How to Get Food From Your Home Country in Japan

Do you ever miss the flavors of your home country while living in Japan? Curry spices, fish sauce, sticky rice, instant noodles, halal meat... Even in Japan, there are ways to get foods and ingredients from your home country.

This guide explains how Specified Skilled Workers from countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, China, Nepal, and Indonesia can obtain food ingredients from their home countries, in Japan.

① Find a Supermarket for Foreigners

Photo of an Asian food store

As the number of foreigners in Japan increases, the number of stores specializing in foreign ingredients is on the rise.

For Example:

Philippine ingredients: Asia Super Store (Tokyo), Kapatid Store (Osaka)
Vietnamese ingredients: Viet Mart, A Dong Market
Nepalese and Indian ingredients: アジアンスパイスマーケット、パトンカリー
Chinese ingredients: 華人超市、大連食品

Try searching on Google:

"〇〇 (your country name) Food store name + Place name (e.g. Nagoya)"

② Using Mail Order and Online Shops

Viewing an online shop on a smartphone

Even if there isn't a store nearby, there are ways you can get a taste of home! Recently, there has been an increase in the number of online shopping sites for foreign food ingredients that can be ordered over the Internet.

Recommended Online Shopping Sites:

Points to Note:

You need to read the site in either Japanese or English.
Please check your payment options, such as credit card and convenience store payment.

3) Halal Foods and Religion-Friendly Ingredients are Also Available

Food label photos with halal marks

Muslim people may need to look for foods that are Halal certified. Japan has stores that sell Halal meat and other Halal ingredients.

Examples:

Nippon Asia Halal Food (Tokyo)
Halal Market Tokyo (mail order available)
Halal meat now on sale at some ordinary Japanese supermarkets as well

Availability of vegan and vegetarian options are on the rise as well. Look for the "Plant Based" （植物由来）label at your local supermarket.

④ Koreatowns and Chinatowns in Big Cities

Scenery of Kobe Nankinmachi

In Tokyo's Shin-Okubo (Koreatown), Yokohama's Chinatown, and Kobe's Nankinmachi, there are many stores where you can obtain ingredients from various Asian countries.

The Shin-Okubo Station are is highly convenient - you can find food ingredients from Korea, China, Thailand, the Philippines, and other countries all in one place.

⑤ Supermarkets and Don Quijote Can Come in Handy Too!

Foreign food product lineups are gradually increasing in local supermarkets and Don Quijote stores.

Examples:

AEON (foreign food section available)
Gyomu Super (wide selection of frozen Asian foods)
Don Quijote (ramen, condiments, snacks, etc.)

Gyomu Super in particular is popular because it is has reasonable pricing and carries large quantities.

⑥ Ask Other Foreigners

Sharing information about ingredients in the foreign community

You may be able to hear about ways to find certain ingredients or recommended stores/products from those in your Specified Skilled Worker program, or perhaps from others from your home country who also reside in Japan.

We also recommend exchanging information with foreign communities:

Facebook Groups (e.g. : 「ベトナム人 in Tokyo」)
LINE Group
Share house and dormitory bulletin boards

Summary: Enjoy the flavors of your home country!

Even while in Japan you can still cook the cuisine of your home country.
With a little searching, you can find the ingredients you need.
When you're feeling down or homesick, be sure to recharge yourself with some flavors from your home country.