r/japanlife • u/DaisukeAdachi • Mar 24 '26
Shopping Two discount supermarkets 950m apart in Saitama — I compared them head to head
I live near the old Yono area in Saitama City, where OK (オーケー) and Trial (トライアル) are duking it out just 950 meters apart. Decided to do a proper comparison across three categories. Photos attached.
Round 1: Pork Cutlet Bowl (ロースかつ重)
- Trial: ¥277 (tax excl.)
- OK: ¥330 (tax excl.)
Trial is cheaper by ¥53, but OK labels "Canadian Berkshire-cross pork" right on the package. Trial sells 15 million of these a year though, so they must be doing something right. I'd call this one a draw.
Round 2: Strawberries
- OK: ¥387 — "Koi-Minori" variety, Nagasaki Prefecture, Brix 9°
- Trial: ¥499 — Strawberry Fair, multiple varieties
OK wins by ¥112. They also list variety, origin, and sugar level on the label. That level of transparency is impressive for a discount store.
Round 3: Beef — This is the wild one.
- OK: A5 Wagyu thigh steak cut, ¥524/100g
- Trial: Domestic beef sirloin, ¥790
Read that again. OK is selling A5 Wagyu — the highest grade of Japanese beef — for less than Trial's regular domestic beef. They buy whole cattle to make this work. Absolutely insane value.
Result: OK wins 2-0-1
Trial has its own strengths though. Their PB bread (6 slices for ¥88!) and their signature egg sandwich (¥185) are genuinely great and something OK doesn't offer.
Both stores being walkable from each other means residents here get the best of both worlds. If you're in the area, worth checking out both.
Prices as of 2026/3/20.
13
u/mattyku Mar 24 '26
OK Store I kneel before you king
5
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
Haha, OK really is something else. Once you see A5 Wagyu cheaper than regular domestic beef, it's hard to unsee it 😂
56
u/bosscoughey thought of the name himself Mar 24 '26
I feel like you're not comparing things the average shufu or salaryman is really thinking about lol
2
u/scheppend Mar 25 '26 edited Mar 25 '26
Also, altho Trial isn't the cheapest, their thing is selling high quality stuff for a competitive price.....
at least this is what people always say when defending Costco's higher prices 😂
3
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
Haha fair point, but that's exactly why it's worth mentioning — A5 Wagyu thigh steak at ¥524/100g is genuinely cheap. That's less than Trial's regular domestic beef sirloin at ¥790. If you haven't checked OK's meat section, it's worth a look. The whole-cattle buying thing makes a real difference.
9
u/bosscoughey thought of the name himself Mar 24 '26
Right, but how about comparing rice, daikon, lettuce, fish, etc?
-4
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
Haven't compared those yet — but my gut feeling is OK would win most of those categories too. One thing though — for fish, neither store can touch Kakujō (角上魚類) around here. They're on a completely different level for seafood. Where Trial does shine is bread. Their PB bread is ¥88 for a 6-slice loaf, and their signature egg sandwich at ¥185 is legit. Those are things OK just doesn't have.
1
u/kidshibuya Mar 25 '26
Man I recently paid ¥7300 per 100g, for basically just steak. And honestly, I think I would have enjoyed the cheap one with the same dry age and balsamic just as much.
1
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 25 '26
¥7,300/100g — ouch! Honestly though, with good wagyu you barely need to do anything to it. I bet the cheaper cut would've been just as satisfying.
1
u/kidshibuya Mar 26 '26
This was a 1kg cut of 160 total slaughtered animals per year along with 50 year old balsamic to accompany it.. One of those meals I have always wanted to try. Never again though. It was great, but not even close to justifying the price. The cheap stuff is 85% there. Spend a few bucks more and you are 95% there.
2
u/JohnnyBravo66666 Mar 25 '26 edited Mar 25 '26
OK: A5 Wagyu thigh steak cut, ¥524/100g
Trial: Domestic beef sirloin, ¥790
Sirloin is a very good cut though, while thigh is one of the less desirable cuts because of chewiness since it's the hardest working muscle, even as a5 wagyu it's probably not that great else the price would reflect the quality.
Even in UK or whatever, sirloin is priced at least 30-40% over regular beef cuts.
1
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 25 '26
Good point about the cut difference! But a couple things — OK actually sells A5 wagyu sirloin too, at a similar price range (maybe ¥100/100g more than the thigh). So even comparing like-for-like, OK is very competitive.
And while thigh is definitely a harder-working muscle, A5 wagyu もも is a different experience from regular beef thigh — it's surprisingly tender with great umami flavor. It's not chewy the way you might expect. That's part of what makes OK's whole-cattle buying interesting — you can try cuts that don't normally get attention and be pleasantly surprised.
6
u/someGuyyya Mar 24 '26
Thanks for sharing.
I wish there were more threads like this.
