What are the big changes in Japan living since the pandemic?

5 comments

1. >Do we use that a lot now in Japan?

   If you have a or several contactless services such as Suica, iD, or the like, plus a QR code service (LinePay, Paypay, Dbarai…), you hardly ever need cash, at least in Tokyo. That was almost the case in 2019, but QR codes really exploded in the last couple years.

   >Did grocery prices spike?

   Kind of like everywhere. Eggs especially.

   >Do we need a negative RT-PCR test result before getting a dentist appointment?

   no.

   >Can you still smoke in old cafes?

   Depends on the places, there are many places allowing smoking indeed.

2. hello! i lived in japan in 2016-17 and came back in 2022 and have been there here ever since. hopefully i can give you some insight! i’m not sure where you lived/will move too, but this is my experience in tokyo.

   -i have yet to come across a place that only accepted cash, everywhere has card readers or something you can tap your phone on for stuff like apple pay. it’s rare that you can charge your suica/IC card up with a credit or debit card, but suica in particular has an app for your phone now. i’ve never used it so unfortunately i don’t know the details! keeping cash on you is always good and still the most used payment method, but you won’t be stranded if you run out of cash or even lose your wallet.

   -not so sure about grocery prices specifically, but prices have been rising worldwide, so 🥲

   -i had a dentist appointment a few months ago and no PCR test was required. the only time i needed to get tested was when i was staying in a hotel, and i got a major discount on the price for having it. like 50% off. every place has different rules of course, but you’d be hard pressed to encounter that

   -i don’t smoke but i have a friend that does, and she’s had no issues finding indoor smoking cafes.

   honestly i would say the only leftover effects you see daily from covid are the masks and hand sanitizer being offered when you walk into a store or restaurant, but now the government is trying to make people stop wearing the masks so the tourists don’t get weirded out by it haha.

   this was long, but i hope i answered some of your questions! let me know if you have any more and i would be happy to answer 😊

3. I guess it depends on where you go, but as someone who loves hole in the wall places and secondhand shopping you definitely still need cash on hand for a lot of places! Especially if you’re popping in somewhere new (but maybe this is a bigger thing in kansai than it would be in Tokyo.) also still have to use cash to load up physical IC cards if you don’t use the phone tap passes

   Grocery prices might be going up, but seriously NOTHING compared to America. Though some things were hit more than others- 7/11 ichigo sando are not only more expensive but also feature strawberry quarters instead of halves and are smaller overall. A personal heartbreak. Re: eggs, 10 eggs runs about 230 where I am!

   Still some smoking places, but less than there used to be

4. I also was in Japan in 2019 and then came back last year, so we have similar timeframes! one thing I didn’t notice as prominently back then were those special point cards/apps. the two biggest ones seem to be PayPay and Rakuten points. those can be charged up with cash at conbini, or via credit card or bank account, and they’re accepted nearly everywhere physically and a lot of places online. you can even pay some taxes with it.
   also while yes grocery prices raised as the others said, compared to most Western countries they’re still extremely cheap. so if you’re lucky enough to not be paid in yen you’ll still feel like everything is cheap, even if there’s a few more price hikes.

5. The damned last trains in Tokyo are like an hour earlier than they used to be. 🙁