When you shop for Japanese groceries in Hawaii, start by checking where the stores are in relation to your home or where you are staying; that makes it easier to plan your shopping. This article rounds up Japanese grocery stores in Honolulu, Waikiki, Pearl City and Kailua on Oahu, focusing on the addresses and hours we were able to confirm on each store’s official page.
The best options differ between a day when you just want to pick up a few things in Waikiki and a day when you want to drive and stock up on everyday groceries. This guide does not rank stores by price or selection; it helps you choose based on the area where you live or stay and what you need to buy.
What you’ll learn in this article
- Addresses and officially listed hours for 7 stores: Don Quijote, Marukai, Nijiya, Mitsuwa and Tokyo Central
- How to choose a store around Waikiki and Ala Moana, and in Pearl City and Kailua
- What to do when an official website lists more than one set of hours, and things to keep in mind before a shopping trip
We checked each company’s official pages for store information on October 15, 2026. All times are Hawaii local time. Hours, departments, products and services may change, so please check the latest information at the linked pages before you go. This article covers Oahu and is not a complete list of every store in the state of Hawaii.
7 Japanese grocery stores in Hawaii at a glance
The “When to choose it” column below is our editors’ summary based on location and hours. It is not a ranking that compares product prices or stock.
| Store | Area | Officially listed hours | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don Quijote Honolulu | Honolulu, Kaheka St. | 24 hours | When you want to plan your shopping at any time, including early morning and late at night |
| Don Quijote Pearl City | Pearl City | 6 a.m.–midnight | Shopping trips in the Pearl City area |
| Marukai Wholesale Mart | Honolulu, Kamehameha Hwy. | 7 a.m.–8 p.m. | Days when you are looking for groceries and Japanese foods on the Honolulu side |
| Nijiya University | Honolulu, University Ave. | 9 a.m.–9 p.m. | Shopping around University Ave. |
| Nijiya Ala Moana | Ala Moana Center | Two versions on the official page; check before visiting | Days when you combine errands at the mall with grocery shopping |
| Mitsuwa Hawaii Waikiki | Waikiki | 10 a.m.–9 p.m. | When you want to do your shopping in one trip while staying in Waikiki |
| Tokyo Central Kailua | Kailua | 7 a.m.–10 p.m. | Shopping trips around Kailua |
The 24-hour listing refers to the store as a whole. The pharmacy, tenants, prepared-food sales and so on may not keep the same hours, so if you have a particular department in mind, check it separately.
Stores to choose between in Honolulu and Waikiki
1. Don Quijote Honolulu | The Kaheka Street store, officially listed as open 24 hours
The Honolulu store is an option when you want the widest possible window for fitting shopping into your schedule. If you plan to buy household goods as well as Japanese food, putting together a shopping list before you go helps you organize what to look for in the store.
- Address: 801 Kaheka St., Honolulu, HI 96814
- Officially listed hours: Open 24 hours
- Phone: 808-973-4800
- Official information: Don Quijote Hawaii store locations
If you go late at night, decide in advance how you will get home. How practical walking, the bus or a car is depends on how much you buy. At night, carry only the valuables you need and stay aware of your surroundings.
2. Marukai Wholesale Mart | Marukai on Kamehameha Highway
Marukai’s official website lists sushi, bento (boxed meals), kitchenware and more in addition to Japanese foods. It is an option when you want to look for food and cooking tools on the same day, but check actual stock and sales hours at the store.
- Address: 2310 Kamehameha Hwy., Honolulu, HI 96819-4531
- Officially listed hours: Daily, 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Phone: 808-845-5051
- Official information: Marukai Hawaii store information / Marukai Hawaii official website
Don’t plan on walking there the way you might to a store in Waikiki; check the round trip from the address. If you are going for a sale, also check the dates, eligible items and quantity limits in the official flyer so you don’t confuse it with an old announcement.
3. Nijiya University | Nijiya on University Avenue
The University store is in a different location from the Ala Moana store. Searching a map for just “Nijiya” may lead you to the other store, so when you share where you are going, we recommend using both the store name and the address.
- Address: 1009 University Ave., Honolulu, HI 96826
- Officially listed hours: Daily, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Phone: 808-979-8977
- Official information: Hawaii section of the Nijiya store list
In the official store list, the regular hours and temporary hours fields for the University store both show 9 a.m.–9 p.m. However, hours for the year-end and New Year period and similar times are announced separately, so don’t assume the usual hours apply on holidays.
4. Nijiya Ala Moana | When you want to combine it with shopping at the mall
The Ala Moana store is listed at an Ala Moana Center address. Even if you buy groceries in the middle of shopping or errands, planning to visit the supermarket last makes your bags easier to manage, so you are not walking around for a long time with refrigerated items.
- Address: 1450 Ala Moana Blvd. #1380, Honolulu, HI 96814
- Hours: The official page shows more than one version, so check with the store
- Phone: 808-589-1121
- Official information: ALA MOANA STORE section of the Nijiya store list
Note on hours: When we checked, the official store list showed two sets of hours: 9 a.m.–9 p.m. as temporary hours and 10 a.m.–9 p.m. as regular hours. Don’t assume either one is the hours currently in effect; check with the store, especially if you plan to visit first thing in the morning or close to closing time.
