Up Market Shopping

(P:-Today is Cruise day as we embark on a bit of a paddle around Japan and South Korea. Check in time for the Cruise ship was 1pm – 4pm. I asked for a late checkout from the Hotel with a particular goal in mind. Being involved with Agriculture I have often heard of the premium prices paid (and asked) for high quality food products in Japan. On our travels yesterday and the shops I had visited the prices were very little different to Tasmania. My Goal (and Judith’s but she was yet to know about it) was to search out a High End Department store food hall. Research led us to Isetan Department Store. We were outside when the store opened waited for a few dozen people to go in and we wandered straight into (as you do in any department store) a huge ground floor area of “wrinkle hiding” products – Think its called the Cosmetics area? As we were among the first customers there were about 30 or 40 beautiful Japanese women (Cosmeticians) bowing to us in traditional Japanese style. An interesting feeling and not sure if we felt a bit special or felt like hiding. A precious moment regardless!

Down a floor and I hit the JACKPOT. The most beautifully presented food hall I have witnessed (I make an effort to find these in my travels as food is a great interest to me). Now to find the expensive commodities.

Some examples are (in Approximate Australian Dollars)

1 Carrot $1.60

1 small Potato $1.30

1 Dirty White Onion $2.70

1 Brown Onion $1.95

1 Cob Sweet Corn $5.40

8 Strawberries $16.20

15 Strawberries $48.60

1 Orange $5.40

1 Abalone $86.00

1 Fresh Chicken $60.00

4 Tiny Fish Fillets $12.00 ( looked like we use as bait)

Mince Beef $70.00 kg

But the best of all was-

Beef Loin $1,008.00 per KG

The list could go on! photos will show more of the story. One can only dream of what a $1,000.00 per Kg Steak would be like!

We did purchase (at some expense) some fresh Beef Carpaccio and Salmon Sashimi for our lunch which was delicious. For me it was a great experience and a fun morning. We pack our bags and Taxi to Yokohama to embark on our Cruise.