I heard about COSTCO wondering about the prices and is it worth going to.

It's a little on the pricey side w/ the current exchange rate (although the dollar has strengthened over the past week). I like to buy my eggs there. IMO, Japanese eggs are so much better than American eggs. I also buy their salmon, Korean bulgolgi, and freshly baked meals.

Here's an idea of their prices:

20 eggs - 300Y
Korean bulgogi - around 1000Y / package
Whole pizza (cooked or uncooked) - 1200Y
Slice of pizza - 250Y
Family size Chicken Caesar salad - around 630Y
Japanese Mayo (big tube) - around 330Y
Package of fresh Salmon (thick slices / usually 5 per package) - around 900Y - 1100Y
Bananas (bunch of 6+ large bananas) - 200Y
6 large red & yellow bell peppers - 800Y

Overall, the prices are more than U.S. Costco prices, but you can still get a decent meal there for a family of 4 for under $15. I like to freeze the bulgogi and can make 4 meals out of the entire package. Their beef and chicken prices are more than what you would pay at the commissary.

Hope that helps!

Just make a trip to see it, I think you will be satisfied.

do they carry american products.. like condiments and spices? or is everything japanese? like ramen instead of pasta? and do you have to buy a membership like you do in the states?

http://www.costco.co.jp/eng/index.htm

Website above. You do have to buy a membership. If you still have one from the states you can use it for as long as it's valid. I/we were die hard Costco shoppers in the states. I have purchased a membership here and do enjoy going. They do not have the Executive membership here. The dues for the general membership are 3,675 yen.

They have a some American products. It just always feels a bit like home when I go as it looks and feels like Costco.  They have all the same paper products like toilet tissue and such that you would get in the states. You can also purchase many of the same suppliments and that kind of thing.

I like that all items, whether American or Japanese, have labels on the shelves in English so you know what it is.

I think it's worth the visit and not a bad drive at all.
 
Hope this helps!


 

I think membership is 4200Y now. I'm going there tonight, so I'll check. I'll post again if I see a/thing different.

http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/26...Japan.html

This will give you a good idea of what Costco Japan has and what their prices are......

Does Costco carry furniture? American or Japanese? Is it expensive? Just curious

American, same stuff they have in the States. I didn't look at the prices though.

Posted By kermitbp on 09-13-2012 11:00 AM
Does Costco carry furniture? American or Japanese? Is it expensive? Just curious

I bought a beautiful sectional sofa there last year for 40,000Y.  It's modern looking with that soft, microfiber fabric.  They got them in again this year.  I thought the price was really good, even with the poor exchange rate.  I would have paid far more than 40,000Y a/where else in Japan and probably couldn't have even bought s/thing that nice in the U.S. for that cheap.

They have other furniture, but e/thing is seasonal, so if you see s/thing you like, you better buy it because it may not be there next time you go. 

oooOoooO i cant wait!!

Its good for cheap items but if you arent gonna go there very often , its not worth it cuz the renewal fee is kinda costy .

If you already have a Costco card, you will have to give them some information the first time you use it. When it was time for renewal, I did it on-line with the Costco where I had gotten it (in the States) and then it was good for the whole time I was in Japan. Since the exchange rate was so so poor while we were there, we just got items that we couldn't get at the commissary and exchange that we had enjoyed in the States.

Does Costco here sell dog food?

Also, I've been told that they have no way of checking your U.S. card expiration and just have to override it so you can keep using it even if your membership has expired. Is that true? Thanks!

Yes, Costco sells dog food. I am not sure about the membership expiration date but I know that when I have renewed mine they had me fill out a paper with my information.

I don't think it's the membership expiration date that should be printed on your card already.

The issue they have is your address is a US address and they require a Japanese address so each visit you will have to bounce over to customer service to get that overridden or just request an updated card. When you renew it in Japan and use your Japanese address it eliminates that problem.

They know when your membership has expired. We used ours until the US membership expired (filling out the form with our Japanese contact info each time) and then renewed here. I have known many people who renewed theirs online and just continued filling out the little form they give you at the register. But when your card expires, it will not work at checkout.

Thanks for the info! I am about 50% sure that are membership is current (the date we joined is shown on the card, not the expiration date) so if we have to renew it I want to make sure to show up with enough yen. Since the exchange rate is so good right now looks like it would be better to renew here in Japan than online (4200 yen vs. $55)!

Posted By kermitbp on 04-29-2013 5:56 PM
Does Costco here sell dog food?

Also, I've been told that they have no way of checking your U.S. card expiration and just have to override it so you can keep using it even if your membership has expired. Is that true? Thanks!

Yes, they do, and it's quite good (no, I didn't try it).    But, the Costco dog food gets great reviews.  The first few ingredients listed are good ingredients and not just by-products like so many popular brands.  My dogs eat it right up and are much healthier (shinier coat and less allergies).  They have a new kind that contains salmon (a little more expensive) but my one dog that has allergies does really well on it.  The lamb and rice is also good, but I didn't see it there last time, so they may have discontinued it. 

As others have said, you'll need to renew once your card expires.  Renew here....it's cheaper!  Oh, and don't forget to pick up one of their deep dish pizzas way in the back.    Yum!