A Detailed Joybuy Review (EU Delivery Available)
Buying Japanese groceries in Europe can be painfully expensive.
Instant ramen, mushrooms, ready-made meals…
Have you ever looked at the price tag and thought, “This would cost half as much in Japan”?
Recently, I kept seeing ads for an online store called Joybuy, which claims to sell Japanese and Asian food at lower prices and deliver to most of the EU.
So I decided to test it myself.
✔ Is it actually cheaper?
✔ How do frozen and chilled items arrive?
✔ Are there any downsides?
In this Joybuy review, I’ll share what I ordered, how delivery works, the pros and cons, and whether it’s truly useful for anyone living in Europe who wants to save money on Japanese food.
Note: The service previously operated under the name “Ochama” but has since been rebranded as Joybuy.
Conclusion: Who Should Use Joybuy?
Joybuy is a good option if:
• You don’t have an Asian supermarket nearby
• You want to buy Japanese food online for less
• You enjoy hunting for 1+1 deals and sales
• There’s a pickup point near your home
It’s not perfect, and the system can feel slightly confusing at first.
But by using sales strategically, I saved over €10 on one order.
If you’re curious, it’s worth at least checking their discounted items first.
👉 View current deals on Joybuy >>
What Is Joybuy?
Joybuy is an online shop that sells everything from groceries to household items.
However, its strongest category is clearly Japanese and Asian food.
You can find products that are often difficult to get in regular European supermarkets, including:
• Japanese instant noodles
• Asian sauces and condiments
• Frozen meals
• Japanese snacks and sweets
If you’ve ever searched for “Japanese groceries in Europe” or struggled to find authentic ingredients locally, Joybuy can be a convenient alternative.
One major advantage: they also sell frozen and chilled items.
👉 Browse Japanese groceries on Joybuy >>
Delivery to 6 European Countries
Joybuy (formerly Ochama) currently delivers to:
• The Netherlands
• Belgium
• Germany
• France
• The United Kingdom
• Luxembourg
Delivery coverage within each country may vary, so it’s important to check your postcode before ordering.
If your area is covered, the biggest benefit is obvious:
You can get Japanese food delivered without traveling to a big city.
What I Ordered (With Photos)
For my first order, I focused mainly on sale items.
Total:
9 product types, 14 items
Regular price: €32.17
Paid: €20.32
Saved: €11.85 (about 37% off)
That price difference honestly surprised me.
Being able to bulk-buy Japanese food in Europe at that price feels like a win.
(All prices listed are from November 2023.)
Frozen Ramen
A 3-serving pack of miso ramen was discounted from €4.99 to €3.99.
It arrived fully frozen and properly insulated.
The packaging looked exactly like something you’d find in Japan — and the taste matched.
€3.99 for 3 proper servings in Europe is impressive.
If you ever crave that authentic ramen flavor, having it delivered to your home is a big plus.
Fresh Mushrooms (Chilled Delivery)
On the day I ordered, mushrooms were on sale:
• King oyster mushrooms 200g – €2.19
• Shimeji 150g – €1.59
• Enoki 100g – €0.99
All were part of a 1+1 deal (buy one, get one free).
That meant 900g total for just €4.77.
In many parts of Europe, finding shimeji or enoki locally is difficult.
Everything arrived chilled and fresh.
For anyone struggling to find Japanese mushrooms, this alone makes Joybuy worth considering.
1+1 Deals
One of Joybuy’s biggest strengths is the number of 1+1 promotions.
Rice was included:
1kg for €2.99 — and you receive two bags.
That’s effectively €1.50 per kg.
It was Vietnamese short-grain rice, but perfectly good for everyday use.
Snacks were also strong:
Glico Pocky was €1.99 for two boxes — about €1 per box.
That’s rare in Europe.
Important:
You must manually add two items to your cart to activate the discount. The system does not automatically apply it.
Instant Foods
Shelf-stable products were also reasonably priced:
• Spicy udon – €2
• Japanese curry – €2.39 (discounted from €2.99)
• Hayashi rice roux – €2.19 (from €2.69)
At €2–€2.50 per serving, this is still much cheaper than eating out.
I also checked expiration dates — even the shortest one had more than a month remaining.
The Hayashi roux was valid until next summer.
For pantry stock, that’s reassuring.
