Japan is a wonderful place to visit, and even much so to live. Being such a developed nation which still holds their tradition and cultural roots dear to them makes it a very fascinating place to situate yourself in. It is unlike anything I have experienced seeing wooden traditional houses among the concrete blocks of apartment buildings, or the scattering of temples and shrines with their often fiery rad exterior juxtaposing among the sea of grey and black. Also, being able to try new Japanese food that I have never even heard of is an added bonus. For sure, there are many that I am thankful for having been able to live in Japan thus far and of course, many others travel here to Japan to share in these wonderful experiences.
However, it is not all sunshine and roses. There are always a few things that are a bit off and that is just life. Nothing is ever perfect. Anywhere you go in the world, there are just some things that you will find to be a little more expensive than you expected. Certainly, there could be a myriad of reasons for the difference in cost when compared to my home country, Singapore. In fact, there are even some things that are more pricey back home compared to Japan (look out for the article about this!).However, I have taken it in stride and made the best out of the situation.
Hence, I am going to share with you 7 items that are surprisingly more expensive based on my comparison with prices in Singapore that I grew accustomed to. Hopefully, if you are travelling to Japan, you may want to avoid it or take note of some of the tips to save you some money.
1. Groceries - Fresh Produce
This may not come as a surprise to some as you may have heard about the soaring prices of some of the premium fruits in Japan can fetch, such as the square watermelons, strawberries and more. However, these steep prices do not account only for the premium fruits, but also across all groceries, especially fresh produce. Fruits and vegetables in Japan are generally more expensive, probably considering that most of them have to be imported from overseas.
For example, a stalk of broccoli would cost about ¥158 (S$2.03) but in Singapore, it would cost half of that. Same for fruits. A bunch of 5 bananas will be about ¥198 (2.54) but in Singapore, you could get double of that for the same price. Not only that, a 5kg pack of rice costs upwards of ¥1,500 (S$19.27) but you could get a 10kg pack for a bit more in Singapore.
These are just some of the examples of how groceries can be a bit steep and the costs can add up quite quickly. Also, I have noticed that some products, like bread or dairy products, have faster expiry date here, but that could be due to the nature of ingredients or to ensure the highest level of freshness. Regardless, I still got to eat and I cook a lot. So, some of the things I do to cut costs is to visit different supermarkets for different needs. Fortunately, I have three different supermarket chains near me - Life, Seiyu and Gyomu Super. For fresh produce, Gyomu Super tends to be cheapest. Toiletries, such as tissues or fresh produce, are also reasonable at Seiyu. Life is usually the most expensive out of the bunch, but they have the widest variety and often, they have items on clearance at the end of the day where you can score some good deals on pre-cooked food or baked goods.
2. Electronics
The Japanese produce some of the world's amazing technology and many large electronic companies were founded in Japan, like Panasonic, Sharp, Canon, Nikon and many more. So, one would expect that buying electronics from this home brands in the country of origin might be cheaper. However, you might be disappointed. Often than not, these electronic products may be more expensive than in your own country due to several reasons. One of the reasons is that these products are manufactured all over the world. Hence, those manufactured in other parts of the world and shipped to your country may turn out to be cheaper compared to those made locally in Japan. However, some people actually prefer those made in Japan because of the level of craftsmanship and novelty. In that case, you may have to be prepared to pay a little bit, or a lot, more.
For example, you might be interested in buying a DSLR camera from renowned camera-makers like Canon. Just for comparison, a Canon EOS 90D (body only) costs ¥165,000 (S$2,120) whereas the price in Singapore is S$1,779, which is a S$341 difference. And that is with tax-free.
