Hello everyone.
Today:
👉 let’s continue from Part 1.
So:
👉 you want to buy cigarettes in Japan…
but:
👉 you have no idea what to buy.
What should you do?
Honestly:
👉 the fastest way is simply to ask the store staff.
However:
👉 there is often a language barrier.
So:
👉 keeping your English simple is usually the best strategy.
What Does the Staff Need to Know?
When helping a customer choose cigarettes:
👉 staff usually want to know two things:
- What type do you want?
- How strong do you want it?
If staff can understand these two points:
👉 helping becomes much easier.
Normal or Menthol?
In Japan:
👉 cigarettes are often broadly divided into:
- normal cigarettes
- menthol cigarettes
You can simply say:
👉 “Menthol”
or
👉 “Not menthol”
Honestly:
👉 this alone helps staff a lot.
Because:
👉 many cigarette brands have both normal and menthol versions.
Strong or Light?
The next question is:
👉 strength.
You can try simple words such as:
- strong
- light
- super light
Many convenience store staff will understand these words.
However:
👉 if communication becomes difficult,
there is another easy method.
Look at the Cigarette Pack
On most cigarette packs in Japan:
👉 you will usually see a number such as:
10 / 6 / 1
In many cases:
👉 this refers to the tar level (mg).
As a very rough guide:
- 10 mg → stronger feeling
- 6 mg → medium
- 1 mg → lighter feeling
Of course:
👉 smoking experience differs from person to person.
But:
👉 many smokers use these numbers as a quick reference.
What If You Still Don’t Know?
Then you can try asking:
👉 “What’s popular?”
or
👉 “What do people usually buy?”
Honestly:
👉 this may depend on the staff member and the store.
But:
👉 many workers can usually recommend a commonly purchased product.
Of course:
👉 everyone’s taste is different.
Still:
👉 if it is your first time trying Japanese cigarettes,
it can be a useful starting point.
One Question Foreign Visitors Sometimes Ask
“How many cigarettes are inside?”
Actually:
👉 most cigarette packs in Japan contain 20 cigarettes.
However:
👉 there are a few exceptions.
For example:
- Short Hope → 10 cigarettes
- American Spirit (some products) → 14 cigarettes
Still:
👉 these are relatively uncommon.
Most cigarette packs in Japan contain:
👉 20 cigarettes.
Next Time
Next time:
👉 I’ll explain something many visitors misunderstand in Japan:
heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes.
Because:
👉 in Japan,
these are often very different from what people expect overseas.
See you next time!
Related Articles
👉 How to Buy Cigarettes at Japanese Convenience Stores (Part 1)
Learn the easiest way to buy cigarettes in Japan using product numbers at convenience stores.
👉 How to Buy Cigarettes at Japanese Convenience Stores (Part 3)
Confused by the meaning of “electronic cigarettes” in Japan? Here is what visitors often misunderstand.
👉 How to Buy Cigarettes at Japanese Convenience Stores (Part 4)
A practical guide to IQOS, glo, and heated tobacco products sold in Japanese convenience stores.
👉 Can Convenience Store Staff Speak English in Japan? (Part 1)
How much English can Japanese convenience store staff actually speak?
👉 Can Convenience Store Staff Speak English in Japan? (Part 2)
Simple communication tips that make shopping easier in Japanese convenience stores.
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