Japan Centre Reviews 

I have just been to have lunch at Japan Centre in Stratford Westfield and the experience was disturbing : first the lady who seemed to be the manager was very rude when I asked her whether I could change a bottle of batter for a can of Diet Coke as the water was not cold . Mind i had spent £23 . Then when we sat down to eat the same lady and one of the attendants became involved in a punching and hitting with trays fight with a young man and his dad , who also used trays to join in with the fight . Security came and I assume police was called because the young man was visibly shaken and claiming he was injured . For those of us trying to eat our lunch no explanation or apology for the disturbance . This is sad as I have come here for years and never seen anything like it .

I’m really sorry to write this because I have been a long fan of The Japan Centre and Ichiba for many years. However, after my last few visits to both stores I am left disappointed. I remember the excitement of purchasing products from different prefectures in Japan - learning about their local delicacies and finding products that you only buy at The Japan Centre. After visiting again today all I could find were viral Buldak noodles, basic flavour Pocky, overpriced Miffy items… I wanted to treat myself to some authentic Japanese produce, but instead all I could find were basic “Asian” trending items that you can buy anywhere. Most of the products aren’t authentic Japanese anymore. What happened to it being a cultural food hub? I feel they are catering to a grab and go, Tiktok viral culture now and have lost their identity.

Products are fine, but such an annoying website. I have been shopping at Japan Centre for over a decade. Honestly their old website was better, because you could save favourites, and even save your basket as a shopping list. Nothing saves in your basket between sessions, and you can't even re-order your past items easily. As an online grocery store... this is so basic. I don't know who built the new website for them but the fact this essential functionality is missing is awful. Japan center have lost SO MUCH MONEY from me (and others) by simply not saving my basket, or offering me the option. Makes me want to shop somewhere else completely because they're not thinking about the experience of online shoppers at all.

Very disappointed about customer service to a long term customer. Despite spending probably thousands of pounds with Japan Centre for years and using their loyalty card - we were 1 stamp away from a free meal... but they said the loyalty card was no longer valid and took it away... apparently it 'expired' last month but we were previously told by staff that we could finish off the card before switching to their online system. Today, was about to spend around £100 with them, instead just spent £25 and will not go again out of principle.

The manager said they simply could not do anything. I think this was pointlessly narrow-minded and speaks to the fact that Japan Centre do not give their staff any flexibility on judgement. They genuinely have lost a long-term customer (as well as a sale today 4x bigger than realised). Customers just want a bit of flexibility and to feel valued, and this would have cost JC nothing.

I am writing this due to my recent order and the complete lack of customer support I have experienced while attempting to resolve an issue.

I placed an order with Japan Centre on 02 January 2026. This order was split into two separate shipments. I received one part of the order; however, I was informed by DPD that the second part had perished in transit and that I should contact Japan Centre directly for assistance.

I first contacted Japan Centre via email on 08 January 2026, but I received no response.

On 13 January 2026, I attempted to call your customer service line but was met only with an automated message directing me to the website, after which the call was disconnected. Later that day, I sent another email to the same address, again receiving no reply.

I then attempted to reach out via Facebook Messenger. Although I received no direct response, I was provided with an alternative email address. I emailed this address and received an automated reply stating that I would receive a response within two working days. Unfortunately, no such response was ever received.

Since then, every attempt to contact you by phone has resulted in the same automated message followed by the call terminating. At this stage, it appears that Japan Centre’s customer support is entirely inaccessible. I would not recommend this service at all.

Everything very well packaged, lots of really well wrapped packing paper around the fragile glass drinks. Yes its expensive but at the end of the day importing japanese stuff all the way to the UK isnt cheap!

Delivery was super quick too

Thought there was a great selection of drinks and food on the site, would love if you supplied more home/kitchenware though (and cc lemon, my favorite drink when i was in japan!)

It is my second NATTO order at Japan Centre.As always well packed with lots of ice cubes.

I shop here pretty often and I've always found they have an excellent selection at a pretty reasonable price for the quality. More recently, they've rolled out their loyalty app, which is fine, but for some reason I really appreciated getting my receipt via email when I scanned the app during a purchase. It's the little things

Bought a couple of anime themed snacks for my partners birthday. He loved them! The prices are quite steep but are reflective of prices everywhere in general. Delivery through DPD was on time, so no faults there. Would definitely order online again.

