Asakusa is renowned as one of Japan’s leading tourist destinations, famous for landmarks like Senso-ji Temple’s Kaminarimon Gate and Nakamise-dori shopping street. However, step into its back alleys, and you’ll discover the authentic daily life that supports local residents. For long-term visitors and international students in particular, the ‘food infrastructure’ for self-catering is crucial. This article introduces a carefully selected list of deep and practical local and Asian supermarkets in the Asakusa area, where you can find everything from international flavors to local Japanese ingredients. Let’s delve into another charm of Asakusa that goes beyond mere shopping spots.
Nippo Asian Products
📍 Address: Sakakibara Tenpo 1F, 5 Chome-17-9 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
Located slightly off Senzoku-dori Shopping Street in Asakusa 5-chome, ‘Nippo Asian Products’ is a rare Chinese-owned Asian supermarket in the Asakusa area. Stepping inside, a sensor triggers a ‘Huānyíng guānglín (Nǐ hǎo) ♪’ greeting, instantly transporting you to a small, local Chinese grocery store or convenience store.
It’s not a large store, so the aisles are narrow and packed with products, which only enhances its authentic, local feel. You’ll find a wide array of frozen foods like Xiang Mogu Gongwan (shiitake mushroom meatballs) and Nuomi Yumi (glutinous corn), as well as Chinese snacks rarely seen in Japan, and staple chili oil and Chinese soy sauce. There are also exotic drinks like lychee juice that you might be curious to try.
Prices are reasonable, not too high, making it perfect for international students and long-term residents living nearby who crave a ‘taste of home.’ The staff’s service is simple, mainly at the register, allowing you to browse at your leisure. It’s often quiet late at night, and you’ll see locals dropping by on their bicycles, making it a community-oriented, hidden gem.
Gyomu Super Asakusa Store
📍 Address: 2 Chome-21-5 Higashiasakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0025, Japan
For self-catering international students and long-term visitors, ‘Gyomu Super Asakusa Store’ is an unbeatable ally. Located in a quiet part of Higashi-Asakusa, slightly away from the center of Asakusa, its standout feature is its spacious sales floor, spread across two levels, 1F and 2F, which is larger than other nearby stores. It’s a professional-grade supermarket favored by customers who buy in bulk by car or bicycle, including local restaurant owners.
On the 1st floor, you’ll find surprisingly affordable vegetables and fruits at the storefront, and inside, a wide selection of sweets, bread, and rice. Heading up to the 2nd floor reveals Gyomu Super’s true strength: an overwhelming variety of frozen foods. In addition to large quantities of frozen meat and seafood, there’s an abundance of multinational Asian ingredients, such as Thai green curry paste, Vietnamese pho, and Chinese seasonings. With flavors from around the world available under one roof, it’s highly valued by foreign residents looking to recreate tastes from their homeland.
In recent years, the store has started accepting credit cards, transportation IC cards like Suica, and various smartphone payment methods, significantly improving convenience for cashless shoppers. While the selection of prepared deli foods is modest, for buying long-lasting retort pouches and instant noodles in bulk, it undoubtedly offers the best cost-performance in this area.
Ozeki Asakusa Kaminarimon Store
📍 Address: The Gate Hotel by Hulic 1F, 2 Chome-16-11 Kaminarimon, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0034, Japan
‘Ozeki Asakusa Kaminarimon Store’ is located right in the heart of the tourist area, just a 2-minute walk from Kaminarimon Gate. While not specializing in Asian ingredients, it’s an absolutely essential spot for long-term visitors to source ‘high-quality Japanese ingredients’ that locals use daily. The store itself is compact, yet it’s packed with approximately 20,000 items.
Ozeki’s strength lies in its exceptionally fresh meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits, directly sourced by discerning buyers from the market. The variety of fruits, in particular, is extensive, and seasonal fruits like strawberries are available at reasonable prices. Furthermore, the quality of their ready-made meals (bentos, deli items, sashimi) is high, and some items are discounted by half after certain evening hours, making it highly popular among tourists and international students who want to easily enjoy local Japanese cuisine in their hotels or apartments.
You’ll also find a rich selection of retort curries, seasonings, and snacks that locals typically eat but aren’t sold in souvenir shops, and the unique bookshelf-like display is another highlight. While the aisles are a bit narrow, requiring some maneuvering with large luggage or strollers, the warm customer service at the registers contributes to a supermarket experience where you can fully immerse yourself in Asakusa’s local life.
ASAKUSA UNDERGROUND STREET
📍 Address: 1 Chome-1-12 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
Lastly, we introduce ‘ASAKUSA UNDERGROUND STREET,’ which isn’t a ‘supermarket’ for buying ingredients but an area where you can experience the vibrancy and deep atmosphere of an Asian local market. Directly connected to the Ginza Line Asakusa Station ticket gate, this underground passage is said to be one of Japan’s oldest underground shopping streets. Stepping inside delivers a powerful impact, as if you’ve time-traveled back to the Showa era.
Exposed pipes crawling across the ceiling, dim lighting, and a slightly damp, sewer-like smell. While it might not appeal to those seeking cleanliness or glamour, this chaotic space, reminiscent of Southeast Asian local entertainment districts or food stalls, continues to captivate its core fans. Here, you’ll find hidden gems serving authentic ethnic dishes like Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, where you can savor genuine Asian flavors amidst the bustling energy of a local market in a cramped space.
This underground street, where Japan’s Showa-era retro charm beautifully merges with Asia’s vibrant energy, is exciting even just for walking around and taking photos. If you’re tired of ordinary shopping, be sure to enjoy an ‘adventure into another world’ in this deep, atmospheric space. You’ll truly feel the diversity and profundity that Asakusa possesses.
Experience Global Flavors and Authentic Local Life in Asakusa
Venture slightly off Asakusa’s dazzling tourist routes, and you’ll discover a rich, transnational food culture and the vibrant pulse of local residents’ lives. From product stores reminiscent of Chinese back alleys to professional-grade supermarkets specializing in bulk purchases, and an underground street imbued with the lingering scent of the Showa era, Asakusa is a surprisingly livable and exciting city for long-term visitors and international students. Please use this article as a guide to explore your own deep ‘Asakusa culinary hub.’
