Fruit Prices

Apples and strawberries can be so expensive that you might wonder, "Are these jewels?"

One of the surprising things when traveling in Japan is "the high price of fruit." When you look at apples, strawberries, melons, and the like in supermarkets or department stores, they can feel so expensive that you wonder, "Is this fruit? Or a luxury gift?"

In Japan especially, there is a culture where fruit is treated as a "gift," and its visual beauty and quality are highly emphasized. Fruits with few blemishes, perfect shapes, and strictly managed sweetness are sometimes sold for several thousand yen each at luxury stores. Quite a few tourists feel that it "looks like a jewelry store" when they see the beautifully arranged fruit sections.

Of course, there are also items at relatively affordable prices in general supermarkets, but even so, they might feel a bit expensive compared to overseas. In particular, seasonal high-end strawberries and melons are treated as "special foods" unique to Japan.

On the other hand, the quality of Japanese fruit is extremely high, and many tourists are moved, saying, "It was the most delicious I have ever eaten." Even if it is a little expensive, experiencing Japan's unique fruit culture might be one of the joys of travel.