Therefore, I would generally advise staying away from electronics in Japan unless it is the novelty of having bought it in Japan that you are looking for. Having said that, it does not mean you can not find good deals on electronics. You might want to survey Don Quijote which carry loads of different items, including electronics. They sometimes have really good deals. Also, if you are residing in Japan, consider looking on Amazon, as the prices that are sometimes equivalent to the tax-free price. Anything to save some extra money, right? Or, you can go to Nitori, a home and lifestyle store where they have their own line of electronics which are reasonably priced. I practically bought half of my kitchen appliances there because they were cheap and minimalistic too.
3. Transport - Trains & Taxis
Another thing that Japan are well-known for is their trains. Japan has one of the most extensive and diversified rail networks, from its high-speed shinkansen (bullet train) to their romantic sightseeing trains. You would most definitely be relying on these trains when you travel in Japan. It is also one of the reasons I love about living in Osaka which is the train network. Living in the city, I could easily go anywhere within an hour, as far as Kyoto, Kobe or Nara. This is all thanks to the network of express trains that bypass smaller stations to get to major train stations.
As much as I appreciate the presence of these express trains that cut down my travelling time anywhere, you are paying for that privilege. These express trains can be more expensive than the local trains which are slower as they stop at every station. For comparison, the express/sightseeing train from Osaka to Ise in Mie Prefecture costs about ¥4,080 (S$52) and takes less than 1.5 hours. You get comfortable, luxury seats. However, the local train costs about half of the express train, but the journey takes almost an hour longer with regular seats that are decent, not entirely uncomfortable. Hence, you get what you pay for technically. Also, just general travel within the city is a little more expensive. Base fare starts at about ¥180 (S$2.30) for only 2-3 stations apart but in Singapore, for the same price can bring you further.
Besides that, taxis in Japan are notoriously expensive. To tell you the truth, I have only taken the taxi only once to this date, and that is only because I went furniture shopping and had a bunch of things to carry home. For example, a 15-minute taxi ride in Japan will cost around ¥1,900 to ¥2,600 (S$24 to S$33) but in Singapore, maybe it costs about S$8 to S$12, almost one-third of the cost of Japanese taxis. Now, the costs of trains seem insignificant compared to taxis. That is why I do not complain about the prices of trains here.
Regardless, there are ways you can save costs when travelling here. Always look out for any rail passes that would cover all or the majority of your travel here. It may save you a lot of money. Also, get a reloadable IC card which you can use on most transportation. The fare paid from an IC card is cheaper than paying cash and it is way more convenient. If you are residing in Japan, consider getting a monthly commuter's pass which offers you unlimited rides along your most commonly used route. Do note that this is only possible if you travel on the same rail company.
4. Apparel - High-street & Luxury
Japanese fashion is a whole another world on its own. The eclectic street fashion, mixed with American streetwear, European tailoring and not forgetting Japanese minimalism has given rise to a plethora of fashion brands and styles. You might have heard of Uniqlo, the Japanese fashion brand known for their immaculate basics at such affordable prices. However, if you want to step out of that familiarity and venture out to other Japanese labels, you might be surprised at how expensive it can get.
Many of big chain stores in Japan like Urban Research, Beauty & Youth United Arrows, Journal Standard or Beams, just to name a few, carry either their brands, other international brands or both. However, having visited some of these stores, some of their apparel generally start at a higher price point. Take, for example, a basic white tee at Uniqlo might be around ¥1,990 but at these stores, it may start at ¥2,990.
However, this is just a general observation and may not be the case through their selections. It could be they are of higher quality and more design has been put into them. Also, it is best to buy them during sales where they can be up to 50% off or more in some cases. So, I recommend only buying when they have a sale, or you can visit their outlet stores where prices are very competitive.
The mark-up in prices also applies to luxury items in general. This is even after getting your tax return. Based on the Hermes online websites in both countries, a 70cm by 70cm scarf in Singapore costs S$470 while the same scarf in Japan costs ¥44,000, which is approximately S$565. Because of the exchange rate and possibly additional credit card charges, the difference might be even greater. So, unless it is a Japan-exclusive or you could not find in your home country, it might not be worth splashing out on the latest designer item in Japan.
