AEON & MaxValu Supermarket Savings Guide in Japan: 5% Off Customer Days, 5x WAON Points & Topvalu Bestprice

Across almost every residential district in Japan, the presence of the AEON Group is ubiquitous: large AEON Malls, neighborhood MaxValu (マックスバリュ) grocery stores, and urban compact markets like MyBasket (まいばすけっと) and Daiei. For residents managing daily food and household expenses, aligning your grocery schedule with AEON’s monthly discount calendar can easily save ¥10,000 to ¥20,000 every month.

Here is how to maximize your savings across AEON and MaxValu stores through customer appreciation discounts, multiplied WAON points, and Topvalu private brand staples.

1. The 20th and 30th of every month: 5% Off Customer Appreciation Day (お客さま感謝デー)

The biggest promotional shopping event across the AEON retail network is お客さま感謝デー (Okyakusama Kanshaday), held on the 20th and 30th of each month (and the last day of February):

• The discount: An immediate 5% deduction off your pre-tax checkout total.
• Broad product eligibility: Applies not only to fresh groceries (produce, meat, seafood, dairy, eggs), but also to apparel, home goods, cosmetics, and seasonal necessities across AEON, AEON Style, MaxValu, and participating Daiei branches.
• How to qualify for the 5% discount:
  1. Pay with an AEON Credit Card (イオンカード) or WAON electronic money (電子マネーWAON).
  2. Present an AEON Point Card or the digital barcode on the iAEON App.
  3. Pay with an AEON Bank Cash + Debit card (イオン銀行キャッシュ＋デビット).

Savvy shoppers batch their non-perishable purchases—such as cooking oil, rice, soy sauce, laundry detergent, and paper towels—for these two specific days. A ¥20,000 receipt yields an immediate ¥1,000 cash savings on the spot, adding up to more than ¥12,000 in annual savings on routine household staples alone.

2. The 10th of each month (ありが10デー) with 5x WAON points and Tuesday Market (火曜市)

Beyond the 20th and 30th, two additional recurring calendar days offer major grocery value:

• The 10th of every month (ありが10デー – Ariga-to-day):
  • Earns 5x standard WAON Points.
  • While ordinary shopping days earn 1 point per ¥200 spent (0.5% return), the 10th grants 5 points per ¥200 (2.5% effective reward return) when paying with an AEON Card or WAON. This makes the 10th the ideal time to buy electronics, kitchenware, or higher-value personal care items.
• Tuesday Market (火曜市 – Kayou-ichi):
  • Held every Tuesday at MaxValu and AEON stores nationwide. Onions, potatoes, carrots, tofu, and seasonal fish are sold in individual uniform bundles priced at ¥50, ¥77, ¥99, or ¥100 each. It is the most economical day of the week to restock fresh produce for weekday family cooking.

3. Topvalu (トップバリュ): Cutting grocery bills 20% to 30% with Bestprice items

Throughout AEON and MaxValu aisles, you will notice items labeled with the TOPVALU brand. As AEON’s in-house private brand (PB), Topvalu is split into four distinct tiers:

1. Topvalu Bestprice (Yellow Label): Focused strictly on unbeatable low prices. Everyday essentials like 6-slice sandwich bread (around ¥98), 400g plain yogurt (around ¥118), 3-pack tofu (around ¥78), and 1,000g canola oil cost ¥50 to ¥100 less than major national brands like Ajinomoto or Nisshin. Food safety and production standards meet full Japanese national standards without bearing television advertising overhead.
2. Topvalu Standard (Red Label): Everyday high quality balanced with competitive family pricing.
3. Topvalu Green Eye (Green Label): Certified organic produce and natural foods free from synthetic pesticides and chemical additives.
4. Topvalu Select (Black Label): Gourmet, premium-ingredient regional specialties.

If your neighborhood features an urban compact supermarket like まいばすけっと (MyBasket) (open from 07:00 AM to 11:00 PM or midnight), you can purchase Topvalu Bestprice groceries at standard supermarket prices without paying inflated convenience store markups.