Bringing Raw Food for Baby to Japan

Hi

I've been trying to find out if it's possible to bring very small quantities of organic vegetables and fruits for my baby to prepare while we're in Tokyo and Osaka. I'm thinking of like a few carrots, potatoes and apples.

I'd also like to purchase some of these foods at the local markets. Could you kindly advise where I can get organic vegetables and fruits in Tokyo and Osaka? If you could, what's the average prices like?

T.i.a.!

Raw foods are usually not allowed by most countries out of fear of contamination by bugs and such that aren't visible with the naked eye. All department stores in Japan have an amazing food floor in the basement. Organic food may not be readily available. Food prices in these stores are usually high (yet you will see lots of shoppers). Your hotel staff will be able to tell you the location of markets etc. but you may have to go a long way unless you get a hotel in an area with lots of average priced homes nearby like Ueno/ Akasuka, Shinagawa etc.in Tokyo. In Osaka look around Shin-Osaka and Tennoji

Organic (yuuki) food including carrots, potatoes and other vegetables are readily available at the many natural food shops (shizen-shokuhin-ten) in major cities. I buy them all the time in Tokyo. If there is a large center, you can find at least one department store that has a natural food shop in the basement. If it's a small neighborhood, there will be indivisual stores.

I'm not familiar with Osaka, but tell us where your accomodation is located, and perhaps someone can search a store near you.

Thank you both for your response.

In my last trip in Dec 07, we've been to many many food halls in department stores but we've only been to one tiny supermarket within one of the department store. Otherwise the food halls sell cooked food.

I will be staying at HVF Shiodome in Tokyo and Swissotel Nankai in Osaka.

For Osaka, I've been to a nearby market, so I'm certain where I can get fresh produce, but am unsure if I can find organic stuff.

For Tokyo, which is my first leg of the journey, I have absolutely no idea where to get fresh food. (which is why I was thinking of bringing a bit of stuff to last for the first couple of days) Any advise is greatly appreciated! Btw, the markets doesn't have to be all near my hotels. if they're near places of interest or near subway stations, then we may pop by if we're in the vicinity.

Thanks!

An organic grocery store called Natural House has a large branch near the Omotesando subway station in Tokyo (on Chiyoda, Hanzomon and Ginza subway lines) and they have organic vegetables as well as many other products. It is near the B4 exit of the station, on Aoyama Dori. Google Natural House Japan for info in English on this store and other organic suppliers in Japan.

It is illegal to bring fruit and vegetables into Japan as it is an island country and biosecurity is an important issue- I don't recommend it. There are sniffer dogs at Narita airport now, who are most likely trained to detect food as well as drugs, and fines are possible if caught.

Organic Baby Food is available at drug stores
http://www.japanguide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+32499

Bedebe,

Shiodome is right in the middle of a business/tourist center, so it can be difficult to get fresh groceries, but there are more stores if you to places where the locals go to.

As far as large chain natural food stores are concerned, Natural House as mentioned and Kodawariya are the two chains I trust the most.

From a quick search, Natural House seems to have branches inside Yurakucho Itoshia mall B1 floor
http://www.naturalhouse.co.jp/shops/yurakucho_itocia.html

as well as Takashimaya department store Nihonbashi branch B1 floor
http://www.naturalhouse.co.jp/shops/nihonbashi.html

other than the Aoyama (Omotesando) branch below.
http://www.naturalhouse.co.jp/shops/aoyama.html

In Osaka, they have a branch in Gare Osaka near Osaka Station.
http://www.naturalhouse.co.jp/shops/gare_osaka.html

as well as in Nanba Parks in the Minami area.
http://www.naturalhouse.co.jp/shops/nanba_p.html

Kodawariya has a shop in Seibu department store Shibuya branch A building B1 floor
http://www.kodawariichiba.com/shop.php?shop_id=8

and other branches in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.

Of course, if you go out of the Yamanote Line loop, there are plenty more branches.

I suppose you can also try asking at your hotel or tourist information counters for other shops. Here is a Japanese link on organic restaurants if you're interested.
http://allabout.co.jp/health/healthfood/subject/msubsub_rest...

once again, i'm very glad to have found this forum and all the helpful people who go out of the way to share information. thank you all very very much!

hee...i've been recommending this site to people when planning to go japan :)

uco i really appreciate your effort. i'll go study now where's the best/easiest place to go get the food.

and i'll take the advice not to bring in food...dun wanna visit a police station in japan for all the wrong reasons (tho i'm sure i'll be quite an experience :P)

but it's ok to bring a couple of jarred baby food? yes? no?