Shopping

Grocery Stores

(1) Super Market

The store signs you are most likely to see are San-Aサンエー, which has three large “A”s on a yellow background; Kanehideかねひで which has two orange birds on a green background; AEONイオン, located in Uruma-shi, and other larger municipalities; MaxValuマックスバリュ(operated by AEON group), and Unionユニオン.

Large stores such as AEON, San-A (San-A Main City in Uruma-shi, San-A Ginowan Convention City in Ginowan-shi, and San-A Main Place in Naha) not only have foodstuffs, but household goods, electronics, clothing, and over-the-counter drugs. The large stores are usually part of a shopping mall.

The closest stores:

San-A Ishikawa City
https://www.san-a.co.jp/ishikawacity/

San-Aサンエー Akasaki
https://www.san-a.co.jp/store/33230/ (Japanese only)

Kanehideかねひで　石川市場店
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Zh4vQsFRXfFryKTw8 (Japanese only)

AEONイオン
http://www.aeon-ryukyu.jp/(Japanese only)

MaxValuマックスバリュ　石川店
https://www.aeon-ryukyu.jp/store/maxvalu/ishikawa/ (Japanese only)

Unionユニオン　北谷店
Address: 517-1Kuwae, Chatan-cho, Phone: 098-936-1238
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9RMemz5hwGKQpRqh6 (Japanese only)

Owan City 読谷
Address: 343 Owan, Yomitan, Nakagami-gun, Phone:098-956-3399
https://www.san-a.co.jp/store/26401/ (Japanese only)

Aeon Town 読谷
Address: 740 Furugen, Yomitan, Nakagami-gun, Phone:098-921-5550
http://www.aeon-ryukyu.jp/store/maxvalu/yomitan/ (Japanese only)

(2) Coffee and imported products

Kaldi Coffee Farm
https://map.kaldi.co.jp/kaldi/listMap?account=kaldi&accmd=3&arg=&ftop=1&adr=47

(3) Fresh fish & seafood

You can find fresh fish and other seafood at fish markets in fishing ports. Some markets have restaurants.

Nago fishing port Address: 3-5-16 Gusuku, Nago-shi
Ishikawa fishing port Address: 2-1 Ishikawa Ishizaki, Uruma-shi
*Closed on Monday
Yomitan Toya fish port Address: 33 Toya, Yomitan-son)
Gushikawa Payao Address: 225-2 Aza Akano, Uruma-shi
Payao awase Address: 1-11-25 Awase, Okinawa-shi

(4) Wholesale Foods & Products

A Price
Address:3-28-6 Yamauchi, Okinawa-shi, 7-1-56 Miyazato, Nago-shi

Gyomu Super
Address: 2-1-31 Ishikawa-Akebono, Uruma-shi, 6-9-1 Takahara Okinawa-shi
https://www.gyomusuper.jp/english/

Drug stores and Pharmacy

You can purchase over-the-counter (OTC) drugs at drug stores such as Drug Eleven (ドラッグイレブン) or Drugstore Mori (ドラッグストア モリ) and in some grocery stores such as MaxValue, AEON and the general store, Direx. The majority of Japanese drug stores do not have prescription departments. Drug stores carry OTC drugs, beauty aids, cleaning, and sanitary supplies.

You will find a pharmacist/certified drug seller at the cash register. Please do not hesitate to ask for assistance. Even though you may not understand Japanese, you can write your symptoms in English on a piece of paper and show it to them.

*Please note that some Japanese OTC cough suppressant solutions contain methyl ephedrine, dihydrocodeine (known as codeine), which can cause dependence.

Many clinics and hospitals do not have prescription departments. If your doctor writes you prescription, you have to go to a pharmacy which is located close by the clinic/hospital you visited. At the pharmacy, please submit the prescription along with your health insurance card.

The closest stores:

Drug Store Mori
Address: 1-41-1 Ishikawa, Uruma city, Okinawa
 

Direx
Address: 1-44-8 Ishikawa Uruma-shi

Kids Clothes

Nishimatsu-ya

Nishimatsu-ya is the one of the most famous clothing shop for parents of young children.
Closest one is in Uruma-city. MAP

Birthday in Gushikawa
https://www.shimamura.gr.jp/shop/map_detail_3109.html

Electronics

(1) Elecrronic Shops

There are several major electronic stores on Okinawa: Yamada Denkiヤマダ電機, EDION エディオン, Best Denkiベスト電器, and Kojimaコジマ.

Yamada Denki is on the corner near the AEON intersection. EDION is in the San-A Main City shopping mall. Best Denki is on Rt. 330 in Okinawa-shi, in the Yomitan MaxValue Shopping Center and in the American Village AEON. Kojima is on Rt. 58 in Naha-shi.

