RResidents in Japan

How do you get groceries (or other large purchases) home?

Carrying a few things from the store isn’t bad. But I live far enough away that frozen stuff will start defrosting. Plus I limit my shopping based on what I feel like carrying.

40 comments

  1. I use a bike. And bring an insulated bag (and dolly!) when I go to Costco and need to get the stuff home via trains and bike 90-120min journey.

  5. You can sometimes get polystyrene boxes for free, or buy them in DIY stores. Brilliant for frozen shopping. Different sizes available with handles.

  6. there’s bags with a special inner lining that keeps things colder for longer. you may even supplement this function by buying cooling packs or similar. you can find those at any 100 yen shop, and most supermarkets may even have those right by the frozen section (or offer them at the register if you ask). there’s also bags to carry on your back with straps that go on your shoulders. those let you carry things more comfortably than bags you carry in your hands.

  8. I use a bike 90% of the time. The rest I mostly use a backpack but if I plan on buying a lot of frozen stuff I drive.

  10. I used the insulated old lady bag/cart combo. If you buy enough frozen stuff you can put them together at the bottom and they’ll be fine. You could also bring your own ice packs with you in your insulated bag if you think you won’t have enough items to keep themselves cool. There’s also normal insulated reusable bags for groceries you can buy as well if you don’t like the old lady rolly cart version..

  15. Live close to the store.

    Sometimes I use my bicycle with a Coleman cooler strapped to the back, or a backpack with a thermal layer like the Uber eats dudes use

  16. They sell large cooler bags designed specifically for this problem. That, and dry ice packets also help

  17. When I go to Costco I bring a piece of rolling luggage if I’m expecting to buy a lot. Otherwise I bring a large backpack with a few eco bags inside. Since I often bring my kid when I go shopping, I find that a backpack is the way to go. As for cold/frozen stuff, you can buy bags that are lined so that stuff doesn’t defrost.

  21. I’m getting a car soon to make life easier, but to answer your question I just deal with it and carry it home (I live 10-15 minutes walking from where I get most things) or buy it online.

  25. Some grocery stores (in Tokyo at least) offer small bags of dry ice for your walk home if you have frozen stuff. It’s not foolproof but it is something.

  27. I have a thermal insulated bag that I use if I’m going to a Picard (it’s technically my Domino’s pizza bag, but thermal does hot and cold). If time is the main issue and not volume of frozen goods, I have a light large tote bag that clips on to my pannier rack and folds up super small when not in use (COBAGS/Copenhagen Bags available on Amazon).

    For CostCo shops, the touring panniers come out and all the frozen food gets put together with minimal empty space. It takes maybe 40 minutes to 1 hour to cycle back from CostCo, but I don’t think I’ve had any issues, even during the summer.

    ETA: I order a lot of my big staples online and use subscriptions where possible – 6x1L cartons of soy milk, 2 kg of cat food, Furusato Nozei for a monthly delivery of vegetables and frozen fish, etc.

  28. Before I started driving in Japan, it was a combination of bicycles, taxis or shopping nearby. I was however pretty lucky to always live in a good neighbourhood with lots of choices.

    Now I just put it at the back of the car.

    While it’s more expensive, you can always Amazon

  29. I use Pal System, Amazon Fresh, and Seiyu Walmart online ordering system. I’m eyeing on shipping my costco goods too

  30. If I need a lot of heavy/frozen stuff and can’t get it at a store I can walk to, I just get it delivered.

    Most supermarkets have free delivery after a certain amount… but even if there is a fee, it’s still probably less than I’d pay in transit fare.

  31. Sometimes I take the bus if buying frozen stuff, or if it’s gunna be bulk I’ll just get a car and go to Costco

  32. For large ones like Costco, I use Time Carshare. Just rent a car for couple hours. Get things done and return the car back.

  34. Supermarkets also have a free cardboard box section. Fill that up with the ice you can get and you basically have a make-shift cooler that can last a whole day (perfect when grocery shopping for a camping trip)

  35. I use my bike, it has a basket on both front and back + a backpack. I can get a week+ worth of groceries for my husband and me in one trip.
    If you are 10+ minutes away from the store, use thermal bags (cheap ones will do) for the cold/frozen stuff. Works for me!

  36. In college I relied on public transportation for everything. I wore an empty backpack to the grocery store and also brought two strong reusable bags with me. I also took an ice pack with me if I planned to buy refrigerated items and not many frozen items. I’d put all the cold items in one bag to keep each other cold.

    The use of an empty backpack was a game changer for me.

    I got large bags of rice delivered so I didn’t have to carry that home. I used Amazon at the time.

  37. Freezer bags & icepacks basically, also the grocery store has a free ice dispenser for small bags of ice to keep stuff cold. I use the train to get back, but barring that I’d use a bike.

  38. I use Seikyo(生協). I go to supermarket for fresh produce, but I order heavy items like rice, milk, water bottles, detergents and also ice creams once a week from Seikyo catalogs online or by a order sheet. You need to become a member of Seikyo and pay some deposits. Catalog and delivery fee of my Seikyo is 180 yen per week and if I order more than 6000 yen, it becomes free. You can only choose what you order from catalogs of the week and the delivery is once a week on a specific day of the week depending on your area. Because you order a week ahead of the delivery, they don’t fill your immediate needs, but with Seikyo I don’t have to buy heavy stuff from supermarkets and they deliver to my door even though my apartment has self locking entrance. When I’m not home, they leave my order in front of my door in styrofoam boxes with ice packs or big chunks of dry ice.

    There may be several Seikyos that deliver to your place. You can call them and ask for catalogs and see which one you like. It might be a bit difficult if you can’t read Japanese at all, but all catalogs have pictures of products.

  40. Yup I’d bung it in the car also, but my nearest super is a 20 min drive (#田舎life)

    What you can do is apply for LaLa co-op and Green co-op, I use both of these markets, both are all organic produce, both do door delivery via truck.

    The catch is;
    You gotta order 2 weeks in advance, so I set recurring orders for basics, dairy, baking goods, eggs, fresh produce, poultry.

    The rest of the shit my wife and I will fill the order form for the next 2 weeks, or I just drive to Koremo in Omura. Or Trial in Ureshino.

    Try the delivery services mate, will save you that time.

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