Shopping at Costco Japan
Updated in August 2026 - Please check official information for accuracy
Wagyu steaks, bulgogi bakes and fresh fish galore are just a few of the differences at Costco in Japan.
Costco is becoming an increasingly major shopping destination in Japan, especially in more rural areas, offering a mix of Japanese, American, Korean, and other international products. As of 2026, there are 37 Costco warehouses in Japan and they’re looking to expand further.
I visited Costco just outside of Tokyo in 2026, so check out the video above to get a feel of what Costco Japan is like as I walk through the warehouse.
How much is the membership?
Executive membership: 10,560 JPY / year
Business membership: 5,280 JPY / year
Gold star membership: 5,280 JPY / year
You can use an overseas Costco membership to shop in Japan. When you scan your membership at the entrance, it may come up as “international” or as an error, but the staff will clear it if they need to.
For online ordering and delivery, a Japanese membership is required.
What payments do they accept?
Costco Japan’s branded credit card, the “Costco Global Card”, is Mastercard, and they typically only accept Mastercard.
If you have an overseas Costco credit card, you can use it even if it’s not Mastercard. The cashier may have to call a manager over, but it’s accepted.
You can pay by inserting your credit card, tapping with Apple Pay, or paying with cash.
Here are some of my favorites at the Tamasakai Costco location, just west of Tokyo.
Japanese Wagyu beef steaks. A4 grade. From Hokkaido and Ibaraki prefectures
Japanese Wagyu beef, sliced for stir fry. A4 grade. From Tochigi and Iwate prefectures.
Japanese Wagyu beef, sliced for yakiniku BBQ. A4 grade. From Hokkaido and Iwate prefectures.
Korean bulgogi
Beef garlic rice
Fresh fish for sashimi, and 50-piece sushi platters
Uni packed in salt water
Ikura. From Hokkaido prefecture.
Hawaiian ahi (tuna) poke
Salmon
Nihonshu (Japanese sake) and other alcohol
Egg tarts
If you want to compare, here’s the first video I made at Costco Japan in 2020:
Keep in touch:
My preferred banks in the U.S and Japan, how to use Apple Pay when in Japan, and the credit cards that I use.