Top 10 Must-Buy Items at Japanese Supermarkets for Travelers

Text/Images © Provided by LIVE JAPAN, Authorized; Text by Mrs. Otsuka

Supermarkets are popular places for many travelers to visit because they offer a wide variety of goods, diverse choices, reasonable prices, and even numerous promotional deals such as limited-time offers, discounts on items nearing their expiration date, or special nighttime sales. A single trip to the supermarket can help you pick up many desired items and souvenirs, and if you forgot to bring or couldn’t carry certain daily necessities during your trip, you can also buy them all at the supermarket.

This article introduces popular supermarket items that are not commonly found in convenience stores, including a wide selection of must-have convenience goods and seasonings. It also includes preparation methods and actual usage photos, making it a truly practical guide to essential Japanese supermarket purchases. The following products were sourced from an interview at KEIO STORE’s Ogikubo store, part of the Keio Group supermarkets.

KEWPIE Deep-Roasted Sesame Salad Dressing (Kewpie Deep-Roasted Sesame Dressing)





Salad is one of the dishes that frequently appears in Japanese meals.Due to its high consumption frequency and volume, supermarkets here offer a wide range of salad dressings that are both delicious and convenient. Staff at Keio Supermarket noted that this KEWPIE Deep-Roasted Sesame Salad Dressing is the top-selling salad dressing product in Japan and is considered a favorite flavor among Japanese households. In addition to the popular sesame flavor, there are also refreshing Japanese-style varieties such as lemon, yuzu, sesame salt, and onion, as well as rich and savory options like mentaiko cream sauce, cheese basil pesto, Caesar, and French dressing. For those concerned about the calories in salad dressing, there are also low-calorie, low-fat, and low-cholesterol options available, allowing you to enjoy salads without worrying about excessive calorie or sodium intake.

Additionally, salad dressing isn’t just for leafy salads or veggie sticks—it can also be used to toss blanched vegetables or pasta like spaghetti and udon noodles directly. Having a bottle on hand saves time and effort. For those who aren’t used to raw salads, you might want to try this warm salad: blanch spinach, Chinese cabbage, mushrooms, and pork slices, then drizzle with sesame salad dressing and sprinkle with chopped green onions to finish.

Riken Material Power Dashi Stock Powder (Riken Dashi Stock Powder)


Dashi (Japanese stock), an indispensable element in Japanese cuisine, is a broth made by extracting flavors from ingredients like kelp, dried fish, shiitake mushrooms, and bonito flakes.Supermarkets offer a variety of related products, and adding just a little can greatly enhance the flavor of many Japanese dishes. We recommend this dashi powder that contains no chemical seasonings or added salt, relying instead on the natural flavors of the ingredients. It comes in four flavors: small dried fish, kelp, bonito, and a combination of shiitake and kelp, with the bonito flavor being the most popular.

When traveling in Japan, you’ve probably noticed how delicious the miso soup is. Miso soup, as the name suggests, involves adding miso along with any ingredients and a bit of Japanese dashi powder to create a flavorful and layered Japanese-style miso soup. Additionally, dashi powder can be used to make light udon soup bases, as well as for cooking Japanese-style okayu (rice porridge), chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), and oden (Japanese hot pot), all of which turn out great.

S&B Premium Fresh Wasabi Paste (S&B Premium Fresh Wasabi Paste)




Essential spices in cooking such as wasabi, garlic, and ginger—whether ground into paste or finely chopped—can take time to prepare and have limited shelf life, making it impractical to keep them in the fridge for long.However, Japanese supermarkets offer many pre-ground spice products, often conveniently packaged in squeezable tubes that can be used straight from the package by simply twisting the cap. The amount used can also be easily controlled. Most appealingly, these spice products are not chemically produced but made from real ingredients, fully capturing the fresh flavors of raw garlic, ginger, and wasabi. That’s why the word “fresh” (raw) is often emphasized on the packaging.