(2) Imported Appliances & other home products

Kyowa Denki協和デンキ sells American GE appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, etc. They also have other home products.
Address: 1-46 Shuri-taira-cho, Naha-shi, Phone: 098-887-1302

(3) Computer Supply and Repair Shop

GoodWillグッドウィル on Rt. 58 in Chatan is one of the specialized computer stores on the island.
Address: 3-1-6 Mihama, Chatan-cho
11:00 to 21:00
http://www.goodwill.jp/contents/shop_chatan_entrance.php (Japanese only)

Furniture Stores

Square Awase
is one of the biggest retailers for interior items. There are three stores in the mall: The Grace which carries luxury interior items, Maxplus, which has a variety of household goods and some food items, and Today O!K which offers discount and outlet furniture. On weekends, they open a free nursery (“Kid’s House”) which you can use for up to 2 hours while you are shopping. There are also two eating places in the mall.
Address: 716-1 Yogi, Okinawa-shi
10:30 to 20:00, Open 365 days
http://www.square-awase.jp/en

Yellow Box Furniture
is an English speaking home furnishings store located close to San A Main City on Rt. 85. They carry western style furniture.
Address: 807 Matsumoto, Okinawa-shi
11:00 to 19:00 /7 days a week
https://www.yellowboxfurniture.com/

Nitoriニトリ
is a national furniture and interior chain store which carries 5,000 items at reasonable prices. They conduct virtually all their business activities in-house, from product development to manufacturing, importing, sales, and delivery to customers.
Address: 360 Maehara Tokumorihara, Uruma-shi
11:00 to 21:00 Mon thru Fri, 10:00 to 21:00 on weekends and holidays
http://www.nitori.co.jp/en/

General Stores

Makemanメイクマン
(Home improvement/DIY) the “Monkey sign store” is a major home improvement store. You can find anything from tools to small animals! They will fix bicycles, too.
https://makeman.co.jp/shops/ (Japanese Only)

The closest Makeman is on Rt. 85 in Uruma-shi, going towards AEON from San-A Main City, or in the American Village, Mihama, Chatan-cho.

Tabataタバタ
is a combination of general store-home center and michino-eki.
Address: 2-1-1 Ishikawa-Akasaki, Uruma-shi
09:00 to 12:00
Address: 372-2 Naval Kadena 1F, Kanekushimohara, Kadena Town
09:00 to 12:00
http://batabata.jp/shop (Japanese only)

Direxダイレックス
has over-the-counter drugs, food, appliances, etc.
Address: 1-44-8 Ishikawa, Uruma-shi
Address: 7-7-12 Ooyama GInowan-shi
09:00 to 23:00

Mega Don Quijote メガ　ドン・キホーテ
Address: 7-7-12 Ooyama GInowan-shi
Address: 502-1Shioya-Hamahara, Uruma-shi
10:00 to 05:00
One of Japan's largest discount stores, Don Quijote offers international luxury brand items, cosmetics, and beauty care items at exceptional prices There is also a selection of electrical appliances, foods, daily goods, toys, and souvenirs.
http://www.donki.com/search/shop_detail_en.php?st_store_id=302

Tokyu Hands
San-A Ginowan Convention City 1F,
Address: 558-10 Uchidomari, Ginowan-shi
09:00 to 12:00
Tokyu Hands is a national chain store that carries a very wide variety of items used in daily life. Items cover home maintenance, hobbies, home decoration, stationary, housewares, and health and beauty products.
http://www.tokyu-hands.co.jp/en/index.html

Book Store

Books in English and other foreign languages are relatively difficult to come by in Okinawa. Although some bookstores (such as Oenen on Rt. 330 in Ginowan) have a limited selection of English novels, the best places to shop are stores that specialize in foreign books.

Junku Do
Offers the largest selection of English books on island, located in Naha.
https://www.maruzenjunkudo.co.jp/ (Japanese only)

Amazon online shop
You can also order foreign books through the online book store Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.jp/ (choose ‘in English’)

Sporting Goods Store

Sports Depo
offers a wide variety of sporting goods such as shoes, rackets, bats, outdoor goods, etc.
Address: 360 Maehara Tokumorihara, Uruma-shi (Next to Nitori)
10:00 to 21:00
http://www.alpen-group.jp/english/shop/index.html

Water Sports Supply:
Marine Sports SEASER
Address: 9 Mihama Chatan-cho (inside of MakeMan)
Benthos Divers
Address: 475 Seragaki, Onna-son

Toys

Toys”R”us
At Rycom 
https://www.toysrus.co.jp/ja-jp/stores/?sid=4697 (Japanese only)

Naha
https://www.toysrus.co.jp/ja-jp/stores/?sid=4697 (Japanese only)

Pet Shops

Pet Box
Address: 2-2-5 Mihama, Chatan-cho
10:00 to 20:00
http://www.petbox.co.jp/ (Japanese only)

OPF
Address: 1-5-12 Chatan, Chatan-cho
10:00 to 20:00
Located on Route 58 between the American Village and Araha Beach.
https://opf.co.jp/hpgen/HPB/shop/shopguide.html (Japanese only)
Makeman also has a pet shop inside its stores.

