Supermarkets in Nara

There are many different kinds of supermarkets in Japan. In the Nara area I often go to several just to get the best deals. Here are some of them.

1. Gyoum Super. 業務スーパー

This is one of the cheapest places to buy bulk goods. It has good prices and a a lot of choice. However if you're looking for healthy, organic foods they are harder to find. They also have a good selection of alcohol. 

2. Okuwa オークワ

Your standard supermarket. It has a decient selection of food and goods. Some of them have extra restaurants as part of the supermarket. In addition there are a few of them open 24hours so you can go shopping late at night.

3. Coop コープ

A good selection of organic and home grown foods the selection at Coop is healthy, if a little more expensive than other stores. They have good choices and their meat is reasonably priced.

4. Kinsho 

Another good store with a healthy selection of organic goods. Slightly more expensive than some but if you look carefully you can find some good deals.

5. Sun Plaza スーパーマーケットサンプラザ

One of the cheaper supermarkets it has a good selection of fish and other goods. While the selection is not the best it has some good deals if your willing to look and it's usually in a convenient place. In Nara it has a smaller presence but it's growing.

6. Yamato

Another small supermarket located only in a few places it is in the middle range. However it offers a 10% discount on everything every Thursday. It's meat is very good and if you search around you can find something here for the budget shopper. It also offers special deals such as 40% off meat but only every second month on the second Monday of that month.

7. Seijyo Ishi

If you want expensive imported foods then this is the best place to go. You can find regular goods cheaper in other stores but sometimes if you need a reminder of home this is the place to go.

Those are just a few of the supermarkets around the area. There are many more smaller ones but strictly speaking the best thing you can do is travel to as many as you can find and comparison shop. I didn't mention the myriad of other local supermarkets that I've only been in once either because they are too far away or too expensive.

Good luck and I hope you find what you're looking for.

Eliminate B. O.

Recently  in the UK there have been reports of a hygiene problem. People are stuck without having enough money to pay for basic shampoo. They are resigned to staying in their homes and not going out. Keeping clean is important in any country. Here in Japan there are many ways to go about it. 

The above picture shows some basic care products for men.

In the top row you can see products designed to remove the stink most men seem to have. BO is a major problem in the summer and it's elimination is of great importance. The second row continues the BO battle and the prices suggest that they are the better choice.

The third row suggest giving you a natural smell while the final two rows lean more toward regular body soap. The prices at the bottom are on the cheaper end of the spectrum suggesting that they don't work as well.

Do they work? I have no idea and no desire to buy. When I first came here deodorant ( located to the left of the 3rd row) was almost impossible to find. Now it's everywhere. The only one I tried is the cheaper one towards the bottom (Biore). It worked well and I liked the cheaper price. My wife said it wasn't enough and got me something else. (Not pictured)  I do like it and she hasn't complained about my smell so a win.

It's the orange one in the center. The price is still good and it does the job. It says it's medicated persimmon extract. Again the price is okay and the best news is I don't smell as bad as before. At least my wife hasn't said anything.

So the best thing you can do is try and try till you get something you like. Also ask the people in your life. If they are like my wife they will give you an honest answer.

Cost of living

Been here over 16 years and in that time I've gotten used to paying the same price for all of my goods. Now things are going up. The milk I used to buy isn't 149 now. It's 199. A 50 yen jump. 

It's not much but it's the beginning of the end. Come on work. Give me a raise.