JR Osaka Station 1st floor (Midosuji Exit ticket gate), right in front of Ikari Supermarket. The main store is actually in Amagasaki (Tsukaguchi), not Ashiya. There are several branches in the local area of Nishinomiya, so it feels familiar. While it has the image of the Hanshin area, it offers services unique to the Osaka Station store. A popular set here is the small eco-bag + baked goods set for 2,200 yen, which is very affordable. I was surprised to find out that the Ikari bag I always carry with me is such a great deal. The small size comes in classic patterns of white x black and white x navy, which look nice and are great for giving as a gift or a little something. The service at Ikari is reliable, and they even ask if you prefer a paper bag or a bag type at the register. And the best part is, it's still free, no charge. When you bring your own eco-bag, you earn Ikari points. I highly recommend getting an Ikari point card.

Located right in front of the ticket gate at Osaka Station, this is a super convenient store that offers high-quality items, albeit at a slightly higher price. It's not as fancy as a department store basement, but it's great for when you want something unique. I bought a tamagoyaki with seaweed, which had a rich dashi flavor and wasn't too sweet. The seaweed was subtly delicious. It's vacuum-sealed, so it should last for a while. The lemon roll cake was refreshing, with a moist texture and a perfect single serving size. And the Ikari (squid ink) dish was impressive.

I stopped by here at Osaka Station and bought a beef steak bento (980 yen), a double hamburger (550 yen), a hot dog (299 yen), and a Sacher Torte (1278 yen). I ended up buying some rich items, but both the bento and the hamburger were quite delicious! There were various options inside the store, and I feel like I would like to visit again in the future.

I went to Hankyu Department Store to buy Ralph Lauren clothes and was lucky because they had just started a sale. After buying clothes, I went to buy groceries at Ikari and while waiting in line at the register, I found some delicious looking baked sweets and bought them. The maker of the Mont Blanc cake is "Ikari Supermarket". I love chestnuts, so I bought it and brought it home. I took the Mont Blanc cake out of the bag, took a picture, and when I turned it over, I was surprised to see clear chestnuts inside! I had assumed that it would have sliced chestnuts inside, but it was different and I was pleasantly surprised to see beautiful chestnuts. It's my favorite Mont Blanc cake and I think my friends would be happy to receive it as a souvenir.

Luxury supermarket in the Kansai region located in front of the Midosuji North Exit ticket gate at JR Osaka Station. They offer original in-house brand products made in their own factory, as well as carefully selected fresh products from trusted producers, ensuring safety, quality, and deliciousness. Popular items include the Fruit Cake and Sacher Cake by Wai Wai Family, Egg Soft Donuts, Sweet and Spicy Radish Kimchi, and Leafle O-Kaki. Highly recommended!

-Dinner- Okra and Nagaimo Salad with Ponzu Dressing Red Kidney Beans Hummus and Salmon Marinated Salad Beef Curry (Spicy) 190g Satou's Rice and Super Barley Rice 150g -Storage- V&B Vegetable & Beef Curry (Spicy) 270g Sprouted Roasted Izumo Hato Mugi Tea 500ml 100% Fruit Juice Coconut Water 280ml

Visit on October 27, 2020. Solo trip to Osaka. Took a limousine bus from Itami Airport to Osaka Station. There are several bus stops around Osaka Station, but I got off at Shin-Osaka Hotel. JR Osaka Station is diagonally to the left of Shin-Osaka Hotel. I crossed over to Yodobashi Camera in front of me and then crossed the connecting passage. There was a shop on the left just as I entered the station. It's right next to the Midosuji Exit ticket gate. "Ikari Super" is unfamiliar to Tokyoites, but it is well known as a high-end supermarket in the Kansai region, founded in 1961 in Hyogo Prefecture. The shop inside the station is not very large, but there are many private brand products and it was fun. Prices as of 2020: Ikari's Yamashoku - 299 yen, Ikari Pancake Mix - 399 yen, Ikari Okonomiyaki Flour Mix - 399 yen. I bought the Yamashoku, gave the Pancake Mix as a souvenir, and made fluffy okonomiyaki with the Flour Mix. There are many in-house products, so it's recommended for buying souvenirs for those outside the Kansai region. I couldn't buy it because I was alone, but the seasonal Pudding a la Mode had a good volume and a reasonable price. I wish I had bought it.

In the steamy heat, I bought some food supplies at the station in a cool and comfortable air-conditioned area. I got a paper bag, small packages, and ice packs. I enjoyed some refreshing dishes like chilled summer oden, avocado rolls in jelly form, roast beef made with domestic black wagyu beef (leg cut), sesame-marinated bitter gourd, and miso-marinated silver cod and Atlantic salmon. I also had some Lukibos tea and tomato tea made with water from the Hita Tenryo region.

I was able to go back to my hometown and decided to buy a "Mother's Day gift" before taking the Hankai Line. As soon as I entered the store, I saw the "Honey Black Tea" which was recommended, so I immediately decided to buy it (because I love honey). I arrived at my parents' house and the next day we drank it together as a family. My parents were so happy, so I'm glad I made the purchase.

I was 45 minutes late, but I was able to return to the store during opening hours, so I restocked on dinner, retort food, and drinks. I got Chinese-style sashimi with plenty of vegetables, champon noodles, Chinese bento box, MCT oil curry, low-carb chicken curry, Solan de Cabras Spanish mineral water, and organic barley tea.

