Japan Prices, Consistency Throughout the Island(s) and Prefectures

Prices are the same mostly throughout Japan. Convenient stores chains like Lawson, K, and 7-11 are everywhere, big cities and rural areas. The price of a Coca-Cola ¥148 or a Canned Coffee ¥120 are consistent everywhere. This includes little restaurant stand, and vending machines. At first it was a little creepy on the lack of variety. But it's because Japan is one island, its small, they don't need a huge variety. Import costs are expensive, even between prefectures. 

There isn't much fresh fruit or produce unless you are in a large city like Shin Yokohama or Hiroshima and up. The convenient stores there even carry packaged grapes and apple slices. Otherwise canned fruits in syrup or a bagged single banana ¥98 ($1.00 US) will have to do.

The shrine island of Miyagima was by far the least expensive items on the trip. All the other cities were relatively the same. Miyagima was significantly less in the shop that stayed open during the rain storm. Don't get me wrong, items are still overpriced by US standards. First since the Yen in this economy is being falsely inflated and second, because if its made in Japan the volume isn't high, so cost per piece is also high. (You cant even compare to US and China production.)

If you see something you like priced right BUY it! It's not likely you'll duplicate that good price elsewhere. 

Our trips exchange rate was ¥96 for $1. So I drop the last two numbers before the decal to get a rough estimate on dollar. ¥120 is about $1.06 and Husbands Cufflinks at Diamura were ¥7,748 or $77 (

Best deals so far:

Miyagima

- Bamboo hat ¥900 (over ¥1,000 elsewhere).

- Small Geisha Bookmarks (set of 3) ¥300

- Samurai Wood Training Stick ¥900 (¥1,300 and up elsewhere)

- Shinto Shrine Beads Bracelet ¥1,000 donation to shrine. Incense sticks ¥100. Otherwise beads range 1,500 and up!

Shin Hiroshima Station 

- Compact Umbrella with a wide selection ¥525

- Bean filled dough sweets ¥500-2,000 depending on size

Kamaishi

- Laundry mat ¥200 per load ¥100 dryer

- Local shop with trendy items. A Japan Sunrise Flag T-Shirt with an artistic Kanji ¥2,024. A leather wallet with a hand painted dragon ¥2,078. I negotiated ¥4,000 even - and it benefits the tsunami local people.