You’re Wasting Money at 7-Eleven in Japan 🇯🇵 (Go Here Instead)
If you’re visiting Japan, you’ve probably heard about convenience stores like 7-Eleven…but what if I told you there’s an even better (and cheaper) option?
In this video, we take you inside a Japanese supermarket to show you the best cheap food you NEED to try — from fresh sushi and bento boxes to hot meals, snacks, and even 50% off discounts at night.
You’ll see what makes supermarkets in Japan so special, how much you can save, and why this might be the best place to eat on a budget in Japan.
Whether you’re traveling to Japan for the first time or looking to save money on food, this is something you don’t want to miss.
🍱 WHAT YOU’LL SEE IN THIS VIDEO
– Fresh sushi & sashimi (better than convenience stores?)
– Bento boxes (full meals for cheap)
– Fried food, yakitori & hot snacks
– Japanese sweet potato (a must-try!)
– Sandwiches, onigiri & quick meals
– Healthy salads & fresh fruit
– Ice cream, drinks & budget finds
– Cup ramen & supermarket hacks
– And the famous evening discounts (up to 50% off!)
💡 JAPAN TRAVEL TIP
If you come to supermarkets in the evening (around 7:00–8:00 PM), you’ll often find discount stickers (半額 / hangaku) on many items — this is one of the easiest ways to eat cheap in Japan without sacrificing quality.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE JAPAN CONTENT
If you enjoy this video, make sure to subscribe for more Japan travel guides, food videos, and budget tips 🇯🇵
39 Comments
Thank you. I will be visiting Japan in May. I booked a hotel that is right next to an Aeon supermarket so i guess I’ll be able to take advantage of late night discounts and having bentos for dinner!
What other super market stores are good? If I search for super market near say ueno station or Osaka station etc which should we look out for
Agree.
We book our travel hotels near supermarkets & bus stations in Japan
There are also 24 hour supermarkets, like Sunny ✌️
You can find convenience stores everywhere, but if you have the opportunity to walk just a little further and go to a supermarket to buy groceries for a few days, it's well worth it.
👏👏👏 ❤
I stay at hotels and apartments that have kitchens so I can cook. I always go to the supermarkets to shop. You can find a wide range of ready to eat foods. Better than combini.
This was great advice. Thank you so much! 🙇♂
Don Quixote kept me fed during my last visit
Well done, aeon is the way to go not konbini. Delete your ‘must buy items’ at konbini video, items get discounted around 7pm.
Thank you for the video 😊
That will definitely be handy the day I visit Japan 😊
Thank you
When in US dislike food shopping. However, Aeon is my favorite and end up in the store every day. No way the US can sell you a full , fresh, dinner for approx. Y500/Y600 ( under $4.00). My favorite for everything.
There are no grocery stores near the city center hotels that I usually stay at
I always go to nearby Petit Maretsu over the 3 nearby conbinis
Even if you don't see a supermarket ask your hotel front desk or Google it. Every area has a supermarket but sometimes they are "hidden".
Found out about this and loved it
I had bought my 1st Japanese steak from a groceries store and cooked it at the place I stayed in.
