Aeon Mall (Luis Samayoa)
Daily living
Visiting Japan and being stationed here is a completely different ballgame. Since I don’t have to rush to do things like when I’m on vacation, I can simply enjoy daily life. And part of the enjoyment has come from hopping on my bike like a lot of locals do and discovering new places. From pedaling to Don Quijote (I call it “Penguin Shop”), small eateries and bakeries, to giant malls, I have found that my bike is a great mode of transportation in the Land of the Rising Sun.
The Mall
In Japan, AEON Malls are a great place to experience the local lifestyle. You can do grocery shopping, catch a movie and shop for electronics, clothes and materials for your hobbies. Most have a nice food court and likely display some anime-themed advertisements. The overall safety of these malls makes it a pleasant place to explore with family and kids. For me, shopping malls in America can’t compete with the ones in Asia.
Pokemon pokeballs (Luis Samayoa)
Kimetsu no Yaiba advertisement (Luis Samayoa)
Just a short distance from Yokota Air Base’s East Gate, is Aeon Mall Musashi-Murayama, an easy 18-minute pedal on my trusty bike.
Cycle for spices- Kaldi
KALDI (Luis Samayoa)
spices (Luis Samayoa)
Shopping at Aeon Mall is great when it comes to looking for local foods and spices that are not sold at the Commissary. One of my favorite shops is Kaldi Coffee Farm, a small grocery chain featuring international goodies. Inside, I usually browse around the narrow labyrinth of foreign spices and products from all around the world.
Kaldi sells pasta from Italy, Manuka honey from New Zealand and a lot of spices and sauces. For coffee lovers, there is a vast selection of coffee beans and sometimes a store employee out front will give out free cups of joe. It’s a great way to kick off a visit to the mall.
Tips for biking to the mall
Tip: Don’t forget to bring a bag or backpack (stores charge for bags).
Tip: Bring yen coins to pay for bike parking racks. At Aeon Mall Musashi-Murayama, you can lock your own bike without the deposit.
Tip: Follow local biking laws, wear a helmet and take extra precautions as vehicles may idle or park in bike lanes.
Aeon Mall Musashi-Murayama
alcohol store (Luis Samayoa)
Dino display (Luis Samayoa)
Fish market (Luis Samayoa)
crane machine (Luis Samayoa)
Address: 208-0022 Tokyo, Musashimurayama, 1-1-3
Hours: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. every day
Website: musashimurayama-aeonmall.com (Japanese)
