Rising Prices? Here’s the Paid Membership That’s Worth Every Yen

With rising prices continuing, general consumers are increasingly focused on saving money like never before. Amid this trend, paid membership programs are drawing attention—even though they require spending extra money.

At first glance, it may seem like an additional expense, but if used wisely, these memberships can ultimately offer significant benefits. Here, we explore the forefront of this membership-based business model.

Seijo Ishii’s Paid Membership: The Break-Even Point Is Shocking — ¥30,000 per Month

First, let’s focus on Seijo Ishii, known as a premium supermarket. In March last year, the company trialed a paid membership program at its Seijo store (Setagaya Ward) with a membership fee of ¥11,000 (tax included). This year, the program officially launched and is expanding, mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Membership perks include a 3% discount on purchases and free delivery. Customer surveys indicate that over 80% of members are satisfied, but how cost-effective is it really?

Let’s do the math. To recoup the ¥11,000 membership fee with just a 3% discount, annual purchases must total ¥366,667. Spread across 12 months, that’s roughly ¥30,556 per month. Only after surpassing this threshold do members fully benefit from the discount.

Naoko Kuga, a senior researcher at the Nissay Basic Research Institute, analyzes Seijo Ishii’s target shoppers as financially relatively well-off consumers. Unlike general supermarkets like Ozeki, which compete on discounts, Seijo Ishii aims at customers who value the added value of products rather than low prices.

Annual Fee Can Be Covered Just by Gasoline — Costco’s Ultimate Hack

On the other hand, the pioneer of paid membership stores is the U.S.-origin warehouse retailer Costco. For a typical Gold Star membership, the annual fee is ¥5,280 (tax included). The main attraction is the ability to purchase large quantities of groceries and daily necessities at low prices.

But Costco’s appeal isn’t just about affordability. “Driving out to suburban locations and enjoying a hands-on shopping experience at huge stores provides a true sense of extraordinary consumption,” explains Naoko Kuga.

Costco is especially useful for families with growing children, but another key feature is its gas stations.

For example, at the Minami Alps warehouse store (Yamanashi Prefecture), which opened in April this year, gasoline prices at the on-site station are a few yen cheaper than nearby discount stations, and 10–20 yen cheaper than typical stations in some cases.

For people who use a car daily, simply refueling repeatedly can easily cover the annual membership fee. However, in the Tokyo metropolitan area, many stores such as Tama-sakai, Kawasaki, and Makuhari don’t have gas stations, so it’s important to choose locations like Tsukuba or Shin-Misato where stations are available.

Instant Payback at OK, ¥1,000 Movies Hidden Deals You Shouldn’t Miss

The discount supermarket OK, operating over 160 stores across Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures with the slogan lowest prices in the area, also has a membership system. Unlike other programs, the membership card costs only ¥200 (tax included), with no enrollment or annual fees. Paying in cash grants a 3% discount on groceries (excluding alcohol).

Since you can recoup the ¥200 card fee with just ¥6,667 in purchases, every subsequent purchase immediately becomes a saving. Like Costco, OK focuses on cutting costs to keep prices low, making it ideal for bulk shoppers.

Entertainment options are also worth noting. Movie enthusiasts can benefit significantly from membership programs:

Kino Cinema (Shinjuku, Yokohama Minato Mirai, Tachikawa Takashimaya S.C., Shinsaibashi, Kobe International, Tenjin): Annual fee ¥1,000. Tickets usually cost ¥1,300, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays only ¥1,000. Upon joining, you receive a ¥1,000 voucher, making the net cost almost zero.

United Cinemas (42 theaters across Japan): Enrollment fee ¥600 (tax included). Adult tickets normally ¥2,000, but ¥1,300 on weekdays and ¥1,500 on weekends and holidays. Membership renews annually with a ¥600 fee.

Even with an Annual Fee of ¥160,000, Memberships Are Soaring The Status That Wealthy Individuals Crave

There are also premium membership programs aimed at advanced users who do not primarily seek to break even.

For example, the American Express Business Platinum Card carries a high annual fee of ¥165,000 (tax included). While joining and meeting certain conditions grants large amounts of points, expert Naoko Kuga points out:

“The appeal isn’t the point redemption rate. Unlike other cards, this one is in a league of its own and simply owning it is a status symbol. The credit limit is higher, and some members seek exclusive services such as access to luxurious airport lounges.”

The travel and hotel industry is also thriving with such premium programs. The French hotel group Accor, which operates Sofitel, Pullman, Mercure, Novotel, and Ibis, offers its ALL Accor+ Explorer membership (annual fee €200, approx. ¥36,000) that includes perks like two free stays per year at participating hotels in the Asia-Pacific region.

Similarly, the InterContinental Hotels Ambassador Program (annual fee $225, approx. ¥35,000) allows members to enjoy free weekend stays, making it easy to receive value well above the annual fee by staying at luxury hotels that cost tens of thousands of yen per night.

Is simple saving becoming outdated? Modern consumers enjoy small luxuries

While essentials are bought on sale, people are willing to spend on travel, leisure, and other enjoyable experiences. According to Kuga, more people are practicing this type of selective spending.

“There are many ways to get products at lower prices. Rather than cutting back on everything, people want to spend a little extra to enjoy a small luxury or unique experience. Companies are also targeting these needs accordingly,” says Kuga.

It’s not just about saving money anymore—finding the right membership programs and making full use of them seems to be the modern strategy to navigate high living costs smartly and enjoyably.