How to shop at a supermarket

Prepared foods, sashimi, and packaged sushi

Supermarket deli counters carry simmered and fried prepared dishes alongside sashimi platters and packaged sushi. Packaging often shows a prepared time and a best-by date, worth checking before you buy.

When discount stickers tend to appear

Items nearing their best-by date, including prepared foods and sashimi, sometimes get a discount sticker. Timing varies a lot by store — some mark everything down at once in the evening, others lower the price in stages — so there's no guarantee of finding a markdown even if you time a visit for it.

Region-only specialties

Local supermarkets sometimes carry prepared foods and products that reflect the area's food culture — flavors and items you won't find at national chains — and browsing them is part of the fun of a local supermarket.

Buying by weight

Some prepared foods and sweets are sold by weight: you fill a container or bag with as much as you want. Using the tongs and bags provided is the expected way to serve yourself.

Checkout and bagging

At many supermarkets, you pay for your basket's contents at the register, then move to a separate counter to pack your own bag — a "self-bagging" flow. Bags usually cost extra, so mention if you need one when paying.

Sampling

Some stores set up sample counters. It's usually fine to try a bite, but taking more than a taste, or leaving a used toothpick somewhere other than the tray provided, is the kind of small thing staff notice.

Related foods

If packaged sushi interests you, see "Sushi"; for pickled sides, see "Tsukemono."