Foreign Food Supermarkets in the Saitama/Tokyo area
Originally published in the Summer 2006 Issue of Saitama MemoRandom An English Quarterly Publication by The Saitama Prefectural Government, International Division in Saitama City, Urawa Ward, Japan.
What is a "foreign food supermarket"? It is defined as a supermarket that imports and sells 75% or more of their products that are on their shelves. These outlets also sell non-Japanese food that is made in Japan. Currently, there is a growing trend of Japanese food and beverage manufacturers producing "non-Japanese food" as well as foreign food and beverage companies establishing a joint-stock corporation(Kabushiki Kaisha) office in Japan. Take Nestle Foods for example. This Swiss food manufacturer lists their point of contact in Tokyo with a "free-dial 0120" number on the back of their products in Japan. Of course this is more cost effective and time efficient than having to deal with transporting from abroad to Japan and the associated duties, but there is a tendency that these products come out a little off in comparison to the imported original. Take the American snack food manufacturer, Doritos for example. The Doritos made in Japan taste different than those found in the US. As a foreigner residing in Japan, it is important to remember that when it comes to foreign food and beverage products, they are made and sold with the Japanese in mind.
As far as retail sales of food and beverage products go in the Japanese market, it has been within the past 15 years that foreign food and beverage products have been found in large quantities in Japan. In the beginning, these products were found in department stores such as Queen's Isetan in central Tokyo (http://www.queens.jp/english/english_index.html). In this setting, a small bag of Lays potato chips was sold at an exorbitant price. Establishments such as The Foreign Buyer’s Club have found success in Japan by importing directly from the US and distributing to their customers in Japan by avoiding the retail outlets altogether. Japan’s distribution system of the 21st century is nearly the same as it was in the Meiji Era of the late 1800s with products changing hands several times forcing the cost of unnecessary expenses to be passed on to the consumer. When it comes to imported products and the duties that are associated with it, the price is much more expensive. Around the same time of the emergence of foreign food and beverage products in Japan was the collapse of the Japanese economy known as "The Japanese asset price bubble". This forced distributors to eliminate several of its layers of distribution which resulted in products being available at a much more reasonable price.
Today, it is possible to find imported foods and beverage products in Japan at reasonable prices with a wider degree of variety. Here is a list of where you can find foreign food supermarkets in the Saitama/Tokyo area:
Listed in Alphabetical order:
1. Cook Y (Shinjuku Gyoenmae, Central Tokyo)
Internet: n/a
This outlet is geared towards food service professionals and restaurant owners selling imported products in bulk and large quantities. Keep in mind that the Japanese are known for selling a six-pack of beer as if you bought each beer individually. I managed to get in bulk large flour tortilla shells which are good for making breakfast burritos.
2. Costco Wholesale (Various with the closest to Saitama in Makuhari, Chiba)
Costco's Website: http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/Location.aspx?country=Japan
Flying Pig's Website:
http://www.theflyingpig.com/tfp/Shop.ASP
This retail outlet was established in Japan in 1999 and requires a membership like most “Club Stores” in the US. Since I was already a member prior to my arrival in Japan, my membership was rolled over to Costco Japan and can be used at any Costco in the world. Costco uses it own shipping fleet to get its imported products into Japan. Costco specializes is selling its products in bulk therefore if you are a food service professional, restaurant owner, have a large family or have adequate storage at your home, Costco would be beneficial to you.
However, the closest one to Saitama is in Chiba so a round trip train fare will cost around 1600 yen. The online store, The Flying Pig.com has been established and sources many of their products from the Costco outlet in Fukuoka. Their services eliminate the need of having a car to get all of your big bulk items back home and expensive train fees by allowing their customers to shop online and have their items delivered to them in a timely fashion.
Also worth mentioning, the Costco in Chiba has clothes in US sizes plus school supplies and English books which come in handy for those English teachers who work for employers with no budget for supplies or have any material for elementary school visits.
3. Hanamasa (Yotsuya Station, Central Tokyo)
Hanamasa's Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/company/sm/index.html
This outlet is geared towards food service professionals and restaurant owners. Most of their products are similar to Costco’s format of selling in bulk, large quantities but at reasonable prices. I managed to get a 1-2 kg. portion of salami which is used at sandwich shops such as Subway. If only I had one of those electric slicing machines to slice the meat evenly. I managed with a butcher knife and left out in the refrigerator a portion and froze the rest and transferred from the freezer as needed.
