Costco Japan
Bulgogi bake, sushi platters, sakura items
Make It at Home
Takoyaki
Crispy outside, gooey inside octopus balls — iconic Japanese street food that's absurdly fun to make at home. Costco Japan sells 20+ count for 998 yen; you can do it yourself for about 75 cents a pop.
Chicken Karaage
Japanese fried chicken — marinated in soy, ginger, and garlic, coated in potato starch, and fried until shatteringly crispy. Costco Japan sells this in their deli and it flies off the shelf. Now it flies off your plate.
Japanese Curry
Rich, thick, and mildly sweet — Japanese curry is nothing like Indian curry and everything like a warm hug. Costco Japan sells it as a ready-to-eat meal. Make a big pot with Costco chicken and rice and feed the whole family.
Gyudon
A simmered beef bowl that takes 20 minutes and tastes like you ordered it at Yoshinoya. Costco Japan sells gyudon kits in the deli — make it from scratch with thinly sliced Costco beef and you'll never look back.
What's In Store
Japan Food Court Menu
Costco Japan has one of the most interesting food courts in the world. The core US items exist alongside Japanese-exclusive offerings that are genuinely great.
Locations: 37 warehouses across Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, etc.)
Japan-Exclusive Items
| Item | Price (¥) | Price (~USD) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgogi Bake | ¥480 | ~$3.20 | Sweet-savory marinated beef bulgogi, melted cheese, and scallions in a crispy baked bread shell. Replaces the chicken bake — and might be better. |
| Clam Chowder (Bread Bowl) | ¥580 | ~$3.90 | New England-style chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. Seasonal (Oct–Mar), thick, creamy, loaded with clam and potato. |
| Teriyaki Chicken Wrap | ¥480 | ~$3.20 | Teriyaki-glazed chicken in a tortilla wrap — sweet and smoky |
| Seafood Pizza Slice | ¥300 | ~$2.00 | Shrimp and squid on pizza — Japan exclusive. Part of the rotating third pizza flavor (see below). |
| Takoyaki (Octopus Balls) | ¥500 | ~$3.30 | Crispy-outside, molten-inside octopus balls with mayo and bonito flakes. Not always available, but when they appear, the line gets longer. |
| Soft Cream (Soft Serve) | ¥280 | ~$1.90 | Hokkaido milk soft serve — richer and creamier than US, thanks to higher-fat Hokkaido dairy |
| Seasonal Soft Cream | ¥380 | ~$2.50 | Rotates: melon (summer), strawberry (spring), mixed berry (fall), mango. The melon flavor is absurdly good. |
| Smoothie | ¥280 | ~$1.90 | Rotates seasonally — mango smoothie in summer, mixed berry in cooler months, and occasional limited flavors like peach or yuzu |
| Açaí Bowl | ¥680 | ~$4.50 | Similar to US but sometimes with different toppings (granola, seasonal fruit) |
| Garden Salad | ¥680 | ~$4.50 | Fresh salad with Japanese-style dressings (sesame, wafu) |
Shared Items (with local variations)
| Item | Price (¥) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Dog Combo | ¥180 | Same deal as the US — incredibly cheap |
| Whole Pizza (18") | ¥1,580 | Same flavors as US |
| Pizza Slice | ¥300 | Cheese and combo are permanent. The third slot rotates — see below. |
| Churro | ¥300 | Same twisted churro |
The Rotating Third Pizza
Japan keeps cheese and combo as permanent pizza flavors, but the third slot rotates and this is where things get interesting:
- Seafood Pizza — shrimp, squid, sometimes scallop on a white or tomato base
- Teriyaki Chicken Pizza — sweet teriyaki glaze, chicken, corn, mayo drizzle
- Margherita — fresh tomato, basil, mozzarella (simpler but very good)
The rotation isn't on a strict calendar, so you might get lucky or you might just miss your favorite. Check the display boards when you walk in.
Seasonal Specials
Japan rotates seasonal items more aggressively than almost any other country:
- Spring: Strawberry soft serve, sakura-themed desserts occasionally, lighter salad options
- Summer: Mango soft serve and mango smoothie, cold noodle salads, melon soft cream
- Fall: Mixed berry soft serve, pumpkin or sweet potato seasonal items
- Winter: Clam chowder bread bowls (the star of the cold months), holiday pizza varieties, richer soups
Worth Knowing
- ¥180 hot dog combo (~$1.20) — one of the cheapest meals in Japan. A convenience store onigiri costs ¥150.
- Cleaner and more orderly than US locations. Trays get returned, tables get wiped.
- Lines get serious on weekends, especially at urban locations like Makuhari or Kawasaki. Go right at opening.