Japanese Supermarkets and Food

Whenever I go to Japan, I can't help but stop by or even buy something from a Japanese supermarket, or スーバー。Actually the same goes for convenience stores 、コンビニ, such as Mini Stop, Lawson, 7-11, or Family Mart. The selection is unreal. I always like to go to a supermarket in the Yokohama eki, station, area, just to look at the selection, especially the bento type foods that are available. If I lived and worked in Japan, for example Yokohama, I would probably not cook very much as going to the supermarket or even the conbini, would be enough to provide healthy meals each day. Japan, it seems has created a way for those who are busy, tired, or don't want to cook to find alternatives for lunch and dinner. Even when I go to the Sogo department store in Yokohama station, there is a huge area for takeout bento type food. One time, I and my partner, bought a little too much as our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. She and I both commented, while the food was very good, we had to be careful of buying too much because everything looked very good. Not say anything negative, but I don't experience the same food culture or takeout food culture in Korea yet, that is available in Japan. It is improving but its a long way off. Japan has high quality bento or takeout food that is second to none. Another example of quality and customer service in Japan, that is second to none.

To be fair, Korean has a second to non delivery service culture. You can get almost anything delivered very quickly in Korea including and especially food.  Its just the take out or bento type service or food you find in Japan is still not developed yet in Korea, but hopefully it will improve in the future. Even going to convenience store in Korea, and looking for onigiri or a bento is not exactly the same. The quality, for the most part is not there yet. But hopefully it will improve.


© 2020 Tom Metts,  all rights reserved