Japanese trains now even more convenient as new service lets you pick up groceries at station

sora news 24 ^

[mylife]

With most people in Japan relying on public transportation to get around, between a Monday-to-Friday commute and weekend leisure outings it’s not unusual to pass through a train station almost every day. So if you’re going to be at the station anyway, why not get your grocery shopping done while you’re there?

That’s the idea behind a new partnership between online grocery seller Cookpad Mart and East Japan Railway Company (a.k.a. JR East). Ordinarily, Cookpad Mart customers pick up their orders from Cookpad lockers (you’ll sometimes see them inside convenience stores, for example), but the new service allows you to grab your groceries at the gate of JR East stations.

It works pretty much like the standard Cookpad Mart purchasing process: You log in, select your groceries, and then, for your pickup point, pick a station. Then once you’re at the ticket gate you show the confirmation screen on your phone to the station attendant, and you get your order. Pickup is available until 10 p.m., and with some Japanese supermarkets closing before then, the service is especially handy for those working late shifts who can’t make it to their local grocer after they get off work.

[EEGator]

Yep. Try riding SEPTA around Philly...

[RomanSoldier19]

[Vigilanteman]

We lived there for 14 years. Have a brother, wife, nephew, daughter (including two grandsons) who have all achieved permanent residency status.

For every native who is a racist jerk (and I encountered a few) there are at least five who go out of their way to be kind and welcoming. Of course, we learned the language, respected the culture and didn't make arses of ourselves. So therein might lie the difference from you acquaintance's experience.

[dfwgator]

Of course, we learned the language, respected the culture and didn't make arses of ourselves. So therein might lie the difference from you acquaintance's experience.

So true. I went to Paris thinking people would be rude, like the stereotypes.

I spoke French, albeit I'm sure with a very thick American accent, I'm sure I screwed up the grammar, but everyone was very nice to me. They appreciated at least my attempt to speak their language.

[sushiman]

“Not sure I could live in a paper house, or eat tofu.”

Paper house ? Those days are LONG gone my friend . As for food , there is more varieties of food here in Japan than in the uSA . Anything you can get in the USA and more .

[sushiman]

Don’t like white people ??? Just the opposite . I’ve lived here 35 years so I oughta know .

[untenured]

“In some ways, Japan sounds like a haven of peace and prosperity. “

It is, but only if you value the world’s lowest crime rate and a very high standard of living.

“I wonder how they treat Christians.”

Japan is a country where, by world standards, freedom of religion is respected essentually as much as in the US. The percentage of Christians is quite low, although churches are not hard to find.

“Not sure I could live in a paper house, or eat tofu.”

The houses are small, but I assure you they are not made of paper, and often technologically more advanced than those in the US.

They do eat a fair amount of tofu, though they also have a small amount of meat with most of their meals. (Rice is the central part of the meal there.)