Inside JAPAN's High-Tech VS Low-Tech Supermarkets

Found a high-tech Japanese supermarkets with AI shopping carts, and wanted to compare it to Japan's low-tech or local supermarket options
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[@TokyoLensExplore]

THANKS TO Sherry for joining!!! *WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BOUGHT IN THE SUPERMARKET? AND WHICH WAS YOUR FAVORITE?* And another huge thanks to my friends at KOKORO CARE for the box for sherry!! kokorocares.com/products/introduction-to-japanese-food-omakase-package?ref=tokyolens

[@laurabustos6560]

That was such a cute little kokoro care housewarming gift for Sherri, a bit late though...😅✌️

[@sherryberryjp]

Box of veggies must be the best part I guess😁

[@annakissed3226]

Have you ever been to a French supermarket? Like l'leclerc or big Carrefour's they are just like Japanese supermarkets. There are shopping carts like that in supermarkets across Europe. You can find similar type places in every country across Europe. I don't know if you know that Aldi and Trader Joes are Alfi Nord and Aldi Sud, whilst Lidl is Lidl everywhere. Whilst their food is great they very much aim at the bottom of the market. You should compare Japanese vs European supermarkets.

[@FGBFGB-vt7tc]

In my family a love language is to feed our people, so I wholeheartedly agree with you!

[@epicthief]

The "Farmer" had me smiling joy from ear to ear, she's just doing it for fun. That wonderful lady will totally be living a long life

[@sherryberryjp]

I love how often I end up going back to the countryside after I finally made my way out to the city LOL

[@TokyoLensExplore]

LOL and this is just the beginning.....

[@shannondore]

Lots of chips and coffee would be the bulk of my shopping experience there too.😊

[@pendaco]

You can take a girl out of the countryside, but you can't take the countryside out of the girl! 😅

[@bimmerfan2126]

my son would leave with one of every snack… he can’t pass up a Lawsons when we are in the city ;)

[@edtuckerartist]

Hi. Been watching Norm's videos for a while, several months at least and only now have I realised you have your own YT channel Doh! Guess I have a lot of catching up to do so expect lots of random comments lol.

[@kyle_be_back]

the sweet lady selling the sweet potatoes just for fun had me like awwww

[@shannondore]

She was absolutely precious. What a gift she is to that area.

[@skylark.kraken]

Reminds me of my grandma, she made jam using fruit she grew in her massive garden and sold it really cheap just to cover the cost of sugar. She sold it in a box in front of her house, it's cool to live somewhere where you can trust people enough to not steal - undoubtedly my grandma would be more disappointed it limited her ability to share than any losses of money

[@edtuckerartist]

If I had my own home I'd probably be doing something similar here in Wales UK. I live in a small flat/apartment with a communal garden and while I have a small area outside my flat and a few planters/pots I maintain it's not large enough to grow much.

[@Bloodworia]

The interaction with the vegetable lady is the exact reason why i decided to learn Japanese after my first visit to Japan. The people are so kind and love to share a moment with you.

[@barbj672000]

I adore Sherry! She is just so authentic and relaxed in front of the camera. She is such a joy to watch.

[@kagekun1198]

That lady selling sweet potatoes is the salt of the earth! The world needs more like her!

[@EmpathVibe]

The quiet eating at the end had me laughing more and more as it went on.

[@MattWiggyWiggins]

I'm glad it wasn't just me...I laughed WAY harder than I should have been at that. hahahahaha

[@akirebara]

theyre such good friends for a long time now that this is probably normal. when youve known each other for so long, there's such an ease to friendship. i have these moments with friends where we dont need to fill in the quiet with words and its wonderful.

[@trumpetmom8924]

@@MattWiggyWiggins Same here. I think Norm’s facial expression did me in. Just staring while eating.

[@brianbechan]

Same here!

[@GaminRage]

I feel like Norm owes Sherry some ice cream now, lol.

[@TokyoLensExplore]

lol the debt has been paid!

