Toy's Vending Machine

These are vending machines for toys which cost 200 yen for each toy. My son loves to get pokemon toys from this type of machine. This photo was taken inside the Veedol Plaza or the Super City Asahi.

For directions see the post for Veedol Plaza or Super City Asahi.

How to buy japanese sauce

This is how I buy sauce here in Japan whether it's a teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, tempura sauce, udon sauce, ramen sauce or even just a seasoning sauce. I just sometimes watch this small monitor hanging on the shelf and trying to figure out on how to use this particular sauce. That's how hard it is to read japanese writings, I hate it. I think I need to start learning katakana just to help me out on buying food off base. But another problem is, Japanese not only has katakana but they still have hiragana and the worst is kanji, my daughter said it's hard to read kanji coz it has 2000+ characters....ohhh never mind then, I think I'm stuck here with this monitor ha ha ha.

Yokomachi Store

This logo sign board was taken when we were driving to Hachinohe. I can't read the Japanese writing on this sign but I know this logo, this is Yokomachi. Here in Misawa I have to memorize and be familar with the signs or logo of each store. When I saw this sign I told my husband that store is Yokomachi and he was surprised that I can read Japanese hehehe but actually I only knew the store because of the logo and I learned that when we had our tour bus from the base; the tour guide mentioned that store, Yokomachi.

There is one Yokomachi closer to Misawa Air Base but I haven't taken the photo from that store, anyways it's the same logo, a bird carrying a flower (don't know what kind of flower it is).

Yokomachi has sale every Tuesdays and that's where I always go every Tuesday to find a 100 yen items for sale. Most items are vegetables that cost 100 yen; either per piece, per pack, per bag or sometimes per kilo.

Directions from Misawa AB main gate:

1. Go out from main gate

2. On the first traffic light, make a left turn

3. After few blocks, you will see on your right side the logo sign board (see above picture) on top of the store, that is Yokomachi

Directions from POL Gate:

1. Go out from POL gate

2. Go straight when you see a traffic light with Lawson store ( Ithink the second stop light but not sure though) on the left corner, make a right turn.

3. Go straight and few blocks you will see the logo sign board (see above picture) on top of the store on your left hand side.

Parking:

• Parking is on the front of the store and you can also park across Yokomachi store, you will see the sign "P"

Daiso

This shot was from my cellphone camera, even I don't bring my camera with me I still have back-up :-) "The Daiso" is the 100 yen store here in Japan. This is like a 99cents store in US. I really like shopping here coz there are plenty of good stuff for kids and even for moms like me and even for dads. From snack food, toys, kitchen ware, hardware, electronics and cellphone accesories to school supplies. Almost every week we are here to shop.

Raddish for sale

I always go to this vegetable store to buy cheaper vegetables like carrots, raddish, cucumber, spinach, cabbage, lettuce, potatoes, etc. but until now I don't know what the name of this store is (????) ; I just call it "vegetable store" or the company parking store hahaha lol. It says on their sign board (first picture) "only company parking" but actually customers can park on their parking lot, right in front of the store.

I was surprised when they are selling this 1 bundle of raddish for 100 yen I think it has 8 raddish in it, so it's like $1, sooooo cheap. Maybe I should start looking for a raddish recipe so I can buy this bunch of raddish just for a 100 yen. I know Japanese and Korean they are making kimchee out of raddish. Hmmm maybe I should try raddish kimchee too.

By the way, aside from vegetables they are also selling, fruits and some dried fish, canned goods and snack food.

• Directions from Misawa AB's main gate:

1. From the main gate make a left
2. Make a quick right turn on the first block
3. Right after the first intersection ,you will see on your right side the sign "Only company parking"
4. You can park on their parking lot, never mind the sign hehehe

Note:

I guess the meaning of their sign "Only company parking" is "for customers parking only" hahaha I just figured out today while writing this blog.

Super City Asahi or Veedol Plaza

Super City Asahi or Veedol Plaza

• Some people they call this store Veedol Plaza and some are Super City Asahi but whatever it is, it offers a lot of stores, there is Daiso or the 100 yen store, marche, asahi, sample style ( I don't know if this is the name, I just got the name from the plastic bag hehehe), there is a grocery inside, video arcades and some small fast food restaurants.

• The store opens 10:00am.

Directions:

From Main Gate:

1. Go straight and make a right turn on the 2nd stop light.
2. Go straight until you see a Y-intersection, make a left on this intersection. This is like a T-intersection though but for me this is more Y as long as there is no road going straight, that's the time you make a left.
3. Go straight and make a right on the stop light where you will see on the corner of the intersection is Coco's restaurant or McDonald's across Coco's.
4. Go straight and you will see on your right side is the sign Super City Asahi.
5. Parking lot is in front, the pictures are showing the front parking lot.

From POL Gate:

1. Go straight and pass Asahi Super Drug, make a right on the stop light where you see Universe and Nogawa Furniture store.
2. Go straight, you will pass Pachinko and McDonald's, keep driving and you will see on the right side the sign Super City Asahi.
3. Make a right on this stop light and parking lot is in front of the store.

Note:

This store is used to be a Daiei store, Daiei is still showing up on the downtown map from ITT so beware that you might get lost looking for Daiei.

Universe Store

One of my favorite grocery stores is Universe. I seldom buy vegetables and seafood in the commissary. I always buy vegetables and other japanese food here like frozen tako yaki, shrimp tempura and gyoza. Sometimes we buy sushi, tuna roll, salmon and tuna sashimi if I'm lazy to cook our dinner.

Directions:

1. From POL gate go straight until you see Universe at the left (pass Asahi Super Drug).
2. Make a left on the stop light or you can turn left before the stop light going to the parking lot.

Note:

• The first picture is the view when you make a left on the traffic light.
• The second picture is the one you will see coming from the POL gate before the stoplight.

Giga Outlet Store

1. Giga Outlet is a furniture store located in Shimoda, close to Shimoda Mall.
2. I bought some furnitures here (like book shelf, bar stools, CD/DVD shelf, etc.) which are cheap compared to Homac and Sunday Store. I also bought curtains here since I live off-base, the price is 1000 yen for 2 panels so it's like ~$5 for each panel. Pretty cheap, huh? I also bought carpet and area rugs. I really love shopping here to decorate our house.
   
   Directions: (sorry I don't know how to get here using toll road but it only takes 10-15 minutes coming from Misawa Ice Arena area where I live)
   
   1. From Misawa AB's POL Gate go straight and make a left on Universe (you will pass Asahi Super Drug)
   2. Go straight, you will pass Eneos Gas Station and Family Mart, continue driving make a right when you see Lawson Store on the right and you will see signs going to AEON mall which is the Shimoda Mall.
   3. Go straight you will pass farm fields continue driving for approximately 10 minutes until you see on the right side the Shimoda Mall.
   4. Make a right where you can see Shimoda Mall, you will see a blue overpass ( I think) and this is where you will make a right turn.
   5. Go straight until you see Giga outlet on the right side, Giga outlet is before Shimoda mall.
   6. Make a U-turn in front of Giga Outlet.
   7. When you make a u-turn Giga outlet is on your left hand side and parking lot is big.