The all-purpose, inexpensive, general store of Japan for expats is Don Quixote. There are several branches of this store in Tokyo and elsewhere. You can usually find the same types of items in Don Quixote that you would find in Walmart or Target, though the brands will be different. You also will be surprised how crowded a Don Quixote store can be. We have bought computer supplies, CDs, underwear, light bulbs, food, hair products, batteries, toiletries, and even a TV at Don Quixote.

Nearly as important as Don Quixote is a great store called Tokyu Hands. Again there are several branches of this store. Tokyu Hands does not have so many personal items, but has great craft products, some furniture, stationery and office supplies, hardware, things for the house, lamps, camping gear, cell phone accessories, and many things unique to Japan. It’s a great store for just browsing, even for visitors. The branch at Takashimaya Times Square in Shinjuku is highly recommended -- 7 large floors of all kinds of goods.

A good selection of English language books and magazines can be found at the 7th floor of Tower Records in Shibuya, and on the 6th floor of the Kinokuniya bookstore at Takashimaya Times Square. Books are very expensive in Japan -- budget twice what you would pay in the US at list price. There are a few other very small spots with Western books, but if you read a lot, use Amazon or bring books with you. If you do use Amazon, they do ship to Japan now but they may charge you customs duty. We have not figured out why sometimes we get charged duty, and sometimes we don’t. 

For groceries, we rely heavily on our local Peacock grocery store. It is a Japanese store, so they have a great selection of fish, tofu, and all things Japanese. They also have a selection of pastas, curries, and even Mexican foods. 

For a more international (i.e. American and European) selection, either Nissin in    Azabu-Juban or National Azabu in Hiroo have very good selections of most foods. Also the Kinokuniya in Omote-Sando has a good selection of international foods. 

CostCo has a site in Japan about halfway between Tokyo and Narita Airport in Makuhari. It has a large selection of foods, mostly packaged in the large format packages popular in the US. It does provide a bit more of a challenge as to where to put these large packages in the relatively smaller Japanese homes or apartments. CostCo also has the usual selection of home goods and supplies, office supplies, and inexpensive clothes, some in US sizes. In fact they have a somewhat odd collection of US-style things that seem out of place in Japan, and Japan-style things that seem out of place in CostCo. If they have what you need, however, it usually has a really low price. It is a good walk from the local train station, so this store is more convenient if you have a car, or know someone with a car. They do deliver for a fee, a system which is common in Japan and works well.