FOREIGN FOODS:

FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES:

You will be able to find most fresh fruits and vegetables in your local supermarket, although fresh herbs are not a common sight. However, if you are a vegetarian, Japanese supermarkets have an excellent choice of high quality fruits and vegetables. Having said this, getting your hands on fresh chilis and other less common exotic groceries may be difficult. However, if you take a walk down to the Sunday Market on Otesuji road in Kochi City, you will be surprised with the choice of herbs, chilis, vegetables and fruits available there. The goods also change seasonally, so it is always worth a visit. For those missing fresh herbs, I would recommend growing your own from seed. This is a cheap and satisfying answer to the lack of fresh herbs in supermarkets. You can buy seeds for nearly all herbs in most gardening shops. Buy a pot and some earth and away you go!

 

SPICES:

Those looking for a wide range of spices can do no better than Balza Supermarket opposite Hirome Ichiba in Kochi City. They have a good range of Mexican, Thai, Korean, Malaysian, Indian and Philipine ingredients on the 2nd floor. You will also find some interesting ingredients in Jusco (Aeon), Sunny Mart (various branches) and Sunny Axis and Sunshine in Nangoku. You will find most things in one of these places, but it is just a question of looking around.

 

GROCERIES:

In Japanese Supermarkets you will find chicken, beef and pork, but lamb, duck and veal are almost non-existent. You will also be amazed at the price of cheese, and the size of the packs (minute). If you are really stuck and you need a taste of home, go to www.fbcusa.com, and you can buy anything you want by mail order. It is quite expensive, but sometimes money is not an issue when the cravings kick in!

 

CHOCOLATE AND SWEETS:

The Japanese are generally very fond of sweets, so they are not hard to find. Your local supermarket will have a wide selection. Try some of the Japanese brands too, as they are generally very good. However, if you need your fix of chocolate from home, go to Sony Plaza behind McDonalds on Obisan Road. It has a wide selection, so you can gorge to your heart's content.

 

DRINKS:

Finding the soft drinks you are used to may be difficult. Apart from Coke and Fanta, there is little choice of foreign soft drinks. Do try the Japanese ones though as they are pretty tasty. You will find a wider range of soft drinks in the bigger supermarkets such as Jusco, Sunny Axis and Sunshine on the Nankoku Bypass. For those of you looking for something stronger, go to Takasu Jo on the Nankoku Bypass or one of the large supermarkets mentioned above. You will find most spirits, a wide selection of wine, and some foreign beers in these stores.