Ochinity lays out mail-order Japanese food products in one consistent format. What matters most to us is that every product page shows the same points, in the same order.
What this site does
- We check the same five points, in the same order, for every product: portion size / storage and shelf life / ingredients and allergen labelling / suitability as a gift / what reviews tend to say
- Every article states where the information came from and the date it was collected
- Where the maker does not publish something, we write “not confirmed” rather than fill it in by guesswork
What this site does not do
- We do not buy or taste the products we cover, so we do not rate flavour
- We do not use unsupported superlatives such as “the best in Japan” or “guaranteed delicious”
- We do not certify halal, kosher or vegan status
Where the information comes from
- Product specifications (portion size, origin, storage, best-before date, shipping method): the maker’s official website
- Reviews: Min-hyo, Rakuten Ichiba product reviews, and comparison media. When we quote, we write “reviews say that…” and name the source site and the date we read it
About prices
Prices change often, so we do not publish them in articles. Please check the purchase page.
How “Find by category and price” classifies products
On the “Find by category and price” page, you can narrow down articles by category, price range and gift options, in any combination. We classify products as follows.
Price ranges
- Ranges are based on tax-inclusive prices on Rakuten Ichiba. Shipping and coupon discounts are not included
- When a product is on sale, we classify it by the shop’s regular price, because the range would otherwise change as soon as the sale ends
- There are five ranges: up to ¥3,000, ¥3,000–5,000, ¥5,000–10,000, ¥10,000–20,000 and over ¥20,000. The upper limit belongs to its own range (exactly ¥5,000 falls in ¥3,000–5,000)
- When a product comes in several sizes or quantities, each option is classified by its own price, so the same product may appear in more than one range
- Search results show only the price range and the date we checked it, not the price itself. Prices change, so please check the purchase page for the latest price
- We check prices against Rakuten Ichiba every day. If a price turns out to have changed, or more than eight days have passed since it was last checked, the product is removed from price-range searches until we check it again
Review ratings
- Ratings are the average score on Rakuten Minna no Review. They are not Ochinity’s assessment of taste or quality
- Rating bands (★4.7 and up / ★4.4–4.69 / ★4.1–4.39 / ★3.8–4.09) apply to products with 30 or more reviews; products with fewer are listed under “Fewer than 30 reviews”
- Products averaging below 3.8 are not given a rating band
- Scores are as of the date they were checked and change afterwards
Gift options
We apply the same standard as the “Suitability as a gift” section of each article. If an article says something could not be confirmed, we do not apply that option.
- Noshi gift paper available: the product page confirms that noshi (Japanese gift paper) can be added
- Gift box or wrapping: the product comes in a gift box (including a simple gift box), or gift wrapping can be selected
- Oseibo (year-end gift), Ochugen (summer gift), Uchiiwai (thank-you gift): the product page confirms that noshi with that inscription can be selected. A word appearing in the product name or description is not enough
- Temiyage (visiting gift): can be stored at room temperature or keeps for a while, and a carrier bag can be added
- All gift-ready items: any of the above applies
The types of noshi, the wrapping, and whether you can choose a delivery date may vary by shop and by how you order (for example, next-day delivery). If you are buying a gift, please check the purchase page before you order.
How “Browse by region” classifies articles
On “Browse by region”, articles are grouped by the prefecture where the seller (or the processor) is based — not by where the ingredients come from. Crab from imported stock that is processed in Hokkaido is listed under Hokkaido. For the origin of the ingredients, see “Product details” in each article.
- We only classify an article when we could confirm the location in the seller or processor row of “Product details”, or in the company information / Specified Commercial Transactions Act notice on the product page. If we cannot confirm it, we leave it unclassified
- If the seller and the processor are in different prefectures and the article states both, we list up to two
- For furusato nozei, we use the prefecture of the local government receiving the donation
- Products from sellers located outside Japan are classified as “Outside Japan”
- Region pages with fewer than three articles are not shown to search engines
How we cover furusato nozei
Thank-you gifts are covered with the same five checks as every other product, plus the local government receiving the donation, the donation amount (per donation site, with the date we checked it) and when it ships.
- We do not use wording that presents a donation as shopping (“good value”, “return rate”, “effectively 2,000 yen”), and we do not cover loyalty points
- We do not calculate your deduction or limit, and we do not advise on filing. For the rules, see the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the National Tax Agency
The same maker’s product can exist twice: as a normal listing, and as a thank-you gift on a local government’s page. We treat them as separate products, and only call them equivalent when the quantity and specification match. We never place the sale price and the donation amount side by side to show a difference or a ratio.
See the Furusato Nozei page for details.
About advertising
Articles on this site contain PR and affiliate links. If a product is bought through one of them, we may receive a commission from the seller. Whether a commission exists does not affect which products we cover, or the order in which they appear.
About the accuracy of what we publish
What we publish reflects the information-collection date stated in each article, and the maker may change it afterwards. If food allergies or dietary restrictions affect your health, always check the latest labelling on the maker’s site or the purchase page.
If you find an error
If you notice a mistake, please let us know through the contact form. We will check it and correct it.