Discovering a Real Asian Town in Yokohama’s Back Alleys
Naka Ward in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture (around Hatsunecho, Fukutomi-cho, Chojamachi, and Isezakicho), is a deep-dive Asian town known to those ‘in the know’. Walking down the streets, you’ll be greeted by the distinctive aroma of Southeast Asian spices, and it’s common to hear languages other than Japanese echoing from every corner. In this article, we’ve picked out Vietnamese (and Thai) supermarkets dotted within Yokohama’s back alleys, which support the daily lives of ‘locals’, ‘long-term residents’, and ‘students’.
These aren’t neatly packaged tourist spots, but rather spaces that feel as if the genuine hustle and bustle, and the chaotic charm of Southeast Asia have been brought directly to Japan. They serve as a kitchen for students craving tastes of home and are irresistible to local food enthusiasts looking for a travel-like experience. Let’s take a closer look at these incredibly practical shopping havens.
BAMBOO STORE Vietnamese Groceries・CUA HANG VIET NAM
📍 Address: 1-2-16 Hatsunecho, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture 231-0053, Japan
Located in the Hatsunecho area, not far from Hinodecho Station on the Keikyu Line, this Vietnamese grocery store brings the authentic local vibe directly to Yokohama. It’s packed with essential seasonings and daily necessities that Vietnamese residents and students in Japan need to recreate the flavors of home.
The store boasts a wide array of products, from rare items not easily found in other Vietnamese grocery stores to special promotional deals, making it a trusted spot for locals who praise its ‘extensive selection’. On the other hand, some online shoppers have expressed confusion over ‘un-Japanese-like casual service’, such as loose packaging and insufficient communication when items are out of stock. This might, in a way, be a reflection of real Southeast Asian business practices. If you want to ensure you get your desired items, it’s recommended to visit the store in person rather than shopping online, and experience the local atmosphere while browsing the shelves.
Xuân Shop Việt Nhật – Yokohama
📍 Address: First Building 1F, Nishidori-45-1 Fukutomi-cho, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture 231-0042, Japan
This Vietnamese grocery store is located along Nishidori in Fukutomi-cho, known as one of Yokohama’s premier ‘deep’ spots. The Vietnamese flag displayed at the storefront serves as a landmark, but the surrounding area has a nightlife district atmosphere, which might be a bit intimidating for first-time visitors. Once you step inside, the majority of customers are Vietnamese residents in Japan, giving you the sensation of having completely stumbled into a foreign country while still in Japan.
The greatest charm is the sense of adventure you get from having ‘no idea what this seasoning is used for’, as there are no Japanese labels on the product shelves. While the selection of staple seasonings like nuoc mam (fish sauce) might be surprisingly limited, you can enjoy unique encounters, such as discovering unexpectedly delicious, inexpensive mystery sweets bought on a whim (like green, walnut mochi-like nut confectionery). This spot is for advanced explorers who want to experience the slightly cluttered, dim, ‘real Asian shop’ atmosphere, distinct from Japan’s neatly organized supermarkets.
SIEU THI VIET YOKOHAMA
📍 Address: 1F, 1-2-16 Hatsunecho, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture 231-0053, Japan
This Vietnamese-style supermarket is located on the first floor of the same building as BAMBOO STORE. The surrounding area has a cluster of Asian grocery stores, making it an important hub supporting the lives of Vietnamese residents nearby. A key feature is its handling of less common tropical fruits and fresh vegetables, such as frozen jackfruit and shallots, which you would rarely find in typical Japanese supermarkets.
The prices are reasonable compared to other stores, making it a welcome presence for students and locals who buy in bulk. However, reviews sometimes mention issues with phone support and online orders, such as sudden cancellations or calls connecting to unrelated households. Since local online services are still developing, the most reliable way to use the store is to contact them directly via SNS like Facebook, or even better, visit the physical store to check the quality of fresh produce (like durian or lychee) with your own eyes before purchasing.
vietcook yokohama
📍 Address: 8-133-1 Chojamachi, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture 231-0033, Japan
Located in Chojamachi, this is a super deep-dive Vietnamese grocery store that transcends the typical supermarket. As you enter, you’re immediately enveloped in the intense, distinctive aromas of Southeast Asia, with fresh vegetables, frozen meats, and snacks crammed together. It’s such an open environment that pigeons occasionally wander inside, allowing you to experience the authentic market atmosphere of a Southeast Asian back alley.
The biggest highlight of this store is the eat-in space (restaurant area) located at the back. You order using a touch-panel self-order machine near the entrance (be aware of the ‘trap’ that it only accepts old banknotes!). Here you can enjoy hearty banh mi, exquisite Com Tam (Vietnamese-style set meal plate) topped with pork spare ribs and a fried egg, and cheap chè desserts sold from the refrigerator. The casual style of buying drinks freely from the store and bringing them to your table is also just like being in Vietnam. While it might not be for those seeking pristine hygiene or refined service, it’s an incredibly exciting gourmet spot for anyone craving ‘the real energy and taste of Vietnam’.
THAI SUPER
📍 Address: Stork Isezaki Gobankan, 4-121 Isezakicho, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture 231-0045, Japan
A short walk from the concentrated area of Vietnamese grocery stores, this iconic shop, a symbol of ‘Little Thailand’, appears deeper into the Isezakicho Shopping Street (Isezaki Mall). It functions as the kitchen for Thais living in the Yokohama area, with Thai language filling the air inside. A unique array of specialized products, mainly dried goods, lines the shelves—from Bael Fruit Tea (matoom tea), which is unavailable in Japanese supermarkets, to fresh lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves essential for authentic Thai cuisine, and even Thai local cosmetics.
At the storefront, you can get handmade Thai sweets for takeout or buy Chang beer, making it feel just like a local shop on a street corner in Bangkok. While common Southeast Asian ‘happenings’ like slight discrepancies between price tags and actual totals, or imprecise change, can occur, the staff are generally kind. The right way to enjoy this supermarket is to embrace the environment where Japanese is barely spoken and fully immerse yourself in a Thai travel experience.
Tips for Enjoying Deep-Dive Local Supermarkets
The Asian supermarkets scattered throughout Naka Ward, Yokohama (around Hatsunecho, Fukutomi-cho, Chojamachi, and Isezakicho) operate under rules completely different from typical Japanese retail stores. If you go expecting beautifully packaged products and perfectly manualized customer service, you might experience a culture shock.
However, the greatest thrill of visiting these spots lies in relying on your intuition to choose seasonings from shelves with no Japanese labels, communicating with staff through gestures, and sometimes encountering unexpected troubles or incidents. Regarding payment methods, even if cashless payment is advertised, machines often malfunction, so it’s a golden rule to always bring plenty of small bills like 1,000-yen notes.
Furthermore, because online purchases are prone to stock shortages and communication errors, we strongly recommend visiting the stores in person. Engage all your five senses and fully immerse yourself in the local Southeast Asian lifestyle, right here in Japan.
