Japan [food and shopping]

And now for my FAVORITE part to write – the food and the shopping!! You’ll definitely want to bring an extra duffel bag or maybe even cop a suitcase from a Don Quijote store (they’re reasonably priced!) for the souvenirs and gifts you can get in Japan. Now that you have the context from my other two posts, this will help you navigate finding the best shops and restaurants across Osaka, Tokyo and Kyoto!!

FOOD

Generally, feel free to reference this website on classic Japanese foods you should try, or just eat your way through the Japanese food emojis 🙂

I’ll start with the famous 7-11 convenience store (aka konbini) finds. Typically, I’d recommend looking and not touching as you peruse (re: not picking up fresh food items to look at it), unless you’re going to buy it. I started doing this and got funny looks as I was shopping (*probably similar to food etiquette & minimizing germs haha)! However, don’t be afraid to use the machines, making your own ramen, smoothies, or even different coffees once you make your purchases! Even ordering hot food is worth it. By the end of the trip, we were combining food to make snacks and on the go healthier breakfast options.

The supplement section in Japan is crazy (see above picture). I’m not familiar with the standardization and supply chain production of Japanese supplements, so I’ll refrain from making recommendations. As a sports dietitian, I’m frankly opposed to taking supplements, only from a reputable company, and only if you need them. Given that, I stayed away from this area, and instead focused on the food, but I think it’s worth mentioning how much people LOVE this section. If you do get sick, or have a hangover, I hear this area of the 7-11 is pretty amazing. I recommend downloading Payke (the app) to help you navigate the products in Japanese. Just take a picture of the barcode and the app will inform you on everything you want to know!

For the food, I loved the soy sauce-soaked soft-boiled eggs for quick protein, pickled cucumbers as a healthy crunch, as well as the egg sandwiches for substance. My favorite smoothies were the Green Vitality and Mixed Berry Smoothie – you purchase at the counter and then take to the blender. The machine will walk you through instructions (in English!). Also, be sure to try all the Coolish flavors! The grape tasted like a creamy grape jolly rancher!!

The onigiri are by far the best (tehe I documented above). There’s a pickled plum one, which is interesting and slightly sweet, but I liked going for the salmon. Additionally, all the train stations have bento box options you can buy for the longer train rides. There is not a large selection of food ON the train for purchase, so I’d make your purchases before in the station, then you can dispose of trash in receptacles on the shinkansens.

• Gyopao Gyoza, Shinjuku [Tokyo] – three words… whiskey ginger highball – with homemade ginger ale! Amazing. Also great gyoza too 🙂
• Hibi Hare Bare, Shinjuku [Tokyo] – fun vibes and great sushi!
• Gyukatsu Ichi Ni San, Bunkyo (by Ueno Park) – incredible beef katsu where you control cooking your meat.
• Hitsumabushi Bincho, Ginza [Tokyo] – specialty is unagi (eel). Try it before you knock it!
• Uogashi Nihon-Ichi, Shibuya [Tokyo] – standing sushi restaurant where you can order nigiri as you like!
• Oreryu Shio Ramen, Shibuya [Tokyo] – THE BEST RAMEN wow
• Seirinkan, south of Shibuya [Tokyo] – fun pizza joint, need a res! Apparently, it’s famous from a TV show, but I loved that there were so many Beatles references 🙂
• pizza marumo, south of Shibuya [Tokyo] – pizza but with a Japanese twist. My favorite was a wagyu with egg!
• kyoto ramen yukichi honpo, [Kyoto] – ramen, duh! This is a cash only spot, and on Michelin list.
• Kyoto Engine Ramen, [Kyoto] – another great ramen spot! And the only one that accommodates food allergies/intolerances. V important but pricier because of that.
• Manten, [Kyoto] – great shabushabu and yakitori (grilled skewers), and everything we ordered (which was a LOT) was incredible. We didn’t leave a single piece of food !
  • *HONESTLY if you go to Kyoto just walk down Pontocho Alley – you’ll find so many amazing food spots offering different kinds of food!
• Nihonshu Ponytail, [Osaka] – great izakaya specializing in wagyu

Here are the places we ate in I LOVED:

We booked one sushi omakase [Sushi Ichijo – a Michelin recommended Edo-tradition sushi], which just means that you pay a set price, and the chef will pick all the seafood/dishes for you. Honestly, once was enough for me. But the chef was amazing! He didn’t want me taking pictures, so the below two were taken before he told me to stop haha – so that’s all I have. However, still a great experience. He had more clams and shellfish on his menu of the day, which is rare to execute well in the states, so I was happy! Nothing tasted too fishy, and the chef was super fun to chat with as well. Be sure to say “OISHII!” if you like the way something tastes 🙂

SHOPPING

Full disclosure, this list is coming from a girlie who loves fashion, skincare, and cooking/food! Most of these items will pertain to one of those categories 🙂

For my thrifting humans – go to Shimokitazawa in Tokyo (10 min from Shibuya Station)! To be honest, I wasn’t impressed with the designer thrift stores (other than Komehyo). For the designer handbags especially, you could often get a brand new one for cheaper than what it was being sold for (*this obvi doesn’t include special release/rare bags).

