Shinjuku ISETAN, one of the premier depachikas in Tokyo, is also known for its food floor or food bazaar, located on the basement floor of the department store. From unique seaweed products to Japanese pastries to bento lunch boxes, the food offerings provide the best place to experience the culinary creations that Japan has to offer.

Japanese dried goods at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com

A History of Showcasing Fine Foods

To get a glimpse of Japanese food in one place, there is probably no better spot than a depachika (departmental store). Starting around 1930, Japanese department stores began creating spaces to showcase the best food products available. While the type of food they originally sold fell into the rare and expensive categories, nowadays these food floors have become more mainstream. These food halls or food courts are a popular place for a grab-and-go bento box or to find everything you need for creating a gourmet dinner.

Depachika Locations in Tokyo

In Tokyo, there are several depachika that stand out. They include:

  • Nihombashi Mitsukoshi 日本橋三越
  • Daimaru Tokyo 大丸東京
  • Matsuya Ginza 銀座松屋
  • Isetan Shinjuku Store 新宿伊勢丹
  • Ikebukuro Tobu 池袋東武
  • Takashimaya Shinjuku 新宿高島屋

Based on recommendations from our Tokyo foodie friends, we visited the Isetan Department Store in the Ikebukuro district and explored their food floor. It’s worth noting that it would be impossible to capture the full range of food products available, so the photos below only scratch the surface of showcasing the selection.

Shinjuku Isetan - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
ISETAN flagship store in Shinjuku.

Getting Started on Our Journey: Isetan Department Store

Like many depachikas, Isetan has theirs located on the lowest floor. From sweets to savories, the options on the Isetan food floor are overwhelming, featuring Japanese food art displays that draw you into the store. Towers of gorgeous cakes and pastries compete with fresh fruit, meat, and seafood displays to catch your eye.

Shinjuku Isetan - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com

Fun to Explore: Food Floors and More

While it is fun to just explore the food floor, all of the Isetan Mitsukoshi group department stores feature far more than just food. Check out their website for a full range of services.

Shinjuku Isetan - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Beautiful metal work on top of the doors.

Getting there: Metro-friendly access

The Shinjuku Isetan is easily accessed by metro, as it is just steps away from the Shinjuku station, on the Tokyo metro Fukutoshin line.

Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor map - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Floor guide for ISETAN Food Floor (B1).

Formal Wear, Handkerchiefs, Umbrellas, and…Gourmet Candy?

Japanese department stores are eclectic in the products that they offer. It can be a little overwhelming when you visit Isetan’s food floor. Foreigners comment that it is like a grocery store combined with an art installation. Many of the items are intended for gift-giving. You will see products packaged in elegant box sets or paired with complementing products. The types of food available include:

  1. Fresh produce – beef, pork, fish, vegetables, fruits
  2. Dried and preserved – vegetables, seafood
  3. Ready to eat – sushi, Japanese deli, Western Deli
  4. Tea, wine, sake shops
  5. Cafes
  6. Desserts, snacks and a Chocolatier

Click here for the complete list. Many of the products in the Food Floor are meant for a special meal or for gift giving and comes in elegant box sets.

meat shop at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Beef and pork shop.
beef at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Premium beef – 1296 yen per 100 grams.

World-Famous Meats and Seafoods

Japan is well known for its exceptionally high-quality meats and unique seafood, and you will find the very top-tier products in the Isetan showcases. Much different from a typical seafood or meat market, the products here are typically fully prepared and ready to cook.

eels at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Eel specialty shop.
eels at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
seafood at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Fresh seafood shop.
seafood at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
dried fish at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Preserved and dry seafood shop.
seafood and fish paste skewers at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Fish paste skewers.
seafood at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
seaweed kelp kombu at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Kombu (kelp) shop.

Kelp and Seaweed Displays

Visitors to Japan are often surprised by the tremendous variety of kelp and seaweed in the Japanese diet. They form essential flavors for traditional dishes and have tremendous medicinal and health benefits.

traditional Japanese snack at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Japanese confectionary and sweets.

Japanese Sweets and Pastries

With a culture that embraces delicately prepared sweets and pastries, it should come as no surprise that Isetan takes that to the next level. Many products are intricately packaged for gift-giving, ideal for overseas customers and international tourists as souvenirs.

Japanese crackers at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
green tea jelly at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Hato Sabure cookies at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Cool Lip candy from Ameya Eitaro at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Nori seaweed shop at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Nori specialty shop.
rice condiments at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Foods that go with rice.

Japanese preserved vegetables tsukemono at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Japanese preserved vegetables tsukemono at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
fresh produce at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Japanese soup garnish at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Suimono (soup garnish) specialty store.

Bakeries, Deli & Ready-Made Food

Many shoppers visit depachikas solely for the deli items. Ready-made bento boxes and Western dishes are prepared with busy business clients in mind, but they also make ideal lunches for hungry tourists. After exploring the food floor, you can take your deli items to a patio or rooftop garden to enjoy.

Wine Shops, Cheese, and Imported Confectionery Items

World-sourced gourmet wine bottles jostle for position against hard-to-find imported cheeses and sweets at Isetan, making them ideal for a special meal or as gifts for your host in Japan. Not only will Isetan give you a great snapshot of Japanese culture, but if you’re thinking of putting together a gift basket for a friend, a depachika food bazaar is ideal.

deli and ready made food at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Deli & ready made food.
deli and ready made food at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
deli and ready made food at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
deli and ready made food at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
bread and pastry at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Bakeries.
cake and sweets at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Western confectionary shops.
cookie at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
cookies and cake at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
cake at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
cake and sweets at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Wine shop Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Wine shop.
Wine shop Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
fruits at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
Fruit shops.
fruits at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
square watermelon at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com
matsutake mushroom at Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor - Shinjuku Travel Guide | justonecookbook.com

Refunds and Tax Credits for International Shoppers

As an international tourist, you have an extra incentive to visit the Isetan food floor: The refund program that Isetan has for international shoppers. By visiting their tax refund services counter, foreign passport holders can save up to 5% on most products, depending on eligibility. After viewing your passport, the staff at the Isetan tax counter will provide you with a guest card that identifies you for the discount.

Why We Loved Our Visit to Isetan

We spent over an hour just browsing around the Isetan food floor in Shinjuku. It’s a wonderful choice to get familiar with these giant depachikas, and as a premier depachika, it offers tremendous fun exploring the extensive selection. Our visit was far more than shopping—it was a fully immersive cultural experience. World nomads can not only experience some of Japan’s food culture but can also often find items from home. Take your time, try a sweet or two, and pick up some souvenirs to share with friends.

Thank you for reading our Shinjuku ISETAN Food Floor guide. If you are interested in our other adventures in Japan, click here to read our Tokyo travel posts and Japan travel posts.

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When we walked into the food market, I thought I had been dropped into heaven.

Samples, samples and more samples.