Cost of living in Japan - statistics & facts
Rice prices have been dominating the headlines in Japan. The price of this Japanese staple food has been skyrocketing since 2024, prompting the government to release some of its emergency rice stockpile to alleviate the situation. But the staggering price increase of rice is just one example of a general trend of higher cost of living faced by Japanese households. Inflation hit Japan in 2022, ending more than three decades of struggles with deflation and putting consumers in a very new environment. With households facing rising prices for daily necessities and cutting back on expenses, the situation was a central topic ahead of the 2025 Upper House election.
