When you shop, you inevitably end up with a lot of plastic waste. Foods, snacks, detergents are packaged in plastic.
However, if you shop at bulk stores, you can greatly reduce the amount of trash. It is perfect for those who aim for zero waste lifestyle.
In this article, I will share bulk shops in the Tokyo area and its suburbs. Enjoy the zero waste shopping!
Bulk stores in Tokyo and its suburbs
Nono
Location｜Mitaka
Located in Mitaka this bulk store sells vegetables, rice, beans, pasta, in bulk. You can also find seasonings such as miso, oil, and soy sauce. You can find almost everything you need for cooking here. Wine and sake can also be purchased by weight, which is great for those who like to drink. The store also offers a café and lunch, making it a relaxing place to take your time and unwind.
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MARKET LAGOICE
Location｜Roppongi
This is a bulk store located in Nishiazabu. Various kinds of fruits and vegetables are available for purchase in bulk. Perfect for fruit lovers.
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Machino-no-Eki Hachioji CHITOSEYA
Location｜Hachioji
This store sells vegetables, nuts, dried fruits, and sweets in bulk in Hachioji. It is a great place to purchase fresh vegetables produced in the area.
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Tsurukame Shoten
Location｜Sangenjaya
Zero-waste store located in Sangenjaya. You can buy vegetables, nuts, sweets, herbs, in bulk. You can also have herbal tea mixed, so you can relax and unwind.
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Violetti
Location｜Shin Sakuradai
Zero-waste supermarket located in Ekoda, Nerima-ku, Tokyo. It offers vegetables, pasta, dried fruits, nuts, in bulk. It is nice to be able to buy detergents in bulk as well.
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Buying nuts and sweets in bulk
Bio C’ Bon
Location｜Azabujuban, Aoyama, Ginza, Yotsuya, etc.
Bio c’ Bon sells organic products. You can buy nuts and dried fruits in bulk.
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Okashi Kobo Home
Location｜Akishima
This store sells sweets in bulk in Akishima City. You can buy cookies and baked goods without packaging. You can enjoy doughnuts and sweets made with ingredients that are made with no white sugar, grass-fed butter, and other ingredients.
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Groovy Nuts
Location｜Nakameguro
Groovy Nuts sells nut in Nakameguro. More than 40 kinds of nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are available for purchase in bulk. It is a great place for nut lovers.
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FAR EAST BAZAAR
Location｜Shinjuku, Shibuya, Kichijoji, Futakodama
This store sells Egyptian dates and ancient Orient confections in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Kichijoji, and Futakodama. More than 30 varieties of dried fruits and nuts are available for purchase in bulk.
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Romi-Unie Confiture
Location｜Kamakura, Gakugeidaigaku
This store sells jams and baked goods in Kamakura and Meguro-ku, Tokyo. They sell jams in bulk.
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Buying seasoning in bulk
Matsuya Ginza-ten
Location｜Ginza
It is a soy sauce specialty store that carries soy sauce from all over Japan. Soy sauce is sold in bulk at the Matsuya Ginza store. You can find a rare type of soy sauce called nama-age shoyu, which has not been heated.
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SAKAMOTO SHOTEN
Location｜Gotanda, Nakano, Omori, Sangenjaya
This is a miso specialty store with a long history, founded in 1923. There are stores in Nakano, Gotanda, Ota-ku, and Setagaya-ku. Miso can be purchased from 500g. You can try various kinds of miso.
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Sano Miso Kameido Honten
Location｜Kameido
This miso specialty store is located in Koto-ku, Tokyo. You can purchase miso in bulk. Miso professionals are there to answer any questions about miso.
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Buying coffee beans in bulk
Coffee-ya Mitaka
Location｜Mitaka
This is a specialty coffee shop in Mitaka. You can purchase 200g of coffee beans without any package. They roast coffee beans and put them in canisters that you bring with you. You can also ask them to sell coffee in powder. There is also a canister discount, which is nice.
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Roba-YA
Location｜Kokubunji
This store sells organic and fair trade coffee in bulk in Kokubunji. You can enjoy sustainable and ethical coffee.
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Buying alcoholic drinks in bulk
Liquor Shop NIGHT OWL
Location｜Ebisu
This Ebisu store specializes in craft beer and other alcoholic beverages, including craft beer and wine. They sell craft beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages by weight, and offer tastings for 500 yen, so you can taste and buy the sake you like best.
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Craft Beer in bulk TAP&GROWLER Shimokitazawa
Location｜Shimokitazawa
A craft beer specialty store in Shimokitazawa, offering a selection of 18 different craft beers for tasting. 0.9L and 1.8L reusable bottles are available, which can be used over and over again.
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Buying soap and shampoo in bulk
ecostore
Locations｜Ebisu, Shibuya, Ogikubo, Sangenjaya, Machida, Akabane, etc.
This brand sells detergents that are less harmful to the environment. Refill stations are available at Atre Ebisu, Biople, Cosme Kitchen, etc. Perfect for eco-friendly laundry.
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Think Eco Shop
Location｜Toyoda
This is an Eco Shop in Tamadaira, Hino City. They sell detergent, shampoo, conditioner, and body soap in bulk. Great place for zero waste bathroom.
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Lush
Locations｜Kichijoji, Ikebukuro, Machida, Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, etc.
This store sells soap and bath items made from natural materials. Soap can be purchased in bulk. For products in plastic containers, they also collect the containers.
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Reduce waste by buying in bulk
There are only a few stores that sell in bulk, but we hope there will be more in the future. I sometimes take my own container at Japanese wagashi shops, tofu shops, fishery or butcher and ask if they can put the item in my container instead of putting in a plastic bag. Sometimes they say yes, so it’s worth trying (especially in small shops.
I hope you can keep your zero waste lifestyle in Tokyo!
