Hong Kong shoppers are about to get a major new option for Japanese products as Daikoku Drug, Japan's beloved discount pharmacy chain, opens its first overseas store in Tsim Sha Tsui on Thursday.
The landmark opening marks a strategic expansion for the Osaka-based retailer, which operates about 160 locations across Japan.
A warm welcome
Arnold Lau Chi-yuen, associate director-general of Invest Hong Kong, hailed the arrival as a boost to the city's retail landscape.
He said Daikoku Drug's presence offers more choices for consumers and enriches the city’s retail sector, pledging continued support for the company's regional growth plans.
For Daikoku Drug chairman Shintaro Kambe, the Hong Kong launch represents a pivotal moment.
Kambe said the brand is excited to bring its unique shopping experience to Hong Kong and use the city as a springboard into Greater China and Southeast Asia.
The beginning of a price war?
Positioning itself as a formidable competitor to established Japanese retailers like Matsumoto Kiyoshi and DON DON DONKI, Daikoku Drug Hong Kong will stock nearly 5,000 products spanning pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, household goods, and popular Japanese snacks.
The store promises aggressively competitive pricing, including Japan's popular lemon drinks for just HK$10.8 per bottle—reportedly Hong Kong's lowest price—and NY Perfect Cheese cream crackers at HK$78 per box—undercutting local competitors.
Grand opening deals
To celebrate its launch, Daikoku Drug will offer 15 percent off all non-medical purchases from August 7 to 21. The promotion underscores the chain's reputation for value—a hallmark since its 1957 founding when it pioneered Japan's discount drugstore concept.
With 179 stores concentrated in Tokyo and Osaka, Daikoku Drug has long catered to international tourists through Chinese-speaking staff.
The Hong Kong flagship, located at 22-24 Cameron Road, will operate daily from 10am to 10pm, serving as both a retail hub and regional headquarters for the company's ambitious overseas expansion.
Daikoku Drug (Hong Kong)
Address: 22-24 Cameron Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Opening hours: 10am to 10pm (Monday to Sunday)
