<!-- content-expansion-v1 -->

Shopping & Food Guide for Foreigners in Japan

Food shopping in Japan can be an adventure — and sometimes a puzzle. Here's your complete guide to groceries, convenience stores, and understanding Japanese food labels.

Supermarkets (スーパーマーケット)

Major supermarket chains you'll find nationwide:

Chain	Notes
AEON (イオン)	Large stores, often in shopping malls; some English signage
Ito-Yokado (イトーヨーカドー)	Nationwide, good selection
Life (ライフ)	Urban stores, reasonable prices
OK Store (オーケー)	Discount prices, popular in Tokyo area
Gyomu Super (業務スーパー)	Wholesale-style, great prices for bulk items

Shopping Hours

• Most supermarkets: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (some 24 hours)
• Discount stickers (値引き/割引シール) appear on perishables 1-2 hours before closing — great for savings

Convenience Stores (コンビニ)

Japan's convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) are remarkably useful:
- Food: Fresh onigiri (rice balls), sandwiches, bento, hot items (oden, steamed buns)
- ATM: Access international bank accounts (7-Eleven ATMs accept most cards)
- Bills: Pay utility bills, taxes, and fines at the register
- Printing: Print documents at self-service machines (accepts USB drives)
- Shipping: Send packages with Yamato or Sagawa drop-off

Understanding Food Labels (食品表示)

Expiry Dates

Japan uses two different date labels:
- 消費期限 (shōhi kigen): "Use by" date — do not eat after this date (perishables like sushi, fresh meat)
- 賞味期限 (shōmi kigen): "Best before" date — quality may decline but safe to eat shortly after (packaged foods)

Allergy Labeling (アレルギー表示)

Japan requires labeling for 7 major allergens (特定原材料 7品目):
1. 卵 (tamago) — Eggs
2. 乳 (nyū) — Milk/Dairy
3. 小麦 (komugi) — Wheat/Gluten
4. そば (soba) — Buckwheat
5. 落花生 (rakkasei) — Peanuts
6. えび (ebi) — Shrimp
7. かに (kani) — Crab

Additionally, 28 items are recommended (but not required) to be labeled — including salmon, squid, sesame, and walnuts.

Ingredient Labels

Ingredients are listed in order from highest to lowest quantity. Look for:
- 砂糖 (satō): Sugar
- 食塩 (shokuen) or 塩 (shio): Salt
- 保存料 (hozonryō): Preservatives
- 着色料 (chakushokuryō): Food coloring

Halal & Dietary Restrictions

Halal Food (ハラール食品)

• Halal-certified products are increasing but still limited in mainstream supermarkets
• Best sources: Halal shops in areas with large Muslim communities (Ōkubo, Tokyo; Nipponbashi, Osaka)
• Supermarkets like AEON sometimes have halal sections
• For restaurants: look for the Japanese Halal Association certification mark

Vegetarian & Vegan

• Japan's traditional cuisine uses dashi (出汁) broth made from fish (katsuobushi) — even seemingly vegetarian dishes may contain it
• Look for 精進料理 (shōjin ryōri) — Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, strictly plant-based
• Apps like HappyCow help find vegan/vegetarian restaurants

Prices & Consumption Tax

• All displayed prices include 10% consumption tax (消費税) for dining in
• Grocery (take-home) food is taxed at a lower rate of 8%
• Point cards (ポイントカード) at major chains offer cashback (typically 0.5–1%)

Tip: Download the Yomiwa app to scan Japanese text with your camera for instant translation of menus, signs, and food labels.