Today, let's talk about "Japanese Stores." We will introduce stores that are commonly used in Japanese daily life. The first store we'll introduce is the supermarket. A supermarket is a large store that sells food and daily necessities. Supermarket is an abbreviated form of "super market." Supermarkets are essential stores in Japanese daily life. Almost every town in Japan has a supermarket. The main items people buy at Japanese supermarkets are food. You can also buy daily necessities. For example, shampoo, detergent, and toilet paper are available. Supermarkets are very convenient because you can buy various products in one place. Many supermarkets open around 9 or 10 in the morning. Closing times vary depending on the supermarket. Many supermarkets are open until 9 or 10 at night. Some supermarkets are even open 24 hours. Japanese supermarkets are open almost year-round. Many supermarkets are closed on New Year's Day, but they are open almost every other day. Now, let's explain how to use a Japanese supermarket. At the entrance of the supermarket, there are shopping baskets. First, you take a shopping basket and enter the supermarket. There are also shopping carts available. Shopping carts allow you to push and carry your items. When buying a lot of groceries, you use a shopping cart. Next, you select products. When you find a product you want, you put it in your shopping basket. You can check the price of a product on the sticker attached to it. Some products may have discount stickers. Discount stickers are stickers that make products cheaper. Products close to their expiration date are often discounted. After putting the products you want to buy in your basket, you head to the checkout. Supermarkets have several checkout counters. When there are many customers, people line up at the checkout. When you reach the checkout, you place your shopping basket on the counter. Then, the clerk scans the products and calculates the total amount. After all products are scanned, it's time to pay. You can choose from payment methods such as cash, credit card, or electronic money. Some supermarkets only accept cash. After payment, you receive your change and receipt. The receipt lists the names and prices of the products you bought. After payment, you put the products in bags. Supermarkets provide shopping bags. You put the products in the shopping bag and take them home. Shopping bags are charged. Therefore, many people bring their own reusable bags instead of using shopping bags. Next, let's introduce the main products sold in supermarkets. First, there are vegetables and fruits. A wide variety of vegetables are sold. Common vegetables like potatoes, cabbage, and onions are available. Common fruits like apples and grapes are also sold. Many of the vegetables and fruits are domestically produced. Next is meat. Beef, pork, and chicken are common types of meat. There are both domestic and imported meat products. Next is fish. Various fish fillets, sashimi, and dried fish are sold. Next is rice. Rice from various regions is sold. It's available in packages from 1 kilogram to about 10 kilograms. Next are dairy products. Dairy products include milk, yogurt, and cheese. There are many other products besides these. Daily necessities include items like toilet paper, detergent, cleaning supplies, and various other types. Next, let's talk about supermarket services. Many supermarkets offer convenient services besides shopping. First is the point card. Many supermarkets allow you to create a point card. When you accumulate points, you can use them for shopping. Also, large supermarkets have ATMs installed. You can withdraw or deposit money at ATMs. Furthermore, some supermarkets have copy machines. You can print or copy documents. Finally, let's discuss some points to note when shopping at Japanese supermarkets. First, you shouldn't open or eat products before buying them. Also, check the "best before" and "use by" dates. "Best before" date indicates when the food is best eaten for quality. Use by date indicates when the food is safe to eat. In other words, it's okay to eat food past its "best before" date. However, it may not taste as good. You should not eat food past its "use by" date. There's a risk of getting sick. In reality, though, food is often still safe to eat one day past its "use by" date. Next, we'll talk about drugstores. In Japan, stores that sell daily necessities and medicines are called drugstores. Drugstores are sometimes also called pharmacies. Drugstores are one of the commonly seen stores in Japanese towns. The characteristic of drugstores is that you can buy both daily necessities and medicines. Supermarkets hardly sell any medicines. Therefore, people often go to drugstores when they need to buy medicine. In addition to daily necessities, they also sell food items like meat, vegetables, snacks, and drinks. One of the good things about drugstores is that prices are often low. At drugstores, some products are cheaper than at supermarkets. Therefore, many people frequently shop at drugstores. The operating hours of