"What's Japan's Inflation Like?" 【Grocery Store Products and Prices】

IG / saikotakahashi_
if you buy me a coffee, I I would be happy(; ;) www.buymeacoffee.com/saikotak...
Hi there! how are you doing?
time flies so fast, sometimes I even wish it would slow down;;
I've made a video introducing products and prices from the supermarket. Honestly, I'm not sure if it's okay to put out a video of this quality, but I won't know until I try.
I haven't actually seen the reality of inflation in foreign countries, so I can't say for sure, but I imagine that Japan's price increases are relatively tame.
If you have any feedback, please let me know in the comments! :)
Thanks for watching!
Have a great day!
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Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:26 Why do Japanese people go shopping every day?
01:22 Start!
01:32 Vegetable Section
02:16 Fruits Section
02:42 Eggs, Natto, Tofu, etc.
03:14 Fish Section
03:30 Meat Section
04:01 Dairy Section
04:40 Sweets Section
04:49 Beverage Section
05:03 Deli Section
05:42 Bread Section
05:51 Sake Section
06:17 Ice Cream, Frozen Food Section
06:32 Tea, Coffee Section
06:47 Snack Section
07:01 Rice Section
07:07 Flour Section
07:14 Sugar, Salt, Miso, etc.
07:23 Pasta Section
07:27 Instant Noodle Section
07:37 Seasoning Section
08:04 Jam, Honey Section
08:13 Daily Necessities Section
08:25 Outro

[@SaikoTakahashi]

thank you for watching ✨ It turned out to be a bit boring, I'm sorry;; I will strive to create even better videos next time. Have a great weekend!

[@phillydisco]

It's okay. Good insight into every day living in Japan. Also a good refresher for me on what to expect when I plan out my trip for later in the year.

[@elitenoobtism988]

It’s still an interesting video thanks for uploading!

[@j.d.trenning883]

Thnx Saiko, it's interesting to watch your video. Well done.

[@otterpoet]

Thank you for this. For someone considering moving to Japan, this was very helpful to see what shopping is like. There were some real surprises. For example, the cabbages were expensive, but the bean sprouts (and some meats) were _much_ cheaper. The onigiri display made me VERY hungry - it is my favorite. Vegetables look more reasonably priced. My most embarrassing Japan-Story was sitting at a family dinner many years ago, where I began eating the tiny salad set in front of me. My polite host said, "You must like salad." I suddenly realized the tiny bowl was for the _entire_ table. I wanted to die right there 😭 I wish Japanese Ketchup came to the United States. May need to send a care package of honey. Very cheap here.

[@SaikoTakahashi]

interesting!your host family must have been a memorable experience. There's no need to be depressed about cultural differences!btw I'm curious about how much bean sprouts cost in another countries

[@otterpoet]

@@SaikoTakahashi Fortunately, the host family was very good natured about my mistake. Depending on the store, 200g of bean sprouts would be around $2 to 3 US. Asian stores sometimes have them about half that price (which is why I often shop there). Thank you again for sharing this!

[@MrPighow]

Hi Saiko, I'm a viewer from HK. My girlfriend and I often shop at local grocery stores when we visit Japan. Half price donburi and sashimi platters are especially great! We also look at what people buy, what foods are available and compare prices to our own city. Most of the popular Japanese brands are available in HK, but since everything is imported, it is expensive for us. Even regional imported food items are more expensive than Japan. I'm glad you've taken the time to film this video. It's entertaining! ☺

[@SaikoTakahashi]

Thank you for the lovely comment!✨ with the current value of the yen, literally I might end up broke if I go to Hong Kong, but I still want to go;;

[@nixiz2750]

The video wasn't boring at all! Thank you for sharing this with us 😇😇

[@SaikoTakahashi]

I’m so relieved to hear that!thank you

[@sincerebear01]

your local grocery store has a good selection of everything from perishables to cooked meals, i'm so envious! those prices are affordable too

[@javiermartinez3760]

You don't get this kind of content from other channels. Love it❤

[@insidiousfish]

Space considerations also factor in bulk buying. Most Japanese people live in small apartments with little storage spaces for bulk buying to become a thing in Japan. Japanese are also mindful of waste so they really just buy enough to get them through a few days.

