Japanese cuisine lovers only have a few choices in this great city to pick up basic cooking staples.
Japantown in Markham, Sanko downtown and Sandown in Etobicoke
This store is a new one for me but they have been around forever it seems. It is what I enjoy best and that is to buy local and support the small business owner.
They have a great selection of items for making japanese food (sushi but hey the recipe book includes lots of stuff like Tonkatsu for example) and a great freezer section as well.
The owners are an awesome couple and were so helpful in explaining to me the merits of Kelp and finding the coloured Mochi ice cream I was craving.
For 2015 I suggest you visit Muji for household items, drop by the Japanese Cultural Center for art and make your last stop Sandown. Watch Seven Samurai and be a better gaijin because of it.