How to buy gas in Japan | Full step by step guide & explanation

[@PSUQDPICHQIEIWC]

How to buy gas in Japan: Step one: Go to Japan

[@JayDM2311]

Damn I forgot that step!

[@motojojo_]

Oh, the fun I've had filling up in Japan 😂 When I first went there was advice like "Everywhere is full service" (oh no it wasn't) and "Yellow is high octane" (not necessarily), but nothing prepared me for the self service pump that included a slot machine type game. Randomly prodding the screen cuz I had no idea what the hell it wanted (I needed the receipt) was... fun, I guess?

[@Flkrz]

I find it interesting there isn't a "pay by phone app" type system. In the UK I can pull up at a certain brand's forecourt, open the app, select which pump I'm at, the payment I wish to use and then just fill up. Once I'm done the payment is recorded and I can just drive straight out, zero interaction with anyone else.

[@JayDM2311]

They do have some applications that let you pay in Japan, but to my knowledge nothing like you just described. Japan's system is just like rewards cards or online payment methods.

[@86-Trueno]

It's the same in US, at least at Sunoco gas station

[@mwbgaming28]

Im a simple man, i refuel, then i go inside and pay

[@JayDM2311]

Everything in Japan has "a process" it's just how it is lmao sometimes it's cool, other times it's super annoying lol

[@sandypye9395]

I love your Suzuki cappuccino❤.

[@JayDM2311]

Thank you so much, shes far from perfect but I love her all the same. Update vid coming soon since I finally got it fixed but it was quite the mission...

[@StickPeopleAndPuff]

I assume full service works the same for bikes? I'm planning on doing a Motorcycle tour this July in Japan and watching this made me realize how unprepared I am

[@JayDM2311]

Yeah full service works the same on bikes. Self service is generally more common though, but it depends where you are. I noticed rural areas had quite a few full service stations.

[@Stone_624]

Thanks, I just got my drivers license last week, driving school didn't once talk about or practice filling the car up with gas. I've seen it while driving with my coworkers over the last few years (we have a site up in Fukushima), But not having done it yet makes me a bit nervous. Now if I can figure out how to get a damn car here.

[@JayDM2311]

Yeah it’s a bit of a process buying a car here. I was this king of doing a brief video covering my experience and talking about the key differences in buying a Kei car and a regular car. I hope you manage to get a car!

[@ridhobaihaqi144]

Meanwhile in my country.... some car owner shaking their car while refueling. 😂😂😂😂

[@pain.497]

Wow Japanese gas stations are so complicated compared to my American gas stations.

[@JayDM2311]

I know right? My friend was like "why did you make a video about getting gas" and I said "watch it and you'll realize why" 😂

[@pain.497]

@@JayDM2311 In the US you'd just insert the card, rewards, fuel grade, fill up, and a receipt.

[@JayDM2311]

Is it true that some places don't let you pump the fuel yourself?@@pain.497

[@pain.497]

@@JayDM2311 I've never seen a place like that over here tbh. I always pump myself

[@JayDM2311]

I heard some states don't let people pump it themselves, not sure why?@@pain.497

[@poruatokin]

I hated it when Japan switched from full service to self service, used to love being pampered by the staff and receiving the free gift of apples, potatores or tissues when there was a promotion. Aah, those were the days.

[@JayDM2311]

That sounds awesome shame I never got to see it.

[@Alberos]

The idea of pumping my own gas kinda scared me. I mean, you don't have to do it yourself here. There is self-service pump but it's very very rare (I never seen one ever). I mean it's pretty much the same price (less than 1% cheaper for self-service pump), so why bother? The fact that some of them are starting to go out of business already is a confirmation that not many people wanted to pump their own gas. So, that's end up with me lacking one of the life skill, pumping my own gas....

[@JayDM2311]

Wow that's very interesting, I cant imagine not pumping my own since it's all I have ever done in Australia.

[@Alberos]

@@JayDM2311 It's very common to not do things by yourself here (Thailand) as the wage is so cheap. Some example: If you buy the PC components they WILL build it for you for free (if it's a complete system, small fee if not); There will be store clerk at self-checkout lane; Self-service car wash is a "new" hot thing (full service ofc not); etc. And for gas pump specifically, there're so many cars here (far too many), if you let people fumble there way trying to pump gas by their own it will be so slow and nothing will get moving, as they're not used to it and most don't even know how to open a gas cap (including me, sadly...).

[@JayDM2311]

Wow how interesting, thanks for sharing. I would much rather build the PC myself though if I'm spending all that money!

[@ramadhanisme7]

I'm a simple man, i refuel then i drive away without paying

[@JayDM2311]

I'm Japan you'd be super arrested lol every cop in town would be on your ass, probably because it's the first crime they've had to chase up in months, maybe even years...

[@plushbatfan]

Price conversion from ¥ per liter to US dollars per gallon: Regular: ¥167/L = US$4.24/gallon High octane: ¥178/L = US$4.52/gallon Diesel: ¥141/L = US$3.58/gallon

[@poruatokin]

You need to take into account the exchange rate. In the last 1-2 years the yen became very much weaker.