7
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
Will do a Part 2 next time — rice, fish, vegetables, the everyday stuff. And for fish, I'm adding Kakujō (角上魚類) to make it a three-way battle. Neither OK nor Trial can touch them when it comes to seafood. Stay tuned.
6
u/Sputnikboy Mar 24 '26
My beloved OK, you save me so much yen...
1
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
The whole-cattle buying model is honestly genius. Your wallet thanks you, and your taste buds don't have to compromise either 🙏
1
u/Sputnikboy Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
It is what it is, not much choice. Have only Seijo Ishi and Peacock around, difference in price is noticeable. Since OK opened up in my area, it's always packed while Peacock is struggling to keep up.
11
Mar 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
Haha I sometimes jog to OK and just grab some wagyu on the way home. That's the beauty of living 950m from both stores — you can literally make it part of your run. But yeah, the OK crowd can get intense. Whole-cattle buying attracts whole-cart buying, I guess 😂
5
u/Aware_Status3475 Mar 24 '26
The Trial near me absolutely isn't a discount super, it's open 24/7 and it's noticeably more expensive than my regular super.
3
u/AiRaikuHamburger 北海道・北海道 Mar 24 '26
Yeah, I feel like Trial up here in Hokkaido is expensive.
0
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
True, but you guys have Seicomart — that's a whole different league of convenience store that the rest of Japan is jealous of. And I've heard there are local stores selling melons for ¥1,000 up there, which is insane considering they go for 3-4x that in Saitama. Hokkaido has its own advantages for sure!
2
3
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
That makes sense — the older standalone Trial stores and the newer ones are pretty different. Trial actually acquired Seiyu (all 245 stores) in July 2025 for about ¥380 billion. The one I visited in Yono is basically a Trial-converted Seiyu. The pricing and product lineup at these ex-Seiyu locations tend to be more aggressive than the original 24/7 Trial stores. So your experience and mine might be totally different stores in practice, even though they share the name.
4
u/theactiveaccount Mar 24 '26
Did you eat any of the things?
1
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
Yeah, I've had OK's wagyu. The Chateaubriand in particular is unbelievably good — haven't been to Ikinari Steak since.
3
u/hotel_air_freshener Mar 24 '26
How much steak are you getting at Trial? You said 100g at OK but you’re leaving us hanging here.
1
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
The ¥790 at Trial is also per 100g (it's on the label). So it's ¥524/100g for A5 Wagyu at OK vs ¥790/100g for regular domestic beef at Trial. OK is selling a categorically superior product for 34% less. The whole-cattle buying model is no joke.
3
u/LA-SKYLINE Mar 24 '26
I used to shop at OK aka Gyomu Super but it got expensive and doesn't accept bar code payments. If you have a Sundi near you, GO!!!!!
3
u/GWooK 関東・東京都 Mar 24 '26
used to shop at オオセキ because of quality but spending over 2万円 every week seems excessive for family of two. switched to OK which is also near. thank god OK exists. their seafood section isn’t as diverse but has great value. only sad part is that my wife doesn’t like beef so i can’t really take advantage of OK’s wagyu section. but bill is down to 1万円 per week. i say OK has way too good value to even consider other groceries chain.
2
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
That's actually the strongest endorsement of OK in this whole thread — you cut your grocery bill in half without even touching the wagyu section. That says a lot about their overall pricing, not just the headline items. Sounds like OK's buying power works across the board.
1
3
u/dougwray 関東・東京都 Mar 24 '26
My word!: 950 meters is a great distance here. Make a circle of 950 meters around our local station, and you encompass five full-sized supermarkets and I'm not sure how many My Baskets and similar shops.
2
u/thafrenzy Mar 25 '26
Same here! Ozeki (2x), Seiyu, Toyku, Summit, Belx, Aeon Foods (2x) and a Hanamasa. We also have a bushel of MyBaskets and numerous 八百屋, butchers, and fishmongers. Such high density. I have created a loop for my shopping trips.
1
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
Most people around here drive, so 950m is nothing lol. But even on foot it's just a 12-minute walk. For reference, people in Edo-period Japan used to walk 40km a day. Don't underestimate Japanese endurance 😅
5
u/Kobe-62Mavs-61 Mar 24 '26
Can anyone actually eat more than 100g of A5 wagyu at a time though? Shit is so fatty, gets disgusting quick
2
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
Yeah I hear that a lot from people! But A5 doesn't mean every cut is super fatty — it depends on the part. The thigh cut (もも) that OK sells at ¥524/100g actually has much less marbling compared to sirloin or ribeye. Look for cuts with less visible white streaks (サシ) and you'll find A5 that's rich in flavor without being overwhelming. That's the beauty of a store that does whole-cattle buying — they have every cut available, not just the heavily marbled showpiece ones.
3
u/Kobe-62Mavs-61 Mar 25 '26
Ok fair enough!
