Shin-Okubo: A Treasure Trove of Asian Ingredients! Recreate Authentic Flavors at Home
In Shin-Okubo, while Korean cuisine and cosmetics might be the first things that come to mind, step into an alleyway, and you’ll find a deep area where multinational cultures from Vietnam, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Nepal, and more intersect. ‘Asian Supermarkets,’ in particular, support the kitchens of local residents and international students on mid-to-long-term stays, overflowing with rare ingredients you’d never find in typical Japanese supermarkets.
When you want to make authentic pho, fresh spring rolls, or banh mi at home, sourcing ‘fresh herbs’ and ‘local condiments’ can be a challenge. However, by exploring Shin-Okubo’s Asian markets, you can find lemongrass, green papaya, large quantities of nuoc mam (fish sauce), and more, all at incredibly low prices.
This time, we’ve carefully selected and introduce 5 recommended deep-dive Asian supermarkets in the Shin-Okubo/Okubo area, not just for those seeking Vietnamese ingredients, but also for anyone looking to stock up on Southeast Asian spices and meats at great value. We’ll also share insights into each store’s unique product lineup and offer shopping tips!
Shin-Okubo Asian Market
📍 Address: 1-10-13 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan
A hidden-gem multinational supermarket, located a little away from the hustle and bustle of Shin-Okubo Station. From the entrance, vegetables and fruits are piled high, and stepping inside, you’re enveloped in a completely foreign atmosphere, with the aroma of Nepalese, Indian, and Southeast Asian spices filling the air.
The greatest appeal of this store is its overwhelming selection of fresh herbs and spices, essential for Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. The huge refrigerator is packed with dill, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and more. Vegetables, meats, and spices are portioned into easy-to-buy sizes, and Japanese labels and expiry dates are clearly marked, making it easy for Japanese shoppers to feel at ease.
Furthermore, discovering ‘canned goat meat’ or ‘bargain instant ramen’ on different days is a unique pleasure of a local market. While the aisles are narrow and packed with products, the store accepts various credit cards and e-money, and its high convenience is another highly rated point.
Asia Super Store
📍 Address: 2F, 1-8-2 Okubo, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 169-0072, Japan
This large supermarket specializes in Thai ingredients and goods, often described as ‘the closest place to Thailand in Japan.’ It offers an abundant selection of fish sauce, chili oil, coconut milk, and tamarind-based foods that can also be used in Vietnamese cuisine, making it an absolute must-visit for Southeast Asian food lovers.
While Asian supermarkets often have cluttered displays, this one stands out for its bright interior and neatly arranged products, making them very easy to browse. You can find fresh vegetables like green papaya and cilantro, as well as tableware, cooking utensils, and even Thai cough medicine and inhalers called ‘Ya Dom’.
While you’re shopping, be sure to check out the handmade local sweets and deli items. They offer rare local snacks like ‘Khao Tom Mat’ (steamed sticky rice with banana) and ‘Khanom Mo Kaeng’ (Thai-style custard), which are hard to find elsewhere, allowing you to enjoy a little taste of travel.
Kakyō Service Center
📍 Address: Kamikura Bldg, 2-11-2 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan
This is Japan’s largest comprehensive Asian and Chinese grocery store, occupying an entire building. While primarily focused on Chinese ingredients, it offers a full range of authentic seasonings from across Asia, including Vietnam and Taiwan, making it a renowned spot frequently visited by professional restaurateurs and cooking enthusiasts alike.
The basement floor is dedicated to seasonings, teas, alcoholic beverages, and dried goods. You’ll find Sichuan peppercorn powder, five-spice powder, fermented black beans (douchi), Pixian豆瓣醬 (doubanjiang), and more, sold at several times the volume of typical Japanese supermarkets and at bargain prices. Large quantities of spices suitable for making Vietnamese pho broth can also be sourced here. However, as mobile signals are often weak in the basement, a pro tip is to complete electronic payments near the entrance.
Don’t miss the frozen food floor on the second level. It’s lined with cylindrical lamb slices for hot pot, dumplings, and ingredients for Mala Tang, making it perfect for stocking up for home parties. This vibrant Asian spot truly gives you the atmosphere of a Chinese market, right down to the scent.
Toko Indonesia – Okubo
📍 Address: 1F, 1-19-18 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan
Located very close to Okubo Station, this is a small, specialized Indonesian grocery store. It’s a deep-dive spot that Indonesian enthusiasts and local students flock to, crammed with items like tempeh (fermented soybean cake), bawang merah (shallots), red curry paste, and a wide variety of instant noodles.
You can also find kaffir lime leaves, various spices, and chilies, which are useful for Vietnamese cuisine, making it perfect for those seeking secret ingredients for ethnic dishes. While slightly more expensive than buying locally, it’s a valuable store for its range of niche products that are hard to find in Japan.
The payment system is hyper-local: ‘the staff memorize product prices and manually input them into the register.’ Since mistakes can occasionally happen, it’s part of the local experience to communicate with an open mind and confirm prices during checkout.
Ambika Shop Shin-Okubo Store
📍 Address: B2F, Ars Bldg, 1-11-29 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan
This is a specialty store for vegetarian and vegan ingredients, directly operated by an Indian company. Even within an area dotted with halal shops, this official store boasts an overwhelming variety of spices and legumes, with a bright and clean interior.
Spices like coriander, cumin seeds, and garam masala are available in small packs at affordable prices, making it a paradise for anyone wanting to create their own curries. You can also get high-quality fresh curry leaves for tempering and authentic pure ghee (clarified butter) at great value.
With complete Japanese signage and staff who politely explain in Japanese, even spice beginners can shop with confidence. Next to the cash register, there’s a corner where you can buy famous intensely sweet homemade Indian sweets like ‘Gulab Jamun’ individually, making it a perfect treat to end your shopping trip.
Conclusion: Stock Up on Authentic Flavors at Shin-Okubo’s Asian Supermarkets
The area stretching from Shin-Okubo to Okubo Station is a culinary crossroads where ingredients from various countries around the world – not just Korea, but also Vietnam, Thailand, China, Indonesia, and India – converge. Because these are supermarkets frequented by locals, you can find fresh herbs, large-capacity seasonings, and unique meats and seafood rarely seen in Japan, all at surprisingly low prices.
It’s a unique delight of this area to go looking for Vietnamese herbs and end up buying Thai sweets or Indian spices along the way. Grab your eco-bag and embark on an Asian journey without needing your passport!
