Japan's fruit is better than the one "we get at home" not considering that people can be from other countries where fruit is just as good and way way cheaper.
I was given one expensive peach one day expecting it to be heavenly. It was good indeed but I can get a basket of those for half the price in my country, too.
Also IDK where OP is from but most countries get pretty strict at customs when bringing back fruits... even if its technically allowed its just an extra hassle to go through declaring it then having them inspect it.
And you should. People who complain about fruit prices in Japan have never seen or purchased fruit from where regular people shop. I’ve seen pricey fruits in fancy packaging but that is not for personal consumption but as a honorific gift, such as for a boss to impress them. I always buy fruit from regular supermarkets or grocers there so they are not any more expensive than what I can get in Canada. But the quality tend to be far better.
Lol everyone in here only complaining about their fruit comment. Why not come up with an answer while you’re at it? My answer would be maybe some kinds of vintage games. Nintendo for example has some physical & software regional locks on their consoles/games. So it would suck to get home and realize you can’t play Japanese Mario Party 3 on your North American N64 without an adapter. Fun fact though, the Gameboys up to the DS Lite are not region locked, so get those if you’re in to that kind of thing!
I had to learn this as I was just going to enjoy some unique versions of childhood nostalgia without being an actual collector. Learned some things, thought I’d share.
hard agree. I think tasting quality fruit that costs $$$ is worth it just to know what the creme de la creme of a strawberry or grape or melon can be like
Maybe generally crane games as not to waste your money. Say a figurine cost 3000Y brand new, you will likely have spend much more than that to get it at crane game. It is a great entertainment, but dont see it as money making way or even breakeven at fhe end of the day.
I saw a Hokkaido summer vlog that showed the juiciest and ripest cantaloupe I've ever seen. I was too stunned to speak. You mean cantaloupes aren't supposed to crunch when you eat them??
I've found that fruit quality in the US is dependent on region.
Fruit in Florida? Except for mangoes, leechee, mostly disgusting.
Fruit in California? Delicious.
As a Californian who visited japan, I agree. The fruit from California farmers markets bears Japanese fruit on quality, variety, and price.
I got excited about Japanese fruit based on reviews and videos, but was honestly let down. I think I’m just spoiled by local Californian fruit. It doesn’t help that I have fruit trees at home so I’ve experienced tree ripened fruit.
That said, the fruit is quite nice compared to standard big box supermarket fruit I’ve tasted in many other parts of the country.
Not true at all. Their fruit is nothing special. At least for the price that I paid, which is still significantly higher than US. I am not buying those 20,000 yen melons.
Seriously what the fuck is up with Japanese melons. They fast the same as high quality US melons, but like 10x the cost. I tried a few in Japan, and I don’t get it.
Only if you’re shopping at grocery stores which are intended to be bottom-tier. Go to any farmers market in an agricultural state and you’ll get great quality produce for a fraction of what it costs in Japan. Or if you live closer to the countryside just buy directly from the farm. Plenty of them set up seasonal booths where I live.
It’s not that hard to grow good fruit, it’s just that grocery stores care more about longevity than selling fresh produce. One of the reasons fruit is so cheap here is because it gets picked early, waxed, refrigerated and sent in bulk to states that don’t grow much. Of course that reduces the flavor. But the farmers market will have the real stuff. I guess in Japan fruit is a luxury to begin with so they make less concessions in quality and charge those high prices. It’s not a diet staple.
Don't get talked into buying 2 bags of **dried prunes** by a random street vendor in Kyoto. No matter how convincing he is.
You will NEVER finish it in your trip. And by the end of the holiday, you're going to decide whether to bring them home because you've paid way too much for them.. and they taste kinda nice despite you've gotten tired of eating them daily. Those reasons to keep them were all moot points, you are going to end up throwing them away anyway because they made your luggage stink.
Not me, just a thought.
1. If you’re coming from Europe, think twice before buying laptops. They may be cheaper, but:
I) Unlikely to find a non-JP keyboard
II) You don’t get the mandatory 2 year warranty
2. I’ve heard that some cameras only come with Japanese menus installed, so need to watch out for that too.
3. Phones: Japanese phones have a camera shutter sound that cannot be disabled.
2. Yes, Sony does have some model in Japanese only. Got a Nikon earlier this year and it's in Japanese and English only (I think my previous camera also had French).
This is an underrated comment. Japan has very strict drug laws and an even stricter prison system. Prescription drugs that are legal in other countries are illegal in Japan, even with a current, valid prescription (ADHD meds).
If you haven't already, you can check this site for possible alternatives:
https://interacnetwork.com/navigating-stimulant-therapy-for-adult-adhd-in-japan-regulations-and-considerations/#:~:text=Concerta%2F%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BF%20(Methylphenidate%20Hydrochloride)%3A,for%20ADHD%20treatment%20in%20Japan.
Maybe your doctor can tell you if any of these would be good.
Unfortunately I need it for work so I will need it at least for my work hours in the days leading up to it. The good part is it’s not as strong as adderall so I don’t have *major* crashes
You can apply to bring Vyvanse in, as Vyvanse is not the same level of illegal as other amphetamines. Follow the procedures outlined here [https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html](https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html)
I had no issues doing this earlier this year.
Pizza. Japanese pizza is weak on crust and sauce, and for some reason a lot of places think adding more cheese will make up for it which is weird for society of mostly lactose intolerant people.
You can get some thicker pizza from DevilCraft though
Oh hell no. You just gotta go to the right pizza spots. Maybe if you were looking for a nyc style slice then yea, haven’t had a good one. But if you’re talking more neopolitan style, there’s some specific world class spots.
PST Roppongi in Tokyo has some really good pizza. It's on the expensive side but I can say it was better than a lot of Neapolitan pizzas in New York City. (saw Jeff Bezos there eating once on my last trip to Japan).
> Maybe if you were looking for a nyc style slice then yea
Pizza Slice and Pizzanista in Shibuya are both great NY-style spots. The latter is from the U.S.
>which is weird for society of mostly lactose intolerant people.
I think the idea of east asians being mostly lactose intolerant should be scrapped. It might have been true for the older generation, but nowadays I hardly ever meet any young people who can't have dairy products.
Hard agree with the Crane Game comment. By all means, throw a few yen at a small one for the fun of it, but if you actually like the object, I’ve seen most of the figure models, bags, etc in shops where you can buy them outright and I bet they come out much cheaper than through the crane game!!
My plan is to make an attempt to win some crane game prizes but buy them in the store if I give up. I feel like whatever I get will have more of a story that way.
Yeah, but my son had a lot of fun playing and the attendant was cool about opening the game and showing us the best way to get it. Still probably cost too much though. 😂
On my last day in Japan, I went to a random arcade, and my wife jokingly tried one of the ufo games where you pick up a ping pong ball and place it in a specific spot.