[@MrOmriSan]

When I lived in Japan I bought the fresh prepared food almost every day. As you said, around 4PM there's a first price drop and then around 6-7PM another one and then you can see many elderly people waiting for the price drop. As soon as they finish marking the new price, the elderly snatch almost everything and by the time the Supermarket is closing down for the day, there's nothing left. In the next day, there's new fresh food. Always fresh and most of it really good and cheap (even before the price drops).

[@FlorianBinsker]

Definitely wasn't expecting to see original German made Stollen in a Japanese Supermarket. It's a traditional German Christmas cake, quite dry and dense in structure, with lots of butter and dried fruits, flavored with Christmas spices. It's kinda heavy and you often wouldn't eat more than one or two slices at once. To boost the calories they can even be filled with marzipan and topped with icing sugar. One of the most German Christmas treats if you were to make a poll among Germans. What blew my mind is that, although it was imported, the pricing is almost identical to local supermarkets.

[@tonyarrow]

i love that final scene, just sitting in the car eating snacks, no need for words. Also that box of vege is incredible value, 1000yen is about $11 NZD, no way you'd get that amount of vege for that price in NZ these days, even from a country-side produce shop

[@sebastienmailbox]

I love that the lady runs the stall on the side of the road the way my father runs his produce selling system: Food for the hungry, money optional. So generous and kind. So much food for so little money. All fresh and delicious. Your hot pot was probably stellar with those. I can't judge your love of raisins. It's a staple in my pantry cabinet. I keep them mostly to have with bran flakes, like the old man I am. Lol. Another fun video. How did Sherry like that Stroopwaffle? Hope she found it enjoyably sweet, like the two of you! I also hope you have had a wonderful holiday season so far!

[@FrostFireTiger]

Having a scanner in the cart itself might be great for dealing with the long lines that form at the cashier.

[@MikaMikaMika89]

This stuff is everywhere in the UK, because they want to save on staff costs... so we as the customers now do all the work...

[@ArmouredPhalanx]

Where I grew up in rural Nova Scotia (Annapolis Valley), unmanned roadside stands selling vegetables, fruit, or flowers were fairly common, too.

[@stelioshz]

Really nice video idea. Showing us different setups on supermarkets, compared to what most of us are used to.. most likely the Low-Tech ones hahaha Hope you are having a great time, Norm! Happy Holidays!

[@TokyoLensExplore]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@plusmanikantanr]

It is amazing how even 20 or 30 kms away how different vegetables can change in taste. The Japanese countryside is filled with so many tiny villages with their own signature dishes. It would take a lifetime to taste all the varieties !

[@TheOpticalFreak]

I am Dutch and I approve the Stroopwafels! You should always get Stroopwafels if you can! 😁👍

[@cynthia2181]

I agree!😂

[@KarazP]

That 1000 yen vegetable box that was insane. But you know what is more insane than this one? The Saku Saku Ending 😂

[@bornakreca2625]

Your videos make me fall in love with Japan more and more and I cant wait to move there finally. And the 'humans will be humans' moments are an amazing thing you leave in your videos as youre painting an honest picture of the country

[@sleepingbackbone7581]

That crunching at the end made me laugh waaay more than it should. I love the energy you two give away. :)

[@xredgambit]

At 1st I thought that You were at a trial run of a type of supermarket to test out the advanced experience. But it's just a place called Trial. I do think that going to a supermarket or a place like that is a great way to experience the culture. You can see what type of foods they may prefer or get to grab interesting snacks that a 7-11 may not carry as they have limited space.