基本マトモナ日本人はコンビニ利用するのは緊急時だけ経済観念の無いバカと無なされるからな
日本へ旅行に来る外国人の人達に1つ言いたい。
イオン、イオンモールは素晴らしいスーパーマーケットだが、東京や大阪などの大都市には無いんだよ！
イオンは日本の地方都市や国道沿にイオンモールを建てて地方都市や都市部の郊外に住む人達の日々の暮らしを支えている。そんなコンセプトの店。
イオンが日本の大都市に店舗展開していない理由はイオングループの歴史によるモノだけれども、それは別の話だから今回は省く。
イオンは東京都内に殆ど出店していないが、その代わりにイオンのサブブランド「まいばすけっと」が東京の街に出店している。
「まいばすけっと」はイオンの店舗をコンビニ規模に小さくした店で（コンビニサイズの小さな店なので）商品の品数は減るがイオンで販売している食品、弁当、惣菜、イオンのPB商品等を購入できる。
「まいばすけっと」はイオンが都市部に出店しているコンビニキラーなミニスーパーマーケットで、東京都内や都市部に住む日本人は「まいばすけっと」を利用して生活費を節約している。（まいばすけっと、はミニスーパーマーケットなので野菜、果物、肉、魚、などの食材や生鮮食品の販売もしている）
日本の地方都市のホテルに泊まるのならばイオン、イオングループ傘下のスーパーマーケットの近くのホテルにしましょう。
東京のホテルに泊まるならば「まいばすけっと」を探して利用しましょう。
コンビニよりも安く食品が買えます。歴史的な円安だから外国の人達からすると日本のコンビニで買い物をしても安く感じかもしれないが、コンビニとイオンで同じ食品メーカーの食べ物が販売されていたとすると、イオンで買うほうが平均して10%から20%近くは安く買える。
30年近い長いデフレ社会を生きて来た日本人はイオンなどのスーパーマーケットで買い物をして食費の節約をしていました。
ただ、2023年頃から日本はインフレ社会へと変貌しました。食品の価格が3ヶ月毎に値上がりして生活費が高騰して辛いです。
Absolutely agree! My partner & I holidayed in Japan last September (Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Hiroshima & Kyoto). We love Japanese food but still prefer a Western-style breakfast (cereal, fruit, yoghurt). Hotel breakfasts and some fresh fruits and vegetables are very expensive in Japan compared to here, in Australia. Aeon and other supermarkets were excellent for sourcing our breakfast preferences and occasional lunches and snacks; onigiri, bento etc. All very fresh and reasonably priced. Still love the konbini sandwiches though; especially the egg! 😋😊
Go to a supermarket between 19:00 and 20:00 and observe the human pigeons. They follow the staff around who are marking the price down and then dash in to get their booty.
Observe the type of people they are and watch the pigeon group as they master their environment. Marvel at the amount of 1/2 price food they can put in their basket.
It is truly spectacular.
We always seek out AEON malls in Japan – apart from the biggest in outer north-east Tokyo – several city blocks – too tiring – nearer central Tokyo we like AEON STYLE Shinagawa Seaside – lots of good cheap food court restaurants very popular with local families for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Food supermarket downstairs, clothing and homewares upstairs – we spent at least half a day there.
Great advice, thanks! Stayed 2 weeks Kyoto in appartment with cooking facilities and saved a lot shopping at local supermarkets for Breakfast items and packed lunch meals. Really works! 🇯🇵🇦🇺
Good 👍❤
Good 👍❤
Alcohol! Don't waste your time at duty free, the regular supermarket prices are astonishing to anyone from a Western Country where our governments tax us to oblivion…
Please Note in Japan, AEON Mall and its supermarkets are private property, meaning that while casual photography for personal use is usually permitted, formal filming, professional video recording, or activities that disrupt shoppers are generally prohibited without prior approval from management.
I will be living in kirishima for a month, so are there cheaper or better supermarket? In general
Thank you👍.
Agreed but Aeon mall ate usually away from the centre. I just got back from Nagoya and Osaka. I went to the Noritake Garden Aeon and it was very plain. Osaka Dome Aeon also pretty ordinary. However, the food is fantastic! Great for kids too eg events, pop up shows etc. Thank you for sharing. ❤
I'll have to check AEON out next time. I discovered MyBasket on my last trip which was quite a bit cheaper than the konbinis.
I rec Mr. Max
I find the OK store is even cheaper than Aeon
Great, I'm hungry now……. Awesome video.
New sub here! I'm glad that you talk in the videos! I've noticed a lot of Japanese channels just use text, which is totally fine, but also nice to hear English describing the items!
We are hoping to move to the Hokkaido area soon! Thanks for sharing!
Is there English instructions on the payment kiosk?
Very informative video, now I know, next time I go to Japan got to hit up the supermarket, after 7:30 pm of course.
Supermarkets are good but not always as convenient, especially late at night. But if you can go during the day they may be better.
Great advice! I spent last November in Japan and found the supermarkets to be an eye-opening window on he culture.
Just about any place is better than the combini. It’s so easy to eat better when skipping combini stores.