To my fellow book lovers – die and go to heaven when you walk into Tsutaya Books Japan in Ginza. Tsutaya Books is a chain with other 1,200 stores across the country, but the Daikanyama T-Site branch and the Ginza branch have won many awards!

For my cooking humans – go to Kappabashi Street in Tokyo! You’ll find a plethora of stores dedicated to knives, cooking utensils and niche cookware. We loaded up here! These stores might be cheaper than some of the other options around Kyoto or Osaka (or in train stations). As far as food, I found it was worthwhile to pick up a few tubes of wasabi (the real kind, duh – it’s hard to come by!), seasoned sesame seeds, miso, and kewpie mayo. Depends on what you like to cook and what flavors, but I also found some yuzu ponzu and crunchy chili garlic oil I have been cooking with nonstop lately!

For my skincare lovers – go to @cosme in Harajuku. It’s literally across the street from the station. The best part about this store is that in the middle of the first floor, there’s a massive display showcasing the top beauty products currently. I referenced TikTok and IG a lot to prep for this shopping trip, but honestly all the recommendations I received on those platforms are outdated. Check out the new stuff in this display and then scour the store! I bought the best masks and makeup here. ***HOT TAKE: I actually enjoyed shopping at Matsumoto Kiyoshi (one of Japan’s pharmacy chains) more than Don Quijote for my cosmetics and skincare. Matsumoto had more to offer, it was less crazy with tourists, and I could find some Korean K-Beauty items.

For the fashion-forward stores – Of course, you have to prioritize the Japan origins. Seriously. The prices are unbeatable, and quality is always amazing. UNIQLO is a great place to start with their reliable basics (from athletic wear to overcoats), and incredible prices. The denim in Japan is unmatched so try to get a piece while you’re there (and maybe even custom embroider it!). Here’s a list of my favorite stores:

• GU – UNIQLO’s trendier sister. I loved looking in here, but I didn’t end up getting anything! The prices were even lower than UNIQLO, and the fabrics/styles went beyond your basic t-shirt.
• Onisuka Tiger – sneakers! Definitely try the stores in Osaka or Kyoto, as Tokyo ones are WILDLY busy. Everyone seems obsessed with the Mexico 66 🙂
• Muji – I LOVED this one because they had cool food items you can pack in a suitcase, as well as cute clothes. The flagship store is in the Ginza area of Tokyo.
• ABC Mart – also a sneaker hotspot (great prices). If there’s one thing you should try to get in Japan, it’s a new pair of sneakers. We got two pairs for the price of one in the states!
• United Arrows – a higher end clothing store, but great for a date night outfit or something
• BEAMS – great clothes, but also fun unique souvenirs too! This was a top one for me.

For the niche, classic Japanese goods and souvenirs – go to Don Quijote. You’ll find one in just about every part of Japan, but I saw the most in Tokyo. Usually 7+ floors of souvenirs, each floor offers something different. Suitcases can be purchased here (at good quality and price) if you need that! You can get some food items here – like

For the stationary afficionados – check out Loft! I went to the one in Shibuya and found some cute pencil/bag organizers. Tombow is a popular well-liked brand, winning awards for their writing utensils. For my 80’s/90’s kids – highly recommend scooping up a special color of the Sakura Gelly Roll Classic Gel Pens, made in Japan! Some specialty stationary shops include Kakimori and Pigment Tokyo. B-Side Label is the definition of high-quality stickers – never seen more in one place in my life (lol!!!). I went to the one in Shimokitazawa!

For the electronics and gadget gurus – Bic Camera. You can also find watches for sale here too. But check it out for phone cases, cameras (obvi) and anything related to gadgets. We bought some high-powered Anker charging banks!

Lastly, sad to say I didn’t explore the anime and gaming world of Tokyo (did you know Nintendo headquarters has since been transformed into a hotel in Tokyo?!) BUT know that’s a huge part of what to do and buy in Japan as well!

As you can see, there is more shopping than you can imagine! Even if you’ve never heard of the brand, I can promise you the quality will be amazing. If I learned one thing, it’s that the Japanese pride themselves on taking care with everything that is created or executed. The diligence and precision are awe-inspiring. So, try something new! Venture into a store that draws you in. You’ll find surprises and new interests around every corner!! xx Lisa