Where do you go when your shopping list includes Italian sausage, French cheeses, Spanish gazpacho, and Belgian beers? If you instantly answered "National Azabu in Hiroo", then you might want to check out the huge Nissin supermarket in Azabu-Juban. Although Nissin started out as a discount meat importer, they now stock an impressive range of imported groceries, wines and beers as well.

Meat is still their strong point, with over a dozen types of cold cuts, a cornucopia of sausages, and unusual items like pheasant, rabbit, and even kangaroo meat, most at reasonable prices (for example, Cornish game hens are just Y375 each). The grocery department is fairly similar to National Azabu's in price and range (they must buy from many of the same distributors), with an inspiring selection of cheeses and a good produce aisle.

Nissin's third-floor wine shop is worth a visit in its own right - particularly for its wide choice of Australian and California wines in the under-Y2000 price range. And if you're a fan of imported beers, you can find Belgian beers like Orval, US microbrews like Red Hook ESB and IPA (Y335 a bottle), and British and Irish brews as well.

There are still a few good reasons to return to National Azabu (better breads and bagels, interesting specialty items like their fresh tahini, a wider delivery area), but Nissin is definitely worth knowing about for their excellent butcher counter and wine shop. They're just one minute from the Azabu-Juban subway station (O-edo and Namboku lines), and they have ample parking if you come by car. Delivery is available for most parts of central Tokyo; ask for details.