Japanese Supermarket Tiers: Where to Shop Premium, Mid-Range, and Discount, and What to Buy
Japan has no official supermarket ranking, but stores fall into three tiers by positioning: Kinokuniya and Seijo Ishii for gifts and imported food; Life, AEON, and Seiyu for everyday groceries; OK, Gyomu Super, and Lopia for bulk and low prices. At checkout, food is taxed at 8% and alcohol at 10%.