Where to buy baby food in Japan?
The quickest way to get to the biggest selection of baby food in larger cities is to google your closest Toys R Us and Babies R Us.
Alternatively, try your closest Akachanhompo.
See here if you are looking for where to buy diapers/nappies in Tokyo.
The next place to try is your local drugstore and some supermarkets (although drugstores are your safest bet.)
Also, it may surprise you but your closest BIC Camera and Yodobashi Camera also often have a baby section that includes baby food.
After that, I would look at international supermarkets such as National Azabu in Tokyo or nationwide chain Kaldi, for more familiar options.
If you’re in Aoyama in Tokyo, I recommend also checking out Natural House, an organic store in Tokyo which stocks organic produce, baby food, gluten free food, dairy free and vegan food.
I recommend using google translate to read ingredients on the back – such as sugar and salt content and any new ingredients that your baby may not be used to (and, of course, to check every single ingredient if your baby has any allergies.)
Here is a picture of some baby food sold at OS Drugstore near Shibuya Crossing from my Shibuya with Kids blogpost.
The baby food is on the bottom shelf in this picture. Left to right: “Chicken & Fish Western Style Bento” Baby Food for 9 months+ – in the blue packaging.
“Japanese style Lunch Set” baby food for 12 months+. Animal Crackers (Called Animal Biscuits, here tho) for 9 months+. In the blue box. Small fish flavoured rice crackers for 7 months plus – in the red box.
Filtered water (for making formula on the go) . Premixed formula called Raku Raku Milk (this can be put in a bottle and given to baby at room temperature.) It is called Raku Raku Milk and it is in the yellow can here.
If you’re worried about salt or sugar for a young baby I recommend bringing as much as you can from home.
Some parents (particularly those that haven’t travelled before) message me over and over with questions like “does this have sugar in it? does this have salt?” and then get back to me saying “it’s too much salt – I want it to be the same as we have at home.” Unfortunately, a part of travelling does require a little more flexibility than you might have at home so , if you’re like one of these parents, I recommend packing ahead as much as you can.
The quickest and easiest option is always going to be fresh produce.
For this reason I recommend seeking out fruit and vegetables at supermarkets and convenience stores. Convenience stores also have a surprising amount of fresh and healthy ingredients to work with. Options like bananas, cucumbers, carrots, tofu and even roasted sweet potatoes are commonly found in 24 hour convenience stores. Boiled eggs are also sold (although do have some salt added.). These are also great options if you are doing baby led weaning while in Japan.
Sugar free and most common plain yoghurt options are these two:
*See here for other Japanese convenience store tips like this
Alternatively, I recommend making it as you go.
This is another reason to look into a hotel with a kitchenette- buy a hand blender for approx 2000 yen at Bic Camera or Yodobashi Camera and make use of beautiful seasonal ingredients in Japan like kabocha pumpkin, nashi pears etc. I used to sometimes add a little veggie or chicken stock, one onion and a whatever vegetable I was adding and boil it up and then food blend. And for fruits like pears and plums I would just mash or stew.
In order to do this I highly recommend booking a hotel with a small kitchenette. Japan-wide I highly recommend the Mimaru chain and I have some other hotel options with beautifully appointed mini-kitchens in my Kyoto recommended hotels here.
See here if you are looking for healthy snacks for kids at Japanese convenience stores.
See here if you are looking for more information for hotels in Japan with cots and cribs.
