So did gas prices in Japan go up?

[GaijinPunch]

This doesn't really bother me that much. Gas on the island here went from about $2.60 USD/gallon to $3.70 USD/gallon. I fill up my car once a month, so I only spend $50 now instead of $40. I'll live. For people that commute to work though, they're getting raked over the coals. Last I was in Tokyo I think it was 110 yen per litre... then again, I never really looked.

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

In Fukuoka

The service station which I always use nearby.
It is 130 yen at 1 liter.
Other service stations.
It is 119 yen at 1 liter that is the cheapest.

Gasoline is by no means cheap.

 

[GaijinPunch]

It's more expensive than the US, but there are still more expensive places (Europe). Doesn't seem to be effected by the recent rise in cost in North America, which most people are moaning about.

 

[Ardeo]

It's more expensive than the US, but there are still more expensive places (Europe). Doesn't seem to be effected by the recent rise in cost in North America, which most people are moaning about.

If our cars weren't the size of small houses we wouldn't have to compain so much. Of course, I wonder if gas was as cheap in Japan and Europe as it is (or was) in the US would they have huge monstrosities as well.

 

[nice gaijin]

just before Hurricane Rita I was told the gas price in Japan, which came out to almost $5.00/gallon exactly (132 yen/liter). This was about 15-25 yen cheaper per liter than when I was there this July.

Some global prices for gas as of may, 2004

March, 2005

 

[Pachipro]

According to a Japan Times article, gasoline topped 130yen/litre ($3.79/gal) for the first time since 1992.

Still, in percentage, it has not gone up as high as here in the US.

 

[Mike Cash]

I don't drive my car enough for gas prices to bother me. But diesel is up about 25% so far this year, and our supplier has told us more increases are already planned for this fall.

 

[Silverpoint]

If our cars weren't the size of small houses we wouldn't have to compain so much. Of course, I wonder if gas was as cheap in Japan and Europe as it is (or was) in the US would they have huge monstrosities as well.

When I first came to Japan, my friends told me it was a nation of small cars. Don't believe a word of it. They love their mini-vans and SUVs as much as anywhere I've been.

 

[GaijinPunch]

I figure the impact in Japan would hit the businesses directly harder than what's happening in the states. Consumers forced to spend an extra $100 a month in some cases can really hurt the local economy. My local quiznos had to lower prices of their sandwhiches.

As before... I hate driving, so don't do it that much.

 

[Ardeo]

When I first came to Japan, my friends told me it was a nation of small cars. Don't believe a word of it. They love their mini-vans and SUVs as much as anywhere I've been.

Thanks for that bit of information. It is really what I had thought....that when given the choice everyone would choose them. Oh well, at least the governments in Europe tax gasoline to limit consumption (or that is what I hear anyway).

 

[Mike Cash]

One thing that survived the collapse of the bubble economy is the love of conspicuous consumption.

 

[budd]

and it aint going nowhere neither
here to stay...

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

I remember in summer of 2002, when I moved from Yamaguchi Pref to where I live now, I was amazed at how cheap the gas was here, about \93 per liter, tax included. Now it's something like \120 per liter. That's an increase of \27 per liter.

I can't speak for other parts of the country, but the price of gasoline has certainly increased here!