In recent years, with the increase in international students, technical trainees, and long-term residents in Kochi Prefecture, a growing number of ‘Vietnamese supermarkets’ and ‘Asian grocery stores’ have opened, symbolizing multicultural coexistence.
These places are not just where you can buy rare seasonings; they also function as local community hubs, offering authentic local gourmet food at incredibly low prices, making them truly deep and fascinating.
This time, we’ve carefully selected five highly energetic spots that you absolutely must visit, covering everything from a quaint exotic experience for short-term travelers to the real shopping scene that supports the lives of international students and locals living in Kochi.
Thực Phẩm Việt
📍 Address: 1-3-18 Honmachi, Kochi City, Kochi 780-0870, Japan
Located in Honmachi, the center of Kochi City, ‘Thực Phẩm Việt’ is, as its Vietnamese name literally translates to ‘Vietnamese Food,’ a genuine authentic Vietnamese grocery store and eatery. Inside, rare seasonings and ingredients that are hard to find in Japan are packed tightly, offered at prices that are a welcome relief for international students.
A definite must-try when you visit here is the local cuisine served in the eat-in space. Especially the ‘Pho Ga’ (chicken pho) boasts a light yet deeply flavorful soup that tastes just like the real deal. Other popular items include a hearty salad of pig’s ears and nuts, crispy banh mi, and passion fruit juice.
Ordering is done via a modern QR code system at the table. The warm customer service, which includes staff kindly adjusting coriander portions for those who don’t like it, is a charming aspect, catering even to Japanese customers. It’s less like a stylish cafe and more like a space that directly brings the bustling vibrancy of a ‘local Vietnamese eatery’ to Japan, highly recommended for those who want to quickly experience authentic local energy.
KTi café (KTi Farm)
📍 Address: 1204-2 Higashigumi, Sakawa-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi 789-1232, Japan
‘KTi café’ in Sakawa-cho, Takaoka-gun, is a mysterious and fascinating space with an unforgettable impact once you visit. The spacious dining room boasts a modern bar-like interior, but surprisingly, a real ‘Ferrari’ sits right inside the store! This spot fully showcases the owner’s passion for cars, allowing you to savor Vietnamese cuisine while gazing at the beloved car through glass and faintly smelling tires.
The dishes served are mild and homely Vietnamese cuisine, praised as ‘the taste of the house next door’s neighbor,’ not too far from Japanese washoku. They cleverly use spices while keeping the salt content moderate, making it delicious even for those who dislike overly spicy food. The ‘Vietnamese Set’ for lunch allows you to choose your favorite side dishes near the register. The soft, juicy braised pork belly is a must-try.
Furthermore, in addition to Vietnamese frozen foods and tableware, the store sells super-fresh vegetables harvested that morning at ‘KTi Farm’ at great prices. Locals smartly utilize this by buying vegetables for home cooking and Asian seasonings on their way out after a meal.
Southeast Asia Market Wakusei
📍 Address: 3520-9 Ohtsu, Takaoka-cho, Tosa City, Kochi 781-1102, Japan
Located in Tosa City, ‘Southeast Asia Market Wakusei’ is the largest Asian market in the region, opened by utilizing the premises of a former local supermarket. It has become an important community hub within the prefecture, so much so that the Kochi Prefectural Governor visited it (Governor Hamada attended) as a front-runner in Kochi Prefecture’s ‘multicultural coexistence’ initiatives.
The spacious interior is lined with a vast array of products, from unfamiliar Vietnamese frozen foods to local Southeast Asian goods. For long-term residents, it’s an oasis where they can stock up on tastes of home, and for Japanese visitors, it’s like a theme park where they can experience a small taste of international travel.
In the attached self-service food court area, you can enjoy an affordable ‘Vietnamese Lunch’ on a pre-payment system. With an overwhelming cost performance, you get to choose 4 items from 6 side dishes displayed in the showcase, plus soup, all for just 850 yen. The food court is bustling with people of all nationalities during lunchtime.
Lucky’s
📍 Address: Ikkei Atago Building, 202, 3 Chome-10-18 Atagocho, Kochi City, Kochi 780-0051, Japan
Tucked away on the second floor of the ‘Ikkei Atago Building,’ a multi-tenant building in Atagocho, Kochi City, ‘Lucky’s’ is a deep, hidden gem of a shop known to those in the know. It’s a new store that just opened in 2025, and while you might feel a bit hesitant to go up the stairs at first glance, opening the door reveals an exotic Asian atmosphere.
Inside, you’ll find a rich selection of rare international candies and snacks that you would never see in a typical Japanese supermarket. It’s a spot that not only attracts international students looking for a taste of home but also offers a treasure hunt experience for locals seeking unique treats.
Fresh & Commercial Food Supermarket Poplar
📍 Address: 940-1 Ko, Takaoka-cho, Tosa City, Kochi 781-1101, Japan
‘Fresh & Commercial Food Supermarket Poplar’ in Tosa City is not directly a Vietnamese supermarket, but it is a local, community-focused supermarket that can be called a ‘lifeline’ for long-term residents and international students who want to cook for themselves and save on living expenses. The store, with its Showa-era retro atmosphere, is filled with the excitement of a treasure hunt.
It strongly meets the real demands of residents with items like incredibly cheap commercial-sized bean sprouts and daikon sprouts, ‘large-capacity tartar sauce’ that some enthusiastic fans claim tastes like a certain major hamburger chain’s fish burger, and frozen foods marked with half-price stickers.
And Poplar’s biggest hidden gem is its ‘homemade bread baked in-store.’ There’s a wide variety, and among them, the ‘Ring Donut with Whip’ boasts a soft, gently sweet quality that surpasses even famous chain stores. At an unbelievably low price of 387 yen for 3 pieces, it’s the perfect reward after your shopping.
A Must-Read for Long-Term Residents! Local Shopping in Kochi
When living in Kochi Prefecture, the key to enjoying a rich diet while keeping food expenses down is to ‘choose supermarkets based on your purpose.’ For daily vegetables, meat, and large-capacity seasonings, wisely shop at local commercial supermarkets like ‘Poplar.’
On the other hand, when you miss the taste of your home country or want to cook spicy dishes on weekends, it’s best to procure directly imported ingredients from places like ‘Wakusei’ or ‘Thực Phẩm Việt.’ Furthermore, if you keep an eye out for eateries like ‘KTi café’ that offer super-fresh vegetables harvested from their own farm at bargain prices, you can enjoy a delicious lunch and save on food costs, a clever hack unique to residents. Be sure to incorporate Kochi’s proud deep Asian culture into your daily life.
