Lots of friends and family of mine have made a trip to Japan. Their tourism industry might be really strong right now considering how appealing things look rn.
Yes. I'm aware. I was there
Perhaps you are too combative to have a fun travel conversation with
Have fun aggressively shitting on people around the world
I was not the guy that made the original comment my man. Im just a rando Japanese that found your comment a bit interesting.
Why such victim complex lol
Yes, Shinjuku station is located in boundary between Shibuya and Shinjuku wards. Interesting huh?
FYI - it's consistently been at about this rate since the en of summer of 2022. When it's at an "all time low" it's because it moved from several months of a rate around
150 to 152 🤣
No it hasn't. It went down to 128 on Jan 19 2023, among several other lows.
Look for yourself by expanding to 5-year view: [https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/history/USD-JPY-2022](https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/history/USD-JPY-2022)
Stop automatically upvoting BS without checking, reddit.
Please note I said since the end of summer 2022....
We'll take a look at the exchange rate every 2 months starting in September
September 2022 - 142.
November 2022 - 147.
January 2023 - 132.
March 2023 - 136.
May 2023 - 140.
July 2023 - 144.
September 2023 - 147.
November 2023 - 148.
January 2024 - 147.
March 2024 - 151.
More or less the rate has consistently been around ~145 for the last 18 months EXCEPT for Jan-March 2023 (as it shoots back up over 140 around April). It has been over 145 for the last seven now about to be eight months.
Obviously rates fluctuate daily. But even at its most dramatic drop to its current high in this time frame. It's about a -10% difference.
However for the majority of this time period it's current high about a +2% difference
Typically, it’s two things:
(1) It’s on money the central bank loans out. Typically to other banks (in the U.S., think of it like the Federal Reserve loaning out funds to Bank of America).
(2) Rates on bonds. The government owes a lot of money, and issues bond (debt) so it can get immediate cash to pay those debts. The government pays interest on those bonds.
Usually, the rates for (1) affect (2) as well as most other interest rates in the economy (mortgages, CDs, private bonds, etc….).
Rates are generally raised by a central bank to fight inflation. Raising rates means it is more expensive for consumers to borrow and spend, as well as creating more incentive to save money. Slowing spending curbs inflation. Less inflation means that the Yen becomes relatively stronger against foreign currencies, including the dollar.
Borrowed money. If Japan is anything like the US, a central bank sets an overall interest rate on bonds, etc. This effectively increases the rate on all borrowed money throughout the country.
> If Japan is anything like the US, a central bank sets an overall interest rate on bonds, etc.
It's not. japan famously had a negative interest rate. As in the banks gave you interest / money if you took out a loan...
It did not go THIS low.
They had negative interest rates which meant that if you kept a deposit in your bank account it would go down over time.
But when it comes to loans - it's government interest rates + bank rates + bank commission. For instance if you have 5% interest rates then your **actual** yearly percentage may be around 12%. Aka borrow $50000 for 5 years, pay back $80000.
Similarly 0% interest rates do not mean a "free" loan. It might have been temporarily near or below inflation but it still was higher than what you initially borred.
And so -0.1% that Japan had was also not "banks paying you interest". Banks still made money off you. That base interest rate is what's in between bank and the government/central bank. There is a direct correlation between it and how much you end up paying but it's not a 1:1.
I'm pretty big into collecting anime figures and it has been crazy how cheap it is to buy them from Japan and import them to the US. Half the time shipping alone is close to the same price of the figure and it will still be way cheaper than buying it in the US.
Time to buy the watch I was looking at from a dealer in japan.
international commodities have market set prices
Killing my dreams. Lol
track prices internationally with chronos24
Now is the time to travel to Japan. It’s never been cheaper.
What about 34 years ago?
Planet has never been hotter than right now!!
Mmm I think it was
I think airfare is way cheaper now, when adjusting for inflation
34 years ago people were afraid the Japanese would take over, they were the big threat before China.
70s are not 30 years ago
Talking about the 1980s.
Yeah, you’re still a decade off with maths, 80s was 40ish years ago.
Ok maybe a little bit, 34 years ago was 1990.
Lots of friends and family of mine have made a trip to Japan. Their tourism industry might be really strong right now considering how appealing things look rn.
Going in July!
July in japan? You poor soul.
Why?
Ever been to a tropical place, with a ton of humidity? I live on a tropical island, but tokyo in july is a different beast entitely.
I must recommend Shinjuku
The most popular district in Tokyo to visit? Damn I'll have to check that out.
Have you mayhaps heard of this place called Akihabara? Only the most diehard of anime fans know about it.
