Episode 3: "Exploration": September 3-9

This week’s section will focus more on day-to-day life. 

A few questions have been asked to me about where some good convenience stores are around Japan and where I live. Obviously, as most of you know, Japan is well known for having vending machines scattered everywhere. This is true, as I see about 30 every day when going to and coming back home from school. What also may be very surprising to a lot of Americans is how cheap they are. In Mississippi, the vending machines run about $2 to $3 for one drink. Here in Japan, the cheapest drink I’ve seen is for around $.80 and the most expensive drink I’ve seen is for about $1.20. This is something that is a constant all over the country, and frankly, should be something that should be changed in America as well.

There are even vending machines for food, everyday items, and more. If you can think of it, it’s in a vending machine. Japan also has their own name for vending machines, it’s “自動販売機 [Ji-dō-han-bai-ki]”, literally meaning “self-operable marketing, trade, and selling machine”. Fun fact: it takes longer to write the name for a vending machine here than it does to actually make a purchase at one.

The convenience stores here, also referred to as “Konbini”, are also relatively cheap. The other week I bought two bottled Cokes, two packs of Pocky, and a box of chicken nuggets (also known as Karaage) from a convenience store called Lawson for only $5. Every time I make a purchase I am always taken aback at how much cheaper it is here than in America. The first week I was here, my host mother bought a liter of Coca-Cola for only $1. The last time I checked, that’s unheard of America.

They also have a supermarket here called Aeon, and it’s pretty much a direct mirror of the Outlet Mall, but indoors. This week I bought a volume of manga, a passholder for my train pass, and a mini figure all for only $10. On the way back home, my housemother and I stopped at KFC (yes, they have a lot of American franchises here!) and I honestly have to say that the KFC here beats the KFC in America out of the water. The food here is slightly different in terms of presentation and menu items, but this is probably the best KFC I will ever have in years.

That’s all for this week’s entry, thank you for reading and see you next week!