TRIAL

Quick Facts

What it is

TRIAL traces its roots to Asahiya, a secondhand shop opened in Fukuoka in 1974. Its predecessor adopted the TRIAL Company name in 1984 and developed point-of-sale software; the first discount-store TRIAL opened in Onojo in 1992, followed by the first supercenter in Kitakyushu in 1996. Today it operates formats including Supercenter TRIAL, Mega Center TRIAL and TRIALsmart, rather than one standard warehouse design. At the end of October 2026, TRIAL Holdings separately reported 386 TRIAL-format stores and 243 Seiyu stores. Some branches, such as Island City in Fukuoka and TRIALsmart Narita, post 24-hour food-shopping hours, but their departments and cart schedules may be shorter.

The Skip Cart (スキップカート) is a self-scanning trolley with a tablet and barcode scanner at participating branches. It shows a running total and eligible coupons while you shop. Register a TRIAL prepaid card or SU-PAY first; you can register a physical card without an identity document, but sufficient prepaid value is required by checkout. An attendant may check the cart before you pass through the checkout gate, so an uninterrupted exit is not guaranteed. One TRIAL specialty is the ロースかつ重 pork cutlet rice bowl, which the company advertises from ¥299 including tax, depending on branch and availability.

How to order

Step 1: Choose a Store and Check Its Actual Hours

• Use the TRIAL store finder to check the exact branch, product sections, parking and services. A free, large rental-car parking area is not guaranteed at every format.
• For example, Island City in Fukuoka and TRIALsmart Narita display 24-hour opening, but Island City lists its service counter at 9:00–22:00 and Narita lists car goods and appliances at 9:00–22:00.
• Choose a standard basket, or use a Skip Cart at a branch that lists レジカート. The cart operates only during its posted service hours, commonly around 9:00–21:00, even at some 24-hour stores.

Step 2: Set Up and Use Skip Cart (Participating Branches Only)

• Register a TRIAL prepaid card at an in-store terminal or set up SU-PAY. The physical prepaid card can be registered without presenting ID; a card or app registration is required even if you initially have a zero balance.
• Scan the prepaid-card or SU-PAY barcode on the cart screen and enter the card PIN if requested. Scan each product barcode before putting the product in the basket; choose the screen option for produce without barcodes.
• View the running total and any displayed coupons. Correct unwanted items using the cart screen; before checkout, ensure the prepaid account has enough funds and follow staff directions at the gate.

Step 3: Shop for Food and Supplies Available at That Branch

• Prepared foods (惣菜): Where stocked, look for the official ロースかつ重, advertised from ¥299 including tax. Ready-to-eat meals, sushi and bento availability and prices differ by store.
• Fresh groceries: Compare produce and meat prices at the selected store. Do not assume every branch sells Japanese Black wagyu or a particular regional product.
• Household and outdoor goods: Stores with those sections may stock car supplies or camping equipment. Fuel canisters cannot be carried in either cabin or checked airline baggage; check your airline and local campsite rules.

Step 4: Checkout with a Basket or Skip Cart

• With Skip Cart, tap the checkout control, choose any bag charge and check the prepaid or SU-PAY balance. Staff may verify the basket; then go through the dedicated gate and collect the receipt. A direct credit-card payment at the cart is not the standard process.
• With a standard basket, follow the available staffed or self-service register signs at your branch; checkout equipment differs.
• Direct credit-card checkout is limited to certain stores. Some stores instead offer credit-card charging of SU-PAY or TRIAL prepaid balances; check the posted accepted cards and have a backup payment method.

Step 5: Tax-Free Shopping at Participating TRIAL Branches

• TRIAL offers tax-free service at selected stores. Its official directory marks Supercenter Island City and Supercenter Wakamatsu in Fukuoka with 免税（TAX-Free）; neither listing justifies the claim that only mall counters qualify.
• Search for the 免税・Taxfree service filter in TRIAL’s official directory and ask the chosen location about tax-free purchase registration, eligible products and its current refund procedure. Do not infer coverage from the building type.
• For qualifying purchases made at an approved tax-free shop from November 1, 2026, Japan uses the following refund procedure:
  1. Pay the tax-inclusive price on a qualifying purchase, generally at least ¥5,000 excluding tax at the participating shop.
  2. Complete the shop’s purchase registration using its supported passport/identity process. Agree how any refund will be provided by the shop or its operator.
  3. Leave Japan within 90 days and complete customs export confirmation at the departure airport or seaport before baggage check-in, carrying all qualifying goods. The green decision completes confirmation; a red decision means customs must inspect the items. Goods consumed in Japan do not qualify.
  4. After successful customs confirmation, receive the tax refund by the retailer’s or provider’s arranged method. Do not assume cash collection at an airport kiosk or a refund to the original card.

What to order first

1. ロースかつ重 — Pork Cutlet Rice Bowl (from ¥299 with Tax)

• Japanese Name: ロースかつ重（公式掲載商品、三元豚を使用）
• Price: From ¥299 including tax (¥277 before tax) on TRIAL’s official recommended-products page; actual price and stock depend on the store.
• Why Consider It: TRIAL’s popular rice bowl features pork cutlet, egg and bonito-based dashi, with a recipe adapted to regional tastes. The company reported roughly 12 million bowls sold between May 2024 and April 2025; that dated figure does not establish today’s sales.

