I’m a Japanese nutritionist and I visited a Costco in Japan: 6 ‘longevity foods’ I couldn’t leave without—the selection was ‘incredible’
As a Japanese nutritionist living in the U.S., I love shopping for traditional foods that I grew up eating, such as seaweed, beans, matcha, multigrain rice, and sweet potatoes.
I sometimes go to Costco to buy those staples in bulk. But during a recent trip to Japan, I had the chance to shop at the Costco Yawata Warehouse in Kyoto, which you can visit using your U.S. membership card.
I was curious to see how it compared to the American stores, and I ended up being very surprised.
The layout was very similar to the Costco stores in the U.S. I saw many of the same items, too, such as Kirkland trash bags and Duracell batteries.
Photo: Michiko Tomioka
While the layout and many of the products were similar to the U.S. stores, the variety of Japanese foods was incredible. There were regional items, seasonally sourced ingredients, and healthier snacks that I rarely find back home. It was fun to browse through the foods and brands that were exclusive to stores in Japan.
Here are six longevity foods I wish U.S. Costco stores carried more of.
Mozuku: A noodle-like, slippery seaweed that’s rich in fucoidan, a fiber known for supporting gut health, immunity, and even bone strength
Okinawan mozuku seaweed! If I could, I’d have brought back so much with me to the U.S.
Photo: Michiko Tomioka
Other varieties included kombu, hijiki, aonori, and kanten — all of which I like to keep in my pantry.
better heart health and longer life in many studies. I always recommend swapping it in place of soda for a low-calorie, antioxidant-rich alternative.
Michiko Tomioka, MBA, RDN is a certified nutritionist and longevity expert. Born and raised Nara, Japan, her approach focuses on a plant-based diet. She has worked in nutritional roles at substance recovery centers, charter schools and food banks. Follow her on Instagram @michian_rd.
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