South Korea’s stunning landscapes, popular skincare and thrilling K-pop and K-drama culture have attracted tourists from across the globe. Now, there’s a special ingredient that has brought hordes of Japanese tourists to the nation in the hopes of carrying back a very valuable souvenir, almost a household essential. What’s that? It’s the humble rice! Why? Well, read on!
Japanese Tourists Carry Back Rice Bags From South Korea Trip
As per a report by South China Morning Post, an increasing number of Japanese tourists are seen not at tourist spots in South Korea rather at grocery and shopping centres. The reason? Lugging carts filled with a special ingredient, one that Japanese cuisine is unimaginable without. An ingredient that has seen a significant rise in price, where even flying to another country to stock up or adding it as a mandatory travel souvenir seems worth it. ‘
As per reports, 10 kg of rice in Japan now costs 8000 yen (₹4700 approx). But the same quantity of rice in South Korea costs nearly a third of and is priced around 3000 yen (₹1700 yen). The significant price difference has seen a rise in Japanese tourists and shoppers stocking up on rice at supermarkets in Seoul.
This tourism trend caught the global eye after a Japanese tourist took to X to share her story. The Japanese tourist purchased 4 kg of white rice and 5 kg of brown rice during her layover in Seoul. She revealed in her post that she was on a mission to purchase rice in Seoul due ti the burgeoning rice prices in Japan. The woman joked that carrying the rice bags felt like an entire workout.
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