Farmer’s Markets / Michi no Eki (道の駅・Roadside Station)

(1) Farmer’s Markets

Many vegetable (and flower) growers are members of a farmer support group called the Japanese Agriculture Cooperatives (JA). JA organizes several “farmers’ markets” throughout the island.

One of the big JA farmer’s markets is called “JA Okinawa Farmer’s Market Chanpuru” located near the intersection of Route 26 and Highway 329 in Noborikawa, Okinawa-shi.

Farmers’ Market Chanpuru Ichiba　ちゃんぷるー市場
Address: 2697-2 Noborikawa, Okinawa-shi
09:00 to 19:00 Mon. to Sun.

Yunta Farmer’ Market ゆんた市場
Another large farmer’s market is Yunta Market. This fresh vegetable and gardening market is located in Yomitan-son, about 1 km from the Iramina Intersection.
Address: 2346-11 Kina, Yomitan-son
09:00 to 19:00

(2) Michi no Eki (道の駅・Roadside Station)

“Michi no Eki” is a government-designated rest area found along roads and highways in Japan. In addition to providing places for travelers to rest, they are also intended to promote local tourism and trade. You can often find shops selling local produce, snacks, souvenirs, and other goods.

There is one close to the OIST Campus: Onna no Eki (おんなの駅); located 10 min south of OIST on Rt. 58.

COOP

Though there are some Coop (pronounced “Kohpu” stores on the island, Coop is popular for catalog orders and delivering to your door.

You will receive a weekly magazine full of pictures of food, beverages, toiletries, cleaning products, etc. You leave your order outside the front door on a designated day and the following week, your order is delivered. Everything is in Japanese, although this should not be a major problem since each picture is numbered, and you just need to match the number on the picture with the number on the order form. Once a week, a small fee will be charged for delivery if your order is under certain amount.

For further information, please visit a Coop store near your place and pick up the flyers/magazines. The first time you order, you might want to ask a Japanese friend for help.

Convenience Stores　コンビニ

Convenience stores are open 24/7 and you can fin one on almost every street. The most common convenience stores on the island are Family Mart, Lawson, and Coco!Not only can you purchase small snacks and drinks, but you can also pay bills, complete online purchases, withdraw money, and order event tickets. Please note, you can only pay bills at convenience stores if they have a barcode, and if the due date has not passed. Otherwise, you will have to pay them at the bank or the organization issuing the bill.

100-Yen (one coin) Stores

100-yen stores are commonly known as "hyakkin". DAISOダイソー is a major player in the 100-yen shop industry not only in Japan, but also around the world. You will be amazed what you can buy with ¥100 (¥105 with tax).

The closest stores:

DAISOダイソー
https://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/en/shop/pref/47

Can Doキャンドゥ
is another 100-yen store you can find on the Island.
http://www.cando-web.co.jp/e/

Ashibinaa

Ashibinaa is Okinawa’s first-ever outlet mall, with 70 world brands gathered in one location. On the ground floor, maker directly managed shops and official branches are standing next to each other, offering goods at 30-80% of their regular price. On the second floor, the food corner gourmet zone has 6 restaurants and a 600-seat capacity.

https://www.ashibinaa.com/?hl=en

Koukusai Street

Kokusai Street in Naha is one of the largest shopping districts in Okinawa. The area is lined with shops, department stores, restaurants, and the famed Heiwa-Dori, a maze of stalls that peddle fresh fish, flowers, produce, handicrafts, and more. Head south on Highway 58 to the airport. Once in Naha, turn left at the Kumoji intersection and straight until you see the Palette Kumoji Ryubo Department Store on the right. The entrance to Kokusai Street is directly to the left. Look for a parking garage or paid lot, usually marked by a blue international “P”sign.

http://www.kokusaidori.net/ (Japanese only)

DFS Galleria Okinawa

If you love brand-name items, this is the premiere destination in Okinawa. The collection of famous names includes Gucci, Fendi, Mont Blanc, Louis Vuitton, Prada and many more. Because it is a “Duty Free” shop, residents of Okinawa are not eligible to purchase from every shop, but there are still several shops available.

https://www.dfs.com/jp/okinawa/