Let's Buy Something from a Japanese Supermarket! - Housewife's Advice -

We've already written an introduction about the supermarkets in Japan and now you might feel like going there and buying something. But you may have no idea what kinds of products are reasonably sold there. So I, who knows a thing or two about shopping wisely as a housewife, will explain to you how to make use of the supermarkets in Japan.

■Let's Buy Something from a Japanese Supermarket! -Basic-

What is "Tokubaibi (特売日)"?

"Tokubaibi (特売日)" are special bargain days when supermarkets discount certain products. You can buy meat reasonably on "Meat Day", vegetables on "Vegetable Day", frozen foods on "Frozen Foods Day", etc. Some days of the week are the special bargain days for those kind of products.

Leaflets, called "Chirashi (チラシ)" in Japanese, will tell you when the special bargain days are. You can get information about the products sold at a bargain price thanks to Chirashi, so Japanese housewives check them every morning. Chirashi are distributed with the newspaper. After checking them out, let's go to supermarkets to get the day's bargain goods.

Chirashis are also put on the walls of supermarkets, so you can have a look at them there, too. Moreover, some supermarkets have even launched an online Chirashi service.

If you aren't subscribed to newspapers but don't want to miss out on the bargains, you can always check out the websites of your nearest supermarkets.

Take Advantage of Limited Special Offers in the Morning and the Evening

 We call this kind of bargain "Asaichi (朝市)". The supermarket offers vegetables and meat really cheap only at a certain time, so people surge in to get their hands on them. However, the bargain ends when the goods are sold out.

The rule is "First come, first served". So if you have something you certainly want to buy, you might have to wake up a little bit earlier than usual.

Find the Products with the Discount Seal

You may sometimes see this yellow seal put on some goods in the evening. These seals are put on the products which will be discounted at the cashier. Those products should be consumed as soon as possible because of their "best before" date or expiration date. They are mostly precooked foods.

The timing to get these products is three hours before the closing time of the shop, usually from 18 o'clock until closing time. When you feel like having supper in your hotel room while traveling, you can go to the supermarket and get something during that time. Actually, these seals are also put on the products in the morning. So don't miss it!

Nice Services Available For Free

The chopsticks and spoons you use to eat precooked food are distributed for free at the cashier. Tell the cashier how many sets you need. In addition you can get dry ice and normal ice to keep your foods cold for free, too. If you don't know how to get/use them, ask a staff.

In some supermarkets, you may even find microwaves to warm up your food.

Sometimes tiny bags of seasoning such as soy sauce and wasabi (わさび, Japanese horseradish) are free to be taken. But you must not take more than you need. Please be reasonable.

Enjoy Japanese Supermarkets As If You're A Local Resident

Now, what do you think about supermarkets in Japan? If you have the chance, why don't you go there and buy something with these tips!

All pictures from PIXTA