Shopping on okinawa can be a fantastic experience, depending on what you are looking for. If you are a Wal-Mart or Kmart shopper, you will have to change your outlook a bit. I know – I had to! There are no stores here that can compare. However there are some department stores that are moving in that direction, but don’t expect to find that 24 roll pack of Charmin for $5! Although I miss Wal-Mart, I found some really great places to shop on okinawa. With the holidays fast approaching I went in search of reasonably priced local wares to send home, in hopes that someone at “home” would send me some Dunkin’ Donuts coffee! (hint, hint) They get a taste of Asia and I get a taste of my favorite coffee, its a great trade if you ask me!

My first stop was one of my very favorite places to shop here. The 100 Yen store! Yes it is what you are thinking, sort of! It’s even better! It is like a much loved dollar store in the states. Only I find the merchandise here to be nicer and of a better quality than that of the dollar stores at home, and the best part is with the dollar to yen exchange rate an item is only about 85 to 90 cents! The 100 Yen store has all kinds of great Japanese souvenirs for friends and family back in the USA. Their gift-wrapping is really nice as well. They also carry a wide variety of non-perishable Japanese food. This is a great idea for that family member who will try anything! I filled my basket full of Japanese snacks, knick knacks, glassware and toys. Just be sure to bring yen with you as they don’t take dollars.

Next stop is on base. Surprised? Don’t be. Local vendors have shops in the exchange areas, selling everything from beads, clothing and personalized stamps to jewelry and furniture. There is a wide selection and the prices range from pennies to hundreds of dollars depending on your purchase. From now through the new year a man is there selling handmade footwear. If its cowboy boots or the perfect pump, he will measure every angle of your foot to make sure they are the most comfortable shoes you have ever owned. One of my favorite gifts was a framed Family Tree all written in Kanji characters. So don’t just think of the exchange as your stateside dealer they also have lots of local favorites.

Now on to my favorite shopping districts – Hamby Town and American Village. If you are looking for something, anything, you will find it here! There are many shops within a mall type area as well as many shops and stands all around the area. Looking for a Hello Kitty body pillow? Maybe a real fur jacket? Or possibly just a bunch of little cheap gifts? You will get it here. Hamby Town and American Village are famous for their shopping. I have heard that many tourists come from the mainland just to shop at okinawa outlets. At Carnival Park (where the giant Ferris wheel is) you can find all kinds of vendors on the street. One Friday night there was a live band set up and vendors painting portraits and another person selling beads and necklaces. Even if you aren’t going there to shop, it’s all great fun just to walk around and “people watch.”

Picture a mix between a cheap JC Penny/Macy’s and an expensive Super Wal-Mart. Okay, got the picture? You have just walked into Jusco. Jusco is THE department store on island. They have just about anything you can think of. Although you will find many things cheaper on base, there are a lot of items you can only find at Jusco. I like Jusco for their dishes and traditional Japanese items and, of course, their grocery store. The entire store is set up to be American friendly. Although most of the signs are in Kanji, it is easy to tell how much an item costs as everything is clearly marked. Now for those of you who are expecting, Jusco has a great baby department (which with the slim pickings at the exchange you will love). But honestly, if you have a computer, which if you are reading this you must, SHOP ONLINE! The prices are very, very expensive out in town and choices at the PX are sad to say the least. There are a lot of online baby stores that are more than happy to outfit your nursery and they ship to FPO/APO addresses (just look around this site!).

Another great place to shop is Naha. Naha is the biggest city on okinawa. Now don’t go there expecting New York City or Los Angeles. It is WAY smaller, but it is as big as it gets here! As with every big city, there are, of course, lots of shopping opportunities. Just driving into town I’m sure you will see a lot of places you will want to stop at. So find a parking spot and go! The wide selection of stores will amaze you, and if you are a shopping addict like me, you will lose at least a day there. If you are like me and have a hubby like mine who, when you walk in at 11pm after leaving at 9am, wants to know just how much you have spent, go on a shopping tour through either MCCS or 18TH SERVICES. They take you from place to place and you aren’t given the opportunity to wander aimlessly spending large amounts of money that you really shouldn’t!

I hope you have fun seeing the sites while you shop and that I have helped you in finding that perfect gift! Even though this only covers just a few places to shop, once you find the main areas you can work your way out from there! Just remember to bring Yen, stay hydrated, always taste everything at least once, wear comfortable shoes, and above all, HAVE FUN!

By  Colleen R.