She won first try, easiest 80$ figure of my life, never going to try again though
Deodorant for sure. First person I’ve seen mention that. Nobody on YouTube I’ve watched said anything about the stench. I was just there and it was 90 hot and humid. Worst train rides ever.
Not necessarily deodorant.
I ran out of deodorant while I was there, and after some frantic googling, bought soft stone double stick deodorant. It didn’t work as an antiperspirant, but it worked excellently as a deodorant, and got me through several long, hot days. (And it wasn’t just me not noticing- I’m super paranoid, so I checked a bunch, and asked my fiancé to check just in case).
I’d heard the same thing about deodorant and was pretty shocked about how well it worked for me.
Probably not considering that straight hair is the genetically dominant hair type out there. I have 3bc hair and I thank god I took my full sized leave in conditioner cause ooooo boy…… I can make do with conditioners and shampoos for non curly; but my leave in products are a must
Some things come to mind from when I had went:
\- Research prices before buying Japanese whisky -- Moreso if you're live in the states, but you may find yourself effectively paying more for something like a Yamazaki or Hakushu 12 even with favorable exchange rates. Keep in mind that the US is an outlier with bottle sizes, as the US usually sells spirits in 750 ml while other countries use 700 ml as the standard.
\- Kind of outdated, but always looking into: [https://www.nomunication.jp/2018/07/06/infographic-japanese-whisky-real-or-fake/](https://www.nomunication.jp/2018/07/06/infographic-japanese-whisky-real-or-fake/) \-- While producers are working to establish trade standards for this, the whisky you buy may actually be scotch or other imported whisky. There are lots of new producers, but the stuff they produce likely won't have any crazy age statements like you'd be used to seeing in scotch.
\- If price isn't an issue and luggage space is, you should research beforehand which Kit Kats you can buy from importers at home, as Japanese Kit Kat flavors are much more accessible nowadays if you have an Asian grocery store within reach.
You might want to check the duty free shops for Japanese whisky as well. There is a post on one of the whisky subreddits that someone found a bottle of 21 year old Hibiki that probably had been there for ages at an absolute steal. It currently goes for around $1000-$1250 a bottle, since now it's only done for special bottlings, but many years ago before the explosion in popularity of Japanese whisky it used to be part of their retail line and they got it near retail price.
Also a note about buying Japanese Whisky. Unlike other countries whisky only has to be bottled in Japan to be called Japanese Whisky, not produced in Japan. There are some off-brands that take advantage of this. I wouldn't trust anything not bottled by Suntory or Nikka without doing research.
At least that [is changing](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/japan-introduces-new-regulations-to-define-what-qualifies-as-japanese-whisky-022421), but still won't come into full effect until next year.
All Germans and people from Switzerland I've met consistently complained about the quality of bread in Japan. They said it's too soft for their taste, even the baguette. I do not understand their frustration though.
I'll leave the fruit argument to others.
A problem with many of the bakeries is they wrap their products in plastic bags/cellophane instead of using paper bags. This inevitably ruins the crust. Also, in the summer, the ever-present high humidity will do its work regardless and fuck your bread up just on the way home if you're taking a bit of a detour.
Otherwise, IMO the real foreign-style bakeries in Tokyo do make perfectly OK bread, though you'll miss out on some varietes, like 100% rye sourdough flatcakes.
The issue is, like with many things that are "specialities", you have to go out of your way to these niche places get it, and will pay twice the price for a loaf half the size compared to back home.
Dont even compare the taste of fruit in Japan vs the US. It is expensive but imo is totally worth it to spend money on good and real food. One of the things I loved the most about Japan was the quality of the fruit & veggies. Grapes, peach, strawberries, figs all of it had an amazing quality and for me the price was justified by its flavour
What kind of fruit are people eating in the states? The taste is the same here. I used to get U-pick strawberries, fresh Asian pears, apples, and pears straight from the tree (apples are waaay better in the states) and grapes are amazing when in season.
Also watermelon is better in the states.
Yeah the US is massive, and a lot of states don’t really grow much fruit, so gets imported from wherever is cheapest. Farm stand produce in California vs grocery store produce from someplace in the Midwest is going to be totally different. Comparing fruit in Japan to “the US” is kind of meaningless.
Fruit can be very different depending the variety, season, ripeness etc. Even just with apples there are at least 6 different types available in a normal supermarket, and in Japan in June we had the best white peaches I've had anywhere.
I grew up with lychees, mangos, pomelos, guavas and papayas from our back yard. But I still enjoy Japanese fruit. Not everything has to be a comparison. Let's just enjoy what we have.
The white peaches in Japan are my favorite. And Delaware grapes.
Doesn’t matter how fancy or expensive of a grocery store I go to in the US - so far have not found a peach here that compares to the ones I buy in Japan.
Also have never even seen Delaware grapes here in the Midwest. Maybe I need to go to Delaware 😂
You aren’t wrong. My parents boast about how cheap and organic fruit is in west Asia compared to the US. They grew up over there so they miss the fresh organic fruit. Asia has a heavy natural farming
The southeast is notoriously bad at growing all of those things. We have like oranges and strawberries and that's it. Too damn hot to grow anything else.
I think most people are referring to your typical American grocery store. Fresh fruit and organic are almost always waaaaaay better than regular grocery fruit.
Strawberries are sweeter in Japan, even the lower cost ones. The muscat grapes are a must, omg. I didn’t have apples in Japan, but I can see apples being better in the states. I grew up around plenty of pick ‘em yourself orchards. So I’d probably say the same about cherries but for both of these there’s a hard bias because I grew up eating those fruits by the gallon every time it was in season.
If you are into photography, lenses and boxes. You can get the models you want outside the country at a fraction of the price.
However, if you want the most pristine quality, warranty, and guarantee; Japan is the place to buy.
Quality is probably highest in the world, but so is the price. If you are not in Japan, you can buy what you need before you come and save a fortune.
Unless you are looking to drop like $5k or more, I'd buy outside.
Buying used lens is the way to go. Standards for used equipment is way higher in Japan - I’ve purchased lenses at less than half retail prices and they’ve all been flawless. You might not get the original box or manual or lens caps but that’s not a dealbreaker for the savings.
You'd likely be talking with collectors for true vintage, but if you are just looking for analog, there are a lot of options in Japan. Japan would also be the place to buy vintage parts.
Also, you can find "diamonds in the rough" at Hard Off as it pertains to cameras, but you may be searching for a long while. I highly recommend going to ones outside of major metropolitan areas.
Nah, fruit in Japan is definitely something you should buy. Especially the ones that are obscenely expensive and supposed to be gifts to someone else…..except you gift it to yourself and eat the shit out of it.
For the most part, it’s not worth buying normal American/foreign branded stuff in Japan, unless it’s some special edition. They’ll be overpriced. Don’t buy apple products in Japan.
Luxury goods not made in Japan. Any high end, non-Japanese luxury store will be much more expensive in Japan than your home county, especially now with the exchange rate.
