Photo: PR Times
lifestyle

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

9 Comments
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24

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 (aka 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.

▼ This woman now has salmon, spinach, and tomatoes, all without having to make any detours on her way home.

GS-2.jpg
Photo: PR Times

There’s no additional fee for station pick-up, although you do need to have either a commuter pass or a ticket for that day that goes through the station. Since the appeal of the service is being able to grab your groceries at the station you were going to be at anyway, though, the ticket requirement doesn’t seem like such a big drawback.

The program is currently in its trial period, with grocery pickup offered at Fuchu Honmachi and Inaginaganuma Stations in Tokyo, and Isogo and Kozukue in Kanagawa Prefecture, with service scheduled to expand to Yokohama and Kawasaki Stations in the near future.

Source: PR Times via IT Media

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Moving to Tokyo? Here are the three best, most reasonable neighborhoods to live in

-- Is it a Lawson or a train station? We investigate the mysterious Sekiguchi Station

-- A message from Japanese train station toilet paper: Don’t stare at your smartphone while walking

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

9 Comments
Login to comment

After I feel safe on the trains again I would LOVE to use this service!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Good Idea, smart.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

hahaha....I think they haven't heard of Amazon! why would I carry my own groceries, when I can have it delivered.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

With some tweaking, this may be a viable service. Neat that you can save time shopping and go straight to cooking when you get home. It is sad that married couples have become so baked in long working hours that they don't have the time to go grocery shopping anymore.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

More convenient would be to bring back all the rubbish bins/trash cans/gomi-bako to the train stations. That would be convenient for millions instead of this minor piece of window dressing.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Very good description, Patricia. It’s only a minor piece of window dressing. And btw. where are all those announced delivery drones or robots enabling us to pick up everything right from our windows or doors at home or workplace or while walking nearby on the road? lol Has become more than silent about all those toys, hasn’t it?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Thank you for the support, Sven!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I have noticed that this kind of service in other countries tends to be a expensive. I suppose it is the cost of the convenience.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites