While everyone raves about 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart, seasoned travellers know one golden rule: a local Tokyo supermarket (supa) is where the real food magic and savings happen.
During our stay at Sotetsu Grand Fresa Takadanobaba, we found ourselves heading over to Peacock Store Takadanobaba almost every single evening. From ready-to-eat meals and bento boxes to luscious Japanese strawberries, this humble Tokyo supermarket quickly became our favourite nighttime ritual.
Tokyo Supermarket Guide: Peacock Store Takadanobaba
- Japanese Name: ピーコックストア 高田馬場店 (Peacock Store Takadanobaba)
- Address: 1-28-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 169-0075
- Opening Hours: 9:00am – 11:00pm daily
- Bonus In-Store: Seria 100-Yen Shop located on the B1 level (great for cute souvenirs and household goods)
How to Get There
-
From Sotetsu Grand Fresa Takadanobaba: An effortless 1-to-2 minute stroll across the street/plaza.
-
From Takadanobaba Station (JR Yamanote / Seibu Shinjuku / Tokyo Metro Tozai Line): Take the Waseda Exit or Exit 3; it’s right by the station rotary behind the BIGBOX building.
Why a Tokyo Supermarket Beats the Konbini
Don’t get us wrong—we love a good konbini snack run. Can’t get enough of that ham, egg & cheese sandwich from Lawson. But local supermarkets operate on a completely different level:
-
Incredible Variety: Rows upon rows of freshly cooked dishes, deep-fried katsu, yakitori skewers, grilled meat mains, comforting pasta/noodle bowls and layered bento boxes made fresh daily in the back kitchen.
-
Higher Ingredient Quality: Because supermarkets cater to neighbourhood locals doing daily grocery runs, portions are more generous, wholesome and balanced.
-
Wallet-Friendly Value: Standard prices are already noticeably lower than convenience stores—and that’s before the evening markdowns kick in.
The Evening Discount Rush: The Art of the Mikiri-hin Sticker
If you visit between 7:00pm and 9:00pm, you will witness one of Japan’s best budget food traditions: supermarket staff walking the aisles armed with label guns, tagging prepared foods with discount stickers (mikiri-hin).
- 20% OFF (2割引 – Ni-wari biki)
- 30% OFF (3割引 – San-wari biki)
- 50% OFF / Half Price (半額 – Han-gaku)
Grabbing a hearty meat rice bowl, savoury noodle dish, or full bento for half price (often just ¥300–¥500 / ~S$2.40–S$4.00) feels like hitting the jackpot. You can feast comfortably in your hotel room without checking your budget.
What We Ate: Our Tokyo Supermarket Food Haul
Here is a look at what we picked up across our multiple visits:
Hearty Bento Boxes
The bento section at Peacock Store was our go-to for hearty, comforting dinners after a full day out walking. Every tray was neatly assembled, very filling and tasted just like a home-cooked Japanese meal:
-
Assorted Rice Ball Bento: A fun, colourful tray featuring four distinct seasoned rice balls alongside classic bento sidekicks – a cross-hatched red wiener sausage, tamagoyaki (rolled omelette), meatball, croquette and macaroni salad.
-
Classic Nori Bento: The ultimate Japanese comfort staple. Fluffy rice topped with seasoned seaweed (nori), loaded with a giant seaweed-batter fried fish cake (chikuwa isobeage), a golden panko-crusted fried fish fillet with tartar sauce, tomato-based spaghetti, shredded burdock root (kinpira gobo) and pink pickles.
-
Japanese Curry Rice: Curry sauce paired with white rice and pickled relish. Comforting.
Hot Deli Items & Savoury Sides (Sozai)
The sozai (prepared hot foods) counter was dangerously tempting. Everything is packed in convenient single-portion packs, making it easy to assemble our own custom izakaya-style feast back in the room:
-
Fried Combo Platter (Karaage & Tempura): A hearty mix of golden, savoury Japanese fried chicken (karaage), vegetable fritter (kakiage) and eggplant tempura.
-
Takoyaki: Can never resist our all-time favourite octopus balls!
-
Tonkatsu: Thick-cut pork loin coated in panko breadcrumbs and fried till golden brown.
-
Braised Chashu Pork: Braised pork belly slices atop a bed of seasoned bamboo shoots and bean sprouts.
-
Roasted Chicken Drumettes: Seasoned and roasted until golden.
-
Tamago: A huge block of Japanese rolled omelette. Sweet and savoury.
-
Ham & Cheese Katsu: Panko-crusted cutlets with ham and gooey cheese.
Cold Sides, Pickles & Vegetable Appetisers
One huge advantage supermarkets have over typical takeaway spots is the incredible range of fresh vegetable sides. When travelling, it is easy to overindulge in heavy, carb-rich meals, so picking up a few chilled appetisers helped keep our dinners wholesome, nutritious and balanced:
-
Japanese Potato Salad: Creamy and smooth with crunchy sliced cucumbers and sweet carrots—a classic, comforting supermarket staple.
-
Sweet Corn & Pickled Slaw: Sweet corn cob sections with a refreshing daikon and carrot salad.
-
Colourful Pickled Vegetables (Tsukemono): A vibrant medley of thinly sliced watermelon radish, yellow bell peppers, cucumber and root veg with a bright, crisp crunch that cuts through rich fried dishes.
Gut-Health Essential: Daily Yakult
With all the heavy walking, irregular meal timings and rich holiday food, picking up a pack of classic Yakult became our daily travel wellness essential. It’s cheap, widely available in the dairy aisle and the perfect probiotic boost to keep digestion happy on the go.
The Daily Strawberry Habit: Sweet, Juicy & Non-Negotiable
Beyond the savoury meals, there was one item we refused to leave without every single day: fresh Japanese strawberries.
These Japanese supermarket strawberries are super sweet and juicy. Grabbing a fresh pack every evening to wash and enjoy back in the room felt like pure luxury—and at local supermarket prices, you can eat strawberries to your heart’s content every single day!
Tokyo Supermarket Tips for First-Time Visitors
-
Timing is Everything: Arrive around 7:30pm to 8:30pm for the best balance between steep discounts and remaining selection.
-
Microwave Facilities: If your hotel room doesn’t have a microwave, the supermarket has a self-service microwave station near the registers to heat up your bento before leaving.
-
Cutlery & Chopsticks: Pick up disposable chopsticks and cutlery at the cashier if your hotel doesn’t provide any.
-
Bring a Reusable Bag: Plastic bags cost a few yen extra in Japan.
