A Few Thoughts About Japan in Early 2024
COVID
COVID is largely a thing of the past. We were not required to have a temperature taken anywhere, and this time we were not chased down by staff in shops and restaurants to insist that we used hand sanitiser. That said, hand sanitiser was widely available, and was being used by many people.
As a person with potentially compromised immune system, I did feel a bit anxious mingling in crowds. However, Japanese people have a long history of wearing masks when sick, and my observation is that this social obligation has continued in the post-COVID world. That meant that quite a percentage of people were wearing masks on any given day, and no one looks at you like you are a weirdo if you choose to wear a mask. So I just masked up to manage my anxiety. Masks are exceptionally cheap to buy in Japan - around $4-5 for a packet of 20. Back home I am paying $25 for a box of 50. And the variety - pretty colours, patterns, florals.... kawaii desu!
Cost of Living
The Japanese economy seems quite sluggish - there is some unemployment and also under-employment, particularly for younger people. Prices are rising for some staples, but nothing like the inflation levels here. Still, based on media reporting and a few conversations I had in shops, Japanese people are feeling the financial pinch at the moment. I made it a point to try to spend money in small local shops wherever I could, rather than just using the big chains (Starbucks for coffee excepted of course
). And with the exchange rate so favourable (and even better now), my money went a long way.
Price Gouging at the Snow
Japan does not do price gouging the way Australian resorts do, and I
love this aspect. For example, a bottle of water from a vending machine in the snow was typically ¥150-180 (about $1.50-1.80). Away from the snow, the price was typically ¥120-140 ($1.20-$1.40). I don't mind paying about 30c more for the water to be transported all that way! In Australia, I have paid $6 for a bottle of water at the snow. We ate huge portions of delicious food for prices ranging from ¥1100 to an extravagant ¥2000 ($11-20). This is literally half the price of very average food at Blue Cow Bistro in Perisher, where they charge like wounded bulls. I hate being gouged. Japanese lift tickets are also very very reasonable - the most expensive run to about $80 a day (compared to $180+ at Perisher last year). Plus we were eligible for senior rates from the age of 60+. In Australia, senior rates start at 70. Did I mention that I hate being gouged???
Coffee
It is hard to get good Australian style coffee in Japan - hence my over-reliance on the average quality Starbucks. In fact, Starbucks in Japan is much better than I recall it being here (although maybe I was just desperate for caffeine
), probably because of the service culture in Japan where people take the time and effort to present their products and services as well as possible.
If you like Americano - drip filter coffee, you will be in heaven in Japan. This is the standard coffee drink, and readily available everywhere.
If you want what the Japanese call "espresso coffee" (means any of the barista styles we Aussies love), you will have to look harder to find it - but if you look, you will find it. We have found very good coffee all over Japan (yes even off the beaten track) by using Google and going by reviews and comments. For us, it has become part of the fun of the day to find a quirky little coffee place, almost always independent, selling good coffee. A surprising number of these are owned or operated by people who have studied or worked in Australia, and they are always pleased to see us in their shops.
OK, that's all I have time for now. I'll be back with my thoughts on over-tourism soon - and yes, this is a real problem, and getting worse.