After returning to our hotel in Kuta from a Nusa Lembongan tour, we decided to visit the supermarket inside Lippo Mall Kuta, just across from where we were staying.
I had seen online reviews saying that supermarkets in Bali were a good place to look for souvenirs such as coffee, so I was curious to see what we could find.
Supermarkets in Bali are surprisingly fun to explore.
The atmosphere felt very different from the supermarkets I usually visit in Japan, and simply walking around looking at the fruit, vegetables, coffee and snacks was enjoyable.
As of 2026, Lippo Mall Kuta still has a supermarket. The mall's official information currently lists PRIMO SUPERMARKET on the LG floor.
The store and product selection may have changed since our visit, so the photos and products below show what the supermarket was like at the time of our trip.
So Many Mangoes at Lippo Mall Kuta!
Look at all these mangoes!
It is unusual to see this many mangoes displayed together in a supermarket in Japan.
They were still quite green.
When we tried mangoes during this trip, they were not as sweet as I had expected.
They almost tasted more like a vegetable than a sweet tropical fruit.
The mangoes I had eaten in Taiwan were much sweeter, so it made me realize how different the same fruit can taste depending on where it is grown and how ripe it is.
We Found Salak, Also Known as Snake Fruit
This unusual fruit is called salak, also known as snake fruit because of its brown, scaly skin.
It is the fruit of a type of palm tree.
Inside, the flesh is pale in color and has a mildly sweet taste.
It is not something we often see in Japan.
Salak contains nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium and beta-carotene, and it is also traditionally eaten locally as a fruit believed to be gentle on the stomach.
We Tried a Fruit Sample... and My Stomach Hurt Afterwards
There was a pineapple sample available, so of course I tried it.
The piece I had was less sweet than I expected and also seemed a little less juicy.
I had always imagined tropical fruit to be incredibly sweet, so this surprised me.
It had a very simple, natural flavor — almost like something grown in a planter on a balcony!
And then, by coincidence or not, my stomach started hurting afterwards.
I cannot say for sure that the sample was the cause, but when trying food overseas, it is always a good idea to pay attention to hygiene and how your body is feeling.
Coffee Shelves and Japanese-Style Packaging
This was part of the coffee section.
Even the shapes of the bottles and packages were different from what we usually see in Japan, which made browsing the shelves interesting.
Then I spotted this Japanese-style package and had to take a photo.
It was a rice cracker package decorated with imagery that looked very traditionally Japanese.
It was interesting to see how Japanese culture was represented through product design overseas.
And here is Masahiro looking surprisingly natural carrying the shopping basket.
Although I remember thinking, “Could you at least look a little happier?”（笑）
The Sloped Moving Walkway Was Surprisingly Interesting
One of the things I found most interesting at the supermarket was this sloped moving walkway.
Unlike a typical escalator in Japan, there were no steps.
Instead, it was flat, almost like a conveyor belt running up a slope.
It looked convenient for people with shopping carts, strollers or lots of luggage.
There was also no need to worry about missing a step.
I remember thinking that Japan could use more of these!
On regular escalators in Japan, people often leave one side open for those who want to walk past.
With a long sloped moving walkway like this, walking all the way up would be a lot more effort.
Going down looked like this.
One of the things I enjoy about traveling overseas is noticing everyday things that are completely normal locally but feel unusual to me.
Even simple things like supermarket displays or moving walkways can make a trip interesting.
How We Arranged Our Bali Trip
Our flights, tours, hotels and villa arrangements were organized with the help of
This was our first trip to Bali and our first visit to Southeast Asia, so we had plenty of questions before traveling.
Their friendly and helpful support made us feel much more comfortable preparing for the trip.