This S&B premium fresh wasabi paste is considered a staple in Japanese households and pairs wonderfully with soy sauce, making it a great match for sashimi and nigiri sushi.Additionally, Japanese people sometimes sprinkle a bit of salt and add wasabi paste when eating steak to enhance the flavor and bring out a different taste in the beef. It’s recommended to try the combination of salt and wasabi paste when eating steak.

Ajinomoto Hot Pot Bouillon Cubes (Ajinomoto Hot Pot Cubes)

Japanese supermarkets offer a wide array of hot pot broths and related seasoning products to choose from, especially with new flavors often introduced around winter each year.In recent years, due to the needs of smaller households and individuals living alone, single-serving hot pot bouillon packages have become increasingly popular. Aside from Ajinomoto’s hot pot bouillon cubes—which are small, single-serving concentrated bouillon blocks—there are also capsule-style concentrated hot pot broths like those from Ebara. Even individuals can enjoy a steaming hot pot, and if more people are joining, just add a few more bouillon cubes to adjust the quantity.

When the Ajinomoto hot pot bouillon cubes were launched in 2012, they caused a sensation in Japan. At the time, liquid hot pot broths were the mainstream, so the arrival of these cube-shaped bouillons garnered significant attention. The development team at Ajinomoto aimed to create a product that could be sold over the long term—one that was delicious, convenient, reduced cooking time, and maintained Ajinomoto’s signature concentrated broth quality. Despite many failures and attempts, along with moments of considering giving up, they eventually found the optimal ingredients and compression technology. This innovation provided consumers with a new choice in traditional-style hot pot broths and achieved the flexibility for everyone—from individuals to larger groups—to easily enjoy hot pot.

The thick white broth flavor introduced here is a popular choice. Simply add water and the bouillon cubes to a pot according to the number of people, bring it to a boil, then add root vegetables and meat in sequence. Once boiling, add leafy greens to finish. Since the broth is already flavorful enough, it tastes delicious on its own without needing additional dipping sauces. Here’s a helpful tip: Japanese people often use the leftover broth to cook congee or add ramen or udon noodles at the end for a satisfying finish, as all the essence from the vegetables and meats remains in the soup. It can also be used to cook Japanese-style rice, by washing the rice, adding appropriate water and a few bouillon cubes, along with mushrooms, carrots, chicken, and aburaage (fried tofu skin), then pressing cook. Soon, a fragrant white broth chicken rice will be ready.

Nissin Grand Prix Supreme Gold Award Store-Supervised Fried Chicken Powder (Nissin Grand Prix Supreme Gold Award Fried Chicken Powder)



Japanese-style fried chicken nuggets are a staple and popular dish in Japanese cuisine, frequently appearing on family dining tables and in bento boxes—a delicious food loved by both adults and children.Supermarkets also sell convenient fried chicken powders where the seasonings are already mixed into the powder. Just take it home, and you can recreate the tender and crispy fried chicken nuggets you’d get at restaurants. This Nissin Supreme Gold Award Store-Supervised Fried Chicken Powder is supervised by the “Karaage Taikou,” which won the Supreme Gold Award for soy sauce flavor in the western part of Japan. Its rich, mellow soy sauce flavor makes the chicken nuggets incredibly aromatic. There are also many other flavor options available. Buying a few packs to take home is very convenient, and you don’t have to worry about getting the seasoning just right.

The preparation method is also very simple: first, pour out the powder, add boiling water according to the instructions, mix well, then add about 600 grams of cut chicken thigh pieces and marinate for about ten minutes before frying. The outer crust turns wonderfully crispy, and the meat stays tender and juicy—even when cooled, it’s still delicious, making it perfect for bento boxes. Both adults and children will fight over the last piece.

KEWPIE Spicy Mentaiko Pasta Sauce (Kewpie Spicy Cod Roe Pasta Sauce)

Japanese supermarkets also offer a wide variety of pasta sauces, covering almost every flavor you can think of.Among these, the convenient single- or two-person serving packages are especially handy—just cook the pasta and mix it with the sauce to easily recreate restaurant-quality pasta at home. KEWPIE’s Spicy Mentaiko Pasta Sauce is a long-selling product in Japan that has remained beloved by many for years. Fans of mentaiko might want to take a few packs home to try.