[@MiddleAgedSwedeGoesForAWalk]

The first high tech option is kind of similar to the self scanning that is really common here in Sweden, but with some differences: The system here is not a complete carts with some kind of AI monitoring the contents, instead it's simply a hand held scanner where you scan your own things as you pick them in the store, that way you can immediately put them in your bags and then just go to a station that reads the content of you scanner and swipe your payment card and you're done and ready to leave. Since there's no AI checking if you pick any things without scanning them, there are random checks though, so sometimes when you try to check out and pay, you'll be notified to let a staff check that everything is ok. You have to register to use the system so they can keep track of you, this means that if you do a lot of mistakes, you'll be checked more often but if you don't make any mistakes, you'll very rarely get checked. At least, that's my understanding of how it works, even though that kind of system very common around here, I've never registered to use it anywhere, I still do all my shopping the old fashioned way 😃

[@n_tas]

We have that self scan thing in the UK, I haven't used it long myself and it took me a few goes before I managed to remember to scan everything. I definitely did get flagged for being naughty because on maybe my third or fourth trip I was "randomly checked" and the guy scanned EVERY. SINGLE. ITEM. While they were in bags too, without taking anything out. To be fair I haven't forgotten to scan a single thing since because that was so tedious.

[@JMOlsen_]

I use the Swedish system regularly, living in rural Sweden. Very convenient. No queuing, no time wasting.

[@P747]

The cookies in the red round jar at 23:39 is "Pepparkakor", which is swedish for gingerbread cookies! They are really good!

[@chrisembry3736]

I love how they have Merry Christmas signs. Just goes to show how welcoming a country and establishment is.

[@ViperMD]

17:00 We do the same in rural Denmark. Sadly, it's become more and more common to steal from them, so most farmers now have them closer to the house.

[@StarrDragonfly]

I live in Colorado in the US and many farms will have farm stands out in the rural parts of the state. We also have framer's markets on weekends, usually in the summer, where smaller farms will come into the city and sell their produce at great prices. Baked goods too!

[@wintersnowcloud]

I've seen your videos and Sherry's videos on her channel... I definitely like you both best together. If Sherry was in every Tokyo Lens video, I would watch all of them.

[@BerenCamlost666]

My favorite part was the Mujin hanbaijo. I loved it! Such a lovely and friendly lady too.

[@Hellomoto-s2p]

The stuff you bought on that stall are going to taste so much better, I grow my own food in my garden and it beats any shop.

[@KirstenReusch]

Love a good grocery haul. Always interesting to see what's new, what's the same. The pear flavored soda last fall was a favorite. It is nice to have the app that lets you scan the items, pay online, and walk out. Also, countryside veggie stands 🙂

[@TokyoLensExplore]

gotta love the pear flavored soda!!

[@KirstenReusch]

@TokyoLensExplore and ice cream. It's always the ice cream. I've eaten my way way across 26 prefectures with unique flavors of ソフトクリーム and grocery novelties. On a second watch, it's hard to pick a favorite single item cause I love everything from the onigiri to bentos, mochi and dango, but I'd maybe get the udon because that price was fantastic.

[@MikeArwineGuitar]

I lived in Aomori prefecture for 4 years and I have only been back in the US for 4 months and I want to move back so much. Seeing the grocery store brings me joy and sadness. I miss it so much. Once you live in Japan you will forever be changed.

[@Del-Lebo]

This is why I love life! The grocery store...to the farm stand and the super big shopping. Just so nice and true! Love it all!!!!

[@loganhanssen6004]

That box of veggies you bought from the woman cost $6.50 USD. That was an excellent price.

[@El_Makong]

that last segment tho... true definition of "Snacking ASMR"...so funny! keep making content like these!

[@riverraven4014]

Thanks for these couple of videos out in the country, really loving these relaxed walk throughs. Have a good Christmas if we don't see you before 🎉

[@jeffhoward9186]

I agree visiting the local grocery store really gives you an idea how the area you are in is like. Great video.

[@stevewenzel7659]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and Sherry, I've got a bit of a soft spot for the ice cream as well. Thanks for the awesome videos and look forward to more next year as I plan a return trip to Tokyo sometime around April or May, fingers crossed it might line up with a Patreon meet up or similar! Cheers from Australia!

[@infinidragon]

I love every time Sherry does the outro. :D This was a great video, makes me wish we had all those different types of ice cream here in the States.

