The best Japanese shops in Singapore: fashion, furniture and lifestyle

With three outlets located in shopping malls at the three corners of Singapore – North, East, and West, Fish Mart SAKURAYA is the heartland’s secret.

This Japanese supermart boasts a glorious array of Japanese groceries, sake, snacks, sweets, fresh sushi and sashimi. Serving up a wide variety of offerings air-flown directly from Japan, tuck into the sakura sushi platter ($38) with up to 11 varieties of nigiri sushi to savour, as well as the kaisen–futomaki sushi ($10 – 8pcs) and tamago unagi-maki sushi ($7 – 8pcs). Don’t forget to indulge in the freshest of sashimi produce that is sliced freshly for you upon ordering, including Salmon Belly ($9.90 – 100g), Tako – Octopus ($9.80 – 100g), Hamachi – Yellowtail ($13 – 100g).

Don't forget to check out the little Japanese snacks and sweets like the daifuku, flown in specially from Japan. 

If you’re craving for that one specific Japanese snack, Iroha Mart probably has it. As authentic as it can get, Iroha has a wide selection of Japanese products that you probably will not be able to find at your regular supermarket. Think uniquely flavoured snacks, sweets in anime illustrated packagings, traditional pastries, shokupan, and all sorts of sake. All products are specially imported from across 47 regions in Japan. So if you’re looking for a quick dose of Japan, make a trip down to Iroha Mart located at Plaza Singapura.

Isetan Scotts is fully committed to bringing you an authentic Japanese supermarket shopping experience. The fresh produce section is impressive - meat and seafood are brought in from Japan daily and there is a huge selection of premium fruits like Muscat green grapes, crown melons and white peaches.

For a while, the sole outlet of Meidi-Ya at Liang Court was the key spot for groceries imported from Japan. Now, more than 15 years later, Meidi-Ya has a second outlet at the revamped Great World City. Though it’s not as vasts as the first branch, it offers the same great shopping experience where you can get ice cream, sake, instant ramen, marbled wagyu, dashi stock and plenty more. The Great World City branch also has an exclusive section for products from Hokkaido, including its famous milk and yoghurt drink. 

This is a haven for everything Japanese, especially at Tokyu Hands's Jewel Changi Airport's outlet. Think stacks of novelty Japanese paper, cute stickers, shelves of stationeries, notebooks for all sorts of journaling, kitchenware you never thought you needed, and a dedicated shelf of tea and coffee paraphernalia. And there’s more – toy figurines, daily necessities, made in Japan bags and a whole selection of skincare and cosmetic products with a counter featuring beauty products sorted according to ingredients such as horse oil, charcoal and persimmon juice. If this matches your interests, be prepared to invest a substantial amount of time exploring the abundant choices available. Consider this a friendly warning!

Other Tokyu Hands outlet include Suntec City, PLQ Mall, Orchard Central and Great World City.

You can count on uncovering well-crafted pieces at atomi, all made and designed in Japan. The eight-year-old boutique’s well-curated selection of tableware, kitchenware, trinkets and furniture bear a minimalist ethos – and paying testament to that is the sleek SONO Chest ($880). Its six drawers are individually plated with maple, walnut, teak, wenge, cherry and padouk wood, and it even doubles up as an excellent bookend. Don’t forget to peruse the rest of the store, which carries such brands as hoshina, maruni and nissin.

Fun fact: Muji’s name translates to ‘no-brand’, an apt representation of its focus on simple design as well as quality and practicality. However, to say that it is purely minimalist and essentially Japanese is far from the truth. Muji’s flagship store at Plaza Singapura also has a more maximalist and vibrant range from its collaboration with design brand IDEE. And with more than 700 Muji stores in the world and a catalogue that spans more than 7,000 items - it offers us more things we probably actually need. But who can resist another Mandarin-collared shirt or cute stationery that comes in a kaleidoscope of colours? Not us, that’s for sure. 

Although not Japanese-based, Aa Furniture encapsulates the essence of Japanese philosophy in both their products and space. Tucked away at Ho Seng Lee Flatted Warehouse, upon entering their showroom, you are greeted by the nostalgic aroma of incense, reminiscent of retail experiences in Japan. Their furniture collection is carefully sourced from different regions of Japan, offering a diverse range of styles. Additionally, they curate a selection of ceramics, showcasing the unique styles from various prefectures in Japan. Aa Furniture also hosts occasional flea markets and workshops, providing further opportunities for engagement. Stay informed about their upcoming events by following them on Instagram.

There's a new place in town to buy affordable but stylish furniture and wares for the home. Nitori, a new Japanese furniture brand, landed at The Heeren this year, taking up more than 31,000 square feet of space with large furniture pieces, bedding, decor and interior accessories. Living by the mission statement "the foundation of prosperous home living", Nitori focuses on providing affordable interior goods and furnitures for all to beautify their home. 

Climb up Duxton Hill and look for the heart-shaped tree – in front of it lies HULS Gallery Singapore, a shrine to Japanese fine crafts. Also known as "kogei", these crafts combine function with art and make the perfect gift or addition to any home. Pieces include porcelain ware from Arita, Saga Prefecture with over 400 years of history, and various lacquerware from Ishikawa Prefecture as well as rare pieces of ceramics and glasses by Japanese artists. The quality and aesthetics of the products make them suitable for professional use too.

As you can tell, HULS has developed a strong connection with various Japanese craft manufacturers, bringing in exclusive pieces to Singapore. The gallery was founded in 2017 by Yusuke Shibata – who is also the CEO of HULS Inc. and HULS Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. – and bases its essence on "Roots and Touch". Step into the gallery, and you'll be greeted with heritage pieces that emphasize textural details and how a piece feels in your hand. At the same time, functional items like plates and mugs are also elevated to pieces of art that spark joy and conversation whenever they are used. Pick up a piece to call your own at HULS Gallery Singapore today.

Time Out Singapore in partnership with HULS Gallery Singapore

No stranger to the scene, Hommage Lifestyle is the largest Japanese-inspired furniture and lifestyle concept store in Singapore, and has been operating in the Little Red Dot for over a decade. The store works with homeware and furniture brands from all across Japan, and is inspired by the nation’s pride and focus on long-lasting material and product quality.

One collection that stands out for sustainable design is Whisky Oak, by Nagoya-based retailer Yoshikei Corporation. As its name suggests, the wide range of home furnishings are handcrafted from whisky casks that have been salvaged from distilleries. Like the alcohol that was matured in the barrels for up to 30 years, the idiosyncratic characters of each preserved cask was conscientiously retained – or as the brand says, ‘regenerated’.  

Favouring old-school aesthetics, Retro Colony makes simple pieces that are versatile and long-lasting. A large and prominent part of its catalogue is the Karimoku range, which is designed with replaceable parts that allow you to use a piece for a long time, without ever needing a total overhaul. Most of the retro-inspired furniture is designed for small spaces - like the apartments in Japan - and are perfect for Singapore home too. Inject a sense of nostalgia to your apartment with the Japan-made vinyl leather armchairs with wood finishing, oak cupboards and table that won’t look out of place in the 1960s. You can also find made-in-Japan homeware like mugs, bowls, pots, lamps and even potted plants.