Western supermarkets in Tokyo?

Posted by bmc (450 days ago)

I too am moving to Tokyo from HK next year and was happy to see a little activity on this site since I have found the one in HK so helpful and interesting.
Are there any supermarkets with western foods, like a CitiSuper or Great, in Tokyo. How is the Carrefour? Do they deliver? Are there any particular areas that have better "western" shopping?

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Posted by solomani (450 days ago)

Lots. Most large Japanese chain stores for groceries carry lots of foreign items. There are also lots of dedicated stores but they are pretty expensive. Mostly concentrated around Ebisu/Hiroo.

They have a Custco in Tokyo as well as Flying Pigs.com who do home delivery.

Dont know what carrefour is.

Posted by joga (449 days ago)

There is one Carrefour in Tokyo (in Machida) and one in Chiba. One of the places I have been shopping for fresh food is Hanamasa which is a local wholesale store where meat, produce and wine are very reasonably price. They have quite a few stores dotted around Tokyo. Cheers.

Posted by solomani (449 days ago)

Can someone tell me what Carrefour is?

Posted by bmc (449 days ago)

Carrefour is a huge French chain of supermarkets. In France, they have everything.

Posted by Aijin (partially perpetual) (449 days ago)

Nissin International Supermarket in Azabu-Juban and Union in Hiroo are the best two and they have parking and deliver.

All the department stores have food courts in the basement levels.

Most of the surburban train station department stores (again usually in the basement) have a small supermatket with nowadays quite a good selection of International brands and deli food you can recognise as edible.

Things are a lot better now... years ago it was hard to distinguish which carton contained milk in the 7-11 and pouring yoghut in your tea is not in my opinion the best way to start the day...

Oh and the upmarket J-supermarkets (Queens Isetan/Food Xpress/ etc) have a far better range than the average J-supermarket.


And... there are branches of Dean&Deluca and several similar upmarket delis... try Rappongi Hills, Midtown, Shinagawa Station complex and as someone noted above Ebisu/Hiroo.

Posted by Cxtine65 (444 days ago)

Hey, bmc..I might be moving to Tokyo too from HK and if it does happen, it will most probably be around January. When are you heading there? How long have you been in HK ? Are you looking forward to the move?

Posted by Taps (440 days ago)

I think Carrefour stopped operating in Japan, I especially love the Chiba branch, so much yummy stuff esp cheese.

Isetan, Meidi-ya, Mitsukoshi, any big department store and supermarket carry lot of goodies. Imported stuff available in Azabu supermarket.

Bread are much better, comparable/or even better than French and German bakery.
I've travelled and lived in Europe so I know what I'm talking about.

Food is better and cheaper than HK.