Fruit a luxury in Japan?

Question

I hear that fruit is a luxury in Japan? Is it really that expensive?

Answer 1

Generally speaking, fruit in Japan is more expensive. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a luxury though.

There are certain types of fruits that are given as gifts to people of high position (e.g. your boss). Those fruits are specially selected and are supposed to be of the highest quality in terms of appearance and flavor. They are also beautifully packaged. So if you go to the supermarket and see a $50+ melon, that's what that is.

Some fruits cost more than others depending on how far they have been shipped, whether they are from a hothouse, etc. . .fruits like raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and even apples are rather expensive. Other fruits such as mikan (mandarin oranges), bananas, and kaki (Japanese persimmon) are not as expensive.

The best place to get fruit is from local fruit stands, or just pluck it from the tree yourself if you can. At the apt complex where I used to live we had a few kaki trees, so I often just helped myself!  

Answer 2

every thing in japan is expensive  

Answer 3

No fruit is not a luxury.. not in the sense that people can only afford to eat it infrequently.  There is plenty of fruit available, probably more variety than I can get in my own country.. and much of it is produced within Japan.  Families eat it regularly, especially in summer/autumn when many fruits are in season.  I guess fruit is slightly more expensive relative to other foodstuffs, but I don't consider it expensive.  I don't know which country the other answerers come from, but I'm from England and the exchange rate is favourable.. perhaps that's the reason the prices don't seem so bad.

The only time it can be ridiculously expensive is with certain fruits that are grown specificly to be 'luxury' items... like the other answers say.  These are special fruits and are often given as gifts.. Japanese people hate to be seen to be giving a 'regular' gift, it has to be special in some way.  The fruit growers take advantage of this by growing things like one mango per tree.. the idea being that the mango will be extra specially amazing.. and someone can pay a bunch for it and give it as a gift.

Answer 4

Every thing is expensive in Japan . Fruit is  very expensive compared to other countries.  I remember, once one medium size mango ( abt 60-80 gm) was priced at JPY 3,500 .

Banana is relatively cheaper ( of you count them as fruit) ; about JPY 200 for 4-6 pcs.  

Answer 5

All food is expensive in Japan, but most fruit are not too expensive.

Some fruit can be very expensive during certen seasons and holidays.

I have seen a regular melon sell for for over $100, but that isn't really that common. You can usually pick one up for about 10 dollers in the right place.

Here is a picture of a really expensive melon.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20130617@N0...

about $45. crazy huh.

Ps. I made some changes to my post. I need to pay attention to the pictures I am posting, it say 1 for 4980.

Answer 6

Except some top quality or extra fed fruit like Kobe-beef, mandarin orange(Mikan), apple(Ringo), grape(Budo) watermelon(Suika), strawberry(Ichigo) etc are not so expensive in season.

Some special products are well greenhouse-cultivated by hand.

The quality is beyond of normal commonsense to fruit.

You must understand labor cost and the expense in Japan.

Japanese peach(Momo), persimon(Kaki), cherry(Sakuranbo) and pear(Nashi) are all my favorites. Supermarket sometimes discounts sales- tag for ripened ones. It is good bargain for me.