Overpriced Much?
Hi all!
If you live in Japan you'll notice a distinct pattern that everything is exceptionally overpriced. Sometimes so unreasonably so that items spend unreasonable amounts of time sitting on the store shelves waiting for a clearance sale that will never come.
Oh how I miss the stores of North America when one could comb the racks for an item with the tiniest blemish and demand a 20% retribution for its purchase. Where crappy service could lead to cheap or free and politeness is an actual real-live concept.
Here in Japan-land I have been astounded day after day about how much money leaves my wallet, and about how little I have to show for it.
Probably the biggest culprit of my money woes is food. For the non-family type person such as I, eating out costs just about as much as eating in unless you're happy eating greasy convenience store bento boxes meal after meal (and I assure you, I'm not). In the restaurants you might notice that things are a bit topsy-turvy. Things with alcohol cost less than things without alcohol, condiments like salt, pepper and ketchup are sometimes privileges that you must beg and plead for and the idea of "doggy-bagging it {to take home what you haven't eaten while dining in}" is unheard of even if the restaurant offers "take-out {to order for the purpose of eating away from the restaurant}". It's all in the same container, isn't it?
Merrily strolling my way through a shopping area near Osaka station not too much unlike Tokyo's Shibuya, I stumbled upon a "restaurant" offering items one wouldn't really find sufficient of a full meal. I took the three pics below as I found them hilarious. See if you agree.
Would you pay 400 yen (about $4 US) for a small baked potato with a little butter?
Or 430 yen (about $4.30 US) for a single tomato with a helping of mayo as a dressing. By the way, ew, who eats tomato with mayo?
For a tomato and a half and the chef's expert mayo application your price is 550 yen ($5.50 US).
Outstanding. With prices like that it's no wonder why most Japanese are skinny and cheap haha.
posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 9:21 AM
4 Comments:
I would wish to know how daily life is in Japan. I plan on going there (in time) and i would like to know what its like and what kinda change i shoul expect. of course if you dont mind :)
Hi Magnumslayer! Thank you for your message. We would be happy to assist you. Do you have a specific question about life in Japan?
Please feel free to ask any questions you might have. You can also search our blog for tidbits on daily life.
Additionally, we have a live chat in the right side bar. This is one on one with either Celina or myself (Reiko). If you catch us online, please feel free to say hi!
Wahaha. And here I am dreaming of going there.. Still, I wanna go and experience your dilemma.
Haha you should come visit Japan at least once. Make sure your wallet is full!
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