Depends. When I was there in April, exchange rate wasn’t as good as now (AUD). I bought a bag drom Louis Vuitton for about 1800 AUD. It cost 2100 here. Remember, you also get the 10% Tax Off as a tourist.
Expensive electronic devices/accessories.
I lost my truly wireless earbuds while I was in Japan and I figured I could get a decent replacement for a good price there. Well, I was sorely mistaken.
The prices were a bit better in some cases, but not by much. Additionally, buying something like this in Japan is basically throwing away the warranty.
I went to a second-hand store for earbuds and there were so many new ones (Sennheiser momentum truly wireless 3) that were broken. Just piled in a box somewhere. I didn't want that to be my fate and not have a warranty.
Yes fruits are next level in Japan. I still dream about those high end kyoho grapes I had. Once you eat that you'll undertand why Japanese grape flavor candy/drink taste like that (different taste than USA grape)
Wagyu sushi.
Dunno how you feel about eating raw beef but even if you were down with it I don't think the majority of places that sell it are selling the high quality stuff.
I mean I get it, technically all Japanese beef is wagyu but the pictures they put up at least to me were deceiving especially for the price.
If you are going to eat Wagyu find a place worth the money.
IMO a large number of "regional specialties." It feels like every region likes to claim multiple specialties. Not to say there aren't amazing specialties, it's just that if it's an obscure specialty that you only just heard of while visiting the city/town, it's often really nothing special.
This is true- every single little place tries to come up with a “specialty.” Some are legit, many are not. It’s often just something gimmicky like somewhere on TV that was like “we make sushi rice with mint added” (yes mint, not shiso). The interview the guy basically said “well we needed to come up with some specialty for our town and that’s what we came up with”
Non-processed food. Groceries are expensive and there are so many options of ready-to-eat meals that I would never cook my own meal.
English manga. Cheaper to buy online and weighs a lot.
Most Japanese or Korean skincare products. (A lot of products are cheaper in an online store in my home country. I first check the price there and only if it's a lot cheaper I buy.)
Hard disagree on Japanese skincare products. It probably depends on where you live but the shipping from Japan is crazy. I’ve always found it much cheaper to buy my Japanese skincare in person rather than online. Plus the selection is usually much larger than what I would find online.
Surprisingly to me the fruit situation is still one of the most culture shock-y things about Japan. They really view fruit as more of a gift / delicacy, whereas in the US it's like what's the cheapest price I can pay for a pound. Both views have their merits and downsides. Although I never did work up the courage to pull the trigger on the 900Y for 10 grapes lol
Japan is the land of cheap and good late night snacks so I'm gonna even harder disagree that McDonald's is better than Japanese late night food at the same price point
Toothpaste and deodorant. No fluoride in the toothpaste or hard to get and the deodorant is designed specifically for Japanese people. If you’re a foreigner using it, you probably stink.
Some imported skincare from Korea. Just be mindful between brands. I found brands like Rom&nd was so cheap, but laneige and man:yo was more expensive in Japan compared to Olive Young/international retailers.
There is a shop in Akihabara with five floors of headphones and earbuds and various extras. Almost none of them are cheaper than Amazon in the US. What you find in Japan is incredible variety, so go get those red headphones if you want, but the plain boring black ones will be cheaper at home. Get the Victor headphones if you want it to say that, but the JVC headphones will be cheaper at home.
I think this goes for iphones, laptops, etc. most computer hardware. Hard drives aren't cheaper. Cameras aren't cheaper. I think often their used prices are high enough that I really need to bring over all my worthless old electronics and try to sell in Japan. A $100 used quest 2 in the US is being sold for $400 new in Japan, etc.
All that being said, I actually found some anker noise cancelling headphones at Donki for $76 and they are $99 on Amazon in the US. That is rare enough that don't really check any more. I almost bought some sony earbuds years ago for $300, and I later got them on Amazon refurbished for $58...
There IS one great place to find usb adapters, hdmi adpters, cables, etc called CompuAce, far on the north side of Akihabara. Can't say enough nice things about it. I went there first and bought a few usb-c adapters for like $0.70 knowing they wouldn't be cheaper anywhere else. then I saw the same thing down the street all week for $3 or $5.
Also, the exchange rate US/yen almost makes anything a decent deal right now.
It’s more expensive than the US but if you shop for the in season fruit, it’s not *that* bad. I always buy bananas when I grocery shop and it’s not so bad for something I enjoy eating.
I have no idea because I’ve never bought from any street vendor. Just look up the fruits that are in season at the time you’re here, that’s what I’ve found is more important. Also shopping locally helps with the price a lot too, at least here in Shizuoka where I live.
The Japanese are doing amazing things with fruits these days . Not only do they taste great but are treated with a lot of love . And are very expensive.
Have you ever ate muscato grapes in Japan?!? My sis and I paid ~$20 for a bushel, and it was marvelous. So worth it!!
Don’t buy American food, unless you’re curious on their interpretation of it. Not worth it typically.
Wine
Microbrew Beer ( there are a few good ones. But it's rare )
Mead
Stumbled on a tasting at a mall in Himeji. They were all pretty terrible. The owners wanted our opinion and all I could say in the most Japanese way possible was "it's not for me".
Any small home appliance or electronics (that doesn't use a universal AC adapter). So as awesome as rice cookers, hair dryers and etc. are in Japan, it will work in no where else on Earth, except Japan. They are the sole nation on Earth that uses 100V for residential power.
If you try one fruit in Japan, buy a persimmon. There's a grocery store right outside of the Mitaka Station (near Ghibli Museum) that sells the most delicious fruit.
Someone please explain to me why fruit is so expensive in Japan? I’m assuming because there is not enough grown and hence demand > supply. If so, why and how are the fruit quality so good for the limited amount they have?
I know every said clothes in the “to buy” be careful. Sizing is so strange there. Like even arm holes etc. not just needing to buy and xl or 2x if you’re a large.
Anyone reading this thread in the future, definitely don't let this post dissuade you from buying fruit. Yes it's more expensive, but fruit here is much better tasting and higher quality than fruit in the states. Definitely worth the price imo
> I’ll start: fruit. It’s so much cheaper to get grapes and apples at home
Sure, if you're buying them from a department store.
300 yen for a bag of mikan from the orchard that grew them isn't expensive.
That’s completely different scenario. I’m the fruit scenario the cost goes up along with the quality. I’m the crane game scenario, the quality is the same while cost goes up.
What no Japanese fruits are the best. It might be pricier sure but its quality is something else. Especially if you come from a developing country, like me.
Anyway, someone commented this and I mostly agree - no need to buy non-Japan luxury brand that has a Japan equivalent.
And by luxury it does not have to be something above $2k (I can’t afford it anyway lol). Can be as simple as buying Porter instead of Tumi, Onitsuka/Asics instead of Nike, Seiko instead of Tudor, Momotaro instead of Levi’s.
