Saw on youtube videos that purchasing prescription glasses from Japan was super economical. The ladies in the video showed the prices and they are pretty cheap compared to glasses cost where I live.
I am from Canada and have high glasses prescription. Glasses for me would usually cost close to $600 dollars as my prescription is -7.0/ -7.5 near sighted. I have bought glasses from Bon Look, Spec Savers, and also independent glasses stores/ the optometrist.
Has anyone ever purchased glasses from Japan? What was your experience like? How much did you pay for glasses in Japan? Did you have to wait long for it?
Also which glasses stores did you visit and or buy from, in Japan?
Going to visit Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo in May!
Apreciate your responses.
by sLam0313
2 comments
I order the same model from a European brand sold at a handful of clinics and stores. Cost 440 USD in the US in 2019. But just got a new pair for equivalent of 325 USD at optical department in Mitsukoshi Ginza this year. Took about 5 business days though store staff quoted up to 2 weeks when I ordered. I was also able to get the broken US pair repaired (bridge snapped) for less than 20 USD. Most of this is due to the exchange rate though. However CAD/JPY is strong too, so you should be able to get a good deal at whichever store you go to, whether it’s a chain like Jins or an independent optician or store. And if you aren’t limited to a foreign brand like I was, then your costs will be even cheaper, as you saw.
I have a half dozen pairs of glasses from various trips to Japan, from Jins and Zoff. Each one took 30 minutes to make, but I don’t have special additions to my lenses beyond their normal, and the only thing I need is diopter correction (-4.0/-4.0), no astigmatism. My pairs cost anywhere from 6000 – 25000 yen.
Shopping is easy – if you need a place that speaks some English you will probably want to go to a location in a tourist area.
They’re all durable enough. The pair I wear daily I’ve had for about two years, and they are mostly as good as new.