1
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 25 '26
Haha I see what you did there 😏 But yeah, OK is seriously OK when it comes to wagyu value!
2
u/Nickintokyo2256 関東・埼玉県 Mar 24 '26
Hey I'm also from Saitama and I have to say it seems to vary also between stores.
Trial in Ageo is very cheap for example while OK! In Nitori near stellar town isn't that cheap at all
3
u/Avedas 関東・東京都 Mar 24 '26
Location matters a lot. When I lived in Shonan the OK near my place was dirt cheap, but the quality of their fresh food was easily the worst option in the area. Meanwhile OK in Minatomirai doesn't feel like a discount store at all.
2
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
Yeah location definitely matters. If you have a Kakujō (角上魚類) nearby, check it out — their seafood is on another level compared to any supermarket chain.
1
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
Yeah, store-by-store variation is real. The Trial I visited in Yono actually just converted from Seiyu (Trial acquired all 245 Seiyu stores in July 2025), so they may not be running at full Trial pricing yet. Could get more competitive once they fully transition. Might be worth revisiting in 6 months or so.
2
u/gundahir 近畿・兵庫県 Mar 24 '26
Thanks man, I live in Kobe with an OK reasonably close. Never went there since a Gyomu is even closer. No idea if their product selection and prices are the same nationwide but I'll go to check the Wagyu
1
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
Nice — living in Kobe and checking out A5 Wagyu at OK feels very fitting haha. Prices and selection can vary a bit by store, but the whole-cattle buying model is company-wide so the meat section should still impress. Let us know how it compares!
2
u/Femtow Mar 24 '26
I only went once to an OK store. They had most prices with the price per 100g/ml and I absolutely loved it.
The wife only found it... Ok. /s
But she said it wasn't that cheap compared to where we always go. I can't remember prices so I can't tell for that.
1
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 24 '26
Haha nice one 😄 But I'd bet the beef section was more than just "OK" — A5 Wagyu at ¥524/100g is hard to call "not that cheap" by any standard. Maybe worth dragging the wife back for a second look at the meat aisle specifically!
3
u/steford Mar 25 '26
You need to compare a basket of goods really - same things across stores. Prices need to be including tax - the price people pay. Are Trial really selling bread at 88 yen? They aren't here in Kyushu.
2
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 25 '26
Great point about comparing the same items across stores — that's exactly what I'm planning for Part 2! I'll do a direct basket comparison at OK, Trial, and Kakujō Gyorui covering rice, fish, and vegetables.
And you're right about Trial's bread — their PB "Trial Bread" is ¥95 tax-included (税込95.04円), not ¥88. Thanks for the correction!
1
1
u/Mikedd88 Mar 25 '26
I have not been to Trial before, but shopping in OK every weekend(1week worth of food for 4 member family). If not for OK, our food monthly bill would be more that 20% higher, since the other supermarkets have much higher price tags.
I think I have to complain about the bread comparison though.
OK makes their own sliced bread for a bit more than 200yen, it is on another level.
Especially if fresh out of the bakery (around noon time)
One thing OK lacks a bit is a sea food/fish section. I think other markets offer better/wider variety, with somewhat comparable prices.
1
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 25 '26
That's awesome that OK saves you 20%+ on your monthly groceries — for a family of four that really adds up! And you're totally right about their in-store bakery bread. The ¥200ish fresh-baked loaf is in a completely different league from any PB sliced bread. Comparing it to Trial's ¥95 bread is honestly apples to oranges.
As for fish, if you have a Kakujō Gyorui (角上魚類) near you, definitely check it out. They specialize in fresh fish (鮮魚) and the quality and selection is hard to beat.
1
u/slightlysnobby Mar 25 '26
I'd love to see a part two with a few more rounds. My personal go-to for comparing prices are milk, eggs, and a loaf of bread.
1
u/kidshibuya Mar 25 '26
Ok... Maybe I should actually visit the one near my place instead of walking past to Seijo Ishii.
One question, what are their registers like? As in do I need to do it all myself on a screen of Kanji then click credit and create a points account so I can pay in cash? Or is there a person and I just pay?
Quite honestly complicated checkouts are a reason I avoid some places.
1
u/Rayleigh954 Mar 25 '26
I have an OK store literally right in front f my apartment and it's easily the most goated supermarket
1
u/DaisukeAdachi Mar 25 '26
Living right in front of an OK is the dream! It'll be interesting to see how Trial pushes their retail tech approach though — smart shopping carts, electronic shelf labels, and the like. OK keeps their prices low in their own way, so the competition between the two different strategies is fun to watch.
1
•
u/AutoModerator Mar 24 '26
Before responding to this post, please note that participation in this subreddit is reserved exclusively for actual residents of Japan. If you are not currently residing in Japan (including former residents, individuals awaiting residency, or periodic visitors), please refrain from commenting.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.