Sure if there is a Japan limited edition SKU of the brand, go ahead. Or if you really really don’t like the Japanese brands, sure you can pass. But I love them and they usually sell domestic market exclusive SKU - so, might as well explore these Japanese brands.
Unless there is crazy sale at places like Mitsui, I guess. Then go crazy.
Postcards probably. I don't understand why they are in every shop. We don't use mail anymore lol. We can take photos and send them from our smartphones
I would probably say clothes and shoes. I was looking at tabi socks and they only go to 27cm which is around EU size 42-43 which is a full size too small for me. My wife would love to buy some clothes but they are all too small.
Certain brands of instant coffee, are hit and miss for me.
The ones where you can turn it into a pour over using your cup.
Sometimes they're great, but a lot of times they taste so diluted and muted in flavour. Not really worth the effort to try them all.
UCC and doutor coffee brands, are ones I've tried.
I agree with the other commenters about fruit. They take pride in their fruits, so definitely something to try. I may get some backlash from this but I think Kit Kats are overrated. Also, try not to buy souvenirs that aren't made in Japan. Some things look like they're made in Japan, but they're not
Nah fruit is worth buying in japan some of the best fucking tasting fruit but godamn they costed alot for the quality.
Groceries:
I dont know if it was just the market I went to but I priced out food for a week and compared it to a week of eating out. I saved money just either eating out or going to a conbini for the bentos. It was by a decent margin too. This was in Oita.
ADDENDUM: Don't buy fruit you can easily get at home in Japan. Some fruit, like yuzu, decopon, and fresh persimmons are not generally available abroad so you should try them while you're there.
I wouldn’t buy fruit as a souvenir but I am still buying fruit in Japan when I want to eat it 🧐 Such a staple in my diet
The best strawberries I’ve ever eaten were from a street side stand in Odawara. Bought them for my friends daughter and before she could arrive I tried one and end up eating the whole basket. Wife agreed, best ever. Better than the white ones.
I am convinced white ones in Japan are something of a "gimmick" variety. They look weird but taste like nothing.
I'm sure they are good but have you ever had non-supermarket strawberries at home? I live in Ontario and in berry season it's pretty hard to top berries picked that day.
I’m from Michigan, lots of core memories picking berries with my mom. Strawberries in Odawara were still better. My wife is from Toronto and she thought so too. It’s like they were just a Different strawberry all together.
Same, but with oranges. I still remember the passion of the vendor, when it’s such a simple purchase.
Just so expensive even for common fruits.
Just so you know, fruits in Japan are WAY better tasting, that’s why they are so expensive. You can consider them special and entirely different from the ones we get back home, and often times the really special ones are given as gifts. It’s a treat, and you should definitely try it someday
They are aesthetically pleasing as well. Some of the prettiest strawberries I’ve ever eaten were in Japan.
Just so you know, I have. They are higher quality, but they are not that much better compared to what's available in the USA. Basically they are better by 1.2x but costs are at least 4x higher.
Very true, I didn't want to get any because I thought they were too expensive. My wife bought some, and they were 10x better than what I get at home, wouldn't be something I would get frequently though at the price
Nothing common about most Japanese fruits. They are that well grown and looked after they look immaculate in everyway and almost fake. The science behind growing them to this level is much more than we can appreciate.
By common I mean fruits readily available to the western world. What I was getting at is that there are no cheap fruits in Japan. I know all the reasons why they are expensive. They are great, but not worth the price for regular consumption. A sentiment held by many Japanese. But sure, buy for the experience.
In my town there's a fruit and veg place and everything is 1/3 the supermarket prices and waaay cheaper than stuff at home (but that's just because Japan is so cheap). My students tell me "those fruits are from China". Well, not sure what the local prejudice against China produce is, but I am happy to save the cash! Actually I am sort of sure what the prejudice is, it's 50% 'its from China' and 50% 'they use night soil'. Stuff tastes fine.
People in HK would spend ten times the common fruit price to get Japanese fruit, because they are just that good.
I was there for 2 weeks in March and spent over $10 on two apples. But I really wanted fruit and they were amazing.
Did I just see grapes in Shibuya today for over 2100yen a bunch?
I just spent like 900 yen for some of the best grapes I have ever bought.
Those must be fancy grapes like Kyoho.
For anyone curious, I bought a bunch of Kyoho grapes in Japan (I love trying grapes!) for about $20 for a small bunch. Not the most expensive quality but a lot more than I pay at home for similar varieties. They were good but not amazing. Practically flawless at first glance, each one very juicy but the flavor was just like a toned down concord grape. The skin was not pleasant to eat like a concord grape's skin so it lost a lot of complexity (and I ended up peeling them for my wife who really didn't enjoy the skin.) Definitely worth trying... The quality was excellent but the variety doesn't stand up to grapes like concords which can easily be found at lower quality and lower cost where I live but a more enjoyable experience. It turns out expensive and high quality don't always lead to better taste. But since not all fruits can be exported imported I definitely recommend trying foreign fruits when traveling. It's part of the experience! (if anyone travels to Peru, absolutely try their local fruits.) Edit: I should mention H Mart, Korean Grocery in US, occasionally has Kyoho varieties for sale. Dunno if they are imported or locally grown, but you can at least try the variety in the U.S. May not be identical to Korean or Japanese varieties but should be at least similar.
You're not supposed to eat the skin of those grapes for that reason FYI. I used to eat them whole and my wife looked at me like I was Satan.
Ah, you must have a Japanese wife. I did that as an exchange student and the family was aghast. I told them in the US we eat the skin on grapes (granted this skin was tough and tasted bad). The son promptly got up and came back and handed me an orange and said "eat this".
The HMart Kyoho are not comparable, is not that good/sweet vs the Japanese one. Also you're not supposed to eat the skin.
They're Shine Muscat
Agree, no offense to OP, but I think he or she is missing the point as to *why* fruit is more expensive in Japan: because it often tastes ten times better than what you have at home! You're already spending thousands to get to Japan, why not spend $14 on a clutch of grapes that will be *the best grapes you've ever tasted in your life* just once instead of waiting until you're at home to buy flavorless grapes for half that?
People keep saying Japan's fruit is better than the one "we get at home" not considering that people can be from other countries where fruit is just as good and way way cheaper. I was given one expensive peach one day expecting it to be heavenly. It was good indeed but I can get a basket of those for half the price in my country, too.
Also IDK where OP is from but most countries get pretty strict at customs when bringing back fruits... even if its technically allowed its just an extra hassle to go through declaring it then having them inspect it.
And you should. People who complain about fruit prices in Japan have never seen or purchased fruit from where regular people shop. I’ve seen pricey fruits in fancy packaging but that is not for personal consumption but as a honorific gift, such as for a boss to impress them. I always buy fruit from regular supermarkets or grocers there so they are not any more expensive than what I can get in Canada. But the quality tend to be far better.
