← Back to list
2026-04-01Daily life
📋 April 2026 Price Hikes Summary
Food, utilities, social insurance — all going up at once
+¥450
Electricity/mo
+¥170
Gas/mo
Revised
Insurance
200+
Food items
❓ What's happening?
April 2026 brings multiple simultaneous price increases. Electricity (record renewable surcharge), gas (subsidy ended), food (200+ items), social insurance premiums, and landline phone charges are all increasing.
⚡ Electricity
- ▲Renewable energy surcharge hits ¥3.98/kWh (record)
- ▲Standard household: ~¥450/month increase
- ▲Additional burden from subsidy ending
- ▲Total increase can exceed ¥3,000/month
🔥 Gas
- ▲Subsidy end adds ~¥170/month
- ▲Raw material cost adjustments may add more
- ▲Propane gas also trending up
🍞 Food
- ▲200+ items increasing in April
- ▲Bread and snacks (wheat price rise)
- ▲Seasonings (soy sauce, miso, cooking oil)
- ▲Beverages (juice, beer)
- ▲Frozen and processed foods
🏥 Social insurance
Health insurance and pension premium rates revised. SME employees particularly affected. Long-term care insurance also up for those 40+.
📞 Landline phones
NTT East/West raising landline basic fees. Monthly base charges for subscriber phones revised.
💡 Key points to know
1Electricity up ~¥450/month, with subsidy end total exceeds ¥3,000
2Gas up ~¥170/month
3200+ food items increasing
4Social insurance revisions affect take-home pay