Food prices in Japan remain high due to various factors, with many consumers feeling the burden and experts warning that this trend may continue in the short term.
A fresh produce supermarket in Nerima in the Tokyo Metropolis has been operating for over 30 years, offering relatively low prices. So it is visited by consumers from farther areas in addition to nearby residents.
However, due to rising food prices, the store has recently had to significantly raise the prices of certain vegetables, with cabbage seeing a particularly sharp increase.
A medium-sized cabbage like this one is priced at 298 yen (about 1.91 U.S. dollars) here, while the market price is about 350 to 400 yen (about 2.25 to 2.57 U.S. dollars). We're selling it at a relatively low price, but even so, it's nearly double the price from previous years," said Akiba Hiromichi, manager of the supermarket.
According to the manager, the steep and prolonged rise in vegetable prices has caused a ripple effect, raising the cost of other food items as well.
Many consumers have expressed frustration over the soaring prices.
"Really, the prices of cabbages, Chinese cabbages, and various other items are constantly going up. It's tough for us," said one consumer.
"What used to buy a large piece like this now only buys one of this size. It's quite expensive," shared another consumer.
In addition, Japan's rice prices have also remained high. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, the wholesale price of new rice in December 2024 reached a record high of 24,665 yen (about 158 U.S. dollars) per 60 kilograms, 1.6 times higher than the same period of the previous year.
Experts point to abnormal weather conditions as a key factor driving the sharp rise in vegetable and rice prices.
Meanwhile, the recent yen depreciation, inflation, and rising labor costs have compounded the issue, driving up the costs of imported goods.
With multiple factors at play, experts predicted that high food prices may persist in the short term.
Rising food prices in Japan strain consumers
Rising food prices in Japan strain consumers
Top international hotel operators linked to Cuba's military-run conglomerate GAESA have announced they are scaling back or ending operations at several hotels across the island, following a U.S. government deadline targeting foreign entities connected to Cuba's military sector.
The deadline, which fell on Friday, required foreign companies to sever ties with firms associated with GAESA and its subsidiaries. In response, several major hotel groups have rescinded management contracts with properties tied to the military conglomerate.
Spain's Melia Hotels International said it will cease operations at 15 of the 34 hotels it manages in Cuba. Iberostar, also based in Spain, terminated management agreements for 12 properties. Canada's Blue Diamond Resorts and Singapore-based Archipelago International have likewise withdrawn from several hotels operating under the Ashton brand. However, the companies clarified that they are only ending contracts with GAESA-linked hotels and intend to maintain management agreements with other properties under Cuba's Ministry of Tourism.
Tourism has long been considered one of Cuba's most important economic sectors. Between 2014 and 2019, the island welcomed an average of more than four million visitors annually and generated over 2 billion U.S. dollars in revenue each year. In recent years, however, the industry has suffered a sharp decline. Nearly 1.6 million visitors traveled to Cuba in 2025, while just 328,000 arrivals were recorded in the first quarter of 2026.
A combination of tightened U.S. sanctions, a deepening economic crisis, and persistent structural challenges has led travel agencies and airlines to suspend or reduce flights to the island this year. The latest measures targeting GAESA have added further strain to an already struggling sector.
Hotel closures have occurred before, with many employees reassigned to other areas of the economy. This time, however, workers currently employed in the sector said they fear job losses as more properties scale back operations.
Cuban economist Omar Everleny said the immediate impact of the latest measures may be limited, given the sector's existing difficulties.
"The news will indeed affect us, but most hotels in Cuba are either closed or operating with very low occupancy rates. In other words, the role of those companies was not really being felt yet, because tourism is influenced by many different factors," said Everleny.
Further complicating matters, Cuba's central bank announced on Saturday the suspension of Visa and Mastercard transactions following new U.S. sanctions on military-linked entities.
The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday announced additional sanctions against Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, as well as other individuals and entities. This adds to growing pressures on tourism and other sectors, posing further threats to the country's economy.
Int'l hotel chains scale back Cuba operations following US sanctions