3 products were broken when delivered, plus what sent to me was a FULL BOX OF FOOD NEAR THEIR EXPIRING DATES.
And YIU MUST PAY FIR THE DELIVERY FEE FOR YOUR RETURN

I bought lots of food from this website in mid December. Only two kinds of them had their exact expiring date on the listing tittle of the items and they were on discounts.
THE REST OF THEM HAD NO EXPIRING DATES ON THE TITLE S AT ALL.
When I received the food in Jan (due to I ordered it on the holiday period), I found that part of the noodles that I bought with the expiring dates (12th Feb) on the title, all the food in the box had expiring dates in Feb, March, April, May and June.

What is ridiculous is, the food that I pay FULL PRICE WITHOUT ANY EXPIRING DATES STATED IN THE TITLE OF THE LISTING had earlier expiring dates than the ones with an expiring date of 12th Feb that I payed with a discounted price.

Contacted the company and they argued that only food with expiring dates less than one month would be mentioned in the titles, then what about my situation?
They couldn’t argue and they said it’s a departmental issues, but they won’t pay for their mistake - but I must pay for the delivery to send them back.
Due to the weight of the package, no one on earth would send them back.

The MOST TERRIFYING THING THEY SAID WAS, WE STATED THAT THE FOOD HAS MORE THAN 1 MONTH SHELL LIFE in our descriptions.
This is to say,
ALL THE FOOD YOU ORDER MAY BE HAS A SHELL LIFE ONLY MORE THAN ONE MONTH.

Right. I don’t think the company is even trying to maintain a relationship with new customers, because they are literally getting rid of the products near expiring dates online. Bye forever.

Great selection of Japanese merch.
Good range of food choice.
Place to go if you miss Japan, it's like Japan but with the UK price tag.

I've been living in London for nearly 30 years, and throughout that time, I've always shopped at Japan Centre, even before the advent of online shopping. As a Japanese person, I sometimes long for authentic Japanese food, and I genuinely appreciated the offerings at Japan Centre in the past. However, as the years have passed and the company has expanded, I've noticed significant changes. Prices have increased substantially, and the quality has declined. Shockingly, many of the products are not made in Japan, which is disappointing given the shop’s name, Japan Centre.

If I wanted to purchase Chinese or other Asian products, I would shop elsewhere. What I—and many others—seek are genuine Japanese products from a trusted Japanese retailer. Additionally, the online shopping experience leaves much to be desired, with slow fulfillment and minimal updates.

Overall, I feel let down. If the company is growing, it should take pride in its name and maintain the quality and authenticity that once set it apart.

A great variety of Japanese imported products which are always well-packed and arrive on time.

I ordered some "Frozen Japan Centre Ichiba Kitchen Salmon Sashimi - 160 g", thinking that once defrosted it would be the same as the delicious sushi /sashimi that they sell in-store. I was disappointed to find that it was orange-dyed and tasteless! Why is Japan Centre selling such product!? Shame on them!

I had a matcha red bean bun from JC. I think it's too sweet - understand the matcha crust contains sugar to make the crust crunchy but the red bean paste has a lot of sugar too. Cannot taste the red bean :(
I hope the have the low sugar version (cut out 75% of sugar) so I can taste the red bean.

I am sitting on loo writing this review. I got food poison today from deep fried oyster in store. I have receipts still here in hand.

Great product range and fantastic customer service. I had a problem with my order, I contacted customer service and my issue was dealt with promptly, politely, and efficiently. The items have all arrived in good time, were well packaged, and I was kept updated throughout the shipping process. I would not hesitate to recommend Japan Centre. I don't often leave Trustpilot reviews, but after the wonderful service I received, I felt it only right to do so.

I made an expensive and time consuming trip into London with Japan Center being one of the main shops I wanted to visit for buying some Christmas gifts.

It was only when I got home did I realize the cashier had stuck these BRIGHT red Japan Center stickers on my big, expensive bottles of drink which are for presents. I tried to peel them off but it's taking the label paper off with it so I'm having to leave them on and they look SO ugly!

I understand why they have to be stuck on for security purposes but why not on the glass part so they can be taken off without damaging the item?

Extremely unhappy!!!!!

my review was 1 star first because my order did not arrive but now its 5 stars because when they saw my review they fixed everything and my order came 2 days after

I've ordered multiple times from their online store, delivery is always great and everything is well apckaged.

A great place to get items made in Japan.