If you’re in Tokyo today you’re probably indoors staying warm and gazing out the window at a very different scene thanks to Tokyo’s first real snowfall of the season. Hopefully you’ve stocked your kitchen with more than a battered bottle of Kewpie mayonnaise and stray packets of ramen seasoning because if you’re thinking of heading out to the shops for a quick snack, there’s a good chance you won’t find anything there. It seems the city is full of nervous shoppers acting like bears going into hibernation, hoarding stocks despite an abundance of 24-hour convenience stores and fully-functioning delivery services. After seeing these photos, we’d hate to see supermarket conditions in a blizzard or even worse, in a major catastrophe.
Twitter user @onoyanyanyan was shocked to find all the meat and bread had vanished from shelves yesterday afternoon.
@kainushi0519 tweeted this photo, showing all that was left of the beef and pork section were sauce bottles.
@fuu2351244 laments the lack of bread at the local store.
@momokyu showed the state of sold-out goods at the supermarket started as early as 6:30am yesterday morning.
@nonkigohan tweeted this sign, put up by a shop manager last night, advising customers to buy stocks for tomorrow due to the predicted snowfall.
Reactions from Japanese netizens ranged from silly to serious:
“This is a cultural low. It’s an embarrassment to the nation.”
“It’s appalling that shops are endorsing this sort of behaviour.”
“The people buying up everything are the elderly who can’t get out and about when it snows.”
“People in Tokyo are crazy. It’s just a bit of fallen snow.”
“This brings back memories of the empty supermarket shelves after the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake.”
“It’s better than getting fat by eating nothing but home-delivered pizza all weekend.”
It’s times like these we’re reminded that Tokyo is a city with a population of over 20 million. And when the future becomes uncertain, the populace scrambles for meat and bread. It might be time to invest in a bread maker after all.
Source: Jin115
Top Image: @minhito0308
Tokyo snowfall, the heaviest in four years, causes chaos in the capital 【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous landmarks are even more beautiful after heaviest snowfall in years【Photos】
Spring snow falls in Tokyo, creating beautiful images of Japanese sakura cherry blossoms
Tokyo’s hidden mall serves up Japan’s best regional ice creams
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
Can a dirty butthole make you filthy rich in Japan? We’re starting a New Year’s lottery experiment
J-horror classic Ring 2 airing on Japanese TV with Zen monk offering prayers every time someone dies
Beautiful sightseeing boat is a floating tea ceremony venue in east Japan’s best hot spring town
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
Cappuccino Ramen becomes super popular in Japan, but is it worth the hype?
All-you-can-eat stinky fermented soybeans come to Ginza, if that’s your thing
How to find a lost cat: Unique method from Japan proves to be surprisingly effective
Underwater Knee High Girls appear in new exhibition celebrating soft thighs and kaiju monsters
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Leave a Reply