How Much Is It?

Travel through Japan while learning how to shop in Japanese!

This Level 2 reader takes learners on a shopping adventure through authentic Japanese shops using real photographs taken in Japan. Visit a 100-yen shop, supermarket, cake shop, traditional Japanese sweet shop, takoyaki shop, Sanrio store, and character shop, while practising useful shopping expressions that Japanese people use every day.

Each shopping experience follows the same predictable dialogue pattern, allowing learners to naturally build confidence through repetition.

Learners practise asking prices using 「いくらですか。」, buying different quantities with 「～こ ください。」, and calculating the total cost using 「～こで ～えんです。」

Throughout the book, learners see real Japanese banknotes and coins, authentic price tags, and genuine products from everyday shops, creating the feeling of shopping in Japan while learning practical Japanese.

This reader combines authentic culture, meaningful repetition, and beautiful photography to help learners develop confidence using Japanese in real-life situations.

Language Features

Students will practise:

• Asking 「いくらですか。」
• Using 「～ください。」 when shopping
• Counting objects with ～こ
• Reading Japanese prices using 円
• Adding quantities and total prices
• Learning everyday shopping vocabulary
• Developing reading confidence through repeated dialogue patterns

Details: 

Japanese Reader Level: 2
Recommended for: Early Beginners
Language Focus: Shopping expressions using いくらですか, ～ください, and ～こで ～えんです
Vocabulary Theme: Shopping, food, souvenirs, money, and everyday stores
Cultural Theme: Everyday shopping in Japan using authentic shops, products, and Japanese currency

Character Count: 733
Pages: 17
Product Type: A5 saddle-stitched booklet
ISBN: 978-1-925808-12-4

Perfect For

• Learners beginning simple shopping conversations
• Primary school Japanese programs
• Beginning secondary school students
• Adult beginners
• Home learning
• Japanese language classrooms
• Learning about everyday shopping in Japan through authentic photographs

 Teaching & Learning Resources

Every reader includes free access to our Resource Library.

Included with every reader:

•  Audio recordings narrated by Mariko Sensei
•  English translation
•  Quizlet vocabulary activities

Also available for schools and teachers:

•  Class Sets with Online Flipbooks

 A Note from Mariko Sensei

When I was in primary school, my parents gave me a small allowance each month. One of my favourite things to do was decide how to spend it.

I still remember the excitement of walking to the local shops near my parents’ home in Utsunomiya, carefully choosing what to buy and checking whether I had enough money. Every purchase felt like a special adventure.

Many of the photographs in this reader were taken in those same neighbourhood shops that my family and I have visited for many years. They are the kinds of everyday places where Japanese people shop, making this reader a genuine glimpse into daily life in Japan.

I created this reader so learners can experience what shopping in Japan really feels like. By reading repeated shopping dialogues, using real Japanese money, and seeing authentic products and prices, learners can build confidence while exploring Japanese language and culture.

I hope this reader makes you feel as though you are shopping in Japan yourself.

Happy reading!

— Mariko Sensei

📖 Your Next Japanese Reader

Now that you’ve practised shopping expressions and everyday Japanese, continue your reading journey with these readers:

• はじめての にほん — Continue exploring everyday life and culture in Japan while developing your Japanese reading skills.
• ねこの ちび — Enjoy your first simple Japanese story while continuing to build confidence with familiar sentence patterns.
• にほんの おかし — Discover popular Japanese snacks and sweets while expanding your everyday food vocabulary.

These Japanese readers are intended for individual use and extensive reading (tadoku).

© Mariko Earle. All rights reserved.