(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
Back in the U.S. we have the Mall of America in Minneapolis, the largest mall in the States. Here In Japan, they have their own version called Laketown Aeon.
Laketown Aeon mall is in Koshigaya, Saitama, about a 70-minute drive from Yokota Air Base and features over 700 stores and restaurants.
The massive retail center is separated into three shopping areas dissected by roads and landscaping but connected by overhead walkways and bridges.
Each portion of this one-stop shopping paradise has a different name and a variety of shops and eateries. I came here recently with nothing in mind to shop for, rather to see what the biggest mall in Japan was like.
Kaze building
(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
Inside Kaze there were so many stores, including several high-end shops that usually make me feel out of my element. Though it was not my style, I felt comfortable browsing the fashion and luxury brands here. The building also had a lot of nice restaurants and cafés.
The Outlet
The Outlet (Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
If you’re looking for a deal, visit this outdoor shopping section. I enjoyed my walk around this area, especially since the weather was nice. The Outlet is the smallest of all three sections, but it did have a good number of standard brands you’d expect at an outlet, including Coach, Adidas, Jimmy Choo and Nike.
Mori
(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
I had most fun there because of the shops like Legos and Disney. This side of the mall felt like a regular Aeon Mall you can find around most cities in Japan and in Okinawa, only a whole lot bigger.
For being a very large complex in Saitama, my visit on a weekday wasn’t as overwhelming as what I expected. I also didn’t feel pressure to buy anything and spent a nice day window shopping.
Sometimes it feels like I must travel to different malls around Yokota to go find all the things I need to buy, but Laketown condenses all the shops I like into one complex. While it’s a little far for a random weeknight visit, it’s a good option when you want to take a drive and get all your shopping done in one place.
Things to know:
Address: 3-1-1 Lake Town, Koshigaya, Saitama 343-0828
Hours: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., 7 days a week.
Accessible by train: Exit is the Koshigaya-Laketown station.
Parking is available, Free on weekdays.
