Japan is known for its fresh, carefully prepared food, from sushi and bento boxes to salads, snacks and desserts. But if you are planning a trip to the country, there is a simple food-shopping trick that could help you get many of these items at a fraction of their original price: visit supermarkets and convenience stores in the evening. Want to know more? Read on!
This Japan Food Travel Hack Trick Will Help You Get Cheap Items
According to reports by NDTV, shoppers in Japan often wait until later in the day to pick up prepared food at discounted prices. If you time your visit well, some fresh items can be available at discounts of up to 80%. Influencer duo Swati and Prateek recently shared a video showing their experience at a Japanese supermarket during the evening. According to their post, they managed to get enough fresh food for three days for around ₹1,400, thanks to the markdowns.
Swati explained that prices on certain food products can be reduced at regular intervals during the evening. As closing time approaches, more shoppers gather around the discounted food section, waiting to see if another price cut is added. The reduced-price products are usually marked with stickers placed directly on the packaging. These stickers indicate the discount available on food prepared or stocked that day. Shoppers can find everything from sushi and vegetable bento boxes to cakes and other ready-to-eat items.
The discounts can begin at around 20 per cent before increasing to 30%, 50% and, in some cases, even higher. The biggest reductions are generally seen closer to closing time, when stores are looking to clear unsold prepared food.
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What Travellers Should Focus On
For first-time visitors, the biggest challenge may simply be knowing what the stickers mean. Swati pointed out that tourists often overlook the signs that indicate a food item has been marked down. One of the key terms to look for is 半額 (hangaku), which means “half price”. Spotting this sticker can indicate that an item is being sold at a 50 per cent discount.
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The experience can quickly turn into a small treasure hunt, with shoppers comparing stickers and checking whether waiting a little longer could mean a bigger discount. For travellers trying to keep food costs down in Japan, an evening supermarket visit could therefore be a useful addition to the itinerary, especially for those happy to pick up fresh, ready-to-eat meals instead of dining out every night.
Cover Image Courtesy: Instagram/Swati & Prateek
FAQs
How much is 1000 rupees of Japan in India?
1,000 Japanese Yen (JPY) is worth approximately 613.77 Indian Rupees (INR).