Where to Buy Groceries and Daily Essentials in Japan: Supermarkets, Drugstores, Discount Stores & More

Supermarkets, Drugstores, ¥100 Shops & Discount Stores Explained

If you’re new to Japan, you’ve probably found yourself wondering:

• Where can I buy fresh vegetables and meat at a good price?
• Is it cheaper to buy shampoo at a drugstore or a supermarket?
• Where do people buy kitchen tools, cleaning supplies, or storage boxes?

Don’t worry—I’ve been there too. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the most common types of stores where people in Japan shop for groceries and everyday items. I’ll also share what each store is best for, their price range, and a few insider tips to help you shop like a local.

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🛒 1. Supermarkets (スーパーマーケット)

✅ Major chains:

• Aeon（イオン）
• Life（ライフ）
• Ito-Yokado（イトーヨーカドー）
• Seiyu（西友）
• OK Store（オーケー）
• Small formats: Maruetsu, My Basket, Peacock, etc.

💰 Price & Highlights:

• Mid-range prices, fresh produce is common
• Great daily selection of cooked meals and snacks
• Evening discounts (after 6pm) on fresh food and bento boxes
• Aeon and Seiyu have affordable private-label items

🥦 Best for:

• Fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, fish
• Ready-to-eat meals (bento, fried foods, grilled fish)
• Frozen foods, instant noodles, sauces
• Milk, eggs, snacks, drinks

📝 Tip:

• Download supermarket apps for weekly discounts
• Aeon’s WAON card gives you points and savings for regular shopping

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🏪 2. Convenience Stores (コンビニ)

✅ Major chains:

• 7-Eleven
• Lawson
• FamilyMart

💰 Price & Highlights:

• Prices are higher, but stores are open 24/7 and everywhere
• Perfect for quick meals, emergencies, or late-night needs

🥪 Best for:

• Sandwiches, rice balls, bento boxes
• Drinks, snacks, simple toiletries
• Emergency medicine (cold meds, heat patches)
• Useful services: bill payment, package drop-off, printing

📝 Tip:

• Each chain has exclusive sweets or snacks—7-Eleven desserts are especially popular
• Most accept cashless payment (Suica, PayPay, etc.)

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🧴 3. Drugstores (ドラッグストア)

✅ Popular chains:

• Matsumoto Kiyoshi
• Sundrug
• Welcia
• Create, Cocokarafine, Kusuri no Fukutaro, etc.

💰 Price & Highlights:

• Affordable prices on personal care, cosmetics, and medicines
• Frequent promotions and member discount days

🧼 Best for:

• Shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, cotton pads
• Toilet paper, laundry detergent, household cleaners
• OTC medicine (pain relievers, cold medicine, eyedrops)
• Health supplements, vitamins
• Affordable skincare and makeup

📝 Tip:

• Some stores don’t offer tax-free shopping—but local pricing is cheaper
• Sign up for a point card to save more if you shop regularly

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💯 4. ¥100 Shops (100円ショップ)

✅ Popular chains:

• Daiso
• Seria
• Can★Do

💰 Price & Highlights:

• Most items are ¥100 (excluding tax)
• Some premium items cost ¥200–¥500, still a bargain

🧂 Best for:

• Kitchen tools (bento boxes, utensils, spice jars)
• Storage boxes, cleaning tools, plastic goods
• Stationery, craft supplies, simple home decor
• Travel-size toiletries, beauty tools

📝 Tip:

• Seria offers more stylish, design-focused items
• Daiso has the widest selection and frequent new arrivals

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🏷️ 5. Discount Stores & Home Goods Shops

✅ Examples:

• Don Quijote (ドン・キホーテ)
• Nitori (ニトリ)
• Trial (トライアル)
• Shimamura (しまむら)

💰 Price & Highlights:

• Donki: chaotic but cheap, sells almost everything
• Nitori: Japan’s version of IKEA, great for furniture & kitchenware
• Trial: bulk groceries, toiletries, and home essentials (often in suburbs)
• Shimamura: budget clothes, pajamas, towels, bedding

🛋️ Best for:

• Donki: snacks, alcohol, small electronics, quirky goods
• Nitori: cookware, bedding, home decor
• Trial: bulk items, family-size daily necessities
• Shimamura: affordable clothing and household textiles

📝 Tip:

• Donki stores are often open till midnight or 24/7
• Nitori offers online shopping and home delivery in most areas

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📊 Store Type Comparison

Store Type	Price Level	Best For	Convenience	Ideal For
Supermarkets	Medium	Fresh food, cooked meals, daily items	High	Everyone
Drugstores	Medium–Low	Toiletries, medicines, cosmetics	High	Students, families
¥100 Shops	Very Cheap	Kitchenware, storage, daily gadgets	High	New residents, budget users
Discount Stores	Mixed	Bulk goods, furniture, clothes	Medium–High	Families, bargain hunters
Convenience Store	High	Ready meals, drinks, emergency items	Very High (24/7)	Busy workers, emergencies

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✨ Shopping Tips for Life in Japan

• Mix & match for savings:
  Buy daily goods at drugstores, housewares at ¥100 shops, and groceries at supermarkets for the best value.

• Watch for discount times:
  Supermarkets offer markdowns in the evening; drugstores have weekly sales; ¥100 shops rotate seasonal goods often.

• Use cashless payment:
  Most stores accept PayPay, Suica, and other e-payment apps—no need to carry lots of cash.

• Check flyers or store apps:
  Weekly ads show the best deals—many supermarkets and drugstores publish them online or via their apps.

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🧳 Final Thoughts

Shopping in Japan may feel overwhelming at first, but once you understand how different stores work and what they specialize in, it gets much easier—and even fun!

Whether you're stocking your fridge, buying shampoo, or decorating your apartment, there’s always a smart (and affordable) place to shop.

If you have your own favorite store or shopping tips in Japan, feel free to share in the comments!