[@SaikoTakahashi]

wow You brought up an insightful perspective✨It's enviable how even apartments in America are spacious

[@Lauri156]

About 10 years ago, Japan was considered as very expensive country here in Finland. Now it seems like that Finland is now even more expensive country to live in when I see grocerystore prices, gasoline prices and average rent prices etc... 🙃

[@SaikoTakahashi]

for me, the country I imagine after the United States when it comes to being known for high cost of living is Finland;;

[@Lauri156]

@@SaikoTakahashi well now it is true, Finland is as expensive as you think lol. And if you don't like winter in Japan, that would be a paradise for me because winter here is loooong and dark wwwww

[@botlfpx]

Now you can’t even go to Leningrad to buy gasoline and booze cheaply from your happiest country in the world, lol.

[@Lauri156]

@@botlfpx hahaha I'm far away from border so never made sense to get a visa for getting cheap gasoline lol

[@botlfpx]

@@Lauri156 your country is not even able to hold the border against illegal migrants from third world countries that Putin sends. The Poles held out, but you didn’t. You just closed the border with Russia and that’s it. And what do your taxes go towards, for the cleanliness of the streets, which is so admired by all the Latin Americans and Asians who watch the walking tours?

[@Ricky911_]

Car centric infrastructure is the main reason Americans buy in bulk. Thankfully, I live in a compact city and I am a 5 minute bike ride from a large supermarket. So, I also shop daily and I am able to keep fit, as I usually walk. This is also why American products are filled with a lot of preservatives. In most of Europe and Japan, people tend to shop daily so, preservatives aren't really an issue. In fact, freshly baked bread usually turns hard after 24 hours so, it's not uncommon for people to go to a bakery or a supermarket and buy fresh bread everyday whereas, in the US (as well as other car centric countries like Canada or Australia), driving to the store everyday can be a bit of a hassle so, they buy toast bread, which stays soft until it essentially turns moldy

[@MovementElements]

the amount of patience you had to do this video!! Amazing work!

[@nicholasratapu8500]

Japan's grocery prices during Inflation is so cheap!!! Can we share same price 😍🙏 I need my veges cheap!!! 🤧 Awesome video and much aroha from aotearoa/New Zealand🇳🇿 😸🖐️

[@chiefbosnmate]

Great video , Thank you everyone shows convenience stores, so great to see the pricing in a full size market!

[@SaikoTakahashi]

I'm relieved to hear that✨thank you

[@Dosey121]

It was not boring...it was great info. The suspicious person was hilarious. Also the prices are very good compared to the US imo.

[@jacobjones2673]

Thanks for sharing. This is great information. You should do a few more videos like this . Hello from Seattle Washington 👏

[@DJ_mp3]

if these are inflation prices.. who wouldn't want to live there! haha.. seems like you've been doing research & executing based on the yt algorithm, NICE! Always keep it centred around your authenticity & genuineness, it's why we tune in =)

[@phillydisco]

When I stayed in Okinawa, I did a bit of grocery shopping and was shocked to discover how potatoes were sold in small amounts (like 3 in a package) for about 200Yen I think, versus buying a 10lbs bag of potatoes here in Canada for less than $5 Canadian lol. Eventually, I just figured look carefully and pick what I really needed. But on the other side of the spectrum, it was a delight to get such affordable large quantities of good quality sashimi, sushi, natto and bento meals in the supermarkets in Okinawa (and in mainland Japan)

[@SaikoTakahashi]

yes, I often hear that Okinawa is geographically isolated, so prices are high. As you said, local fresh food might be a bargain✨Oh I want to go to Okinawa again

[@Jarhead1076]

When I lived in Japan, I loved going to the local markets just to look around for new and different foods to try. Your videos remind me of good times. Thank you for sharing.

[@SaikoTakahashi]

Thank you for the lovely comment✨ yes the good things of local stores is that they sell unique items, right?

[@ChrisWoopPhoenix4464]

今日もきれいです。Maybe I am weird but sometimes I like watching these types of video 😂とても楽しいビデオ😊

[@SaikoTakahashi]

thank you!

[@congvu8981]

I love the video. The commentaries are hilarious too!

