Kinokuniya, no, not the book store that you know - is one of the most popular and go-to supermarkets in the whole of Japan! And…they’re having their first pop-up supermarket right in the heart of Singapore from 27th February to 18th March!

I was struggling to hold back the excitement when we were informed about this news!

Fun Facts about Kinokuniya Supermarket

From the founding of the Meiji era till date, Kinokuniya celebrates its 111th year old this year! 😱

Kinokuniya began its history as a fruit shop in Aoyama, Tokyo in 1910. As of today, Kinokuniya supermarket has a whopping 34 stores across Japan (mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area) and they are looking to expand progressively!

Kinokuniya supermarkets also incorporated many unique concepts to meet the diverse needs and lifestyles of their consumers, such as stores in train stations and in-house bakeries.

Upcoming Pop-Up Supermarket in SINGAPORE (27th Feb to 18th March 2021)

Good news for those who have not visited or do not have the opportunity to travel there yet, Kinokuniya Supermarket is opening their first pop-up store in central Singapore!

Japan Rail Cafe - 27th Feb to 18th March:

Address: 5 Wallich St, #01-20 Guoco Tower, Singapore 078883

Opening Hours: Mondays to Thursdays - 11 am to 9 pm, Fridays and Saturdays - 11 am to 9.30 pm, Sunday - 11 am to 8 pm.

Isetan Scotts - 5th March to 18th March:

Address: Isetan Scotts, 350 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238868

Opening Hours: Sundays to Thursdays 10 am to 8 pm, Friday and Saturdays - 10 am to 9 pm.

GIVEAWAY

In collaboration with Kinokuniya supermarket, they are giving away 4 x Kinokuniya Gift Bags (each worth $90)!

Each gift bag contains 4 exclusive products from Kinokuniya:

• Strawberry Butter - Kinokuniya’s Special Recipe ($13.50)

This strawberry butter is legit - I will visit the pop-up supermarket just for this. A sweet and sour thick strawberry jam (leaning more towards the sweeter side), I love how both the butter and the strawberry taste do not overpower each other and you can taste both of them. A small scoop is more than enough to spread across one piece of bread.

If this is not for you, you can anticipate Anko Butter and Apple Butter at the pop-up supermarket!

• Drinkable Yuzu Vinegar ($21.70)

A flavorful Yuzu vinegar made from 100% Yuzu juice from Tokushima prefecture, pure apple cider vinegar, honey, and natural water from northern Hiroshima prefecture. This yuzu vinegar is drinkable on the spot (not only for cooking purposes) - just mix 30ml of it with 90ml of water or in simpler terms, 1/3 of yuzu vinegar with 2/3 water.

This tastes like the go-to yuzu cha that I will always order during winter travel seasons!

• Organic Drip Coffee Original Blend ($12.50)

Coffee lovers would love this! A nice blended drip coffee that I will always want to savor if I am working at the office on non-work-from-home days. If you are someone who loves coffees that are not too acidic, this is perfect for you too! Also, can I just add - I love how it’s so easy to brew a good cup of coffee with this. All you have to do is slit open the top and pour some hot water. Japanese-made products are always super user-friendly!

If you aren’t the type who love black coffee, the pop-up supermarket will also carry Blue Mountain Blend and Mocha Blend - something for those with a sweet tooth!

• Shrimp Crackers ($10.70)

Though not the best shrimp crackers around, it’s still quite an addictive snack! I love how it comes in bite sizes, very crunchy and not too spicy - catering to everyone’s taste buds. The downside of this is the non-resealable packaging, so to avoid it getting soggy, you’ll probably have to finish it all once you open it! But since it’s a rather small packet (smaller than your usual potato chips packet), you wouldn’t feel too guilty if you do gobble everything!

• Kinokuniya Ecology Bag in Size L and Black Colour ($40.90)

The Japanese are known to be environmentally-friendly and most of them will always bring their own bags for grocery shopping. Because of this, the birth of Kinokuniya Ecology Bag happened in 1995 and many shoppers love how spacious the interior of the bag is, as well as the sturdiness of the bag's material!

How to participate in the giveaway:

*This article is brought to you in partnership with Kinokuniya and JR East.