One of my personal favorite ways to spend an afternoon is wandering through the aisles of an unfamiliar grocery store, browsing unique snacks and interesting cultural items that I might otherwise never have found. If that kind of small afternoon adventure sounds like something you’d like to join in on, then you can’t go wrong heading down to Rockville, Maryland, and checking out Maruichi, a Japanese grocery store and gift shop that’s been bringing Marylanders a portal into Far Eastern culture for over 20 years. While this veritable treasure trove can be a bit difficult to spot, it actually happens to be right behind this restaurant that serves some delectable summertime treats, so you can make an entire cultural adventure in one solid afternoon!

Maruichi is on the second level of a Rockville shopping center, the sign hidden from the road on the back side of the building. But there’s no better feeling than uncovering a hidden gem like this one when you do find it!

The coolers are absolutely packed with interesting snacks and drinks that bring the flavors of Japan to Maryland. They offer traditional sweets like dangos - sweet-and-sticky rice dumplings - or uniquely-flavored Western-style ones like the yuzu Swiss rolls.

By far one of the most refreshing offerings Maruichi has on tap (or rather, in the can) is actual glacial water from the famous Mount Fuji. It comes in still and sparkling varieties, and it’s a pretty surreal experience to be sipping the water from that famous peak most of us have only seen in paintings and movies.

Meanwhile, a vast variety of imported snack stuffs awaits your discerning eye. In addition to all the confectionery for which Japan has become famous in the West, you’ll find many varieties of tea that aren’t sold anywhere else!

Maruichi also has a brilliant collection of sake, the Japanese rice wine that makes a stunningly complex and drinkable beverage. The flavors of any individual sake vary greatly depending on the temperature at which the wine is served - chilled or over ice in the summer, or gently heated in the winter.

Of course, to get the full experience of sake drinking, you’ll need one of these beautiful vessels to serve it. There are tons of different shapes of decanter to choose from, so pick the one that speaks most to your sensibility!

Maruichi is family-owned and maintains a website where they update their seasonal offerings. New stock is often listed on their Facebook page, so be sure to check that out as well!