Fuji Shopping Center

The ice cream is top quality and the price is low. You can't get it any better anywhere else.

Shopping at Maruyoshi

Maruyoshi is a chain of Japanese supermarkets. They are located on Shikoku Island and they have over 35 stores. The prices are good and the food is fresh. Most Japanese markets sell beer and wine (sake) along side of their other offerings. It’s always fun to go into these stores. When you check out, you pay, the cashier gives you your change and a bag to place everything in. You take the cart to a table where you pack your own merchandise, drop the basket off along with the cart and carry your goods out to your car or your bike for the ride home.

Maruyoshi Website in Japanese

Japanese Markets, Outdoors, Indoors

Typical outdoor display of fresh fruits and vegetables for sale. In the past this is how most, if not all, produce was sold in Japan. Quite common to see on the streets.

Typical Japanese Supermarket. Food is fresh, well presented and the store is spotlessly clean.

Okaido, Shopping Arcade, Matsuyama

This shopping arcade features a ceiling that is open or closed, depending on the weather.


Scroll to the bottom of the page for a look at the shopping arcade (Japanese)

Wikipedia Page on Okaido Arcade (Japanese)

Maneki Neko

Wherever you go shopping in Japan you will be greeted by this feline fellow waving one paw at you and the other paw holding old Japanese coins. They say the right paw raised is beckoning money and the left paw raised beckoning customers. To learn more about this, see the link below.

Maneki Neko Link

Japanese Department Stores

In major urban centers you will find wonderful Japanese Department stores. While they are always crowded, the stores are a shoppers delight. They are generally organized from the top down. The top levels seem to have nice restaurants, as you move down, each floor has it's own specialties, such as clothing, office supplies, housewares, etc. When you get to the basement, you get to a marketplace. The market is clean and well lit. The market features quite a selection of foods and small cafe's. The quality is impeccable and the selection caters to customers tastes.