Food

Groceries in Japan don’t have to be expensive — if you know which stores to use, which products to buy, and when to shop. Most foreigners overpay for years simply because nobody told them the tricks locals use. Here’s how to cut your food bill significantly. Supermarket Types Type Price Level Examples Budget supermarkets ¥ OK Store, Gyomu Super, Hanamasa Standard supermarkets ¥¥ Ito-Yokado, Aeon, Life Department store B1F ¥¥¥ Isetan, Takashimaya food halls Discount/wholesale ¥ Costco, Gyomu Super Best Budget Supermarkets Gyomu Super (業務スーパー) The best value supermarket in Japan. Originally for restaurant industry buyers — sells large quantities at low prices. Great for: ...

Japan’s grocery delivery landscape has expanded dramatically — but the best services differ by city, language support, and what you’re actually trying to buy. Some are foreigner-friendly, some are a frustrating ordeal without Japanese skills. Here’s a practical breakdown of the options worth your time. Best Grocery Delivery Services in Japan 1. Amazon Fresh — Best for Convenience Feature Details Coverage Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Osaka, other major areas Minimum order No minimum for Prime members Delivery time 2-hour windows, same day often available App language English (use amazon.co.jp) Price level Competitive, similar to in-store If you already have Amazon Prime Japan (¥600/month), Amazon Fresh is the easiest option. The website works in English, and you can recognize product photos even without reading Japanese. ...

Walk into an izakaya without knowing the drill and you’ll spend the evening nodding at things you don’t understand. Walk in prepared and you’ll have one of the best nights Japan has to offer. Here’s exactly what to expect and how to order. What Is an Izakaya? An izakaya sits between a bar and a restaurant. You order food and drinks simultaneously throughout the evening — it’s not a dinner followed by drinks, it’s both at once, continuously. ...

Stabbing your chopsticks upright in rice, pouring your own drink, leaving food on your plate — small habits that carry big meaning in Japan. Food is a social ritual here, and knowing the etiquette shows more respect than any Japanese phrase you’ll learn. Here’s what you need to know before your next meal. Before You Eat Itadakimasu (いただきます) Say this before every meal. It means roughly “I humbly receive” — an expression of gratitude for the food, the cook, and everything that went into the meal. ...

Japanese supermarkets are organized differently, labeled differently, and stocked with products you won’t recognize at first. That’s half the fun — but also the source of some expensive mistakes. Here’s a guide to navigating Japanese supermarkets with confidence from day one. Major Supermarket Chains Chain Notes Price Level イオン (AEON) Nationwide, large stores, some English signage Mid ライフ (Life) Urban focused, good quality Mid マルエツ (Maruetsu) Common in Tokyo/Kanto Budget–Mid セブンフレッシュ / イトーヨーカドー Reliable quality Mid オーケー (OK) Discount chain, no-frills, excellent value Budget 業務スーパー (Gyomu Super) Bulk/restaurant supply open to public Very cheap 成城石井 (Seijo Ishii) Premium, imported goods, English labels Premium ナショナル麻布 (National Azabu) International, Minato-ku Tokyo Very premium Supermarket Layout Basics Section Japanese What’s There Produce 野菜・果物 Vegetables, fruit Meat 精肉 Beef, pork, chicken Fish 鮮魚 Fresh fish, sashimi Dairy 乳製品 Milk, cheese, yogurt Frozen 冷凍食品 Frozen meals, dumplings Deli/Prepared 惣菜 Ready-to-eat side dishes Noodles/Rice 麺・米 All types Condiments 調味料 Soy sauce, miso, vinegar Snacks お菓子 Chips, cookies, candy Drinks 飲料 Water, juice, tea, soda Alcohol お酒 Beer, wine, shochu, sake Bread パン Often a separate bakery section Seafood Prep Area — Live tanks (crabs, fish) sometimes present Must-Know Japanese Food Items Staples 米 (kome) — rice. Buy 5kg or 10kg bags. Koshihikari (コシヒカリ) is the most popular brand. 味噌 (miso) — miso paste for soup. Red miso (aka) is stronger; white (shiro) is milder. 醤油 (shoyu) — soy sauce. Kikkoman is the standard. だし (dashi) — soup stock granules. Add to water for instant Japanese broth. みりん (mirin) — sweet cooking sake. Essential for Japanese home cooking. Protein 豆腐 (tofu) — firm (momen) or silken (kinugoshi); cheap and versatile 納豆 (natto) — fermented soybeans; strong taste; very cheap (¥70–150 for 3-pack) たまご (tamago) — eggs; Japanese eggs are very high quality; safe to eat raw Ready-to-Eat (惣菜) The sōzai section is one of the best things about Japanese supermarkets: ...