drugstores are similar to supermarkets. They are usually open from around 9 in the morning until about 10 at night. The method of using a drugstore is exactly the same as a supermarket. You just put products in a shopping basket and pay at the checkout. Drugstores are divided into sections by product type. For example, there are separate sections for medicines, cosmetics, and food products. Also, some drugstores have pharmacists. If there's a pharmacist, you can consult them about medicines. Pharmacists can give you appropriate advice about medicines suitable for you. Next, let's talk about the products sold in drugstores. Drugstores have many types of products. Let's introduce the main ones. First, when you think of drugstores, you think of medicine. A very wide variety of medicines are sold. For example, there are cold medicines, painkillers, eye drops, and so on. By the way, some types of medicines can only be purchased when a pharmacist is present. Medicines with strong side effects, for example, can't be bought without a pharmacist present. Next, drugstores have a rich selection of cosmetics. For example, they sell toners, lotions, and makeup products. Cosmetics are not often sold in supermarkets. Therefore, many people go to drugstores when they want to buy cosmetics. Also, drugstores have a wide variety of food products. Especially snacks, instant foods, and drinks come in many varieties. For example, when you're a bit thirsty, you might stop by a drugstore to buy a drink. Like supermarkets, drugstores also have point cards. If you use points wisely, you can shop quite economically. Japanese drugstores are convenient places where you can get not only medicines but also daily necessities, cosmetics, and other items necessary for daily life. The next store we'll introduce is the 100-yen shop. 100-yen shops are very popular and indispensable stores in Japanese life. At 100-yen shops, most items are sold for 100 yen. You can buy daily necessities and tableware cheaply. While 100 yen is quite cheap, it doesn't mean the quality is poor. Japanese 100-yen shops have high-quality products and a wide variety of items. The products include kitchen utensils, stationery, toys, and many other types. However, food items like meat and vegetables are not sold. Small snacks and drinks are available. The method of using a 100-yen shop is the same as a supermarket. You put items in a shopping basket and pay at the checkout. Now, here's some disappointing news. Actually, not all items in 100-yen shops are 100 yen. There are some items that cost 300 yen or 500 yen. For example, cushions are often sold for around 500 yen. Therefore, it's common to find that an item costs 500 yen if you buy it without checking the price tag. When buying at a 100-yen shop, it's important to check the price tags carefully. By the way, many 100-yen shops only accept cash. Recently, more stores have started accepting credit cards and electronic money. Next, let's introduce some smart ways to use 100-yen shops. 100-yen shops sell seasonal products. For example, in summer they have insect repellent goods and hand fans. In winter, they sell warm items like gloves. It's recommended to buy these seasonal necessities at 100-yen shops. Also, 100-yen shops frequently restock with new products. So it's interesting just to visit the store regularly. However, there are some points to be careful about at 100-yen shops. First is buying too much. The low price of 100 yen can tempt you to buy more than you need. Before purchasing, think carefully about whether you really need the item. Japanese 100-yen shops are not just discount stores. They are essential stores for Japanese people where practical and quality items can be obtained. Next, we'll introduce convenience stores. Konbini is a shortened form of "convenience store." Konbini are very convenient stores found all over Japan. They're like small supermarkets, selling food, drinks, and daily necessities. Japanese konbini have many features. First, they are open 24 hours. Many Japanese konbini can be used at any time, 24 hours a day. So you can shop even late at night. Also, konbini are open year-round. You can use konbini even on New Year's Day. Next, about the location of konbini. You can find konbini anywhere in Japan. Not just in cities, but even in rural areas, there are many konbini. Lastly, the wide variety of products is a major feature. Japanese konbini have many types of products. Food, drinks, cigarettes, daily necessities, and many other products are sold. The method of using a konbini is almost the same as a supermarket. However, the clerk puts the items in bags for you. At supermarkets, you put items in bags yourself. At konbini, you don't have to put items in bags yourself, which is convenient. Also, many convenient services are available at konbini. First, there are ATMs. Most konbini have ATMs installed. You can withdraw or deposit money. They support various banks, which is convenient. However, the fees are a bit high. So, generally, people only use them when they're in a hurry. Next, about paying public