Tokyo · Shinjuku
Isetan's food basement (depachika)
The food hall of Isetan Shinjuku is on the basement floor of the main building (B1). This is what people call a depachika: the food market in the basement of a department store. According to the official site the floor is split into areas. A fresh market with fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, including a corner of seasonal vegetables from farmers. An area of prepared dishes and bento. A grocery section with specialist shops for cheese, miso, rice, olive oil and coffee, next to dry goods, jars and seasonings from all over Japan. And an events area called Food Collection, which shows changing products from around Japan, sometimes with demonstrations.
The floor also has a restaurant area, Kitchen Stage, open 10:30 to 20:00 (last order 19:00). The whole department store is open 10:00 to 20:00 according to the official site, but the hours of individual counters and restaurants may differ.
It is a good place if you want to see what Japanese food shopping looks like and take something for the road or the hotel. For those who keep kosher: the floor is not kosher and we found no kosher supervision there, so do not buy ready food here.
Good to know
- Ask at the counter before buying about tax-free on food: according to guides, food bought tax-free has to stay in its sealed package until you leave Japan.
- In the Food Collection area the promotions change by date. Some are sold in a special way (for example a queue or registration) that the store announces in advance in a notice for each event.
- If you want to eat on the spot rather than take away, Kitchen Stage is on this floor. Otherwise buy a bento or a prepared dish and eat outside the floor.
What is nearby
Approximate walking minutes from the entrance of Isetan's food basement (depachika).
- HereIsetan's food basement (depachika)
- ~3 min
Kinokuniya Shinjuku Main Store Shopping
Kinokuniya's main bookstore, with sales floors 1 to 8 and an event hall inside the building.
- ~4 min
KOMEHYO Shinjuku Shopping
A second-hand department store in the MLJ Building, floors 1 to 4: jewelry on floors 1 and 2, watches on floor 3. Tax-free accepted.
- ~6 min
Takano Fruit Parlour Shinjuku Main Store Cafe
A fruit parlour on floor 5 of the Takano building, about a one-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Shinjuku. The whole shop is non-smoking. Not kosher.
- ~7 min
RAGTAG Shinjuku Marui Annex Clothes and crafts
Another RAGTAG branch, on floor 2 of Marui Annex, Shinjuku 3-1-26.
- ~14 min
Fuunji Shinjuku Food
A tsukemen (dipping noodles) counter with 15 seats, no reservations and no smoking. It closes early when the soup runs out. Not kosher.