[@AdamSparks09]

Great video! Most Americans love to see what daily life in Japan is like! For most of us, it's just a dream that won't come true 😅

[@DanKxxx]

I love grocery shopping in Japan as the prices are so much cheaper than my country. I spend about 1-2 months in Nagano every year and going to Aeon every few days is always fun with the family. Jagariko is only sold in Japan, but I always bring back lots of cheese jagariko for myself and also to share with others. It's my favorite snack.

[@SaikoTakahashi]

wow great! Nagano is such a beautiful place!

[@MP-uf7tw]

Great channel! You could probably do an entire series on what's actually in your stores😂 Please do a video on the super oishi moshi rice balls, best #1 oishi in Japan 😊

[@rcboatnut]

Yep, shopping in Japan is much different than in the US, as you were saying I go to the store once a week and cook up larger meals and freeze some for meals later. When I was in Japan in March I noticed what people were purchasing and yep it was that evenings dinner or what looked like enough for a couple of days. I enjoyed how fresh and tasty looking the ready to eat meals were, I had a few but ate out at restaurants mostly while I was there. It seems a lot easier to eat healthy in Japan than in the US. Thanks again for the great video.

[@sarangty3677]

Finally this girl is back!

[@jubbles]

"Am I half asleep? .... Yes." lol Also man, the delicatessen section... made me so hungry... that said, everything looked good. Really interesting video! It makes me wish I had a good little grocery store a walk or bicycle ride away. It's a bit of a drive to the nearest store, so I do the "once a week" shopping you referenced hah.

[@chrisd3878]

Never boring Saiko ! You are doing a great job. Keep up the good work 👍

[@mikemontesa3181]

Hi Saiko! Glad to see you back. I always enjoyed grocery shopping in Japan when I lived there. So much variety and everything is so well-presented. I used to go shopping about once a week and then as needed. I had a bicycle too, so I didn't carry too much, but sometimes I brought a backpack. I used to go to a store called 肉のハナマサ where I would buy different kinds of meat (and freeze it for later). For vegetables, I would go to the local 八百屋さん. That was fun because I always had a good conversation with the shop owner. There was also a local coffee shop where they roasted their own beans, and they also sold some imported food items. I got used to it after many years, but now I look back on it and it feels like a good memory.

[@SaikoTakahashi]

Wow, it sounds like you were living like a local Japanese person. Thanks for sharing your memories! ✨ I like the local 八百屋さんtoo :)

[@InfamyJunkie]

Hi Saiko, not a boring video at all. Just wondering if you had favorite bike riding spots with a great view? I visited Japan last year and used HelloCycling or LUUP to ride a rental bike through different parts of the cities I visited. My favorite ride was starting from the Kamakura area, starting from Yuigahama Beach, all the way down to Enoshima Island. Keep up the vlogs and hope to see your channel grow more.

[@user-lk2qf4rt3m]

omg a bag of that royal milk tea in England costs £8... 1,530 yen. In Japan it's 299 yen. I wish I'd bought more when I was in Japan!

[@SaikoTakahashi]

wow,,, sorry but that's a crazy price;; but, there can be products that are more expensive than in england. thank you for watching✨

[@j.d.trenning883]

Well done Saiko. It gives a good idea from daily life in Japan. My daily shopping I do in the Netherlands and once a month I go shopping in Germany because lots of things are cheaper and better quality, like beef, beer, soda's, baking products, alcoholic drinks etc. etc. And of course for the difference in price for gasoline. It's for me a 1.5 hour drive to the city of Kleve in Germany but it is worth it.

[@MarkPuke13]

Soo awesome!!! Thanks for the tour and sights!! Greetings from guam 🇬🇺

[@SaikoTakahashi]

thank you from guam!!

[@iAtlas]

Definitely a bit cheaper than Spain 🇪🇸 Thanks for the video 👌

[@ryuuo6592]

This was actually fascinating, it's super interesting to see all the variety and prices 🤯 Thanks for sharing! Take care and stay safe Saiko 😊

[@SaikoTakahashi]

Thank you so much 😭

[@rainypath96]

interesting. i didnt go into a japanese grocery my first time in japan but i will definitely try next time

[@SaikoTakahashi]

Give it a try 😽

[@username_boy]

New Saikochan video LETS GOOOO!!🤗💪😤

[@donjoe2661]

Very interesting, thanks. Most things are quite a bit cheaper than in Belgium. Also looks very clean and organised.

