It doesn’t take long before the novelty of having easy access to authentic Japanese cuisine starts to wear on your taste buds. Having new dishes to try during kyushoku is a novel experience at first, but one day you look down at your lunch, and the shirasu looks back. You find yourself actually starting to miss the old days of sheet tray cafeteria pizza or grabbing a bite to eat from the tuck shop. You start to get a craving for a taste of home.
Thankfully, there are a variety of different resources available for finding the foods and ingredients that you miss!
Stores
Nagasaki has always had a strong connection to international culture, so we are fortunate enough to have a nice variety of foreign goods stores. While you won’t be able to easily find everything you are looking for, there are some decent selections to scratch that itch, and at the convenience of shopping in an actual store.
Kaldi is a popular chain around Japan that focuses on foreign ingredients and foods. They have a rotating inventory, so it’s worth popping into every now and then to find something you’ve been looking for. The types of items can also vary from store to store, so if you don’t find what you’re looking for at the store near Nagasaki Station, you might have better luck in Hamanomachi or Youme Saito. (Protip: They usually only have a small amount out on the shelves, so if you are looking to stock up on a particular item, it doesn’t hurt to ask if they
have any more in the back.)
A-Price is a chain that caters to those who run restaurants rather than the average home shopper. It isn’t focused strictly on foreign foods, but you can find some specialty ingredients put out for those chefs that have a more international menu. Being focused on those with restaurants, most of the products can be bought in larger quantities and there is a wider selection of frozen foods than your standard supermarket.
There is a Costco up in Fukuoka. If you have a Costco card from your home country, you can get in and buy all the familiar Kirkland Brand products you desire. It is the exact same layout as any Costco with the bakery section with its assortment of muffins and bagels, free sample carts, and the food counter where you can get their classic hot dog or a whole pizza. Aside from food, they even have western sized clothes to choose from! While it isn’t really a place you can pop into on your way home from work, many ALTs find it worth the road trip.
Online Shopping
If you can’t find what you are looking for in a store, there are many great websites with more options and can ship to your door. The prices can be a little
bit higher when factoring in shipping, but sometimes it can be a worthwhile
investment. Here are several sites that have been helpful.
The Flying Pig: If the drive up to Costco is too much for you, then this website can deliver it to you. Aside from shipping products from Costcos within Japan, they also have a connection to more western products through Costcos in Hawaii.
iHerb: While not focused specifically on food, they have a large selection of vitamins, supplements, and natural/organic options. It’s a great resource if you are mindful of what you put in your body or have some dietary restrictions.
The Meat Guy: It’s in the name, they sell meat, and lots of it! Not only do they have larger cuts of chicken or beef, but they also ship more exotic meats like crocodile and kangaroo. It’s not really the best source for smaller portions, but it is great if you are planning a big barbeque, braai, or thanksgiving feast.
Amazon/Rakuten: If there is a truly specific food or product that you are in need of, then the big online retailers might be able to get what you need. Prices will likely be inflated and have a variety of different sellers that range in quality, so it may take a bit of work to find the right source and the right price.
Restaurants
If you aren’t as skilled in the kitchen, then you might have some luck tracking down some restaurants that specialize in international cuisine and aren’t McDonalds. Even if you aren’t hankering for a taste of home, you can find food from anywhere if you look hard enough. There may not be a large selection in your local area and the level of “authenticity” may not be up to your standards, but they are out there if you do a little sleuthing. Your best resource is going to be your fellow ALTs and talking with them about what hidden gems they have uncovered during their travels.
Sasebo Navy Base
If you happen to become friends with somebody that lives on the US Navy base in Sasebo, AND they are kind enough to invite you, there is a commissary with American products you can shop for. However, we DO NOT CONDONE playing nice/leading people on just to satisfy your food cravings. Building a genuine friendship/connection with someone is worth far more than some junk food you can’t bear to go without