National Azabu Supermarket
+ HIROO, TOKYO

If you were stranded on a foreign island for months with nothing but coconuts, raw fish and some cash, and someone appears out of nowhere bearing a $15 box of “Fruity Pebbles” breakfast cereal, you would buy it, wouldn’t you? That’s the thinking behind the National Azabu Super, the ONLY true Western grocery store that’s close enough to an American suburban grocery store as it gets in Japan. The only drawback, the sticker price. There’s a reason this market is located in Hiroo, land of wealthy foreign expats, because realistically only wealthy foreign expats can shop here consistently. For the rest of us, it’s one of those guilty pleasures we indulge in while living abroad. It’s not so awful that you won’t be able to afford anything, you can easily put it in terms of, “Gee, if Ma sent me a box full of Goobers Peanut Butter and Jelly Swirl, Duncan Hines brownies mixes, and a pie sheet, it would cost her a fortune in mailing fees.” Thus, justifying the high prices of National Azabu Super. There are deals, large blocks of cheddar and swiss cheese can be had for amazing low prices and imported beers are generally reasonable.

You’ll find such rarities as Hamburger Helper and dry, boxed manicotti pasta. The isle by the entrance is lined with vegetables, then sectioned off for imported foreign frozen pies, bagels, deserts, and real American hotdogs and sausages(good ol’ hooves ‘n ankles! yum!). Around the corner is the Italian isle with usual Prince pasta imports, along with Prego and Classico sauces and a lineup of odd imports. Further down on the right are Thai seasonings and Mexican taco kits, along with chili seasonings and guacamole seasoning packets. Further along the next isle are American breakfast cereals, some Brazillian imported powder mixes for baking and desert sauces. This market is large enough that you may find those rare, odd things that you’ll probably be missing after 3-4 months into your Nova contract. There’s even a supply of Newman’s salad dressing. You’re not going to find that at your local Marusho. Oh, and there’s dry falafel mix and hummus for vegetarians. In fact, I noticed several nice imported vegetarian products including vegi burgers.

The cheese isle though will leave you in awe. Just about every Western cheese brand is represented along with the coveted feta cheese, rarest of rare cheeses in Japan. Go on, tell me where else I can find this besides Seijo Iishi and National, I’d love to know. Unlike the Japanese equivalent, camembert is not the dominant cheese in this cheese isle. Further down at the end of the cheese isle is the imported beer section. Italian, German, American, you’re bound to find something good. Don’t expect any 24 packs of Schlitz or Pabst Blue Ribbon, for shame.

Azabu Super is nothing new, they’ve been around since 1962 and will remain for ages due to the large and growing foreign community. Finding information about the Azabu Super is another thing, it took me ages before I actually got around to finding it(it didn’t help that I lived all the way out in Tama at the time either though…). After visiting, be sure to walk around the corner and go upstairs to the supply store above. English language magazines, newspapers, kids party supplies, and kitchen ware are sold there. Great if you’re having a house/tiny apartment party and need a lot of paper plates, napkins, etc. for guests. Not cheap, but not tiny either, big, proper dinner napkins and giant paper plates are standard. Enjoy!

National Azabu Supermarket
Tel: 03-3442-3181
Hours: 9:00AM - 20:00PM
Train Line: Hibiya

National Den-en Supermarket
(sister store offering more high-end products and Japanese products)
Tel: 03-3721-4161
Hours: 10:00AM - 20:00PM
Train Line: Toyoko

(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)

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