5. Mitsuwa Hawaii Waikiki | Mitsuwa at International Market Place
The Waikiki store is listed at an address inside International Market Place. If you are looking for groceries or a meal while staying in Waikiki, checking the route from your lodging and the store’s location inside the building beforehand makes it easier to fit shopping into your plans.
- Address: 2330 Kalakaua Ave. #250, Honolulu, HI 96815
- Officially listed hours: Daily, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Phone: 808-489-9020
- Official information: Mitsuwa Hawaii Waikiki store page
Past notices about changes in hours and the current store page may list different hours. This article uses the hours on the store page. If you are concerned about the hours of the building or individual departments, check directly with the store.
Shopping options toward Pearl City and Kailua
6. Don Quijote Pearl City | Shopping until late in the Pearl City area
The Pearl City store’s officially listed hours are 6 a.m. to midnight. Its hours differ from the Honolulu store’s, so don’t make plans on the assumption that every Don Quijote store is open 24 hours.
- Address: 850 Kamehameha Hwy., Pearl City, HI 96782
- Officially listed hours: 6 a.m.–midnight
- Phone: 808-453-5500
- Official information: Don Quijote Pearl City store page
Even when you combine the trip with errands or shopping on the west side, decide when to buy fresh foods with the trip home in mind. If you are shopping as a family, it is easier to get around if you also decide who will carry the bags on the way back and where the refrigerated items will go.
7. Tokyo Central Kailua | Looking for Japanese groceries on the Kailua side
The Kailua store’s official page lists sushi and bento, Japanese foods and snacks, household goods and more. It is an option on days when you want to shop around Kailua. Avoid plans where you buy groceries and then spend a long time at the beach or elsewhere; plan to buy anything that needs refrigeration on your way home.
- Address: 590 Kailua Road, Kailua, HI 96734
- Officially listed hours: Daily, 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Phone: 808-266-4004
- Official information: Tokyo Central Kailua store page
This article uses the hours on Tokyo Central’s own store page. If you see different times in the shopping center’s store listing or in older articles, check that day’s hours with the store.
Shopping that connects you with Japanese food culture, and preparing before you go
Japanese grocery stores are not only places to find your usual Japanese seasonings and ingredients; their official flyers and event announcements can also introduce you to foods from different regions of Japan. However, regional food fairs and seasonal items are available only for limited periods, so it is important not to conclude from a past announcement that something is sold year-round.
- Make a shopping list: Divide it into groceries, seasonings and household goods, and check your refrigerator and the cooking facilities where you are staying.
- Bring an insulated bag: Decide how you will get refrigerated and frozen items home before you buy them, and follow the storage instructions on the product.
- Decide how you will get there: Think ahead about whether you can carry your purchases on foot or transport them by bus or rideshare. Check travel times for any particular mode of transportation with route information on the day.
- Check parking terms: Parking fees and validation requirements vary by location, so this article does not describe parking as free across the board.
- Check product details: Don’t rely only on photos or past purchases for allergen labeling and ingredients; check the label on the product itself.
If you are looking for Japanese grocery stores on the mainland, see also our roundup of Japanese grocery stores in Los Angeles and Torrance and our roundup of Japanese grocery stores in New York and New Jersey. Store locations differ from city to city, so even when traveling, we recommend planning around the addresses.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any stores where I can shop late at night?
According to the official store list, Don Quijote Honolulu is open 24 hours and the Pearl City store is open until midnight. Check the store’s overall hours separately from the sales hours of individual departments and tenants. Also arrange your transportation for late at night.
If I’m staying in Waikiki without a car, which store should I check first?
One approach is to start with Mitsuwa in Waikiki, checking the route from your lodging and how much you plan to buy. If you plan to head toward Ala Moana, Nijiya is also an option. Which stores are within walking distance depends on where you are staying, so we do not give a single travel time for everyone.
Are the usual hours in effect at Thanksgiving and over the New Year holidays?
Hours may change from the regular schedule. Official pages sometimes still show holiday hours from previous years, so check which year and dates they apply to. If you can’t confirm the special hours for 2026, don’t assume the regular hours apply; the surest way is to contact the store.
You might also like: 3 farmers markets on Oahu
Summary
On Oahu, Japanese grocery stores are not limited to the Honolulu and Waikiki area; there are options in Pearl City and Kailua as well. Thinking in terms of where the store is relative to your home or lodging, its hours, and what you will carry home makes it easier to plan both everyday shopping trips and shopping during a stay.
In particular, the official page for Nijiya’s Ala Moana store lists more than one set of hours, so we recommend checking right before you visit. For prices, stock, sales and parking terms as well, don’t rely only on older articles; check each store’s latest information.
Sources and references (checked October 15, 2026)
- Don Quijote Hawaii: Store locations
- Don Quijote Pearl City: Store information
- Marukai Hawaii: Store information
- Marukai Hawaii: Official website
- Nijiya Market: Store locations
- Mitsuwa Marketplace: Hawaii Waikiki
- Tokyo Central: Kailua
This article is also available in Japanese.