Once opened, you’ll find a two-person serving of mentaiko sauce and shredded nori. After cooking the pasta, pour out the sauce and mix it evenly over the pasta, then sprinkle with the nori strips. A plate of mildly spicy yet richly flavored mentaiko pasta is quickly complete. One bite leads to another—you won’t believe it doesn’t rival restaurant pasta. Keeping a few packs at home is definitely a lifesaver for any housewife.

Tanita Cafeteria-Supervised Miso Soup (Tanita Cafeteria-Supervised Miso Soup)





Miso soup can be said to be a soup that appears almost daily on Japanese household dining tables, which is why supermarkets offer many convenient packages with various ingredient variations, allowing even busy people who can’t cook to enjoy a warm bowl of miso soup.Here, we kindly introduce a low-calorie, reduced-salt miso soup convenient pack supervised by the popular topic-worthy Tanita Cafeteria. Tanita is a well-known company specializing in selling scales and measuring devices. They sparked a trend by developing many low-calorie, reduced-salt healthy meals in their own company cafeteria, which led to the creation of related cooking products and set-menu restaurants. This collaboration between Tanita and Marukome results in a miso soup convenient pack with only 25–30 calories and 1 gram of salt per single serving—so drinking a bowl every day won’t be a burden.

There are two flavors: seaweed and green onion, and stir-fried burdock thread. Simply place the included ingredients and miso into a bowl, add hot water, and mix. A warm bowl of miso soup, paired with a few side dishes and plain rice, makes for a simple, healthy, and delicious meal. Bringing a few convenient packs to the office for backup ensures you’ll have a savior when hunger strikes.

KEWPIE Japanese-Style Mayonnaise (Kewpie Japanese-Style Mayonnaise)


Keio Supermarket points out that among all mayonnaises, KEWPIE is the best brand.KEWPIE Japanese-style mayonnaise is an essential condiment in Japanese households, and you’ll likely find it in almost every home’s refrigerator. The biggest difference from Taiwanese mayonnaise is that it is salty and slightly tangy—you’re surely familiar with the iconic KEWPIE mascot. In addition to the classic traditional mayonnaise, KEWPIE has also continuously introduced many health-oriented varieties, such as those emphasizing a refreshing taste, half the calories, zero calories, low-fat, as well as flavors like mentaiko and mustard.

Japanese-style mayonnaise is widely used in cooking here—it’s essential for making salad dressings, pairing with okonomiyaki and takoyaki dips, making sandwiches, and more. Popular picnic sandwich dishes like tomato ham and egg salad sandwiches or tuna salad sandwiches can be quickly prepared by draining the oil from canned tuna, mixing it with mayonnaise, then chopping boiled eggs and blending them with mayonnaise for seasoning. This way, you can quickly assemble various types of sandwich bento boxes. Remember to spread mayonnaise between each slice of bread and all the ingredients—not only does it help hold the ingredients together, but it also adds a moist and creamy texture. Be sure to try the essential Japanese-style mayonnaise found in every Japanese household.

Nissin Fruit Granola Cereal (Nissin Sysco Goro Goro Granola 0% Sugar)


In Japan, unlike Taiwan where you can easily find delicious hot breakfasts from street vendors, most people rely on homemade meals prepared by housewives in the early morning. So what do Japanese people, who prefer to eat breakfast at home, usually have? Here’s a great helper for homemakers: fruit granola cereal has long been popular in Japan, and many Taiwanese travelers also stock up on it at supermarkets.

Nissin’s fruit granola cereal is made with various types of wheat and grains, combined with maple syrup and honey. It comes in flavors like strawberry, soybean, maple, and matcha. The product emphasizes a hearty, chunky texture of real fruits and vegetables, along with the natural, simple flavors of the ingredients. Balanced nutrition is also a key concept, making it a so-called “third breakfast option” for consumers—besides rice and bread. It’s super convenient to eat straight with milk or yogurt, and you can also add your favorite fruits to enhance the taste.

