Karinoya Learning Room

Daily Life Lessons · Shopping

How to Shop at Supermarkets and Convenience Stores

Goal of this lesson

Be able to shop at supermarkets and convenience stores on your own.

Explanation

At supermarkets and convenience stores, use a basket and line up at the register (レジ) to pay. Plastic shopping bags (レジ袋) generally cost money, so it is convenient to bring your own reusable bag (エコバッグ). Besides cash, many stores accept credit cards, transit IC cards, and QR code payments, but the payment methods accepted differ by store. More and more stores also have self-checkout machines (セルフレジ).

Read in Easy Japanese (yasashii nihongo)

スーパーや コンビニでの 買い物です。

- かごに 商品を 入れます。 - レジに 並びます。 - レジ袋（ふくろ）は ほとんど お金が かかります。エコバッグを 持っていくと いいです。 - お金を 払います。カードや スマホ決済が 使える 店も 多いです。

Check quiz

Q1

What about plastic shopping bags?

  1. Free
  2. Not free
  3. Free for members only
  4. Banned
AnswerB. Not free

Since July 2020, plastic shopping bags have generally not been free.

Q2

What can you use to pay at many stores?

  1. Cash only
  2. Cash, cards, IC cards, and QR codes
  3. Foreign currency
  4. Checks
AnswerB. Cash, cards, IC cards, and QR codes

Besides cash, many stores accept cards, transit IC cards, and QR code payments. The payment methods accepted differ by store.

Q3

Where do you put the items you want to buy?

  1. In your pocket
  2. In a basket
  3. On the floor
  4. Directly at the register
AnswerB. In a basket

Put them in a basket and line up.

Q4

What is self-checkout?

  1. Staff do everything
  2. You scan and pay by yourself
  3. It is free
  4. It needs a reservation
AnswerB. You scan and pay by yourself

You scan the items yourself.

Q5

Where do you pay?

  1. At the entrance
  2. At the register
  3. At the shelf
  4. In a box at the exit
AnswerB. At the register

Pay at the register.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What is the difference between 賞味期限 and 消費期限?

A. 賞味期限 (best-before date) is the date until which food tastes good, and 消費期限 (use-by date) is the date until which food is safe to eat. Both dates apply to unopened food stored as shown on the label.

Q. What about point cards?

A. Each store has its own. You do not have to make one if you don't want to.

Q. Can I return items?

A. Whether you can return an item depends on the store's rules. Bring your receipt and talk to the store as soon as possible.

Practice: answer the questions on this page

This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.

Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28

This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original