Taiwan is the shortest-haul entry on this list and the easiest to justify arithmetically: a cheap flight, low on-the-ground costs, and a set of categories where the gap versus Japan is real. Tea is the headline — high-mountain oolong sold at producer prices rather than as an imported specialty — but dried seafood and fruit, teaware and computer components all clear the bar.
Electronics deserve a note. The Guang Hua district in Taipei is a genuine components market rather than a consumer-electronics mall, so the win is in parts and builds rather than in finished branded devices. Finished goods from international brands are priced much as they are anywhere.
High-mountain oolong tea×2–4
Estimate
Why it is cheaper
Producer and specialist-shop pricing at origin. Exported Taiwanese tea reaches Japan in small packages at specialty prices, and the top grades often do not travel at all.
Where to buy
Specialist tea shops in Taipei and the producing areas around Alishan and Lugu.
Before you buy
Tea is light and travels well — this is one of the few categories with no logistics penalty at all.
Dried fruit and bottarga×2–3
Estimate
Why it is cheaper
Domestic production sold at market prices rather than as an imported delicacy.
Where to buy
Dihua Street in Taipei for the traditional dried-goods trade.
Before you buy
Processed seafood such as bottarga can hit Japanese import restrictions. Declare it even vacuum-sealed.
PC components and electronic parts×1.2–1.6
Estimate
Why it is cheaper
A dense components market close to the manufacturing base, with thin margins and heavy competition between stalls.
Where to buy
Guang Hua Digital Plaza and the surrounding streets in Taipei.
Before you buy
Warranties are local. And this is a parts market — finished branded devices are priced much as they are anywhere.
Teaware and clay pots×1.8–3
Estimate
Why it is cheaper
Sold as functional equipment for an everyday tea culture rather than as craft objects for export.
Where to buy
The tea districts of Taipei, usually alongside the tea itself.
Before you buy
Clay is fragile. Have it packed properly and carry it rather than checking it.
Common questions
Is Taiwanese tea cheaper in Taiwan than in Japan?
Substantially — typically two to four times cheaper for equivalent grade, and the very top grades frequently are not exported at all. Buy from a specialist shop that will let you taste before committing; grade names alone are not reliable across sellers.