How to Spend $4 a Week on Groceries (Expat in Japan)

Saving money on groceries in Japan may seem like an impossible feat but I assure you, it is not.  The trick is finding out those insider secrets that could help you save big. 

Luckily for you, I am an insider and I'm going to let you in on the local secrets.  I have been living in Japan for almost 10 years and I have picked up a few tricks over the years.  

Saving money on groceries in Japan is really quite easy if you know these tricks.  I typically spend just 400 yen on groceries every week once I have my basic necessities like rice and beans.

I know that spending just 400 yen per week is not for everyone and just not possible for some.

So first let's go over some tips and tricks I learned that could help you save on groceries in general.  Then I'll give you the deets on what I do specifically.

Saving Money on Groceries in Japan

Buying in Bulk from Costco

Here's where you are going to save yourself some big bucks by buying in bulk those items that you use all the time.  And preferably, those items that do not have a short shelf-life.

I usually buy rice, beans, and those huge bag of nuts from Costco.  The store is huge and they sell plenty of other products.  They even have cleaning products, laundry detergent, and other household items.  

Furthermore, they have big bags of carrots, asparagus, brussel sprouts, you name it.  But those big bags of veggies might be too big for just one person and sometimes I find they aren't as cheap as what I get locally.

So shop smart and not just based on size.

Even though the prices at Costco in Japan tent to be more expensive than back home and you have to pay for the membership fee, it is still worth it.  

And if you get a few friends together maybe you could split the cost of the card or even divvy up some of those bulk goods and help you save even more.

Shopping at Discounted Supas (スーパー)

Their green and burgundy sign tends to stand out and usually has tons of bikes or cars parked outside.  They have lots of assorted foodstuffs at discounted prices.  They even have some imported goods as well.

I tend to buy my tofu, natto, konjac, etc here as the prices for them are hella cheap.  Think 27 yen, 47 yen, and 37 yen, respectively.  Mad cheap!

Shop in the Shotengai (Mom and Pop Shops)

In every locale there is a Shotengai or main street that houses all the small shops selling anything from food, groceries, household goods to clothes.

The markets here tend to be some of the cheapest for produce and especially fish and you never know what cool things you'll find at one of the other stores.

These stores tend to be the mom and pop shops whose business is a family affair.  So in addition to getting your groceries for cheap, you are also supporting a local small, family-run business.

Local Farmers Pop-ups/Collectives

While you are out cruising the streets, you may see some tarps hanging and a rough make-shift farmers market going on.  If you do, you should stop and take a peek.  This is a big way you could be saving money on groceries.

At the one near my house, I've found buckets of carrots, tomatoes, and greens for just 100 yen a piece.  And while the price of fruit still tends to be about the same as the supermarket, you tend to get much more of it.

So keep your eye out for these spots when you are out and about.

Only Buying in Season

Another way you can save big in the grocery store is to only buy things that are in season.  There will be lots of product for things that are in season.

And anything there's a surplus of tends to be much cheaper than those that are hard to find.  Supply and demand.  Further, if you buy things that are in season, they will have higher nutritional values as they won't have to be shipped from far off places.

So taking up the seasonal diet may be just what the doctor ordered if you want to keep them coins and eat healthier.

Buying the Foreign Exports

Shopping at the regular supermarkets in Japan, you will find that the fruits and vegetables that are imported from the US, Peru, or many other countries, tend to have the lowest price tag.

When I first came to Japan, I used to wonder why two heads of broccoli would have drastically different prices (ie. 100 yen vs. 200 yen).  As my reading skills improved, I realized it was because one was from America and the other from Fukuchiyama.

The broccoli from the US was much cheaper than the Fukuchiyama one probably because America is a powerhouse and is able to sell their goods to the store for far less than a local farmer or small company.

Also, Japanese people tend to think that local goods are of better quality than the foreign ones.  This further inflates the prices of local produce.

