Depachika & supermarket half-price sticker complete guide 2026
⚡ 30-Second Answer: Depachika = dept store basement gourmet paradise (Isetan Shinjuku, Mitsukoshi main, Daimaru Tokyo etc), prepared foods, sweets, bread, alcohol all high quality. ¥500-3,000/item, half-price stickers in the last 1-2 hours before the 20:00 close are tourist gold. 100% card acceptance, ¥5,001+ tax-free. Great for souvenirs (1-3 day shelf life common), shipping service available.
Quick Reference Value Price range ¥500-3,000/item Half-price sale 5-7pm Card acceptance 100% Tax-free ¥5,001+ Shelf life 1-3 days Last verified June 2026
Depachika and Japanese supermarket discount culture fully covered. Depachika (department store basement food halls) is called "the world's greatest food concert" — ¥500-2,000 buys Japan's top-tier sushi, bento, and prepared dishes. Plus, the time-discount culture where "half-off / 30% OFF" stickers appear 1-2 hours before closing moves tourists who learn about it. Same for supermarkets — hitting the evening discount window means meals at ¥300-500.
1. What is depachika?
A Japanese cultural treasure
Depa-chika = abbreviation of "department" + "basement food hall". The Japanese department store standard is luxury brands 1F-B2F, food hall in basement.
Major depachika and their character
| Depachika | Location | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Mitsukoshi Ginza | Ginza | Legacy crystallization, top-tier wagashi / prepared dishes |
| Isetan Shinjuku | Shinjuku | Praised as "Japan's best food hall" |
| Daimaru Tokyo / Umeda | Tokyo Station / Umeda | Station-attached, for busy travelers |
| Matsuzakaya Ueno | Ueno | Kansai-style flavors |
| Takashimaya Nihombashi | Nihombashi | Legacy, internationally known |
| Tokyu Shibuya | Shibuya Hikarie | Youth-oriented, trendy |
2. Five categories to buy at depachika
1. Sushi / sashimi
- Kyubey (Isetan) / Ginza Kyubey: ¥3,000-8,000, branch of the Ginza-famous shop
- Revolving sushi shop packs: ¥1,500-2,500
- Tuna sashimi pack: ¥1,000-3,000
2. Bento
- "Japan's best" bento:
- Mitsukoshi "shojin bento": ¥1,500-2,500
- Isetan "prepared-dish bento": ¥1,200-2,000
- Takashimaya "Japanese-food bento": ¥1,500-3,000
3. Prepared dishes (sides)
- Karaage / tempura / yakitori: ¥300-800/item
- Croquettes / menchikatsu: ¥200-400/each
- Salads / vinegared dishes: ¥300-600
4. Wagashi (Japanese sweets)
- Dorayaki / daifuku / yokan: ¥150-500/each
- Seasonal limited (sakura-mochi, chestnut yokan etc.): ¥300-800
- Isetan "Toraya", Mitsukoshi "Tsuruya Hachiman" and other legacy
5. Western sweets
- Mont blanc / cheesecake / tart: ¥400-1,000/each
- "Pierre Hermé" / "Jean-Paul Hévin" and other high-end French in depachika
3. Half-off sticker time (time service)
When the half-off stickers appear
1-2 hours before closing the discount gradually starts.
- Depachika: 19:00 from 20% OFF → 19:30 from 30% OFF → 20:00 from 50% OFF
- Regional department stores: 18:00 start
- Right at the 20:00 close: 50-70% OFF can appear — if anything is left
Half-off golden hour
- Tokyo depachika (Isetan, Daimaru etc.): 19:15-19:55
- Kansai depachika (Daimaru Umeda etc.): 19:00-20:00
- Regional department stores: 18:30-19:30
What never gets half-off stickers
- High-end sushi booths (e.g. Kyubey) rarely discount
- Wagashi / Western sweets often no discount even at close
4. Supermarket discount culture
Japanese supermarket 3-tier system
| Tier | Examples | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| High-end | Kinokuniya, Seijo Ishii, FRESCO | Slightly higher, abundant imports |
| Mid-tier | AEON, Seiyu, Life, Maruetsu | Standard pricing |
| Discount | Gyomu Super, Lopia, OK | Very cheap, cash recommended |
Discount time
- AEON / Seiyu etc.: 18:00-19:00 from 20-50% OFF
- Gyomu Super: high discount-sticker frequency
- Discount days are weekly Mon / Thu / Sat (chain-dependent)
Recommended supermarket for tourists
Seijo Ishii (high-end, near many JR stations): imported cheese, wine, bread, prepared dishes, salads. Evening discount turns Japan's top-tier prepared dishes into ¥500-1,000.