I replenished with curry as I might become a dinner refugee on Meat Day and after the consecutive holidays due to overtime. The beef croquette, new Ikari Highland free-range chicken thigh meat tempura, beef garlic rice with tomato sauce, Ikari black pork hamburger, and vegetable soup were delicious. The pot-au-feu with colorful ingredients, beef curry, and spicy chicken curry were also good.

Once you go there, the convenience is good. But I don't want to get used to this. I wish the side dishes were prepared so they could be put in the microwave without having to take off the lid and wrap them in plastic wrap. The family's Mediterranean-style paella with shrimp mayo balls and pasta hot salad, onion gratin soup.

Located right in front of Osaka Station, this place has a great location, but I had forgotten about it until a few hours ago. It's in a bit of a blind spot in my usual route, and I usually do my grocery shopping at Hankyu, so I hadn't really thought about it. I had gone in a long time ago looking for something, didn't find it, and left without buying anything. The variety of side dishes and bento boxes is extensive. The prices are so low that it makes me a bit uneasy, but I decided to buy something since I didn't feel like going elsewhere. I think it's better than the side dishes at the nearby supermarkets, but it's still just okay.

When riding the Shinkansen, treat yourself to Ikari's beef rice bowl (bento). It has a lower fat content and a slightly firm texture, but it is made with domestic beef, making it a healthy and safe choice. The burdock, carrots, onions, and other ingredients are well-balanced, showcasing the quality and care put into the dish. It also comes with pickled ginger on the side, making it a perfect bento without any complaints.

I purchased a mini Makunouchi bento at this place near the Midosuji exit ticket gate on the 1st floor of JR Osaka Station. The portion size is small as expected from the name "mini". The side dishes such as kinpira and hijiki are low in calories, which is nice. The taste is just average for a cold bento, so there's not much to review about the flavor. Overall, it's convenient for transferring between JR, Hankyu, and subway lines, but the price is a bit high.

It's conveniently located just outside Osaka Station, so I use it occasionally because it's delicious. There are various tasty items, although only some are shown in the photos. I think the products made by the company itself are valuable even if they are expensive. Some of the items I have bought frequently are the "Coconut Sablé," which is buttery and really delicious, and the "Madeleine," which is always good. The "Small Shrimp and Broccoli Penne Salad" is another favorite of mine. It has the right balance of penne and broccoli, not too heavy on the seasoning, and it's a common salad but I love it. During Halloween, I bought the seasonal limited edition "Sardines in Vinegar," which had a good flavor without any fishy taste. The "Pumpkin Parfait" was a Halloween limited edition that I really got hooked on. It had a rich pumpkin cream with pumpkin chunks and seeds, and the custard cream inside was delicious too. Although I also tried the Mont Blanc Parfait, the Pumpkin Parfait was my favorite. The store also offers cheese and other side dishes that are satisfying. The sweets selection is especially good, with no disappointments so far. The store is always crowded, but the checkout is fast. It's a high-end supermarket where I can't shop frequently, but I'm always satisfied. I will definitely visit again for something else.

In the evening, I felt like having something sweet and stopped by Ikari. There was a sample of rice crackers (vegetable mix) from Thailand at the storefront, made with rice flour and rice oil, giving it a crispy texture that was delicious. I decided to buy it within a few seconds of entering the store. It's like rice crackers in Japan, I suppose. The rice crackers (vegetable mix) cost 299 yen and are seasoned with vinegar powder, tomato powder, paprika powder, and celery powder. The light crunch and well-balanced seasoning were very tasty. I enjoyed it as a snack with wine. Besides the vegetable mix, there were several other vegetable crackers available, so I'd like to try a different variety next time. I also found something called "Barun" in the refrigerated section, which seemed to be a limited quantity item. It looked like a round cake roll with cream filling inside, with a fluffy texture that looked delicious. I purchased the Barun for 100 yen as well. The store is conveniently located near the station. Both items I bought today were delicious.

This is a high-end supermarket that needs no explanation for people from Kansai. There is a legend that Kansai obachans (middle-aged women) use their paper bags as a substitute for a bag when going out. They also have a store inside Osaka Station, where around 6:30 pm, they heavily discount bento boxes and side dishes, making it very convenient to grab something on the way home from work. The bento boxes with conger eel or grilled meat are delicious, so getting them for half price, around 1000 yen, is quite a treat.

In November 2018, after work, I went to "Ikari Super" at Osaka Station. It was actually my first time going there, even though I live in Kansai. I bought the "Egg Soft Donuts" that my friend had recommended. It was 210 yen for 8 pieces. I also bought a pack of "Oden for two" for 760 yen. When I got home, I tried them right away. The Egg Soft Donuts are made by mixing milk and eggs to create a soft texture. It's similar to a Sata Andagi in texture, but not as oily. The size is small and easy to eat, so you can easily have multiple at once. It's a good deal for the price. The Oden included daikon radish, konjac, boiled eggs, fish cakes, burdock rolls, chikuwa, and thick fried tofu. The dashi broth made with kombu and bonito was delicious and refined. It was a satisfying meal.

Ooyama Pepper Sinken in Ehime Prefecture offers a special dish made with local ingredients: Ukokkei chicken eggs, Ikari cheese, and fresh green leaf vegetables.