So it seems for the time being foreign produce will always be cheaper.

Shop after 6 PM

Pretty much every market in Japan starts discounting their bentos and food starting at 6 pm.  Some of those bentos, onigiris, fish, meat, fruits, and veggies are expiring soon and they want to sell them as soon as possible.  Thus, the discounts.

I used to wait to go shopping after work just to get these discounts or even to buy a bento for the next days lunch.  So it may be worth it to wait to the end of the day to do your grocery shopping as well.

Go Shopping on Sales Day

Chances are your favorite supermarket has a sales day.  As these stores get their shipment of new product in they are going to want to sell them fast and make that money.

This tends to be the time when they will have their super sales and you can find most fruits and veggies for 100 yen or less.  This is key to saving money on groceries in Japan.

So figure out when your market has their sales day and only shop then.

How I Spend $4 a Week on Groceries

$4 a week?!  I know.  Crazy right?  But totally doable!  Here are the extra tricks of the trade.

Don't Go Shopping More Than Once a Week

So in order to save money on groceries you'll want to limit the amount of times you find yourself in the supermarket to begin with.  The more often you are there the more likely you are going to spend more than you should or need.

I now only go shopping once a week for the entire week.  If I run out of food, too bad.  I'm not going back.  

Instead, I will make up something to eat from the left over rice, beans, and whatever else I may have stuffed in the freezer.  Over time, you'll learn just how much you need to buy to last the week.

Buy Things That are 100 Yen or Less

Another thing I do because I'm cheap and refuse to pay exorbitant prices for food, is I never buy anything that cost more than 100 yen.  The one exception being if I want to treat myself to fish (I love Salmon!) or a bag of fruit.

Buying produce for 100 yen or less is easy to do if you make sure that you are shopping on sales day and/or shopping for your groceries after 6pm when many things are discounted.

In addition, don't forget about those mom and pop shops or pop-up local farmers markets.  There you will find gems! 

Only Buy Packs

Another trick I picked up is to only buy those things that you can get more than one use out of.  This means only buy those fruits and veggies that come in packs.

So 100 yen for 1 eggplant, nah.  But 100 yen for a bag of 3 carrots, yes.

Of course, they would also be subject to my 100 yen limit.  So I'd need it to be two or three items in a pack that is on sale for 100 yen or less.  Like the example above.

Buy Snacks in Bulk

If you like to snack like I do, then you may want to considering buying your snacks in bulk.  Snacks are one of those sneaky small costs that add up pretty quickly.

I buy my snacks at Costco.  That is where you are going to get the biggest bang for your buck.  But you may also find good deals at those discount supas I mentioned above.

My Shopping List: Sneak Peek

• Onion: 40 yen
• Carrots (3): 100 yen
• Eggplants (2): 100 yen
• Mushrooms (2 packs if I'm lucky): 100 yen
• Tofu: 100 yen

Total: 440 yen

With a batch of rice and a breakfast made from the beans I got from Costco, this would last me about a week.

So for the most part, I tend to spend about 400 yen a week not including the rice and beans I get from Costco.  Occasionally, I will have to buy more garlic and ginger and that takes my total up to 600yen per week.  But still mad cheap.

I must say though, it never pays to be too strict or kechi, as it were, so I like to treat myself every now and then.  I may splurge and buy fruit and fish which means I'm now spending 1,200 yen.  But even so, not bad.  If I do say so myself.

All in All

Just because everyone says Japan is expensive doesn't mean they are right.  Like any where in the world it can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want it to be.

Hopefully, now you can see that saving money on groceries in Japan is pretty easy with a little insider knowledge, tips, and tricks.

Of course, you don't have to spend just 400 yen like me but I just wanted to show you that it is possible to cut your grocery bill significantly.  You don't have to pay 10,000 yen for groceries unless you want to.

Happy Saving!  And let me know if you have any other tips or tricks of your own!^^