2. Fresh Meat and Produce Where Sold

• Japanese Name: 精肉・青果（取扱店舗で確認）
• Price: Check meat and produce price labels at the chosen branch; origin, weight and grade change the price.
• Why Consider It: For guests with kitchen access, fresh ingredients may be useful for self-catering. The branch’s own product departments determine whether meat, vegetables or particular cuts are stocked.

3. Household and Camping Supplies (Check Local Stock)

• Japanese Name: 日用品・アウトドア用品（店舗による）
• Price: Check current branch shelves for the specific stove, cooler or accessory; no chain-wide price range is established.
• Why Consider It: Camping and car accessories may be useful while traveling, but purchasing fuel for international air travel is unsuitable: butane fuel cartridges are prohibited in both carry-on and checked airline baggage. Cook only where the facility’s rules permit it.

4. Mineral Water and Tea for Travel

• Japanese Name: 阿蘇くじゅうの天然水（2L）・お茶類
• Price: TRIAL advertises its 2-liter Aso-Kuju mineral water from ¥59 including tax (¥55 before tax). Actual in-store prices vary; tea prices are not established by this listing.
• Why Consider It: An inexpensive 2-liter bottle can help on a driving trip. Buy the quantity you can safely transport; compare any tea or sports-drink offers at the local store.

5. Prepared Sushi at Selected Stores

• Japanese Name: 北海尽くし（公式商品例、品揃えは店舗による）
• Price: The official recommended-products page advertises 北海尽くし sushi from ¥599 including tax (¥555 before tax); assortment and price differ by branch.
• Why Consider It: TRIAL describes this selection as including ikura, sea urchin, shrimp, salmon, scallop and snow-crab claw. Availability and any same-day preparation depend on the store; keep chilled items at a safe temperature.

Payment & practical info

• Payment: Ordinary checkout allows cash and listed local payment methods. Direct credit-card payment is available at only some TRIAL branches; Skip Cart requires a registered prepaid card or SU-PAY with sufficient balance for checkout. Some shops allow credit-card balance top-ups.
• Tax-Free: TRIAL’s own directory lists Supercenter Island City and Wakamatsu as tax-free participants. Confirm each store’s refund instructions under the November 2026 scheme before purchasing for export.
• Hours: Island City and Wakamatsu list 24-hour shopping; Island City’s service counter closes at 22:00, and TRIAL says Skip Cart generally operates about 9:00–21:00, with branch exceptions. Narita’s car/electrical goods section lists 9:00–22:00. Other branches differ; no verified 80% or 365-day guarantee.
• Parking: Check the chosen store’s access information; size and fee conditions cannot be assumed for every supercenter or smaller format.
• Discounts: Skip Cart may display cart-only coupons for eligible scanned items, while other promotions differ by store and date. Check the terms shown on the device or in store.

Good to know / Common mistakes

1. Credit Cards, Prepaid Charging and Skip Cart Checkout

TRIAL’s official FAQ says that direct credit-card payment is available only in certain stores, and some stores instead let customers charge a prepaid balance by card. For Skip Cart, register SU-PAY or a TRIAL prepaid card, then ensure it has enough funds before checkout. A credit-card logo at a charging station does not mean the cart accepts the card directly for the purchase.

2. Skip Cart Registration, Scanning and Service Hours

Skip Cart requires an SU-PAY account or registered prepaid card, which can be obtained in store without showing ID. Scan your card or app to start, scan each product before placing it in the basket, and use the tablet to remove unwanted items. Check the prepaid balance, follow any attendant verification and pass the checkout gate for the receipt. Even at a 24-hour store, Skip Cart service hours may be limited, commonly around 9:00–21:00.

3. Tax-Free Food: Export Conditions Apply

Food purchased in a registered tax-free shop may qualify if the legal purchase and export requirements are met. Sushi, bento or meat consumed in Japan cannot be included in a customs-confirmed refundable purchase. Some foods may also face import restrictions at the destination country; check those before buying.

4. Food Allergies and Labels

Check the Japanese allergen label on packaged processed foods and ask staff about ingredients for unpackaged deli items. An unlabeled or unfamiliar food should not be assumed allergen-free; avoid it if you cannot confirm it is safe for your allergy.

Sources

• TRIAL Holdings monthly retail store counts (Oct 2026) (Checked: 2026-11-12)
• TRIAL official store finder and branch hours (Checked: 2026-11-12)
• TRIAL tax-free and payment FAQ (Checked: 2026-11-12)
• TRIAL official product list — ¥299 katsu, ¥59 2-liter water, ¥599 sushi (Checked: 2026-11-12)
• TRIAL Skip Cart step-by-step instructions (Checked: 2026-11-12)
• TRIAL Island City shop and tax-free services (Checked: 2026-11-12)
• TRIAL Wakamatsu shop and tax-free services (Checked: 2026-11-12)
• Japan Tourism Agency — 2026 tax-refund process (Checked: 2026-11-12)
• ANA — restricted items in air travel (Checked: 2026-11-12)