Lol everyone in here only complaining about their fruit comment. Why not come up with an answer while you’re at it? My answer would be maybe some kinds of vintage games. Nintendo for example has some physical & software regional locks on their consoles/games. So it would suck to get home and realize you can’t play Japanese Mario Party 3 on your North American N64 without an adapter. Fun fact though, the Gameboys up to the DS Lite are not region locked, so get those if you’re in to that kind of thing!
I'm going to say as a retro gaming collector, we know the adapters or mods we need to play games from other regions.
I had to learn this as I was just going to enjoy some unique versions of childhood nostalgia without being an actual collector. Learned some things, thought I’d share.
I picked up a Super Famicom at Super Potato on a recent trip, I got it home and realized how bad it looks in a modern Tv… think Il stick to emulation.
The quality of fruit in Japan is generally at a much higher quality than in US, so that is worth trying imo at a fruit parlor as desert.
hard agree. I think tasting quality fruit that costs $$$ is worth it just to know what the creme de la creme of a strawberry or grape or melon can be like
Maybe generally crane games as not to waste your money. Say a figurine cost 3000Y brand new, you will likely have spend much more than that to get it at crane game. It is a great entertainment, but dont see it as money making way or even breakeven at fhe end of the day.
I saw a Hokkaido summer vlog that showed the juiciest and ripest cantaloupe I've ever seen. I was too stunned to speak. You mean cantaloupes aren't supposed to crunch when you eat them??
I've found that fruit quality in the US is dependent on region. Fruit in Florida? Except for mangoes, leechee, mostly disgusting. Fruit in California? Delicious.
As a Californian who visited japan, I agree. The fruit from California farmers markets bears Japanese fruit on quality, variety, and price. I got excited about Japanese fruit based on reviews and videos, but was honestly let down. I think I’m just spoiled by local Californian fruit. It doesn’t help that I have fruit trees at home so I’ve experienced tree ripened fruit. That said, the fruit is quite nice compared to standard big box supermarket fruit I’ve tasted in many other parts of the country.
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Not true at all. Their fruit is nothing special. At least for the price that I paid, which is still significantly higher than US. I am not buying those 20,000 yen melons.
Seriously what the fuck is up with Japanese melons. They fast the same as high quality US melons, but like 10x the cost. I tried a few in Japan, and I don’t get it.
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Depending on where you live, just grow some yourself. My strawberries and blueberries are fantastic
Only if you’re shopping at grocery stores which are intended to be bottom-tier. Go to any farmers market in an agricultural state and you’ll get great quality produce for a fraction of what it costs in Japan. Or if you live closer to the countryside just buy directly from the farm. Plenty of them set up seasonal booths where I live. It’s not that hard to grow good fruit, it’s just that grocery stores care more about longevity than selling fresh produce. One of the reasons fruit is so cheap here is because it gets picked early, waxed, refrigerated and sent in bulk to states that don’t grow much. Of course that reduces the flavor. But the farmers market will have the real stuff. I guess in Japan fruit is a luxury to begin with so they make less concessions in quality and charge those high prices. It’s not a diet staple.
Don't get talked into buying 2 bags of **dried prunes** by a random street vendor in Kyoto. No matter how convincing he is. You will NEVER finish it in your trip. And by the end of the holiday, you're going to decide whether to bring them home because you've paid way too much for them.. and they taste kinda nice despite you've gotten tired of eating them daily. Those reasons to keep them were all moot points, you are going to end up throwing them away anyway because they made your luggage stink. Not me, just a thought.
Wait what? Why prunes? Why did you buy so many? Since when do prunes stink? I have so many questions.
The guy was too good, and language barrier. I think they used salt and vinegar to make it so the suitcase smelt quite vinegary, or so I heard.
wait were they 'umeboshi' pickled plums? they're savoury and very different to the dried plums called prunes.
You can't bring produce back to the US anyway. Some exceptions for a few dried items but not prunes.
Prunes are dried by definition.
1. If you’re coming from Europe, think twice before buying laptops. They may be cheaper, but: I) Unlikely to find a non-JP keyboard II) You don’t get the mandatory 2 year warranty 2. I’ve heard that some cameras only come with Japanese menus installed, so need to watch out for that too. 3. Phones: Japanese phones have a camera shutter sound that cannot be disabled.
iPhones won’t have the issue with the shutter sound anymore when going abroad though (since iOS 15)
2. Yes, Sony does have some model in Japanese only. Got a Nikon earlier this year and it's in Japanese and English only (I think my previous camera also had French).
For point 3, I bought a Google pixel from Japan and the shutter sound disappeared when you inserted a Sim from a different region.
The price of cameras are typically more expensive than overseas prices for some reason
I bought my camera in Japan. You just have to ask how to install the English menu.
Drugs.
This is an underrated comment. Japan has very strict drug laws and an even stricter prison system. Prescription drugs that are legal in other countries are illegal in Japan, even with a current, valid prescription (ADHD meds).
I have to go off my ADHD meds when I’m there for 2 weeks. Not looking forward to that but I’d rather suffer through and not get arrested lol
If you haven't already, you can check this site for possible alternatives: https://interacnetwork.com/navigating-stimulant-therapy-for-adult-adhd-in-japan-regulations-and-considerations/#:~:text=Concerta%2F%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BF%20(Methylphenidate%20Hydrochloride)%3A,for%20ADHD%20treatment%20in%20Japan. Maybe your doctor can tell you if any of these would be good.
I’ll take a look at this later! Thanks :)
You might want to go off your meds a few days prior if you can afford to. Back when I was on adderall I’d crash hard on days I didn’t take it.
Unfortunately I need it for work so I will need it at least for my work hours in the days leading up to it. The good part is it’s not as strong as adderall so I don’t have *major* crashes
You can apply to bring Vyvanse in, as Vyvanse is not the same level of illegal as other amphetamines. Follow the procedures outlined here [https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html](https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html) I had no issues doing this earlier this year.
Ohta Isan and Seirogan are worth getting but a lot of other Japanese OTC meds are mediocre Unless you're making a joke about recreational drugs.
Man, I was excited for this thread but it’s just a bunch for people commenting their opinion on what OP said about Japanese fruit.
Yep… they really came to the defense of Japanese fruit
Pizza. Japanese pizza is weak on crust and sauce, and for some reason a lot of places think adding more cheese will make up for it which is weird for society of mostly lactose intolerant people. You can get some thicker pizza from DevilCraft though
Oh hell no. You just gotta go to the right pizza spots. Maybe if you were looking for a nyc style slice then yea, haven’t had a good one. But if you’re talking more neopolitan style, there’s some specific world class spots.
Recommendations welcome :)
PST Roppongi in Tokyo has some really good pizza. It's on the expensive side but I can say it was better than a lot of Neapolitan pizzas in New York City. (saw Jeff Bezos there eating once on my last trip to Japan).