4. Jupiter (Various in Tokyo and Japan-wide)
Jupiter's Website: http://www.jupiter-coffee.com/
My impression of this outlet is that I was back in California at a Von’s or Ralph’s due to the range of foreign products and the affordable price. For example instead of only having Campbell’s chicken noodle and tomato soup, they also have about four other flavors or soup along with the rest of the products on their shelves. The only problem with this outlet is that there are none in Saitama and the closest is in Oji, Tokyo’s Kita Ward. The two Jupiter outlets that I’ve been to were at Hiroshima Station and Sapporo Station.
5. Kaldi Farm (Kawaguchi City, Saitama Shintoshin, Akabane Station and many more)
Kaldi Farm's Website: http://www.kaldi.co.jp/english/index.html
This outlet is similar to Jupiter but has a presence in Saitama. It is possible that this outlet has a relationship with the Ario shopping mall due to many Ario shopping malls list Kaldi Farm as one of their stores. Aside from the one that is at Saitama Shintoshin, many of their outlets are located at places other than train stations.
6. Kinokuniya (Various in Central Tokyo)
Kinokuniya's Website: http://www.e-kinokuniya.com/cont/index_e.html
One of the first foreign food outlets in Tokyo, this outlet has a wide variety of premium quality imported foods. I have never been there but have been told that many of the celebrities that are seen on Japanese TV frequent this outlet. In my opinion, this indicates that inflated prices are likely to associated to the products at this outlet.
7. Meiji Ya (Roppongi and Hiro-o, Central Tokyo)
Meiji Ya's Website: http://www.meidi-ya.co.jp/
Along with Kinokuniya, Meiji Ya is one of the first foreign food outlets in Tokyo. This outlet has a wide variety of premium quality imported foods however not considered the most affordable. A rare find that I thought was interesting was Chili Beer from the US. It’s a draft beer with a chili pepper in it. I was told that during the 2002 World Cup in Japan and S. Korea this beer made its debut in S. Korea with overwhelming sales.
8. National Azabu (Hiro-o, Central Tokyo)
National Azabu's Website: http://store.yahoo.co.jp/national/index.html
Along with Meiji-Ya, this outlet is considered one of the first foreign food outlets in Tokyo. Personally, I found the food selection to be the best-rounded of all the foreign food outlets in Tokyo but at the same time the most expensive. However, this supermarket came in handy last year when I did a home stay in Aichi and I wanted to get some omiyage from America but couldn’t since I had been in Japan for nine months at the time. I managed to get some premium Hershey chocolates and Chips Ahoy cookies.
Their deli is probably the only place where one can find sliced chicken. This outlet is probably the best source for turkey which comes in handy for us Americans when Thanksgiving rolls around. They also have a point card and I receive in the mail advertisements regarding their current promotions. For those of you who have Yahoo TV, maybe you have seen their commercial?
9. Seijo Ishi (Omiya and many more)
Seijo Ishi's Website: http://www.seijoishii.co.jp/
Many of their outlets are found at several train stations throughout the Metro Tokyo area with Omiya being the closest for those who reside in Saitama. This outlet is a good source of premium imported foods without having to venture to central Tokyo.
10. Yamaya (Shinjuku and many more)
Yamaya's Website: http://www.yamaya.co.jp/en/core.htm
This outlet is mainly a premium wine shop. Nearly any kind of foreign beer can be found as well at this outlet. This outlet prides itself in keeping the cost down by buying directly from their suppliers abroad.
Sources:
1. www.wikipedia.org
2. Marketing in Japan, 1999, Ian Melville
3. Tokyo Japan Living & Traveling Guide,
http://www.kananet.com/japanguide/link05hiroo.htm
4. Import Distribution Symposium 2005, Manufactured Imports and Investment Promotion Organization (MIPRO), Subject: “Review of the Japanese Distribution Market from the Customers’ Perspective”, October 7, 2005
Today's video clip was taken in Tokyo of Marusho sign located in Yotsuya, which was not listed.
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