👉 Check current Japanese food deals on Joybuy >>
Shipping Costs & Pickup System
Joybuy keeps prices low partly because their delivery system works a bit differently.
Depending on the product, items are either:
• Available for home delivery
• Or must be collected at a pickup point
It may feel confusing at first, but it becomes manageable once you understand the system.
Ambient Products (Room Temperature)
Dry goods, instant food, and household items can usually be:
• Delivered to your home
• Or collected from a pickup point
Home Delivery
Free above a minimum order value.
Below that threshold, a shipping fee applies.
Pickup
Free shipping.
For small orders, pickup is often the better deal.
Important: Home Delivery Changes
Since the rebranding to Joybuy, delivery speed has improved significantly.
In my area, orders arrived the next day.
However, there’s one major change:
No more unattended delivery.
You must be home to receive your order.
This reduces theft risk but can be inconvenient because there’s no precise time slot.
For example:
• SMS said 14:00 → arrived at 12:00
• Once it arrived as early as 8:00
It’s best to order when you know you’ll be home.
Estimated home delivery times:
• Netherlands & Belgium: 2–4 working days
• Other countries: 4–10 working days
Frozen & Chilled Items
Frozen and refrigerated items cannot be delivered to your home.
They must be collected from a pickup location.
This is a key point.
If you don’t have a pickup point nearby, using Joybuy for fresh products may not be practical.
Joybuy Pickup Points
Pickup locations are not post offices.
They are usually partner restaurants or small businesses.
After registering and entering your address, the system suggests nearby pickup options.
In my case, there was one within a 5-minute bike ride, so I chose pickup for all items and avoided shipping fees entirely.
If you have one nearby, it’s very convenient.
Payment Methods
Joybuy supports:
• iDEAL (Netherlands)
• Credit cards (Visa / Mastercard)
• PayPal
• Apple Pay
Despite being an international platform, payment felt secure and straightforward.
👉 Explore products on Joybuy >>
Is Joybuy Actually Cheaper? (Quick Comparison)
| Category | Joybuy | Local Asian Supermarket |
|---|---|---|
| Prices | Sales can be very low | Mostly regular prices |
| 1+1 Deals | Frequent | Depends on store |
| Frozen Food | Yes (pickup only) | Depends on store |
| Delivery | Yes | Usually no |
| Immediate Availability | No | Yes |
Based on personal purchasing experience.
My Honest Experience
To be honest, Joybuy isn’t perfect.
There are convenient aspects — and slightly frustrating ones.
But I saved over €10 on this single order.
And being able to buy Japanese food online in Europe without leaving home is a big advantage.
If you occasionally miss Japanese flavors, it’s an option you’ll likely return to.
Pros
1. Prices Can Be Very Low
Not everything is cheap — but sale items and 1+1 deals are genuinely competitive.
For anyone searching for affordable Japanese groceries in Europe, this is one of the better options I’ve found.
2. Fast Delivery
In my case:
Ordered Tuesday night → received Thursday afternoon.
That was faster than expected.
3. Coupons
I received a €10 coupon upon first registration.
They also run periodic promotions.
One strategy:
Small first order → get coupon → larger second order.
👉 Check available discounts on Joybuy >>
Cons
1. Frozen & Chilled Items Require Pickup
If there’s no pickup point nearby, fresh items may not be practical.
Always check availability before ordering.
2. Excessive Packaging
For 14 items, I received four large boxes.
Frozen goods require insulation — understandable.
But even room-temperature items came in oversized boxes.
If you’re collecting by bike, this can be awkward.
Fortunately, I was allowed to unpack on-site and leave the boxes behind.
3. Website Usability
Shipping restrictions and fees aren’t clearly displayed until late in checkout.
The first order may feel slightly confusing.
After creating an account, it becomes easier.
Final Verdict: Is Joybuy Worth It?
Joybuy is worth trying if:
✔ You don’t have a nearby Asian supermarket
✔ You prioritize price over convenience
✔ You enjoy shopping sales
✔ You have access to a pickup point
It’s not flawless.
But if used strategically, it can significantly reduce the cost of Japanese groceries in Europe.
For me, it’s not an everyday shop — but when there’s a good sale, I’ll definitely use it again.
👉 See what’s available on Joybuy today >>