[@DasVERMiT]

The Amish in Pennsylvania also sometimes have those self-serve roadside stands for produce, eggs, flowers, etc.

[@jjpg2000]

Love the moment of chip zen at the end. Thank you.

[@Ren_Brands]

Great Video, the Lady selling vegetables was the best and Stroopwaffles are absolutely delicious.

[@bronp1457]

we do the same, always hit the supermarkets in Japan. Love it!

[@Zdeath]

27:42 I had a real good laugh at this very long part at the end here 😂😂

[@ElderNewt]

I always love watching videos of you two collabing

[@elkevera]

The end was so bloody hilarious 🤣🤣

[@KatieCeee]

This video is making me so excited to go to grocery stores when I finally come back to Japan at the end of 2025! As someone from the NJ/NYC area, I’m not gonna lie that pizza actually looked pretty good 😅

[@jurrassitol15]

One of my fave things to do when ever i go on holidays is to go into supermarkets…apart from having cheaper snacks than most convenience stores (japan obviously a little bit of an exception), you can also get decent food to have if you don’t want to eat out. Plus it is always fun to have a look n people watch at the same time 😊

[@CesiaLaCrecya]

I see the red bucket of traditional Swedish Pepparkakor omg haha. Our very tasty gingerbread.

[@MarcWeertsMusic]

Fun video, again! You two make a good exploration team - it's always more interesting to see a dialogue as you get two different impressions (not that you don't do great monologue videos 🙂).

[@lpsmaduk]

Thanks! Made me hungry now! I’d love to come to Japan.

[@DanielMcGregor]

When Japan tries to translate a German word like "Hauswein" you get "Wine of Home". Brilliant. :D

[@alexb.1320]

Never thought I'd find a grocery shopping video enjoyable. I'm liking the variety of items, and the prices on a lot of the goods. I do have to wonder if I would embrace the ready-made aspect of Japan grocery vs the cooking everything myself, that would take some getting used to I imagine.

[@michaels3474]

Kellogg Frosted Flakes, bacon and eggs, fried chicken, this is all I need to live in Japan!!! I am sold.

[@NecroBanana]

Soooo the reason why they only scanned 1 item is because they have certain items they deem to be risky at thejr stores. Sams Club does the same thing, they'll only scan 2 or 3 items per cart and it teds to be stuff that can be either used to store smaller items (fruit crates are a common one) or items that can be taken out in multiple quantities but only 1 is scanned.

[@hystericalpossum]

The lady with sweet potatoes almost made me cry for how sweet and nice she is 🥺

[@Smoses_senpai]

I actually do the same when i visit a country. It’s always fun to explore what they have in those.

[@Rimlay0823]

This is the biggest Trial store I’ve seen. I’ve been to them in Fukuoka but they were about the same size as 7/11 or Lawson or maybe slightly bigger but not this big. So nice to see!

[@TontoKowalski2]

I live in the Midwest of the US and we have little stands for selling vegetables and fruits. The local one closest to me is rather communal in that you can just bring stuff by to leave for others to pick up if they want it. I don't think I've ever met the person who put it up in the first place. Also, Car eating segment at the end; A+.

[@MissSnow]

The first supermarket was soooo cool (and it was on the countryside! o.o). We also have these little sales boths in Germany, but they are next to the houses where the farmers live, not next to their fields (at least where I live). It was so nice to see Stollen at the last one :D

[@boui]

23:43 crazy to see swedish gingerbread cookies in a rural japanese market

[@TokyoLensExplore]

wild!

[@sacryx5702]

I read your comment before but I was still shocked when I saw them 🤣

[@klausklausi7484]

I love such friendly occurrences on the countryside ❤

[@jayeffaar]

I commented the other day on how Norm usually edits out the bits where he speaks Japanese, but in this case, leaving it all in with the lady who sold them vegetables was definitely the right call, and made the whole interaction work! ❤

[@ThetaWindfall]

I loved the vegetable stand! the owner was so nice, awesome find!