utilities. At Japanese konbini, you can pay public utility bills like electricity, gas, and water. You can pay immediately by bringing the bill to the checkout. This is very convenient. Also, at konbini, you can send or receive packages. Besides these, you can use copy machines or purchase concert tickets. And recently, some konbini have eating spaces inside the store. These are called eat-in spaces. It's quite convenient because you can eat what you bought at the konbini right away. Next, about the operation of Japanese konbini. Most Japanese konbini are chain stores. The famous ones are three konbini chains. They are Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson. Most konbini in Japan belong to one of these three chains. These chain stores sell their own unique products. However, the method of use is the same everywhere. Japanese konbini are indispensable to life in Japan. The last store we'll introduce is the home center. A home center is a large store that deals with home-related products. The stores are very large and have extensive parking lots. The characteristic of home centers is the variety of products. Plants, tools, furniture, and home appliances are sold. Also, daily necessities like detergents and stationery are sold. Furthermore, many staff members have detailed knowledge, which is another feature. For example, if you ask about tools, they will explain how to use them in detail. Because home centers are very large, it can be difficult to find products. Sometimes you can't find a product even if you search for it yourself. In such cases, it's best to ask a staff member. If you ask a staff member, they will immediately guide you to the location of the product. At home centers, people often buy large items. Therefore, you can use delivery services. If you use the delivery service, you can have products delivered to your home. However, delivery services are charged. Many home centers offer various services. For example, when you buy wood, they can cut it to your preferred size. At home centers, you can buy materials and tools to make things. Using these, you can make your own furniture or renovate rooms. This kind of making things by yourself is called DIY. For example, you can buy wood at a home center and make chairs or tables. DIY is a popular hobby for some people. It's especially popular among middle-aged and older men. Home centers are important places that support Japanese life. Thank you for watching the video. If you click the Like button and subscribe to the channel, we'll be able to make more videos. Are there any stores in Japan that you're curious about? Please let us know in the comments. Today, let's talk about "Japanese Stores." We will introduce stores that are commonly used in Japanese daily life. The first store we'll introduce is the supermarket. A supermarket is a large store that sells food and daily necessities. Supermarket is an abbreviated form of "super market." Supermarkets are essential stores in Japanese daily life. Almost every town in Japan has a supermarket. The main items people buy at Japanese supermarkets are food. You can also buy daily necessities. For example, shampoo, detergent, and toilet paper are available. Supermarkets are very convenient because you can buy various products in one place. Many supermarkets open around 9 or 10 in the morning. Closing times vary depending on the supermarket. Many supermarkets are open until 9 or 10 at night. Some supermarkets are even open 24 hours. Japanese supermarkets are open almost year-round. Many supermarkets are closed on New Year's Day, but they are open almost every other day. Now, let's explain how to use a Japanese supermarket. At the entrance of the supermarket, there are shopping baskets. First, you take a shopping basket and enter the supermarket. There are also shopping carts available. Shopping carts allow you to push and carry your items. When buying a lot of groceries, you use a shopping cart. Next, you select products. When you find a product you want, you put it in your shopping basket. You can check the price of a product on the sticker attached to it. Some products may have discount stickers. Discount stickers are stickers that make products cheaper. Products close to their expiration date are often discounted. After putting the products you want to buy in your basket, you head to the checkout. Supermarkets have several checkout counters. When there are many customers, people line up at the checkout. When you reach the checkout, you place your shopping basket on the counter. Then, the clerk scans the products and calculates the total amount. After all products are scanned, it's time to pay. You can choose from payment methods such as cash, credit card, or electronic money. Some supermarkets only accept cash. After payment, you receive your change and receipt. The receipt lists the names and prices of the products you bought. After payment, you put the products in bags. Supermarkets provide shopping bags. You put the products in the shopping bag and take them home. Shopping bags are charged. Therefore, many