One of the things that excited me the most during my Japan trip was the daily visit to the Japanese supermarket. So much so that on the last three trips I picked our hotel based on the walking distance to a Japanese supermarket. To be fair, it’s not that hard, as there is at least one Lawson (the Japanese convenience store chain owned by Mitsubishi) on every busy street corner.
My favourite (and most frequented) Japanese supermarket is another Japanese chain called Life Supermarket near Oshiage Skytree Station. The two floors supermarket has been my source of joy and hunting ground for Japanese knick-knacks and last-minute souvenirs in Tokyo. I also like to stop by it to take shelter from the biting winter chill as it’s three minutes away from One, the boutique hotel where I have stayed twice (not a coincidence at all).
Japanese Supermarket Exciting Finds
The biggest thrill of stepping into a Japanese supermarket for me is finding the most unusual things that can be found in a supermarket. So far, these are some of them:
Coffee Butter
Come to think of it, why not? Morning breakfast usually contains butter, toast, and coffee. Combining it is just efficient. Hats off to the Japanese for coming up with this brilliant idea. I brought only a pack home fearing that the Australian immigration might throw it away due to the strict rules around bringing food items into the country. It was so good I regret not getting more.
Transparent Milk Tea
It looked like any other mineral water bottle but it tasted exactly like milk tea. How cool is that?
Rassam Powder
Rasam powder obviously a common thing if you live in India or even Singapore, but in Australia, I have to order my rasam powder from an online Indian grocery store based in Sydney. And to see it stocked in a small Japanese supermarket was something else.
Brewer Tea Bag
Another exciting tea-related finding. Just add some hot water and viola hot tea for two; ready to be served.
Every time I step into the Japanese supermarket, I can at least find one more delightful thing in there. It is a gift that keeps giving (while taking a reasonable amount of my Yen).
Mini Crabs
Have you eaten mini-sized crabs before? I didn’t even know that it was a thing. But let me tell you it’s a perfect side dish to accompany any kind of Japanese liqueur.
Japanese Supermarket vs Depachika
Japanese supermarket is not the same as the much-celebrated Depachika. The latter is the basement floor of Japanese department stores, where food and groceries are usually sold. It’s a sensory overload, especially during the holiday season. Depachika can be overwhelming to step into. Even I can’t stand being inside it for a long time. This is why the Japanese supermarket might is the best alternative for tourists who are not used to the hustle and bustle of the underground market.
When you visit Japan, allocate some time in a Japanese supermarket. It’s like a treasure chest for all things interesting Japanese. From food to house appliances to seasonal decorations unique to Japanese culture.
Though it started in Japan ━ I have expanded my foreign supermarket obsession to other countries. The latest one was rummaging through Copenhagen supermarket in the Grand Central station while waiting for the train to Odense.
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