India, March 26 -- Travel itineraries once revolved around monuments, museums and that one cafe the internet insisted was unmissable. The usual ways to understand a city's history, culture, and food. Now, there's a new stop on the list: The local grocery store. Spend ten minutes at a supermarket when you're in a foreign city and, oddly enough, the place starts to make sense. Soni Saloni, travel content creator and YouTuber (@SoniSaloni__),swears by it. She was especially blown away by Japan's convenience stores. "They are incredible, with fresh sushi and bento boxes, and endless matcha and mochi options," she says. Stacked on those shelves is a clear glimpse into daily Japanese life.

Grocery stores don't curate culture the way museums or...