Well all of the above turned out to be true. However, grocery shopping here is do-able, and its easier then I expected it to be. Dont get my wrong, their grocery stores are extremely different then ours. Especially in terms of content. I find so many things in Japanese grocery stores that you couldn't dream of finding in America. (and probably wouldn't want to).
At home, going grocery shopping is a mundane, easy, no-thinking activity. I imagine that is how it is for everyone else as well. I jump in my car, drive to the nearest store, grab a cart, fill it with however much I need without considering the weight or size of the load, pay with my credit card, and I am on my way. If I come across something new I want to try, cool! I can read the instructions, the ingredients, and the labels. I can tell if something is on sale. If a product is in a box, or some other type of packaging, no problem because I can read what is inside the box,can,bag, etc.
So all of the easy, no brainer things I just described, imagine the opposite of that. Thats what a trip to the store is like here in Japan. Ill walk you through my typical trip.
The store we shop it is called Mega Deal. It is a lot like Wal-Mart back in the US. A one stop shop for groceries, home goods, cleaning products, supplies, etc.
First stop, grab a shopping cart! Oh wait - they dont have those here. Those tiny baskets we use in America when we are grabbing things for 1 meal - thats how they do all of their shopping.
If you have an extra heavy load, you can get a rolling cart to set your tiny basket in. But don't you dare think about putting groceries in the cart itself. You will be corrected.
Walking into a Japanese supermarket is goodbye organization, HELLO CHAOS. Not for the easily overwhelmed.
Some sections are easy, and look similar to back home. Like below, the cheeses, yogurt, and bread section:
The cereal:
And the chips!! We did not think we would find these in Japan.
But some sections are VERY different. Like the dried and packaged foods, which are mostly fish parts, or just actual dried fishes in a bag.
And the extravagant and overflowing instant ramen section:
The green tea section:
The green tea candy section: (obviously this stuff is a favorite here)
Prepackaged meals AKA bento boxes are a big thing here. A large portion of the grocery store is dedicated to a huge variety of bentos and already prepared food to take out.
Of course, you can get fresh sushi:
Which brings us to the seafood section. I would say this is one of the main differences in an American grocery store and a Japanese grocery store. Obviously fresh fish is huge here, and they have so many more varieties then we do. This is the largest and most popular section in any grocery store. Also consider that this is an ordinary everyday grocery store. This is not a specialty seafood market. If you have an issue with seeing fish or meat in raw form, now may be a good time to stop reading.
Rows and rows of fresh fish, some whole, some sliced, some living.
Fresh, live clams:
Yep, those are octopus tentacles:
Squid legs:
I think these are dead? Who really knows.
I am not sure what that is either. A jellyfish? I didn't know those were edible.
Okay, enough fishies. Here is our favorite section: The import section! We can get pasta, pasta sauces, and taco seasoning!
And finally, the produce. You would think everything would be easy and recognizable here. Wrong! Bonus points to anyone who can tell me what any of the following items are.
They even buy fruits in veggies in a more raw form then we do. For example, if we want spinach, broccoli, or other greens we have to de-root it.
Alright, done! About an hour and a half and 50 something dollars later, my small grocery trip is done.
The cashier rings me up and sends me to the bagging station where you bag up your own groceries.
Then I load up my bike and I am on my way!
What do you think? Are you surprised by any of this? I am always shocked by how expensive groceries are here. I think I could get a lot more in America for $50.
lululemon outlet, ugg, valentino shoes, mcm handbags, instyler ionic styler, canada goose outlet, north face outlet, new balance shoes, asics shoes, moncler, rolex watches, canada goose pas cher, wedding dresses, roshe run, moncler, birkin bag, ugg boots, juicy couture outlet, supra shoes, reebok outlet, babyliss pro, marc jacobs, p90x3, celine handbags, north face jackets, soccer jerseys, soccer shoes, canada goose, jimmy choo shoes, moncler, uggs on sale, ugg boots, bottega veneta, juicy couture outlet, ghd, abercrombie and fitch, giuseppe zanotti, canada goose outlet, nfl jerseys, mac cosmetics, herve leger, ferragamo shoes, insanity, chi flat iron, ugg outlet, mont blanc, beats by dre, canada goose outlet, canada goose uk, moncler outlet
ReplyDeleteGreat Article android based projects
DeleteJava Training in Chennai Project Center in Chennai Java Training in Chennai projects for cse The Angular Training covers a wide range of topics including Components, Angular Directives, Angular Services, Pipes, security fundamentals, Routing, and Angular programmability. The new Angular TRaining will lay the foundation you need to specialise in Single Page Application developer. Angular Training Project Centers in Chennai
oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton handbags, louboutin shoes, ray ban outlet, louis vuitton, coach factory outlet, louis vuitton outlet online, prada handbags, coach purses, michael kors outlet store, polo ralph lauren outlet online, kate spade handbags, louis vuitton outlet, coach outlet, christian louboutin shoes, louboutin outlet, nike shoes, coach outlet, michael kors outlet online, oakley sunglasses cheap, longchamp outlet, ray ban sunglasses, burberry outlet online, tory burch outlet, tiffany and co, michael kors outlet online, burberry outlet online, chanel handbags, oakley vault, polo ralph lauren outlet, michael kors outlet, gucci outlet, air max, michael kors outlet, prada outlet, kate spade outlet, jordan shoes, longchamp handbags, longchamp handbags, michael kors outlet online, louis vuitton outlet, coach outlet store online, louboutin, nike air max, nike free
ReplyDelete2015626dongdong
ReplyDeleteburberry outlet online
louis vuitton handbags
ray ban sunglasses outlet
oakley sunglasses outlet
christian louboutin outlet
cheap jordans
oakley sunglasses
michael kors uk
louboutin
oakley sunglasses wholesale
chanel handbags
copy watches
louis vuitton handbags
christian louboutin
black timberland boots
michael kors
jordan 11 gamma blue
oakley sunglasses
burberry outlet
hollister
coach outlet
dior handbags
cheap jordans
oakley vault
fitflops sale clearance
ray ban outlet
burberry sale
michael kors handbags
beats solo
christian louboutin sale
juicy couture
fendi bags
0708
ReplyDeletearizona cardinals jerseys
peyton manning jersey,eric decker jersey,aqib talib jersey,emmanuel sanders jersey,shannon sharpe jersey,louis vasquez jersey
russell westbrook jersey
supra shoes
hermes outlet online
oklahoma city thunder jerseys
nike trainers
coach outlet store
the north face
tim tebow jersey,julian edelman jersey,darrelle revis jersey,vince wilfork jersey,tom brady jersey,rob gronkowski jersey,deion branch jersey,jerod mayo jersey,danny woodhead jersey
miami heat jersey
juicy couture outlet online
stuart weitzman boots
north face outlet store
raiders jerseys
cheap jordan shoes
celtics jerseys
burberry outlet
north face outlet online
the north face outlet
nike air max 90
c
20150721 junda
ReplyDeletecoach outlet
coach factory outlet
michael kors bags
michael kors handbags
oakley sunglasses wholesale
michael kors handbags
retro jordans
hollister outlet
michael kors outlet online
louis vuitton borse
prada outlet
mcm bags
chanel handbags
oakley outlet
true religion
true religion jeans
michael kors purse
air max 2015
longchamp pas cher
cheap air max
kate spade outlet
nike air force 1
burberry scarf
football jerseys
burberry sale
ralph lauren pas cher
ralph lauren sale
oakley sunglasses cheap
true religion jeans outlet
pandora bracelets
gucci belt
kate spade handbags
beats by dre
ed hardy clothing uk
pandora charms
coach outlet store online
coach outlet online
fitflops sale
air jordan uk
cheap jordan shoes
Michael Kors Handbags
ReplyDeleteCheap Jordan Shoes
Michael Kors Handbags
true religion outlet store
Michael Kors Outlet
Oakeyley Sunglasses Sale
Michael Kors Handbags
michael kors outlet
Oakley Outlet Online
michael kors outlet online
fitflop shoes
fitflops clearance
Michael Kors Sale
true religion
cheap oakleys
toms outlet store
cheap true religion
Oakley Store
Oakley Outlet Stores
Oakley Glasses
Michael Kors Purses
Cheap Oakley Sunglasses
Jordans For Cheap
fitflop shoes
fitflops
Cheap NFL Jerseys
Michael Kors Outlet Online
toms on sale
cheap oakley sunglasses store
Michael Kors Outlet
michael kors handbags wholesaleobvious
ReplyDeletemichael kors handbags saleRoom
sac longchamphad
hugo boss salefor
hugo boss outletis
birkenstock sandalsparty
tiffany and co outletis
pandora jewelryHow
reebok outletback
nhl jerseystreat!
Aol Technical Support Phone Number
ReplyDeleteAol Technical Support Number
Aol Tech Support Number
Aol Tech Support phone Number
Aol Support Number
Aol Support phone Number
Outlook Technical Support Phone Number
Outlook Technical Support Number
Outlook Tech Support Number
Outlook Tech Support Phone Number
Outlook Support Number
Outlook Support Phone Number
Sage 50 Support Phone Number
ReplyDeleteSage 50 Support Phone Number
Sage 50 Support Number
Sage 50 Tech Support Number
Sage 50 Technical Support Number
Sage 50 Tech Support Phone Number
Sage 50 Technical Support Phone Number
Sage 50 Tech Support Number
Sage 50 Technical Support Number
Sage 50 Tech Support Phone Number
Sage 50 Technical Support Phone Number
Quickbooks Support Phone Number
ReplyDeleteQuickbooks Pro Support Phone Number
Quickbooks Pro Tech Support Number
Quickbooks Pro Support Number
Quickbooks Pro Technical Support Number
Quickbooks Pro Tech Support Phone Number
Quickbooks Pro Technical Support Phone Number
Quickbooks Pro Help Desk Phone Number
Quickbooks Pro Help Desk Number
Quickbooks Pro Customer Service Number
Quickbooks Pro Customer Service Phone Number
Quickbooks Pro Customer Support Number
Quickbooks Pro Customer Support Phone Number
indianapolis colts jerseys
ReplyDeletecheap ray bans
pandora outlet
ugg outlet
cheap jordan shoes
true religion outlet
michael kors handbags
atlanta falcons jersey
snapbacks wholesale
christian louboutin
gucci outlet online
ReplyDeletepandora bracelet
moncler jackets
polo ralph lauren
ralph lauren
coach outlet online
michael kors
louis vuitton handbags
moncler pas cher
adidas uk
170512yueqin
coach outlet clearance
ReplyDeletembt shoes outlet
louis vuitton outlet
longchamp handbags
burberry outlet store
longchamp outlet online
true religion jeans
cheap oakley sunglasses
ray bans
louis vuitton outlet online
chanyuan2017.05.18
Packers and Movers New York
ReplyDeletePackers and Movers New York
Packers and Movers in New York
Movers and packers New York
Movers and packers in New York
New York Movers and Packers
longchamp outlet
ReplyDeleteyeezy 700
yeezy
kyrie 7
golden goose
adidas yeezy
golden goose
lebron 16 shoes
kd 12
supreme