Hyperlocal Tokyo

There are several supermarkets in this area, but I use this one because the seafood is always fresh. Since it's based in Shizuoka, I think they have good sourcing. I've been shopping here for many years, and recently I've started buying bread from their bakery. They mainly use natural yeast and slow-fermentation techniques, which makes for delicious bread. However, I'm curious about the origin of the wheat used - whether it's domestic or imported - as there's no information on the packaging. I hope they could add this information to the bread descriptions posted in the store.

Among Japanese supermarkets, Aoki truly satisfies me. The variety of sashimi, fresh seafood, meat, prepared dishes, vegetables, fruits, natto, tofu, yogurt, and more is simply astounding. They also have an incredible selection of sweets, sake, and flowers sourced from various regions across Japan, making it truly exceptional. I want to be able to choose. I want to be excited about eating something delicious every day and feel satisfied. When I'm tired after a long day at work and have to choose food out of obligation, it brings me down. I don't want to fall into that cycle, and Aoki has been a lifesaver. It would be amazing if they had one near my place. I sometimes have a quick chat with unfamiliar aunties here, and I haven't encountered anyone with a bad impression. There are quite a few young, affluent housewives with strollers, which is typical for this kind of supermarket. Aoki, please open more branches in Tokyo!

This supermarket in Izu seems to put a lot of effort into their Japanese sweets and bread, and they have a lot of delicious-looking items. I've been using it several times during my trips to Izu. I've bought bread here for lunch a few times. I'm not a big fan of bread, but I actually want to eat the bread here.

While I never find anything appealing in their flyers, I always end up buying a lot when I visit the store. They always have new products, including rare and unusual items, so it never gets boring. As it's a high-end supermarket, prices are generally high. It seems to be a local chain from Shizuoka that originally expanded to the Izu Peninsula. The Aoki in Shizuoka was just a regular supermarket. It seems like the Toyosu store is the only one with a high-end selection. It's one of my favorite supermarkets! There are few staff members in the store, so it's a bit difficult to ask questions.

I recently attended a community club event at the apartment complex where the store manager himself came to participate in a discussion and exchange of ideas. He also introduced us to some winter recommendations, and we enjoyed trying samples of food and drinks. The "Tenkama" fish cake was particularly delicious, with an authentic flavor. The mentaiko (spicy cod roe) baguette and freshly smoked salmon were also excellent, and I regretted not having any alcohol to go with them. Finally, we had a sukiyaki made with mature beef from Iwate Prefecture, using a sukiyaki broth made with organic ingredients. It was absolutely fantastic. The cake and authentic almond tofu served as a dessert were also delicious, leaving me completely satisfied. I also got to know the store manager better, and I feel like Aoki has become more familiar to me.