[@idiinletholdus]

thank you for this video i am enjoying it a lot please keep them coming when ever you can. Later on if you ever get a chance can you do one in a country side

[@niorlam3629]

I love how Japan food packaging per person is thought out. You can just buy what you need and does not worry much about waste

[@SaikoTakahashi]

oh is it normal that they are not sold per person?

[@niorlam3629]

@@SaikoTakahashi in the states, groceries wise like potatoes or carrots, per portion is the same as buying 2-3 person worth. When you live alone it’s hard to eat them all before it goes bad.

[@RA-ot6yr]

Some things are same in u.k. like milk but most things more higher price in u.k. but maybe income is higher or lower. Minimum hourly pay here is £11.44 for your age and above. Love your videos!

[@SaikoTakahashi]

wow, that's much higher than minimum wage here. we can't measure inflation based on prices alone.thank you for your love from uk✨

[@AztecaJose]

This made me hungry.

[@YoureNowOnTV]

That was fun, thanks for sharing. 😀 👍

[@monogramadikt5971]

honestly the price increase's arent as extreme as i worried they might be, some things are a lot cheaper than where i live while there are also a few things that are a lot more expensive there.. *i wish you went a little bit slower over the booze section so i could see the prices for the vodka, gin, rum etc also ;) lol

[@SaikoTakahashi]

Thanks for the feedback✨ Even when I looked back, I realized that it was too fast..I will improve!

[@rogueirl]

Sugoi! Great video, what part of Japan is this? It would be interesting if you did a video on what the cost of living in your area is each month ☺

[@SaikoTakahashi]

Osaka City! wow thank you for the suggestion✨

[@renatocampana3861]

Thanks for new video! I enjoyed konbinis in Japan. Unfortunately prices are getting higher in Japan while yen get undervalue.

[@kiyoshitakeda452]

Prices at your market are mostly less than where I shop. With the Yen losing value there should be inflation for shoppers. I wonder about prices there in 3 months? Thank you for the video.

[@monogramadikt5971]

yeah in australia most products have been steadily going up weekly almost for the last few years, the corporations are robbing everybody blind lately with this great reset scam their banking buddies have concocted

[@SaikoTakahashi]

as you said, it's scary to think that the yen might become worthless soon...

[@raizmiwa]

祖父が日本人で、いつか日本に住みたいと思っています。 さいこさんのビデオは本当に言葉の助けになるし、さいこさんは素晴らしい人のようです！

[@SaikoTakahashi]

wow thank you✨come here someday!

[@Its_Dave_Just_Dave]

Im assuming lack of space is also a consideration, smaller apartments, cupboard and fridge/freezer space which is why its sometimes better to get lots of small lots - also the evening discounts. Ahhhh bean sprouts, when you are very broke at the end of the month, they have to be bought. That strawberry price, ouch. Sugar looks to be expensive, same as your pasta

[@SaikoTakahashi]

Yes cramped spaces are a reality in many places!Thank you ✨

[@hotfarts6731]

Thank you for sharing. You provide a very valuable perspective on a side of Japan that most content creators ignore. I have visited Japan many times. Beautiful country with beautiful people and an amazing culture.

[@apilgrim8715]

Octopus (cooked) 3:20 in the US is 100g for 700 yen, so more than double the price.

[@MrAelin]

My favourite shop in Japan is Aeon. I live in Itabashi in Tokyo and I am addicted to Aeon bento. ちなみに、買い物は glosary じゃなくて、GROCERIESだよｗｗｗ　日曜日生活の動画ありがとう。ファンです😎✌️

[@BackGardenBonsai]

日本は食べ物が安い👍 お疲れさまでした

[@elitenoobtism988]

I heard it’s expensive to buy any kind of fruits in Japan but I’m glad to see there’s cheap ones too. The daily food cost seems to be a lot cheaper than the US. Is the average wage high in your area? As in cost of rent and food does not take up 80-90% of your monthly wage like here in the states.

[@SaikoTakahashi]

thank you for watching✨ although the average wage is not high (around 200,000 yen), it is enough to live a normal life. hoowever, it is unclear how long this current situation can be maintained;;

[@apilgrim8715]

The prices seem reasonable.

