Prices in Japan have significantly increased compared to pre-pandemic levels, despite the subdued inflation. An example is the experience of Kaiti Hamada, who first returned to Japan after the spread of the coronavirus. She was shocked by the price increases. However, the difference lies in the fact that Japan has been experiencing a steady decline in the value of its currency, which benefits foreign visitors.
At the moment of Kaiti's visit, Japan was undergoing the selection of a new prime minister, Yasukide Suzuki, in relation to whom there were certain expectations. If in February 2020 the cost of a simple lunch in central Tokyo was approximately 1000 yen, now it has increased to 2000 yen, which is 13.15 dollars.