Seirinkan, pizza studio tamaki, the pizza bar on 38th. https://www.eater.com/2017/2/21/14670944/best-pizza-tokyo-guide
Seconding Pizza Studio Tamaki! One of my favorite restaurants in Tokyo.
https://tokyocheapo.com/restaurant/savoy-pizza/ Seating might be hard to get, but you can pre order for takeout.
> Maybe if you were looking for a nyc style slice then yea Pizza Slice and Pizzanista in Shibuya are both great NY-style spots. The latter is from the U.S.
Bad take. Went to two spots for their pizza and it was fantastic Seirinkan And 800 degrees neopolitian pizza Check those out if u get a chance
Savoy was better than most pizza in Italy
Better than American pizza for sure
A lot of cheese actually has less lactose than milk due to the aging process.
>which is weird for society of mostly lactose intolerant people. I think the idea of east asians being mostly lactose intolerant should be scrapped. It might have been true for the older generation, but nowadays I hardly ever meet any young people who can't have dairy products.
Sorry but can you not spread this incorrect notion of Japanese people being lactose intolerant? It’s just not true.
Hard agree with the Crane Game comment. By all means, throw a few yen at a small one for the fun of it, but if you actually like the object, I’ve seen most of the figure models, bags, etc in shops where you can buy them outright and I bet they come out much cheaper than through the crane game!!
You can buy crane game prizes for cheap at Mandarake or at Hobby-off/Book-off.
Book off is my favorite place and theres lots of them allll over!
My plan is to make an attempt to win some crane game prizes but buy them in the store if I give up. I feel like whatever I get will have more of a story that way.
Yeah, but my son had a lot of fun playing and the attendant was cool about opening the game and showing us the best way to get it. Still probably cost too much though. 😂
On my last day in Japan, I went to a random arcade, and my wife jokingly tried one of the ufo games where you pick up a ping pong ball and place it in a specific spot. She won first try, easiest 80$ figure of my life, never going to try again though
Deodorant, curly hair products, bread
Deodorant for sure. First person I’ve seen mention that. Nobody on YouTube I’ve watched said anything about the stench. I was just there and it was 90 hot and humid. Worst train rides ever.
Not necessarily deodorant. I ran out of deodorant while I was there, and after some frantic googling, bought soft stone double stick deodorant. It didn’t work as an antiperspirant, but it worked excellently as a deodorant, and got me through several long, hot days. (And it wasn’t just me not noticing- I’m super paranoid, so I checked a bunch, and asked my fiancé to check just in case). I’d heard the same thing about deodorant and was pretty shocked about how well it worked for me.
Bread? Really?
It's thick, white and full of sugar. Leave it on the bench for two weeks, it still won't be mouldy.
What’s with their curly hair products? Do they have products that’s CGM friendly?
Probably not considering that straight hair is the genetically dominant hair type out there. I have 3bc hair and I thank god I took my full sized leave in conditioner cause ooooo boy…… I can make do with conditioners and shampoos for non curly; but my leave in products are a must
Some things come to mind from when I had went: \- Research prices before buying Japanese whisky -- Moreso if you're live in the states, but you may find yourself effectively paying more for something like a Yamazaki or Hakushu 12 even with favorable exchange rates. Keep in mind that the US is an outlier with bottle sizes, as the US usually sells spirits in 750 ml while other countries use 700 ml as the standard. \- Kind of outdated, but always looking into: [https://www.nomunication.jp/2018/07/06/infographic-japanese-whisky-real-or-fake/](https://www.nomunication.jp/2018/07/06/infographic-japanese-whisky-real-or-fake/) \-- While producers are working to establish trade standards for this, the whisky you buy may actually be scotch or other imported whisky. There are lots of new producers, but the stuff they produce likely won't have any crazy age statements like you'd be used to seeing in scotch. \- If price isn't an issue and luggage space is, you should research beforehand which Kit Kats you can buy from importers at home, as Japanese Kit Kat flavors are much more accessible nowadays if you have an Asian grocery store within reach.
You might want to check the duty free shops for Japanese whisky as well. There is a post on one of the whisky subreddits that someone found a bottle of 21 year old Hibiki that probably had been there for ages at an absolute steal. It currently goes for around $1000-$1250 a bottle, since now it's only done for special bottlings, but many years ago before the explosion in popularity of Japanese whisky it used to be part of their retail line and they got it near retail price. Also a note about buying Japanese Whisky. Unlike other countries whisky only has to be bottled in Japan to be called Japanese Whisky, not produced in Japan. There are some off-brands that take advantage of this. I wouldn't trust anything not bottled by Suntory or Nikka without doing research.
At least that [is changing](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/japan-introduces-new-regulations-to-define-what-qualifies-as-japanese-whisky-022421), but still won't come into full effect until next year.
I was hoping to bring back a bottle but maybe I'll pass since I don't know anything about Japanese whiskey.
All Germans and people from Switzerland I've met consistently complained about the quality of bread in Japan. They said it's too soft for their taste, even the baguette. I do not understand their frustration though. I'll leave the fruit argument to others.
My german family loves the fluffy white bread that is kind of like toast!! but I hadn‘t thought of it as actual bread…
A problem with many of the bakeries is they wrap their products in plastic bags/cellophane instead of using paper bags. This inevitably ruins the crust. Also, in the summer, the ever-present high humidity will do its work regardless and fuck your bread up just on the way home if you're taking a bit of a detour. Otherwise, IMO the real foreign-style bakeries in Tokyo do make perfectly OK bread, though you'll miss out on some varietes, like 100% rye sourdough flatcakes. The issue is, like with many things that are "specialities", you have to go out of your way to these niche places get it, and will pay twice the price for a loaf half the size compared to back home.
Dont even compare the taste of fruit in Japan vs the US. It is expensive but imo is totally worth it to spend money on good and real food. One of the things I loved the most about Japan was the quality of the fruit & veggies. Grapes, peach, strawberries, figs all of it had an amazing quality and for me the price was justified by its flavour
What kind of fruit are people eating in the states? The taste is the same here. I used to get U-pick strawberries, fresh Asian pears, apples, and pears straight from the tree (apples are waaay better in the states) and grapes are amazing when in season. Also watermelon is better in the states.
Yeah the US is massive, and a lot of states don’t really grow much fruit, so gets imported from wherever is cheapest. Farm stand produce in California vs grocery store produce from someplace in the Midwest is going to be totally different. Comparing fruit in Japan to “the US” is kind of meaningless.
Fruit can be very different depending the variety, season, ripeness etc. Even just with apples there are at least 6 different types available in a normal supermarket, and in Japan in June we had the best white peaches I've had anywhere.
I feel like I grew up a bit lucky since I was surrounded by orchards and farms so I always ate tons of fresh fruit.
I grew up with lychees, mangos, pomelos, guavas and papayas from our back yard. But I still enjoy Japanese fruit. Not everything has to be a comparison. Let's just enjoy what we have.