[@iggstr]

Nice bit of ASMR to round off a cracking vid. Well done both 🇬🇧❤️

[@dennisud]

That was interesting. And I can wait to see when that sort of high tech shopping will happen here. I live now in the central part of the state. Where its mostly rural within a few miles. So, this stand is actually common in the U.S.! You're right on comparing that last store to Costco. Very similar in bulk and unique varieties of products. BTW, you 2 have such a cute chemistry I love watching you interactions. Please keep this type of video going. And with that Interesting ending!

[@QuinchGaming]

In the UK that High Tech store is pretty much all our supermarkets now, they even do anything to deter you using cash to buy things.

[@iggstr]

Namely, Sainsburys. Maybe Tesco, but I'm not sure 'cos I hardly ever shop there.

[@Viannbe]

23:12 I was NOT expecting to see a Brazilian Panetone there(Bauducco yellow box)!!! 😂😂 That's like a Christmas thing here 😂 OMG that place really has everything Edit: didn't realize that the time the video sets was holidays season 😅 still amazed to see it there though

[@Jinx-il9jo]

8:14 Oh! I know this one! The vibrant reddish-orange sausage are longanisa (or longaniza) a Philipino sausage originating from a Spanish sausage of the same name they're really good especially in Philipino Spaghetti

[@jazzew]

Ha ha! I have more to see, but I liked watching you and Sherry in the high-tech/low-tech grocery store! Seems more complex than I'd want. Heh! Some interesting things you bought, though! Fun. Also, that woman is SO nice selling all those veggies for cheap! 😄I know some folks around here (Nova Scotia) who are like that, too! And Sherry, you are TOO funny, I'd love to hang with you! XD

[@marctremblay8087]

Maretsu and Keisei store for me i enjoy the friendly interaction with staff.

[@Jimalcoatl]

Those boxes remind me of something we have in my home town in southern Alberta. We have a lot of greenhouse farming here and the greenhouses all set up a small unmanned shop where they put all their extra, undersize, or "ugly" vegetables and tou cam go and get your veggies dor leas than wholesale price. They will have a cash box for you to pay. You just take what you want, pay and go.

[@EvaChan]

Love the self check carts. Not sure how well they'd work in some countries. But I'd use it! And those unmanned farm stands are great! Crunch crunch crunch. 😄

[@juleelee732]

It is people like the sweet vegetable lady that keep my heart warm and wanting to go back again and again. So please be nice and be respectful. Let's keep Japan beautiful ❤️

[@johnpaul7]

Love all that Hello Kitty sausage etc kinda products! But to be honest the fresh vegetables would be my favourite thing. Weird I know but nothing satisfies me more than that ...crazy wholesome stuff😄

[@jashiodhbjksadjhbklasdjkl4812]

I like the siblings like vibes there are between you too :D great video

[@OG_Coleslaw]

the veggies were such a steal!!

[@Phalaenopsisify]

So many nice things, especially the vegetables from that woman! I spotted Swedish pepparkakor, very unexpected.

[@wolfco47]

I agree with you Norm. The vast majority of potato chip flavor all amount to some degree of 'salt'. There is not a lot of variance despite the supposed flavor. Even novelty flavors tend to resemble each other a lot.

[@brodyanderson9339]

I loved the rural store more. It reminds me of stores I grew up with. The cool electronics seem awesome, but nothing like a good ol’ fashioned grocery. No matter where you are.

[@steveaustin2716]

Absolutely loved the ending 😂

[@VerhoevenSimon]

That sweet potato lady was so sweet, and the main difference I saw was the trust based purchasing at those farms.