people bring their own reusable bags instead of using shopping bags. Next, let's introduce the main products sold in supermarkets. First, there are vegetables and fruits. A wide variety of vegetables are sold. Common vegetables like potatoes, cabbage, and onions are available. Common fruits like apples and grapes are also sold. Many of the vegetables and fruits are domestically produced. Next is meat. Beef, pork, and chicken are common types of meat. There are both domestic and imported meat products. Next is fish. Various fish fillets, sashimi, and dried fish are sold. Next is rice. Rice from various regions is sold. It's available in packages from 1 kilogram to about 10 kilograms. Next are dairy products. Dairy products include milk, yogurt, and cheese. There are many other products besides these. Daily necessities include items like toilet paper, detergent, cleaning supplies, and various other types. Next, let's talk about supermarket services. Many supermarkets offer convenient services besides shopping. First is the point card. Many supermarkets allow you to create a point card. When you accumulate points, you can use them for shopping. Also, large supermarkets have ATMs installed. You can withdraw or deposit money at ATMs. Furthermore, some supermarkets have copy machines. You can print or copy documents. Finally, let's discuss some points to note when shopping at Japanese supermarkets. First, you shouldn't open or eat products before buying them. Also, check the "best before" and "use by" dates. "Best before" date indicates when the food is best eaten for quality. Use by date indicates when the food is safe to eat. In other words, it's okay to eat food past its "best before" date. However, it may not taste as good. You should not eat food past its "use by" date. There's a risk of getting sick. In reality, though, food is often still safe to eat one day past its "use by" date. Next, we'll talk about drugstores. In Japan, stores that sell daily necessities and medicines are called drugstores. Drugstores are sometimes also called pharmacies. Drugstores are one of the commonly seen stores in Japanese towns. The characteristic of drugstores is that you can buy both daily necessities and medicines. Supermarkets hardly sell any medicines. Therefore, people often go to drugstores when they need to buy medicine. In addition to daily necessities, they also sell food items like meat, vegetables, snacks, and drinks. One of the good things about drugstores is that prices are often low. At drugstores, some products are cheaper than at supermarkets. Therefore, many people frequently shop at drugstores. The operating hours of drugstores are similar to supermarkets. They are usually open from around 9 in the morning until about 10 at night. The method of using a drugstore is exactly the same as a supermarket. You just put products in a shopping basket and pay at the checkout. Drugstores are divided into sections by product type. For example, there are separate sections for medicines, cosmetics, and food products. Also, some drugstores have pharmacists. If there's a pharmacist, you can consult them about medicines. Pharmacists can give you appropriate advice about medicines suitable for you. Next, let's talk about the products sold in drugstores. Drugstores have many types of products. Let's introduce the main ones. First, when you think of drugstores, you think of medicine. A very wide variety of medicines are sold. For example, there are cold medicines, painkillers, eye drops, and so on. By the way, some types of medicines can only be purchased when a pharmacist is present. Medicines with strong side effects, for example, can't be bought without a pharmacist present. Next, drugstores have a rich selection of cosmetics. For example, they sell toners, lotions, and makeup products. Cosmetics are not often sold in supermarkets. Therefore, many people go to drugstores when they want to buy cosmetics. Also, drugstores have a wide variety of food products. Especially snacks, instant foods, and drinks come in many varieties. For example, when you're a bit thirsty, you might stop by a drugstore to buy a drink. Like supermarkets, drugstores also have point cards. If you use points wisely, you can shop quite economically. Japanese drugstores are convenient places where you can get not only medicines but also daily necessities, cosmetics, and other items necessary for daily life. The next store we'll introduce is the 100-yen shop. 100-yen shops are very popular and indispensable stores in Japanese life. At 100-yen shops, most items are sold for 100 yen. You can buy daily necessities and tableware cheaply. While 100 yen is quite cheap, it doesn't mean the quality is poor. Japanese 100-yen shops have high-quality products and a wide variety of items. The products include kitchen utensils, stationery, toys, and many other types. However, food items like meat and vegetables are not sold. Small snacks and drinks are available. The method of using a 100-yen shop is the same as a supermarket. You put items in a shopping basket and pay at the checkout. Now, here's some disappointing news. Actually, not all items in 100-yen shops are 100 yen. There are some items that cost 300 yen or 500 yen. For example, cushions are often sold for around 500 yen. Therefore, it's common to find that an item costs 500 yen if you buy it without checking the price tag. When buying at a 100-yen shop, it's important to check the price tags carefully. By the way, many 100-yen shops only accept cash. Recently, more stores have started accepting credit cards and electronic money. Next, let's introduce some smart ways to use 100-yen shops. 