A lot of surprises were found in the local grocery store after moving to Japan.
In Japan, the portions are smaller, but I have found more high-quality products.
Japan's branding and packaging is very good.
My grocery shopping routine changed when I moved to Japan.
My trips to the grocery store became fun when I moved to Japan with my family.
There are some similarities between the two countries when it comes to food shopping.
I stopped into the Japanese store for smaller purchases three to four times a week when I lived in the US.
My daughter has become an extremely pickier eater since she became a toddler. I go to the grocery store in Japan more often because I want to find something she will eat.
Japanese grocery stores allow you to stop in for a few items at a time.
During my first visit to a Japanese grocery store, I learned that stocking up on groceries for a few weeks isn't the norm here. It is common to go to the grocery store more than once a week.
Many stores here don't have big shopping carts. The cart is closer to the basket.
One of the free strollers for babies and toddlers is beside the carts.
If you have a child who naps while you walk, you can recline the seat to make the stroller more comfortable.
The grocery stores in Japan are clean.
It's rare to find anything on the ground or out of place in Japanese grocery stores. It doesn't end there.
You won't see damaged packaging or empty shelves in the stores as they would be an embarrassment.
If you're shopping on a budget, it's a good idea to look for items in the back corner of the store that are discounted because of their damaged packaging.
I like to start my shopping trips in the produce section, where I can find fruits and vegetables that are great in quality but expensive.
The produce section in Japanese grocery stores is different from what I am used to in the US for a number of reasons.
Sometimes I find fruits and vegetables that I have never seen before at a grocery store in the US. These items can cost a lot.
On a recent trip, I saw a single pear and cantaloupe that were both priced at over four dollars.
Quality over quantity seems to be the mindset of the stores here.
The country's grocery stores have a mentality of quality over quantity.
Japanese supermarkets seem to have high standards for the food they sell. It's rare for me to find produce that isn't perfect.
You won't find fruit and vegetables in season at the stores. It's a bonus that you can eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
When I can, I try to buy my produce at a farmers' market.
I have to use translation apps when shopping because I don't speak Japanese very well.
It can be hard to grocery shop in a foreign country.
It can be difficult to look through all of the aisles and translate each item I'm not sure about.
Some items have caught my attention.
I thought it was a cute treat when I first saw it. I realized it was a fish cake made from purees of fish, egg, and seasoning.
Easy meals can be made with delicious prepared foods.
The convenience stores in Japan are similar to the Japanese grocery stores.
I don't feel like cooking on days when I'm not feeling up for it.
I've seen bentos made with fish, chicken, and curry.
These are usually kept at a room temperature, but are refreshed and reloaded throughout the day.
I can find a lot of different sides that don't require a lot of preparation.
I rely on convenience as a busy mom. Japanese grocery stores make it easy to get groceries.
I can either cook some taco rice and add some taco topping or I can cook some curry and serve it with naan.
Meats and other items are usually discounted at the end of the day.
The afternoons and evenings are a great time to shop if you're on a budget and want to save some money on groceries, the grocery store I visit applies large discounts to almost all of the remaining items at the end of the day.
If you stop at the store on a certain day of the week, you will be able to save money.
I am able to pick up household items at the store.
When I go to the store, I usually have to get a package of diapers. I can get a bundle of 36 diapers for just under $9.
There is an eight-pack of printed toilet paper for under $2. The cute pattern on the toilet paper makes my child cringe.
Japanese brands cater their baby food packaging to children.
Fun, kid-friendly packaging is one of the things I like most about grocery stores in Japan.
There are cute characters on the front of cheese sticks and juice pouch. My daughter loves the candy display that the store has.
The baby food here is very different from what you'll find in the US.
In Japan, you won't find jars of baby food like in the US.
There are packages of baby food that include spaghetti with meat sauce and chicken liver, or gratin with tuna and vegetables in a cream cheese sauce.
ramen is a popular Japanese food.
It's helpful when you have a picky eater.
It's fun and exciting to eat curry from a fun package or snack on noodles with little characters in them.
Products with packaging make it easier to eat.
I look at the packaging and think about how smart it is.
I visit a grocery store that sells pancake and sandwich mixes. If you fold the packet in half, you will be able to spread it evenly.
Most items come in smaller portions here.
Due to the smaller size of Japanese appliances and storage spaces at grocery stores here, you won't find anything that's too large or sold in bulk.
A lot of the items are small.
The bread loaves are small in Japan.
It's easier to keep produce and bread in our home if I go to the grocery store a lot.
I sometimes find items that are similar to what I used to buy in the US
These sandwiches remind me of Uncrustables, a staple in American grocery stores, and they're great for lunches and snacks on the go.
Mini corn dogs and french fries are American style items that I can find.
Egg salad, chocolate, tuna, and ham-and-cheese sandwiches were also found.
I like the fact that I don't have to take out all my items and put them on a conveyer belt when I use a shopping basket.
The cashier always puts my items back in a way that is more organized and saves more space when they scans my basket.
This process allows me to keep an eye on my toddler while I shop.
Customers in Japan bag their own groceries at a table.
The process is fast. The cashier rings up your items, you pay, and then you go to a separate counter to bag your purchases.
It took me a while to get used to grocery shopping in Japan, but I have found it to be better than in the US.
I'm able to feed my family fresh food that's made with higher quality ingredients, and I can do it for a more affordable price, because I shop here.
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