Tokyo
Tokyo is a great place to visit, until you need baby food. Here's how to make that part easier.
Tokyo is one of the best cities in Asia for baby food and formula. Japanese baby food is high quality, widely available, and comes in convenient single-serve pouches. You'll find it at drugstores like Matsumoto Kiyoshi, supermarkets, and baby specialty stores like Akachan Honpo and Nishimatsuya. Formula brands include Meiji Hohoemi, Morinaga, and Icreo, all of which are excellent.
Cost
Baby food pouches run about 100 to 300 JPY (0.70 to 2 USD) each. Formula tins cost 1,500 to 2,500 JPY (10 to 17 USD). Akachan Honpo tends to have the best prices on formula. Convenience stores carry a limited selection of baby snacks but not full meals or formula.
Practical tips
Akachan Honpo in Nishishinjuku (inside the Takashimaya Times Square building) is a massive baby store with an entire floor of food, formula, and supplies. If you need something specific, this is the place. For day-to-day restocking, any drugstore or supermarket will have basics. The baby food pouches from Kewpie and Wakodo are great for travel because they don't need refrigeration and the portions are right for toddlers. We relied on these heavily during train travel days. One thing to note: Japanese baby food tends to be less seasoned than Western brands, so our kids actually preferred it.
With kids
If you have a baby on formula, bring your usual brand for the first few days and transition to a Japanese brand. Our kids took to Meiji Hohoemi without any issues. For toddlers, the baby food pouch selection is incredible. The fish and vegetable stews from Wakodo were a hit with all three of ours.
We wish someone had told us this before our trip to Tokyo.
If you're in Tokyo and need a baby food right now, travel-ER can find the closest one to your location.
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Sources: CDC Travel Health: Japan