[@AlanVByrnes]

Merry Christmas you two and thank you for another fun dynamic duel together again and really want to try those Artificial Intelligence Carts amazing and to help with Japan’s birth rate problem of course getting really bad now and else where too in the world ⛄️⛄️⛄️

[@FiMcG]

We have those self-scan type things in the UK. Our large supermarkets have them and you similarly have to have their loyalty card, scan everything and pay at the self checkouts 😊

[@OldSchoolPrepper]

I live in the countryside in Oregon USA and we have these same veggie/fruit/egg stands. Some sell meats (they have fridges as well as stands) too. most are self pay though most have CCTV cameras now.

[@natalieschumacher4729]

Hi. Here in Australia, it's quite common in country areas to see the veggie stalls on the side of the road. There's even ones for plants and flowers

[@andikaanwar]

the most fun thing about supermarkets in japan's countryside is we can't say there is one supermarket that cheaper than the others 😂 when I studied in Japan back in 2015, my hobby was visiting all local supermarkets there. I lived in Miyakonojo (around 1 hour from kagoshima or miyazaki). there were many supermarkets actually (including 1 donki), and some of them located in more than 1 location. the most confusing thing was every single supermarket has some important stuffs that cheaper than the others. for example if we wanted to buy rice, donki was the cheapest of all. for eggs, sugar, etc we have to go to different one. then for meat, there was a specialize one as well. coffee also the same. etc etc etc etc I can't name them all 😂😂😂😂 oh, they also had timed discount for some products where we have to go as fast as we can as soon as the supermarket opens in the morning. not always morning of course, but usually they put eggs in the morning session, so we had to go there really early literally every week 😮‍💨 supermarket adventure is REALLY FUN for people like me, somehow 😂😂😂😂

[@skydivenext]

Isn't this normal thing? What's different at your current place Atleast my country I visited plenty of supermarkets more than 5 before my normal ones but I stayed at just 2 too much it becomes a hassle in everyday life I became lazy even tho most of them are in less than half an hour ride I get vegetables fruits in one and the other the others things

[@andikaanwar]

@@skydivenext not really, at least in my country. in general, for example, supermarket A is cheaper than B, then B cheaper than C and so on. If you ever live in japan's countryside or small town, you'll understand how unique it is. especially with the timed discount

[@koxukoshu]

timing is perfect !

[@n0isyturtle]

I love the soju in giant bottles that would be for spring water

[@HaitaniMasayuki]

Yes! the potato chips... sooo many different bags on the isles but they are all just salt or cheese flavored. sometimes there is a pizza-flavored one

[@wheelsofmisfortune3162]

hahaha I LOL'd at the end :D

[@joewhyam]

Cream o is actually from Malaysia. They are made by jack&jill a local Malaysia snack company that’s makes a lot of knock off snacks.. I’m not proud of the knock off part but seeing my country snacks in Japan somehow kind of cool~

[@lab521]

STROOPWAFELS !!!!! Delecious dutch treat :D kinda surprised to see them there

[@Megadoomer125]

that AI shopping cart supermarket was really COOL!

[@kclefthanded427]

There's cereal in bags in the US but not much in boxes in Japan. I like the local small markets because prices are very reasonable, plus service is second to none

[@chrism7395]

23:40 not the same, but it's pretty much tradition in the UK to have a large box of chocolate like Cadbury Quality Street or Mars Celebrations every Christmas.

[@solstickan]

Pepparkakor!!! So funny to see swedish ginger bread cookies in a japanese wholesale store. 😂

[@CB-sx8xh]

I also like to visit local supermarkets when I travel. As I wonder at the products which are unfamiliar to me it almost invariably leads to a conversation with a local and we compare supermarket notes :)

[@eric1800es]

Some rural areas here in Ontario have the self service road side stands still too. For fruits and veg during harvest time.

[@Not31337]

Sundays are for pickin' stones

[@kuroakikitsune]

Australian beef is known to be pretty good. My friend and I had a laugh at that when we were in Japan last year. We supposedly sell wagu in Australia, but Angus beef is our wagu I guess. We didn't actually see any supermarkets, only conbini while in Japan, which is a shame because I felt like I didn't eat enough fruit and veg (and I know Japanese fruit is delicious)