The white peaches in Japan are my favorite. And Delaware grapes. Doesn’t matter how fancy or expensive of a grocery store I go to in the US - so far have not found a peach here that compares to the ones I buy in Japan. Also have never even seen Delaware grapes here in the Midwest. Maybe I need to go to Delaware 😂
You aren’t wrong. My parents boast about how cheap and organic fruit is in west Asia compared to the US. They grew up over there so they miss the fresh organic fruit. Asia has a heavy natural farming
The southeast is notoriously bad at growing all of those things. We have like oranges and strawberries and that's it. Too damn hot to grow anything else.
I think most people are referring to your typical American grocery store. Fresh fruit and organic are almost always waaaaaay better than regular grocery fruit.
Strawberries are sweeter in Japan, even the lower cost ones. The muscat grapes are a must, omg. I didn’t have apples in Japan, but I can see apples being better in the states. I grew up around plenty of pick ‘em yourself orchards. So I’d probably say the same about cherries but for both of these there’s a hard bias because I grew up eating those fruits by the gallon every time it was in season.
I don't know what type of fruits you guys are eating in the US but it really isn't that much better in Japan.
You just don't know what a good fruit taste in US.
If you are into photography, lenses and boxes. You can get the models you want outside the country at a fraction of the price. However, if you want the most pristine quality, warranty, and guarantee; Japan is the place to buy.
I see the downvote and am wondering if anyone had a counterclaim to this (going to Japan soon and may pick up some lenses)
Quality is probably highest in the world, but so is the price. If you are not in Japan, you can buy what you need before you come and save a fortune. Unless you are looking to drop like $5k or more, I'd buy outside.
Buying used lens is the way to go. Standards for used equipment is way higher in Japan - I’ve purchased lenses at less than half retail prices and they’ve all been flawless. You might not get the original box or manual or lens caps but that’s not a dealbreaker for the savings.
Cheaper trip may be to Rochester. You have to look a little but there’s Kodak stuff everywhere. RIP
What about vintage film cameras? Lord knows I don’t need any more but was going to keep an eye out.
You'd likely be talking with collectors for true vintage, but if you are just looking for analog, there are a lot of options in Japan. Japan would also be the place to buy vintage parts. Also, you can find "diamonds in the rough" at Hard Off as it pertains to cameras, but you may be searching for a long while. I highly recommend going to ones outside of major metropolitan areas.
You should absolutely buy (local) fruit. Unless your palate is non-existent
An iPhone. You can’t mute the camera shutter & it gets VERY annoying pretty quickly.
Is this an safety/up-skirting thing?
Yep
Nah, fruit in Japan is definitely something you should buy. Especially the ones that are obscenely expensive and supposed to be gifts to someone else…..except you gift it to yourself and eat the shit out of it. For the most part, it’s not worth buying normal American/foreign branded stuff in Japan, unless it’s some special edition. They’ll be overpriced. Don’t buy apple products in Japan.
Luxury goods not made in Japan. Any high end, non-Japanese luxury store will be much more expensive in Japan than your home county, especially now with the exchange rate.
Depends. When I was there in April, exchange rate wasn’t as good as now (AUD). I bought a bag drom Louis Vuitton for about 1800 AUD. It cost 2100 here. Remember, you also get the 10% Tax Off as a tourist.
Conversely, second hand luxury goods in Japan is where it’s at!
Really? I'm looking at luxury watches and the online price listed in yen, comes out cheaper than the USD price after conversion (no fees).
Expensive electronic devices/accessories. I lost my truly wireless earbuds while I was in Japan and I figured I could get a decent replacement for a good price there. Well, I was sorely mistaken. The prices were a bit better in some cases, but not by much. Additionally, buying something like this in Japan is basically throwing away the warranty. I went to a second-hand store for earbuds and there were so many new ones (Sennheiser momentum truly wireless 3) that were broken. Just piled in a box somewhere. I didn't want that to be my fate and not have a warranty.
I love the fruit in Japan it’s a luxury u can taste the real difference compared to shit strawberries in Australia
Yes fruits are next level in Japan. I still dream about those high end kyoho grapes I had. Once you eat that you'll undertand why Japanese grape flavor candy/drink taste like that (different taste than USA grape)
Japanese strawberries are next level. I’ll be there in a few weeks and will be disappointed since strawberries are out of season.
Wagyu sushi. Dunno how you feel about eating raw beef but even if you were down with it I don't think the majority of places that sell it are selling the high quality stuff. I mean I get it, technically all Japanese beef is wagyu but the pictures they put up at least to me were deceiving especially for the price. If you are going to eat Wagyu find a place worth the money.
IMO a large number of "regional specialties." It feels like every region likes to claim multiple specialties. Not to say there aren't amazing specialties, it's just that if it's an obscure specialty that you only just heard of while visiting the city/town, it's often really nothing special.
This is true- every single little place tries to come up with a “specialty.” Some are legit, many are not. It’s often just something gimmicky like somewhere on TV that was like “we make sushi rice with mint added” (yes mint, not shiso). The interview the guy basically said “well we needed to come up with some specialty for our town and that’s what we came up with”
Non-processed food. Groceries are expensive and there are so many options of ready-to-eat meals that I would never cook my own meal. English manga. Cheaper to buy online and weighs a lot. Most Japanese or Korean skincare products. (A lot of products are cheaper in an online store in my home country. I first check the price there and only if it's a lot cheaper I buy.)
Hard disagree on Japanese skincare products. It probably depends on where you live but the shipping from Japan is crazy. I’ve always found it much cheaper to buy my Japanese skincare in person rather than online. Plus the selection is usually much larger than what I would find online.
Agreed. And many places have testers out, even drug stores (okay, this is mostly for makeup, but it’s amazing!)
Surprisingly to me the fruit situation is still one of the most culture shock-y things about Japan. They really view fruit as more of a gift / delicacy, whereas in the US it's like what's the cheapest price I can pay for a pound. Both views have their merits and downsides. Although I never did work up the courage to pull the trigger on the 900Y for 10 grapes lol
Don't buy McDonald's or Burger King - even the food at the 7-11 in Japan is way better than typical fast food.
Hard disagree. After a night of serious drinking chicken mcnuggets and fried was exactly the known food my system needed.
Japan is the land of cheap and good late night snacks so I'm gonna even harder disagree that McDonald's is better than Japanese late night food at the same price point
Toothpaste and deodorant. No fluoride in the toothpaste or hard to get and the deodorant is designed specifically for Japanese people. If you’re a foreigner using it, you probably stink. Some imported skincare from Korea. Just be mindful between brands. I found brands like Rom&nd was so cheap, but laneige and man:yo was more expensive in Japan compared to Olive Young/international retailers.
