If you love your ramen and chirashi-dons a bit too much and exclusively shop at MUJI and Meidi-Ya, you might secretly want to be Japanese.
Come on, admit it. We’ve all been in some sort of Japanese phase. Whether it’s J-Pop or Harajuku, manga or Murakami, having hot pot every time you’re out with friends or splurging on a pricey omakase dinner, we all secretly admire how the Japanese live their lives. You can too… if you eat, breathe and buy everything on this list.
Where to shop and what to buy
Supermarkets
What could be better than getting some Japanese groceries from Meidi-Ya in Liang Court and then treating yourself to a soft serve cone from one of the food stands? Of course, there are more hotspots around the island where you can buy your favourite snacks, miso paste and soft serve ice-cream from….
Sakuraya Fish Mart is located at the basement of Anchorpoint Shopping Centre and you’ll find some of the freshest seafood in Singapore there. Pssst: you can even have a plate of sashimi right there and then when you’re done stocking up.
Other go-tos include the massive Emporium Shokuhin at Marina Square and Kuriya Japanese Supermarket that have branches everywhere on the island.
Bargain and variety stores
As much as we love the freshest and most premium produce, we’re also suckers for the bargain stores of Japan. Who hasn’t gone on a DAISO bender? With everything priced at $2, it’s easy to be tricked into buying all sorts of knick knacks you never knew you needed. A little on the higher end, Tokyu Hands also offer a range of products like stationery, homewares and bags. If you’re up super late and find yourself in town, do yourself a favour and drop by 24-hour Don Don Donki for snacks, homeware, bath and beauty products, and other Japanese ‘essentials’. This is like Mustafa, but J-style…
Shopping malls and brands
Lumine opened in Singapore last year, describing itself as an exciting new mall-in-mall shopping experience. Established as well as up-and-coming Japanese brands are stocked in the store and patrons can even stop for a cuppa at the in-house cafe.
Honeycombers explores MUJI's new flagship store
Have you checked out the new MUJI Singapore flagship store at Plaza Singapura yet? A minimalist playground for retail therapy, we see ourselves hanging around here for hours. Here's why: https://goo.gl/pSYcjf#muji #mujisingapore #shopping #plazasingapura
Posted by Honeycombers on Sunday, July 30, 2017
We’re no stranger to brands like MUJI and Uniqlo who offer fuss-free, practical and stylish wearables (and more!). MUJI has grown to be a favourite one-stop shop for many Singaporeans for their minimalist style when it comes to clothes, furniture, lifestyle and even packaging. Yes, we like to compartmentalise our lives. Uniqlo keeps us coming back for its collabs with international brands and including Finnish brand, Marimekko.
What to eat?
We’ve tried and tested the best and the most of Japanese cuisine in Singapore, so don’t mind us if we think of ourselves as a bit of an expert. From unique truffle ramen to comforting Izakayas, you’ll be wanting to hit these spots right after reading:
- Best chirashi-don bowls in the city
- Top class Japanese restaurants in Singapore
- Affordable Japanese food in Singapore for anyone on a budget
- The best ramen bowls in Singapore
- Ramen doesn’t have to be so expensive – here’s proof!
- Random Ramen in Singapore: would you try whisky or duck confit ramen?
- Authentic izakayas and sake bars to hit after work
- Japanese curry rice is the ultimate comfort food
- Food on sticks? Serving up the kushiyaki and yakitori spots
- Everyone has opinions, but here’s the best sushi restaurants in Singapore
- Keep that grill hot for the best teppanyaki joints in town
- A Singaporean favourite: the hot pot meal with premium shabu-shabu meats
- Omakase restaurants with menus to keep you at the edge of your seat
- All you can eat! We love our Japanese buffets
Japanese trends that have hit Singapore hard
Aside from the peculiar ones like a luxe facial using nightingale droppings, there are also many Japanese trends that look like they’re here to stay. For one, the culture of cosplay and anime is also very much prevalent in Singapore with regular conventions and events being held across the island. Bumped into someone in public dressed as someone from Street Fighter? Chances are they’re in full costume on their way to a convention.
On a much cuter spectrum, the Japanese trend of animal cafes has also hit us hard. Cat cafes have opened up around Singapore, with some even providing therapy sessions with kittens, cat-care workshops and toys for you play with the cats. Bliss.
Japanese Film Festival
After a year-long hiatus, the Japanese Film Festival returns in Singapore on 2 March. Celebrating the unique stories and characters of Japanese cinema, this season premieres with Survival Family, a dystopian dramedy. The full lineup of films to be screened is yet to be released but stick around!
Japanese Film Festival, 2-18 Mar, TBA