Costco Japan Is a Shopper’s Dream — Here’s Why

Costco Japan

Costco Japan by Own Work (CC BY-SA)

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Costco Japan
Costco Japan by Own Work (CC BY-SA)

Isle’s Aisles

With its vast warehouses, bulk products, and jumbo pizzas, Costco seems to follow the American maxim that bigger is better. Nevertheless, the wholesaler has thrived in 11 countries across a variety of cultures — though not without some adjustments. On the island of Japan, Costco shoppers enjoy fresh sushi, affordable wagyu beef, and popular Japanese electronics such as rice cookers. If that sounds like a dream, know that you’re not alone. Costco super fans are posting constantly about the superstore’s exclusive Japanese products on TikTok and Reddit. Here’s why Costco Japan is a shopper’s paradise that’s captivated the internet.


Related: Things You Probably Didn't Know About Costco

Costco Sushi
Costco Sushi by Alex.W (CC BY-NC-ND)
Costco Bakes
Costco Bakes by Michael Ocampo (CC BY)

Bulgogi Bake

This Asian take on the chicken bake, a food court favorite, has Costco fanatics drooling. While the exterior looks the same, Costco Japan’s version is stuffed with marinated slices of Korean-style beef. Other Japanese food court exclusives include a shrimp bisque and citrus smoothie.


Related: Food Court Showdown: Costco vs. Sam's Club

A paradise for seafood lovers
A paradise for seafood lovers by Shih-Chi Chiang (CC BY)

Fresh Fish

Beyond its assembly line sushi, Costco Japan also sells an impressive assortment of fresh fish and seafood, much of which is difficult to find in the United States. Whether you’d like to pick up some sushi-grade tuna or a few octopus tentacles, Costco Japan looks like a fish market compared with its American counterpart.


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Brown Rice
Brown Rice by Rob (CC BY)

Wide Variety of Rice

Costco Japan sells bags upon bags of different types of rice. Given that the average Japanese person eats around 110 pounds of rice a year, that shouldn’t be a surprise.

Japanese Snacks
Japanese Snacks by theloneconspirator (CC BY)

Japanese Snacks

Sure, maybe Costco Japan doesn’t sell huge snack packs with Cheetos and Funyuns, but it does have a whole slew of unique treats including dried squid, rice crackers, and sweets.


Related: 40 Foods That Americans are Missing Out On

Daikon
Daikon by Hidetsugu Tonomura (CC BY-NC)

Asian Vegetables and Greens

Costco offers plenty of fresh produce in the United States, but veggies such as daikon can be hard to find. That’s not a problem in Japan, where you can find the radish at Costco among other Asian greens and vegetables. 

Japanese Appliances at Costco
Japanese Appliances at Costco by Danny Choo (CC BY-SA)

Japanese Appliances

From mini beer taps to rice cookers and portable grills, Costco Japan offers no shortage of unique appliances that aren’t common stateside.

Wagyu Beef
Wagyu Beef by Shoko Muraguchi (CC BY-NC-SA)

Wagyu Beef

A pound of this world-famous marbled beef can easily cost hundreds of dollars — but not at Costco Japan. Japanese members can buy premium cuts of rich wagyu beef for around $5 to $7 per 100 grams (or $23 to $32 per pound).

Sake
Sake by tokyo.natural (CC BY-NC-SA)