[@Taronic449]

Just out of curiosity, what type of music do Japanese people listen to nowadays? I recently read an article explaining that Western music (i.e. American, European) has been declining in popularity in Japan. Even successful artists, like Taylor Swift, didn't make it to the top of the Japanese music charts, which is quite fascinating🤔

[@vfeuer9236]

at least 1/3 of this fruits grows on my garden here hahaha

[@SaikoTakahashi]

wow I'm envious!

[@johnfoster4905]

I enjoy your content . Do you have any favorite Japanese alcoholic beverages?

[@SaikoTakahashi]

wow thank you! Kirin Ichibanshibori(beer) and highball🍺💟

[@WaldoBagelTopper]

Look at the prices of those vegetables. This is why the Japanese eat so healthy all the time. Their government isn't finding excuses to gouge them for FOOD. While here in America, the government is looking for ways to monetize oxygen itself. This is why I am often ashamed of my own country. To answer your question about how much Tomatoes cost in America: Here you must pay with the bone marrow of your first child and swear your allegiance to the darkness for half a tomato.

[@ebored2]

Are those meat prices by kilogram? Or per package?

[@SaikoTakahashi]

per 0.1kg(100g)!

[@SneakerNet]

saikooooo.... .

[@johnp.johnson1541]

Japan is cheap especially considering this is in a densely populated area with tight infrastructure.

[@user-lk2qf4rt3m]

I do have one question for Japanese people. Bearing in mind that Japan is sadly sometimes prone to natural disasters, how do you feel about not having too much food stored? Does it make you feel a bit anxious, or are you OK with the fact?

[@SaikoTakahashi]

people with families definetely stock up on food. a box of water, some cup-ramen, and some shelf-stable bread. they keep them in their house or car in case they need . Instead of not living in an area that could be affected by a disaster, I'm not worried, but I should;;

[@jobthomas6612]

As a Japanese, What are your thoughts on "Gyomu Supa" ? Is it cheap and convenient for Japanese people !!!!

[@SaikoTakahashi]

Oh, you know about Gyomu Super! It definitely offers great value for money, like frozen vegetables and bulk meats. I think they might not be necessary for a single person like me living alone, but they're really handy for families!

[@jobthomas6612]

@@SaikoTakahashi Hey it's me, who lives in Osaka kita ku, I was the one who asked about the "Suumo" application on your 1st video. I know about Gyomu. I just wanted an opinion from a Japanese person and I got it. Thank you for replying. ☺️

[@JoaoVictorCSouza-ll9cd]

Good afternoon, Saiko-san. When you can, make a video of your hobbies and other things you like to do. Also, this video is not okay, it's great. Have a nice weekend, God bless you! Tip: Try practicing your English with Duolingo (one lesson per day) and watching movies in English, with the subtitles and then without it.

[@SaikoTakahashi]

Thank you for the valuable tips! I understand English study, but I'm struggling with self-loathing because I can't consistently make progress every day. Okay I'll continue without making excuses

[@jsmith6259]

Is it true that the prices are stable and all the supermarkets have a similar price???

[@SaikoTakahashi]

prices are not the same in every supermarket. Local, independent supermarkets tend to have higher prices, commercial supermarkets have larger quantities and are more affordable(like Costco).there may be differences depending on the location (Tokyo and rural depopulated areas are a bit expensive, etc.), but the supermarket introduced here are of standard size and price nationwide!

[@marcin_s5559]

cheap as F##k, I l currently live in Norway where prices are absolutely sick

[@carlosvr92]

so my mexican peso will win now? i win with us dollar and also with yen 😎😎

[@siaokun]

It's cheaper than France

[@SaikoTakahashi]

Definitely;(

[@vfeuer9236]

Hi Saiko. What’s your plan to improve your English?😅☺️

[@SaikoTakahashi]

It's sad to say I don't have any plans, but that's currently my biggest source of stress. I'll figure out it.

[@vfeuer9236]

@@SaikoTakahashi you can profit on that if you find a company like iTalki to sponsor you while you use their platform, or just use more chill methods like duolingo, practice is the key

[@alaindeturing62]

Great video quality