Although buying from the store might not be worthwhile, the pre-loved market in Japan is amazing. Japan is a treasure trove of vintage, pre-loved and those hard-to-find pieces. You can find pretty much anything your heart desires at a variety of price points. You can score a Chanel classic flap at half the price or even get the Hermes Birkin of your dreams without playing the Hermes game or paying too much of a premium price. You could also score a Louis Vuitton classic piece at unimaginable prices if you know where to look. They also have brand new pieces if you are not a fan of the pre-loved items, so might be worthwhile checking it out.
5. Eating Out
Leaving behind the abundant food choices back in Singapore was one of the hardest things I did to date. However, I thought I would be living behind something good and gaining something similar once in Japan. Boy, I was wrong. Firstly, of course, Halal food options are limited in Japan and that is a known fact. However, just in general, eating out at restaurants are way more expensive than Singapore.
Let's say the average food costs at a hawker centre in Singapore is approximately S$6-7 for one main dish and a drink. In Japan, at a similar style store, it would be about ¥900 to ¥1,000 (S$12-13), almost twice of that in Singapore. I could practically have two meals for the same price. Hence, I do not eat out a lot because it would burn a hole in my pocket faster than you know it.
However, I have some days where I just do not feel like cooking or I do not have the time. In this situation, your best bet is the pre-cooked food in the supermarket or convenience store. For a single main dish, it ranges around ¥398 to ¥598, depending on what you get. You can easily reheat your food at the store and some supermarkets or convenience stores even have sitting areas, so you can eat there comfortably. If not, just head back to your hotel or the nearest park to enjoy your meal.
6. Luggage
This might seem random, but hear me out. Imagine if you have just done a lot of shopping for yourself and your loved ones back home, but now your luggage are maxed out. You probably might need to get an extra piece of luggage to bring all those goodies back. Alternatively, maybe your suitcase broke in transit and you need to get a replacement. This happened to me, as a matter of fact. Unfortunately, you are out of luck if you are thinking of getting a cheap one to at least make it back with everything.
To put into perspective, you can get a hard shell, cabin-size suitcase in Singapore that is a decent quality for around S$50-70. However, in Japan, you might think of going to Muji to get the suitcase you needed, but the cabin size starts from ¥12,900 (S$166) for the hard shell one. It might be a worthwhile investment, although other equally good suitcases are cheaper. I guess you have to make your own call on this one.
So, if you ever find yourself in a sticky situation and need extra luggage to bring back stuff, you could either bring extra foldable duffle bags are easy to pack in your suitcase, or you could just get them at the 100 yen store, or the 300 yen store for a better quality one. Keep clothes in the foldable duffle and the fragile items in your suitcases. Add a padlock and luggage strap to your duffle bag for added security.
7. Movie Tickets
Last, and not the least, are movie tickets. As a fan of movies, I would occasionally go to the cinema if there was an interesting movie to watch. Although, I would rather chat with someone than just sit quietly in a dark room. However, once in a while, the movie sounds nice. And to my surprise, movie tickets here are kind of pricey. They average about ¥2,100 (S$27), which is almost three times the average cost of movie tickets in Singapore. That is why I got myself a projector and turned my room into my makeshift (and most importantly, free) movie theatre.
There is not much you can do to get around this. One way is that you some cinemas have a special deal for some telecommunication's company members, so if you are a traveller, you luck out on this. Or, some cinemas also have a ladies-only promotion on some days, so of course, this does not apply to me. I guess you just have to fork out that money if you really want to see a movie, which fortunately is not very often for me anyway.
And that is 7 of the more expensive things in Japan compared to what I would pay back in Singapore. If you are just travelling in Japan, some of this may or may not apply to you, so I hope some of the tips may prove useful. Regardless, I have gotten used to it and just as much as there are things that are more expensive here, there are things that are surprisingly cheaper too, so look out for my next blog post on this! Have a good one!