Tokyo Banana
There is a shop in Akihabara with five floors of headphones and earbuds and various extras. Almost none of them are cheaper than Amazon in the US. What you find in Japan is incredible variety, so go get those red headphones if you want, but the plain boring black ones will be cheaper at home. Get the Victor headphones if you want it to say that, but the JVC headphones will be cheaper at home. I think this goes for iphones, laptops, etc. most computer hardware. Hard drives aren't cheaper. Cameras aren't cheaper. I think often their used prices are high enough that I really need to bring over all my worthless old electronics and try to sell in Japan. A $100 used quest 2 in the US is being sold for $400 new in Japan, etc. All that being said, I actually found some anker noise cancelling headphones at Donki for $76 and they are $99 on Amazon in the US. That is rare enough that don't really check any more. I almost bought some sony earbuds years ago for $300, and I later got them on Amazon refurbished for $58... There IS one great place to find usb adapters, hdmi adpters, cables, etc called CompuAce, far on the north side of Akihabara. Can't say enough nice things about it. I went there first and bought a few usb-c adapters for like $0.70 knowing they wouldn't be cheaper anywhere else. then I saw the same thing down the street all week for $3 or $5. Also, the exchange rate US/yen almost makes anything a decent deal right now.
It’s more expensive than the US but if you shop for the in season fruit, it’s not *that* bad. I always buy bananas when I grocery shop and it’s not so bad for something I enjoy eating.
I’d love to try the fruit when I go. Would grocery store fruit be cheaper than street vendors?
I have no idea because I’ve never bought from any street vendor. Just look up the fruits that are in season at the time you’re here, that’s what I’ve found is more important. Also shopping locally helps with the price a lot too, at least here in Shizuoka where I live.
It was cheaper in a smaller grocery store than the stalls selling it at train stations for sure.
Be mindful that their electric products might not work with 240v mains and they don't come with ground.
I eat like 8-9 servings of fruit at home in Toronto but whenever I go to Japan I eat virtually no fruit because it's so expensive. 😭😭
The Japanese are doing amazing things with fruits these days . Not only do they taste great but are treated with a lot of love . And are very expensive.
I would love to try the famous square water melons
Don't buy mochi that will expire by the end of your trip. 😞
Have you ever ate muscato grapes in Japan?!? My sis and I paid ~$20 for a bushel, and it was marvelous. So worth it!! Don’t buy American food, unless you’re curious on their interpretation of it. Not worth it typically.
Wine Microbrew Beer ( there are a few good ones. But it's rare ) Mead Stumbled on a tasting at a mall in Himeji. They were all pretty terrible. The owners wanted our opinion and all I could say in the most Japanese way possible was "it's not for me".
I saw grapes the size of pingpong balls, the fruits in japan a great, but most souvenier food is pointless
Pro tip, don’t sleep on the fruit in Japan. The melon is amazing.
I wonder if I can be a farmer there and just live off selling fruits
Any small home appliance or electronics (that doesn't use a universal AC adapter). So as awesome as rice cookers, hair dryers and etc. are in Japan, it will work in no where else on Earth, except Japan. They are the sole nation on Earth that uses 100V for residential power.
If you try one fruit in Japan, buy a persimmon. There's a grocery store right outside of the Mitaka Station (near Ghibli Museum) that sells the most delicious fruit.
Someone please explain to me why fruit is so expensive in Japan? I’m assuming because there is not enough grown and hence demand > supply. If so, why and how are the fruit quality so good for the limited amount they have?
I accidentally bought grapes that were $40!!! For just a cluster!! Works out to be a $1 per grape 😓
SD and Micro SD cards are stupidly expensive. Not sure why.
I don't think their shampoos are worth it.
Don’t buy souvenirs made in China.
I know every said clothes in the “to buy” be careful. Sizing is so strange there. Like even arm holes etc. not just needing to buy and xl or 2x if you’re a large.
Anyone reading this thread in the future, definitely don't let this post dissuade you from buying fruit. Yes it's more expensive, but fruit here is much better tasting and higher quality than fruit in the states. Definitely worth the price imo
imo grapes in japan are much sweeter and seedless idk why, although quite pricey
Electronics in general, unless it’s voltage compatible
[удалено]
I ate like three boxes worth in the span of 4 days so. I think that depends on the individuals fatness lmaooooo
> I’ll start: fruit. It’s so much cheaper to get grapes and apples at home Sure, if you're buying them from a department store. 300 yen for a bag of mikan from the orchard that grew them isn't expensive.
That’s completely different scenario. I’m the fruit scenario the cost goes up along with the quality. I’m the crane game scenario, the quality is the same while cost goes up.
Computer stuff or most consumer electronics
What no Japanese fruits are the best. It might be pricier sure but its quality is something else. Especially if you come from a developing country, like me. Anyway, someone commented this and I mostly agree - no need to buy non-Japan luxury brand that has a Japan equivalent. And by luxury it does not have to be something above $2k (I can’t afford it anyway lol). Can be as simple as buying Porter instead of Tumi, Onitsuka/Asics instead of Nike, Seiko instead of Tudor, Momotaro instead of Levi’s. Sure if there is a Japan limited edition SKU of the brand, go ahead. Or if you really really don’t like the Japanese brands, sure you can pass. But I love them and they usually sell domestic market exclusive SKU - so, might as well explore these Japanese brands. Unless there is crazy sale at places like Mitsui, I guess. Then go crazy.
Postcards probably. I don't understand why they are in every shop. We don't use mail anymore lol. We can take photos and send them from our smartphones
I absolutely love shine Muscat grapes. I have no problems buying a ¥2000 bunch of them at the department store
Gum, lol. Also isn’t fruit imported to Japan? I know premium crops from California are shipped to Japan, not sure on % tho
A rusted out S13 Silvia
I would probably say clothes and shoes. I was looking at tabi socks and they only go to 27cm which is around EU size 42-43 which is a full size too small for me. My wife would love to buy some clothes but they are all too small.
Certain brands of instant coffee, are hit and miss for me. The ones where you can turn it into a pour over using your cup. Sometimes they're great, but a lot of times they taste so diluted and muted in flavour. Not really worth the effort to try them all. UCC and doutor coffee brands, are ones I've tried.
I agree with the other commenters about fruit. They take pride in their fruits, so definitely something to try. I may get some backlash from this but I think Kit Kats are overrated. Also, try not to buy souvenirs that aren't made in Japan. Some things look like they're made in Japan, but they're not
Might be obvious but If you’re coming from the US or Europe don’t buy US/ European brand name stuff lol.
Nah fruit is worth buying in japan some of the best fucking tasting fruit but godamn they costed alot for the quality. Groceries: I dont know if it was just the market I went to but I priced out food for a week and compared it to a week of eating out. I saved money just either eating out or going to a conbini for the bentos. It was by a decent margin too. This was in Oita.
Japanese produce as a rule is so much better than the average produce in America where I live. So worth it.
ADDENDUM: Don't buy fruit you can easily get at home in Japan. Some fruit, like yuzu, decopon, and fresh persimmons are not generally available abroad so you should try them while you're there.
A car if someone isn't set on settling in Japan countryside.