Itemized Grocery Prices & New Japanese Travel Restrictions for U.S. Travelers

I talk a lot of about grocery prices. It's because I spend a lot of time buying groceries. I also find price differences interesting. Why would Japanese-produced sake cost more in Japan than in the U.S.? It likely has to do with trade and taxes. I don't have a real answer, but this is true of a number of Japanese-produced items, like soy sauce and mirin. 

I have outlined below my receipt from a small grocery trip. This amount of groceries is what I usually bring home on foot or on a bicycle. 100 yen = 0.91 USD at the moment, but I'm converting using a rough estimate. 

• Peas: $1.90
• Green beans that tastes garlicky: $0.90
• Globe grapes: $3.75
• Honeydew melon: $3.75 
• This is by far the cheapest price I have seen in Tokyo for any type of melon. Melons are common fruit gifts and can easily run past $50 per melon. 
• Bananas: $0.90
• Cooked vacuum sealed chicken breast: $2.75/breast
• Package of naan: $2.75
• Pre-made shumai (package of 6, not pictured): $1.90
• This is very inexpensive for shumai. Turns out, it is also not very good shumai. Ready-to-eat shumai and nikuman (steamed buns) are common both on super market shelves and restaurant take-away stands. 
• Tofu: $1.00
• It is easy to find good quality tofu that is also inexpensive. 
• Organic yogurt: $1.75
• Yogurt: $1.70
• 750g Muesli: $5.25
• Oats are generally expensive in Japan. This is one of the cheapest bags of muesli I have found.
• Cold coffee: $0.90
• Cold brew coffee abounds in Japan! There is a wide range. This Boss brand is my favorite so far and is moderately priced. 
• Dried organic apricots: $3.75
• Dried organic prunes: $3.75

Note: Individual wrapping/packaging is very prevalent in Japan. Bananas are packaged. Sometimes individual lemons are packaged. It is because customers care a lot of about quality here, and while appearances do not always correlate with quality, it is the most obvious indicator. I wish things were different, and I do think things are changing. 

Now, on an unrelated note, we just found out that Japan has implemented new quarantine requirements for travelers arriving from the U.S. Upon arrival, travelers must quarantine at a government-approved hotel for 72 hours. Once at the hotel, they must stay in the room. The hotel provides three meals a day and other basic necessities, such as towels, toilet paper, etc.. However, nothing leaves the hotel room until you leave. Any luggage must accompany you and stay in the room with you during the quarantine period. If you are cleared with a negative covid test after the requisite 72 hours, you return to the airport and go through the regular customs and immigration procedure as you usually would. I think the government pays for hotel fees, though I'm not certain. 

Previously, travelers from the U.S. needed only to self-quarantine at home or any other self-arranged accommodation site. As far as I know, the new requirements came into force just a few days ago. One of my classmates from Japanese class returned to the U.S. for three days to receive the covid vaccine. She found out about the mandatory 72-hour quarantine the day before departure back to Japan. I am so, so glad that nothing like this was implemented when we arrived in February. I can't imagine staying in a room for 72 hours with a four year old and one year old. 

I mentioned in an earlier blog that my brother-in-law's family would be arriving this week from the U.S. They kids are ages 12, 10, 7, and 4. Rumor has it that the room size is determined by the number of adults, which is one. But I can't imagine that they would place all of them in a single occupancy room. But it seems a too much for a twelve and ten year old to quarantine alone together. If your family is divided, you won't see them during the 72 hours since you can't leave the room. 

They have already arrived, but we have not yet been in touch. I will write a bit more on how their quarantine is going in my next blog.  

My Birthday & Life Admidst Covid-19

My birthday weekend was filled with people, and that was enough of a gift. On the morning of my birthday, my father in law came over to watch the kids while my husband and I went for a run. The weather has been perfect for running: cool, dry, and cloudy. We ran around the Akasaka palace, about a two mile loop with some hills. Since I'm used to running in Chicago, the smallest inclines wind me. 

Life here feels relatively normal. Tokyo recorded just shy of 300 new covid cases yesterday. Restaurants are open, schools remain open, extracurricular and group activities are still available for kids, and stores are full with shoppers on the weekends. The metro remains packed with commuters. Some things have changed, of course. Mask wearing is near universal. There are antibacterial sprays at both the entrance and exit of any establishment. At food courts and some restaurants, there is a clear panel between tables. The current restrictions in Tokyo require restaurants to close by 8pm. 

We went food shopping at Takashimaya, a big department store chain, and it was packed on a Sunday. Food is always located at the lower level of department stores. 

I could spend an entire day exploring that one section, where you can buy groceries, take out, street food, and food gifts. I treated myself to a domestic, greenhouse-grown, ten dollar pack of strawberries. For the price, you get perfection in every strawberry. 

In the afternoon, we went to a concert where the Japanese pianist Kyohei Sorita (he's very popular and only 26 years old) was performing. Every seat was filled. As my first concert in over a year, it felt strange to be indoors in close proximity to so many people. Everyone received a mandatory antibac spray on their hands upon entry and everyone maintained proper mask wearing. The pandemic has been such a dramatic occurrence, and it seems necessary that its antidote be equally dramatic. Here, where vaccinations have been slower to take off, it has simply come down to banal rituals, like wearing masks and cleaning hands in public places. 

For my birthday gift, I received a Kindle, which I am super excited about. We used to live just a few blocks from a public library, so we enjoyed full use of it. There are English books at the public library here, but of course the selection is more limited. I would love to get any book recommendations or tips on using a Kindle! 

My birthday ended with dinner with my husband's family. Nothing like living through a pandemic for a year makes you appreciate the privilege of such a gathering.