Shopping in Japan: What to Know
Daily shopping in Japan is a remarkably smooth experience — stores are clean, staff are helpful, and the food quality is high across all price points. Whether you’re navigating a local supermarket or making the most of a 24-hour convenience store, this guide covers everything you need for daily life.
Convenience Stores (コンビニ, Conbini)
Japan’s convenience stores are legendary — and rightly so. Japan’s three major chains (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson) operate 24/7 and function as far more than snack stops. They are essential infrastructure for daily life.
What you can do at a conbini:
- Pay utility bills, taxes, and online shopping orders (at the register or a self-service terminal)
- Send and receive packages (takkyubin / courier delivery)
- Print, copy, scan, and fax documents
- Withdraw cash from ATMs (Japan Post and 7-Bank ATMs at 7-Eleven accept international cards)
- Buy train/concert/event tickets (Loppi terminal at Lawson; FamiPort at FamilyMart)
- Apply government forms and get municipal document copies at some locations
- Hot food (oden, steamed buns, chicken, coffee)
- Fresh sandwiches, onigiri, bento boxes, salads — quality is genuinely good
Conbini food is a significant part of Japanese daily eating culture — not just emergency sustenance. A 7-Eleven onigiri (¥150–¥250) or Lawson bento (¥500–¥700) is a legitimate meal option.
Supermarkets (スーパー)
Japan has a dense network of supermarkets ranging from budget to premium:
- OK Store / Gyomu Super / Hanamasa — Budget-focused. Gyomu Super (業務スーパー) is particularly popular for bulk buying and low prices.
- Life / Ito-Yokado / Aeon — Mid-range national chains. Aeon operates enormous mall-based supermarkets in suburbs with extensive product ranges.
- Seijo Ishii / National Azabu / Nissin World Delicatessen — Premium and import-focused. Better selection of foreign products; higher prices.
- Tokyu Food Show / Isetan Food Hall — Department store basement food halls (デパ地下, depachika). Premium prepared foods, bento boxes, and high-end imports. Worth visiting as an experience.
Finding International / Foreign Products
International food availability has improved dramatically. Tokyo and Osaka have the widest selection; rural areas are more limited.
- KALDI Coffee Farm — Widespread chain with a good range of imported foods, spices, condiments, and international snacks. Affordable prices.
- Costco — Major cities and suburbs. Membership required. Good for bulk Western products (cheese, bread, meat).
- Halal shops / ethnic food stores — Available in major cities (Shin-Okubo in Tokyo is known for Korean and Asian products; ethnic markets in Ueno, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro).
- Amazon Japan / online delivery — Often the easiest way to source specific international products not available locally.
Shopping Etiquette
- Bags: Since 2020, plastic shopping bags are charged (typically ¥2–¥5 per bag) at most stores. Bring your own reusable bag (エコバッグ, eco-bag).
- Payment: IC cards (Suica, PASMO), credit cards, and QR code payments (PayPay, d-払い, etc.) are widely accepted. Cash is still common and always accepted. Sign-required credit card terminals are less common than in Western countries — PIN or contactless is more typical.
- Self-checkout: Very common at supermarkets. Staff are nearby to assist.
- Bagging: In Japan, staff bag your groceries for you at most supermarkets. At self-checkout, bag at the dedicated packing area after paying.
- Returns: Japan has a fairly conservative returns culture. Food items generally cannot be returned once purchased. Non-food returns are possible but not always guaranteed — check store policy.
Useful Shopping Vocabulary
- 袋はいりますか？(Fukuro wa irimasu ka?) — “Do you need a bag?” → Answer: 大丈夫です (Daijōbu desu) = “No thanks”
- ポイントカードはお持ちですか？(Pointo kādo wa omochi desu ka?) — “Do you have a points card?”
- 現金ですか？カードですか？(Genkin desu ka? Kādo desu ka?) — “Cash or card?”
- レシートはいりますか？(Reshīto wa irimasu ka?) — “Do you need a receipt?”
Drugstores (ドラッグストア)
Japan’s drugstores (Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Welcia, Sundrug, Cosmos) sell far more than medicine. They carry cosmetics, household goods, snacks, beverages, and basic groceries — often at lower prices than supermarkets. Many drugstores offer tax-free shopping for tourists (with your passport); as a resident, standard consumption tax applies.
For medication, Japan has a tiered system of over-the-counter and prescription-only drugs. Pharmacists (yakuzaishi) can advise on OTC medications. Note that some medications common abroad are controlled in Japan — see our Healthcare in Japan guide for more information.