Marukyu Koyamaen Matcha Milk Powder (Marukyu Koyamaen Matcha Milk Soft Flavor)



I remember the first time I had a rich, mellow cup of matcha during the dessert course at an onsen ryokan. Despite the slight bitterness unique to matcha, it left a sweet aftertaste in the mouth. Especially on a cold winter night, each sip of warm matcha warmed the weary hearts and bodies of travelers. In Japanese supermarkets, you can also find convenient matcha powder products, including flavored matcha milk and original-flavor matcha powder. They’re easy to use—either brew directly for drinking or as an ingredient for matcha desserts.

Uji Tsujiri’s Marukyu Koyamaen Matcha Milk is a common sight in supermarkets. This convenient matcha pack from the historic old shop allows you to enjoy traditional, expertly crafted matcha at a reasonable price—that’s what makes it so popular. It’s great either cold in summer or hot in winter. There are also seasonal limited-edition flavors like chestnut and sakura, which add a fragrant twist to the classic matcha milk.

Ogawa Coffee No. 2 Shop Coffee Powder





Ogawa Coffee is a specialty coffee roasting, production, and retail shop founded in 1952 in Nishikyogoku, Kyoto. Developed and evaluated with passion by local coffee artisans, the brand is committed to preserving the pure, original flavor of coffee and aims to share the high-quality taste of its signature roasted “Ogawa-style” coffee with everyone. In supermarkets, you can find Ogawa Coffee’s drip-bag coffee, coffee beans, and coffee powder, with options for different coffee varieties and organic coffee. Other brands are also well represented, including decaf and caffeine-free options.



Ogawa Coffee has long been a popular item in Japanese supermarkets, with its drip-bag coffee being the best-seller. It’s convenient to carry—just boil water and brew for a rich, delicious cup of coffee anytime. Its mild taste and deep aftertaste are Ogawa Coffee’s hallmarks. Keep a few packs handy, whether at the office or on a picnic or camping trip, for a lovely afternoon coffee break.

Aohata 55 Strawberry Jam (Aohata 55 Strawberry)




For toast spreads at breakfast, supermarkets offer a wide variety of choices: jams in different flavors, chocolate spread, peanut butter, and even special options like mentaiko (spicy cod roe) cream, matcha spread, egg salad, and garlic cream. Even if you eat toast every day, there are plenty of ways to keep it interesting.

Here’s a classic staple: Aohata 55 Strawberry Jam. The jam contains big chunks of real strawberry flesh and highlights the fruit’s natural sweet-and-sour flavor. Since it doesn’t contain preservatives, it should be consumed within two weeks after opening. The 55-series jam also comes in many other flavors, and there’s even a 1/2-calorie version. A trip to a Japanese supermarket will yield lots of discoveries.

Keio Store Kohgaoka Shop




KEIO STORE’s Keio Supermarket is a supermarket chain under the Keio Group, focusing on distribution and closely tied to daily life. It’s mainly located in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture. KEIO STORE primarily operates as a chain of supermarkets, in-station shops, and convenience stores, with its headquarters in Setagaya, Tokyo. All the products mentioned in this article were sourced from the Keio Supermarket Kohgaoka Shop, located at the exit of St. Luke’s Kohgaoka Station in Setagaya, Tokyo. KEIO STORE has 27 branches in total, and the Kohgaoka Shop is the highest-performing in terms of sales and product variety, with daily revenue reaching up to 18 million yen.

The Keio Supermarket Kohgaoka Shop has two floors: the first floor is for food and alcohol, while the second floor offers daily necessities and clothing. It also provides services like laundry, an eyeglass shop, a handicraft store, and a tailor. Plus, it’s very convenient to reach via the Keio Line from Shinjuku without transfers.

Keio Store KEIO STORE Kohgaoka Shop
KEIO STORE Kohgaoka Shop
Address: 206-0011 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Sekiguchi 8-1-11