BUYING MILK IN JAPAN

I’ve written this post to assist friends and family when at a convenience store and are buying milk in Japan.
I hope that you find this dairy and non-dairy mini-guide helpful!

PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

MILK & JUICE
Here are some tips on what different kinds of milk looks like in the convenience stores .
See here for my other tips, like this, on shopping for other staples and other of our favourite treats at Japanese convenience stores.

Milk in Japanese convenience stores here.

FULL CREAM = WHOLE MILK (some people from the US get confused.)

“Donkey Kong cornflakes” after a day at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. This was when we were staying at the Park Front Hotel just near the USJ entrance. The mug was part of a shake we bought inside “Donkey Kong Country” and turns out – it makes cornflakes extra delicious too!
I always travel with a box of cornflakes as the type that are easiest to find in Japan are often the frosted kind and we are Kelloggs original cornflakes kind of people

WHERE TO BUY SOY MILK IN JAPAN?
If you are searching for soy milk you will see plenty of options in convenience stores but best to go to the supermarket for the full range. Please note that not all flavoured soy milk options are vegan so please use google maps to check the ingredients before consuming.

The soy milk section at Max Valu Supermarket. This picture was taken at the Max Valu 24 hour supermarket near Tokujiro no Yado – a beautiful traditional house that I recommend for families visiting Osaka. Please use google translate to check flavours and **some of the kikkoman flavour options aren’t vegan** so you will need to check the ingredients.

Inside “My Basket Shinjuku 5-Chome” Here on the shelf I can see soy milk, almond milk and oat milk.

I also recommend googling “blue bottle” near me while in Japan as Blue Bottle Coffee in Japan carries most of the milk alternative options. Same goes for Arabica Coffee, actually.

WHERE TO BUY OAT MILK IN JAPAN?
WHERE TO BUY ALMOND MILK IN JAPAN?
Same goes for Oat Milk and Almond Milk.

Here is some more information on finding ALMOND MILK in Japan.

The almond, oat and soy milk selection at Max Valu supermarket. This picture was taken at the Max Valu 24 hour supermarket near Tokujiro no Yado – a beautiful traditional house that I recommend for families visiting Osaka. Use google translate to make sure you are buying what you want (on the ingredients label part too)

Bio-Ral Supermarkets stock oat, almond, soy and cow’s milk. Google “Bio-Ral Supermarket near me” for the closest option.

Some of the juice and milk options sold at Bio-Ral Supermarket.

Top Shelf: Coconut Water, 100% Apple Juice, 100% Orange & Mikan Juice, Unsweetened Almond Milk, Original Almond Milk, 100% Carrot Juice.
Middle Shelf: Organic Soy Milk, Soy Milk made with Domestically Grown Soy Beans, Fukuren Soy Milk, Carrot Juice, Alpro Zero Sugar Oat Milk, Unsweetened Almond Milk.

Bottom Shelf: 100% Apple Juice, 100% Orange Juice, 100% Blood Orange Juice, 100% Pink Grapefruit Juice, 100% Pomegranate Juice, Pasteurized Low Fat Cow’s Milk, Pasteurized Cow’s Milk

WHERE TO BUY LACTOSE FREE MILK IN JAPAN?
Oh and yes, it is possible to get reduced lactose and other types of milks – however- for a bigger range- it is best to head to a supermarket.
*If you need 100% Lactose free milk I strongly strongly recommend bringing your own UHT Lactose free milk with you from home. It is so hard to find in Japan.

Lactose reduced milk. Please note that milk is not available in convenience stores or in a Starbucks etc. Please look for this brand on Amazon or in Japanese supermarkets.

For other options again in Japan, I recommend looking National Azabu. This international supermarket is located in Hiroo, Tokyo (you can visit in person). You can also order online and have them deliver groceries to you if you are staying in Minato-ku (aka the Minato ward, Tokyo) OR you can have these items delivered anywhere in Japan using the Yamato delivery service (price is from 1200 yen per box of food delivered.) National Azabu in Tokyo stocks almond milk, oat milk, walnut milk, soy milk as well as pistachio milk.

Almond milk, walnut milk, pistachio milk, soy milk in Japan

WHERE TO BUY RICE MILK IN JAPAN?
If you are looking for rice milk in Japan, I recommend finding the closest Aeon Supermarket as they often stock Isola Bio Rice Milk and Okometo Rice Milk ice-cream. Amazon Japan also stock Fukumitsuya Rice Milk. Bio C Bon stores also stock rice milk.

WHERE TO BUY GOATS MILK IN JAPAN?
I must admit that I haven’t found a place to purchase goats milk in Japan.
There is a powdered goat’s milk option sold on Rakuten here – you will need google translate to work it all out though.
If anyone finds some please in stores do let me know and I’ll update it here, accordingly. I do know that National Azabu (as listed above) does sell Goats Milk Cheese and Goats Milk Yoghurt though.

If you like tips and instructional / translation style posts, I think you will also like my post on convenience stores and vending machines in Japan.

If you’re looking for more supermarket tips for Japan other than just buying milk, I think you’ll like my post on things that will surprise you first time you visit a Japanese supermarket.

PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.