100-yen shops sell seasonal products. For example, in summer they have insect repellent goods and hand fans. In winter, they sell warm items like gloves. It's recommended to buy these seasonal necessities at 100-yen shops. Also, 100-yen shops frequently restock with new products. So it's interesting just to visit the store regularly. However, there are some points to be careful about at 100-yen shops. First is buying too much. The low price of 100 yen can tempt you to buy more than you need. Before purchasing, think carefully about whether you really need the item. Japanese 100-yen shops are not just discount stores. They are essential stores for Japanese people where practical and quality items can be obtained. Next, we'll introduce convenience stores. Konbini is a shortened form of "convenience store." Konbini are very convenient stores found all over Japan. They're like small supermarkets, selling food, drinks, and daily necessities. Japanese konbini have many features. First, they are open 24 hours. Many Japanese konbini can be used at any time, 24 hours a day. So you can shop even late at night. Also, konbini are open year-round. You can use konbini even on New Year's Day. Next, about the location of konbini. You can find konbini anywhere in Japan. Not just in cities, but even in rural areas, there are many konbini. Lastly, the wide variety of products is a major feature. Japanese konbini have many types of products. Food, drinks, cigarettes, daily necessities, and many other products are sold. The method of using a konbini is almost the same as a supermarket. However, the clerk puts the items in bags for you. At supermarkets, you put items in bags yourself. At konbini, you don't have to put items in bags yourself, which is convenient. Also, many convenient services are available at konbini. First, there are ATMs. Most konbini have ATMs installed. You can withdraw or deposit money. They support various banks, which is convenient. However, the fees are a bit high. So, generally, people only use them when they're in a hurry. Next, about paying public utilities. At Japanese konbini, you can pay public utility bills like electricity, gas, and water. You can pay immediately by bringing the bill to the checkout. This is very convenient. Also, at konbini, you can send or receive packages. Besides these, you can use copy machines or purchase concert tickets. And recently, some konbini have eating spaces inside the store. These are called eat-in spaces. It's quite convenient because you can eat what you bought at the konbini right away. Next, about the operation of Japanese konbini. Most Japanese konbini are chain stores. The famous ones are three konbini chains. They are Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson. Most konbini in Japan belong to one of these three chains. These chain stores sell their own unique products. However, the method of use is the same everywhere. Japanese konbini are indispensable to life in Japan. The last store we'll introduce is the home center. A home center is a large store that deals with home-related products. The stores are very large and have extensive parking lots. The characteristic of home centers is the variety of products. Plants, tools, furniture, and home appliances are sold. Also, daily necessities like detergents and stationery are sold. Furthermore, many staff members have detailed knowledge, which is another feature. For example, if you ask about tools, they will explain how to use them in detail. Because home centers are very large, it can be difficult to find products. Sometimes you can't find a product even if you search for it yourself. In such cases, it's best to ask a staff member. If you ask a staff member, they will immediately guide you to the location of the product. At home centers, people often buy large items. Therefore, you can use delivery services. If you use the delivery service, you can have products delivered to your home. However, delivery services are charged. Many home centers offer various services. For example, when you buy wood, they can cut it to your preferred size. At home centers, you can buy materials and tools to make things. Using these, you can make your own furniture or renovate rooms. This kind of making things by yourself is called DIY. For example, you can buy wood at a home center and make chairs or tables. DIY is a popular hobby for some people. It's especially popular among middle-aged and older men. Home centers are important places that support Japanese life.