[@Croz89]

I'd probably end up putting the green one in my car thinking it was petrol (because green is petrol in the UK, red was used for leaded petrol or LRP in the 90's) and end up wrecking the engine!

[@JayDM2311]

Yeah it seems colour codes don't translate well. Actually even in Australia it is not the same at every station I have been too! Guess that's why they print it in the native language too!

[@Croz89]

@@JayDM2311 I don't know if it's an official standard, but green for petrol and black for diesel seems standard here (premium is green too, so you have to watch out when filling up!). Interestingly the US seems to have settled on completely the opposite colour scheme!

[@mingmedia808]

usually a diesel nozzle wont fit in a regular gas tank to prevent this. this is true in JP as well but, its safer to know green here is diesel. But, i most def know which one is diesel 軽油 becasue my kanji is rubbish and regular gas is in katakana

[@Wonginism]

How common is 100RON? I have heard rumours that a 1JZ-FSE is meant to use 100RON not 91 or 98 but not sure a breathe it.

[@JayDM2311]

Talking about different fuels in different countries gets really confusing real fast! Many will say 98 octane but what that really means depends on what octane rating they are using and how they measure it. What I can tell you is that according to the RON system Japan's "regular" fuel is 90RON and their "High Octane" is 100RON. Some other systems measure them at 91 and 98 and other even at 89 and 95. But to the best of my knowledge in Japan its 90RON and 100RON. Hope this helps :)

[@Repsikka]

168 yen /1.04€ per liter, I'd be so happy refilling my car with those prices, hell at 1.11€ per liter what the premium costs I'd be so happy, here in Finland it's between 1.7€ to 2€ per liter, or 275 yen to 323 yen per liter, last time I saw a price like that was at the beginning of covid when none drove, and even then it was 1.16€ per liter I think

[@JayDM2311]

The question I wanna know the answer to is whats the wages in Finland compared to Japan. For example if I converted the price of fuel in Japan to AUD it's quite close in price (a little cheaper even) as we pay $1.8-$2.4 per litre. However, the average Australian wage is almost double Japan's. Therefore, realistically in real terms I would have to nearly double the price of Japanese fuel to get a "feel" for how expensive it is in Japanese terms. When I do that i quickly realise that paying $3.6-$4.8 per litre would be insane. So to Japanese people fuel is very expensive and more most driving is a luxury activity. Just good to keep this in mind when comparing prices of countries goods and services relative to their wages. Hope you found this as interesting as I did!

[@Repsikka]

@@JayDM2311 I'd say average Finn makes around 1500€ to 2000€ per month

[@poruatokin]

The Yen is very weak the last couple of years. It has lost about 30% on international markets.

[@wolfschindler8921]

I love Google Translate.

[@JayDM2311]

It's pretty good with the basic stuff for sure :) Be careful when using it for the more complex stuff though, it can be hit and miss!

[@sunsetlights100]

New sub fill up i think u said 2840 yen approx $40Aus? dollars seemed good we paying 2.85 Liter here NZ how is it in Japan..chers

[@JayDM2311]

So fuel over there tends to run about ¥175-¥190 a litre or about $1.8-$2AUD. BUT what is important to realise is that their wages are roughly half of Australia or New Zealand. Meaning to gauge how "expensive" the fuel is from a local perspective you need to roughly double the price meaning its closer to $4 a litre! which is very expensive. Cars are a luxury in Japan that's for sure!

[@poruatokin]

Need to take into account the fluctuating exchange rate. Back around 200 - 2010 it was 90-100 yen to the US$, now it is around 150.

[@poruatokin]

QUESTION - why are using putting hi-octane in a Cappuccino. Unless it has an illegally tuned engine (exceeds 64ps on a Kei car plate), then it's not going to run any better or have more power. Money down the drain.

[@mostlygarbage1]

wait do you drive a cappuccino?

[@JayDM2311]

Yes sir I certainly do! That is my only car in Japan although I do have a few in Australia which I am planning on filming real soon!

[@mostlygarbage1]

@@JayDM2311dude i love cappuccinos thats amazing and i cant wait to see the videos!

[@JayDM2311]

I have a couple more lined up stay tuned! Got big plans for it later in the year.@@mostlygarbage1

[@poruatokin]

@@JayDM2311 I used to have a Cappuccino back in the 1990's when they were new. Loved it but the roof was a hassle and no boot space, also not good in the snowy mountains of Nagano. I now have a Copen, huge boot!!

[@interpol007]

Do you not tip full service?

[@JayDM2311]

Tipping culture does not exsist a here. Actually it can be seen as rude and if offered it is very awkward. Basically my advice is “do not tip in Japan”. There are very few situations where it is acceptable.

[@86-Trueno]

I try my best to always go out of my way not to leave a tip to show them how humble and appreciative of their paycheck they should be

[@poruatokin]

That's the American disease. The rest of the world is free from it thankfully.