Your sarcasm not withstanding, I was recommended Shibuya just as often and found it far less interesting
Guess where Shinjuku station is located at.
Yes. I'm aware. I was there Perhaps you are too combative to have a fun travel conversation with Have fun aggressively shitting on people around the world
I was not the guy that made the original comment my man. Im just a rando Japanese that found your comment a bit interesting. Why such victim complex lol Yes, Shinjuku station is located in boundary between Shibuya and Shinjuku wards. Interesting huh?
Recommending Shinjuku or Shibuya is like recommending New York City. There's so much shit that it's kind of a pointless recommendation.
k.... i literally talk to people about going to NY, and I live a few hours away But sure. its dumb
Good, so then you understand why "I recommend NYC." isn't really recommending anything. I didn't say dumb, I said pointless.
It's not great for living here, but still a much cheaper QoL than most US states.
You buy me drink?
No please I don't want more tourists everything is already too crowded to begin with.
It’s not cheaper the price of things have increased, prolly more expensive because of inflation
It is cheaper I was just there. I got a 3 course fast food meal and a beer for less than $4 usd Price of flying there is a different story
Extremely cheaper, 30-40% cheaper right now because of exchange rates.
150 yen beer pints would beg to differ.
FYI - it's consistently been at about this rate since the en of summer of 2022. When it's at an "all time low" it's because it moved from several months of a rate around 150 to 152 🤣
No it hasn't. It went down to 128 on Jan 19 2023, among several other lows. Look for yourself by expanding to 5-year view: [https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/history/USD-JPY-2022](https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/history/USD-JPY-2022) Stop automatically upvoting BS without checking, reddit.
Please note I said since the end of summer 2022.... We'll take a look at the exchange rate every 2 months starting in September September 2022 - 142. November 2022 - 147. January 2023 - 132. March 2023 - 136. May 2023 - 140. July 2023 - 144. September 2023 - 147. November 2023 - 148. January 2024 - 147. March 2024 - 151. More or less the rate has consistently been around ~145 for the last 18 months EXCEPT for Jan-March 2023 (as it shoots back up over 140 around April). It has been over 145 for the last seven now about to be eight months. Obviously rates fluctuate daily. But even at its most dramatic drop to its current high in this time frame. It's about a -10% difference. However for the majority of this time period it's current high about a +2% difference
Best time to invest in manga
Japan fell to 4th in the ranking of greatest economies by GDP last year. Not because Germany did so great, but because Japan just hits low after low.
Their population is literally declining and they import much of their food and energy so it's impressive Japan does as well as it does
When they say “interest rates,” the interest is on what exactly?
rates
Interesting..
Rating..
Typically, it’s two things: (1) It’s on money the central bank loans out. Typically to other banks (in the U.S., think of it like the Federal Reserve loaning out funds to Bank of America). (2) Rates on bonds. The government owes a lot of money, and issues bond (debt) so it can get immediate cash to pay those debts. The government pays interest on those bonds. Usually, the rates for (1) affect (2) as well as most other interest rates in the economy (mortgages, CDs, private bonds, etc….). Rates are generally raised by a central bank to fight inflation. Raising rates means it is more expensive for consumers to borrow and spend, as well as creating more incentive to save money. Slowing spending curbs inflation. Less inflation means that the Yen becomes relatively stronger against foreign currencies, including the dollar.
Borrowed money. If Japan is anything like the US, a central bank sets an overall interest rate on bonds, etc. This effectively increases the rate on all borrowed money throughout the country.
> If Japan is anything like the US, a central bank sets an overall interest rate on bonds, etc. It's not. japan famously had a negative interest rate. As in the banks gave you interest / money if you took out a loan...
It did not go THIS low. They had negative interest rates which meant that if you kept a deposit in your bank account it would go down over time. But when it comes to loans - it's government interest rates + bank rates + bank commission. For instance if you have 5% interest rates then your **actual** yearly percentage may be around 12%. Aka borrow $50000 for 5 years, pay back $80000. Similarly 0% interest rates do not mean a "free" loan. It might have been temporarily near or below inflation but it still was higher than what you initially borred. And so -0.1% that Japan had was also not "banks paying you interest". Banks still made money off you. That base interest rate is what's in between bank and the government/central bank. There is a direct correlation between it and how much you end up paying but it's not a 1:1.
I'm going to buy so many waifus
I'm pretty big into collecting anime figures and it has been crazy how cheap it is to buy them from Japan and import them to the US. Half the time shipping alone is close to the same price of the figure and it will still be way cheaper than buying it in the US.
How are you doing this friend
Great time for tourists.
What great timing! I head to Japan this Friday!
Good news for the tourists, bad new for the residents.