Nikko Asia Shokuhin

The ingredients for even the most complex Taiwanese recipe can be found at Nikko Asia, a multi-floor shop that specialises in imported goods from the island. Starting on the second floor, you'll find Taiwanese and Chinese seasonings, dried foods, sachima cakes, canned drinks and various types of noodles, including Taiwanese Hsinchu rice noodles. Just save space in your basket for the treasure trove on the third floor, where produce such as orange daylily, wild rice, coriander, dried tofu and a range of Taiwanese tea gives way to chilled goods like chicken thighs and pigs' blood. The frozen section is also worth exploring, with items such as mandarin rolls and steamed du. Be warned that the labels are all written in Chinese, but confused consumers can flag down Japanese-speaking staff members for help. And if the food's not to your fancy, you can also browse Taiwanese DVDs on the fourth floor. Nikko Asia is a five-minute walk from the north exit of Ikebukuro Station, near the Rosa Kaikan building.