Do you want to experience authentic Japan...but you're in America? In my last visit to the States, finding Japanese stores and restaurants was unavoidable. Imagine my shock when not only did my hometown have so many Japanese stores and restaurants, but the products and experiences were nearly identical to those in Japan!

From anime stores to matcha cafés, ramen restaurants to Japanese beauty, you can find authentic Japanese experiences tucked into several Maryland neighborhoods.

Whether you're a J-culture enthusiast, homesick from a trip to Tokyo, or just hunting for high-quality Japanese products, I got you covered in this guide. Here’s where to go in Maryland and the DMV to feel like you're walking through the streets of Japan.

 

Towson & Baltimore County

🔗 Ebisu Mini Japan – Towson, MD 

Located near Towson Town Center, Ebisu Mini Japan is a mini Japanese goods paradise. From Pocky, instant miso soup, and Ramune, to skincare, kitchen gadgets, and gacha crane machines, it’s like a condensed Akihabara and Don Quijote. You’ll also find Japanese anime figurines and plushies.

Bonus: There's another Ebisu location in Rockville if you're down that way.

🔗 Akira Ramen & Izakaya – Towson, MD

Akira is a chain ramen shop that isn't just ramen, it's an experience. Yes, Akira can be found in many states around the US, but being that it's so close to Ebisu Mini Japan in Towson, allows you to stay in your Japan fantasy even longer. Here you'll find creamy tonkotsu and flavorful miso ramen. Some locations even have robot servers just like many family restaurants in Japan. Honestly, it felt just like a Japanese izakaya when I went to this one in Towson.

🔗 Matcha Café Maiko 

Yet another authentic Japanese sweets cafe in the US. This place offers many matcha sweets like matcha ice cream and matcha drinks that you can find in similar stores in Tokyo. While they don't have any stores (yet) in Maryland, you can find them sprinkled around the US. If you're on the east coast near Maryland, check them out on your next visit to Virginia or Pennsylvania.

🔗 Izakaya 68 – Hunt Valley, MD

After 10 years in Japan, THIS American restaurant seems to hit the Japanese night vibe right on the head. Not far from Towson, this is a great place to unwind after your day of shopping in Towson. The menu of ramen, fries, skewers, tonkatsu, etc. look just like a typical izakaya you'd find in Tokyo. If flying to Tokyo is out of your budget, this would be a great place to get an idea of what izakaya life is like.

Rockville & Montgomery County

🔗 Maruichi Japanese Grocery – Rockville, MD

This is the real deal. Maruichi imports everything from fresh Japanese produce and rice to frozen karaage, mochi, bento items, and even Japanese newspapers. I used to beg my parents to drive me out here just so I can get the manga magazines. 

🔗 Teso Life – Rockville, MD

Like Ebisu Mini Japan in Towson, Teso is like Japanese Target. They have popular Japanese skincare brands like Hada Labo, Shiseido, and Kose, along with housewares, snacks, and even cosplay accessories. 

🔗 Ebisu Japanese Life Store – Rockville, MD

Same name, same great variety. This location tends to carry slightly more grocery options than the Towson branch.

Howard County

🔗 Matcha Time Gift Shop – Ellicott City, MD

This is a cute gifts store that has Japanese-style and Japanese-inspired items —kokeshi dolls, ceramics, incense, and more. It's a peaceful, slow-paced spot that feels like a Kyoto alley shop.

 

Japanese Groceries Across Maryland

While Lotte and H Mart are Korean-based markets, they stock a solid selection of Japanese food essentials— Kewpie mayo, S&B curry, udon, rice crackers, dashi, and more. My Japanese fiance and I shopped at these stores for authentic Japanese ingredients for our cooking while we were back in Maryland.

Notable Locations:

• H Mart: Catonsville, Ellicott City, Rockville, Frederick
• Lotte Plaza Market: Germantown, Ellicott City, Catonsville

These stores are perfect for stocking up on Japanese sauces, frozen snacks, and instant noodles.

 

Honorable Mention:

🔗 Hana Market (Washington, DC)

Just outside Maryland, Hana Market in DC is an old-school Japanese grocery shop. It’s small but packed with rare finds: Japanese candy, curry blocks, rice cookers, seasonal goods, and imported magazines. I wish I knew of this place when I was living in DC.

 

Final Thoughts

While I already knew of many of the shops in this blog before I moved to Japan, recently visiting the MId-Atlantic area of the States really showed me how much the US has been adapting to Japanese food and culture. Honestly, a lot of my souvenirs that I bought for friends and family could have been bought right there in the States. 

You don’t have to fly to Tokyo to enjoy authentic Japanese flavors, fashion, and culture. Maryland offers a growing range of Japanese stores and restaurants that cater to both casual fans and hardcore J-culture lovers.

Whether you're shopping for matcha face masks, grabbing a bowl of ramen served by a robot, or hunting for your next favorite anime figurine, Maryland and the DMV area as a wide and growing variety of Japanese products that makes experiencing authentic Japan relatively easily.