Shopping and Restaurants

places to spend your money in and around Iwakuni

Shopping

• COMMISSARY: The military version of a grocery store. This one is small, like almost everything else here! It's about the size of a 7-day store (the military's version of a 7-11 or Circle K), on a decent-sized base. Of course, they consider themselves to be a "medium-sized" store, but according to the commissary's own newsletters, dated 21 Oct 97 and 2 Dec 97 these are the facts:

  	MCAS Iwakuni Commissary	Average DeCA Commissary	Average Stateside Supermarket
  Sq. Footage	9,000	19,000	28,000

  There is a fair amount of stuff sold in this small space, but you will still miss certain things you're used to getting. Even when they "normally" carry an item, they may be out of stock for months. You can special order items; the propaganda says it takes approximately 45 days, and my understanding is that you can only special order items from companies that the commissary already has a contract with.
  

  The really unbearable thing about the commissary here, is that they actually have the nerve to sell us outdated food. I remember in the states, that homeless shelters could not accept donations of outdated food; it wasn't good enough for starving poor people. But, it is apparently good enough for the men and women who have chosen to serve their country, and for their families!!! I complained to the main office in VA, and got a very concerned phone call. They wanted to make sure that I understood that they did their best to get the food here on time, but that the transportation was slow. They made sure I received phone calls from personnel here at Iwakuni, to restate their official viewpoint. However, my personal opinion is that the problems cannot be solved at this end... there needs to be major restructuring of the entire process of getting food over here. Something as simple as putting "date frozen" and "date shelved" stickers on previously frozen items such as butter, would give the comsumer much more information on which to base purchase decisions. This will be an ongoing point of contention for me, until something is changed for the better.

  ***NOTE***: In the three years or so that we were in Iwakuni, I did see an improvement in the quality of food items sold. I think there were fewer bugs (though I wouldn't go so far as to say they are no longer a problem). The outdated items were still an issue when we left. The POC for the commissary is Grace L. McCann, the Commissary Officer, at DSN 253-4512. I had a talk with the Army food inspectors, while at the vet's buying heartworm meds for our dog. They assured me that they "Inspect like consumers, and consume like inspectors"! I thought it was quotable :-) I guess until something is done about the situation here, you'll have to consume like an inspector, too!

  Links to other sites on the Web

  DECA Visit the website of the Defense Commissary Agency. The Shoppers Cart section has info on upcoming promotions and sales; there are some good links for public health/food safety; and there's an e-mail address, so you can share your thoughts and feelings about our commissary :-)
  
  

• THE EXCHANGE (MCX): The military's version of a department store. This one is 2 stories; as exchanges go, it's fairly good, and has improved during the time that we've been here. They are starting to carry a larger selection of sizes in the women's clothing department, which was a badly needed improvement. When we first got here, I felt like I was shopping in a 5-7-9 shop! They now have increased the items carried in Misses sizes 11-18 and have even created a Ladies Plus section. However, they carry NO Girls Plus (1/2) sizes in the girls department. Shoes can be a problem for anyone with large feet (myself & my children, for instance), though it has gotten easier to find large sizes lately. Either the buyers are getting better, or whoever was buying up the large sizes before I could, moved back to the States!!! It's not like you can go out in town, if you can't find shoes on base. The Japanese are small people, in general, with small feet; their stores don't carry shoes for those of us with huge American feet! Did you know..?. You can now order ONLINE from Payless Shoes!!! (and yes, they'll ship to APO/FPO's) There is a gift shop, Sight and Sound shop, flower shop and beauty shop within the exchange (the photo shop moved across the street to the Crossroads Mall). They also have a jewlery section, make-up counter, SMALL toy section, some furniture & luggage (this has been increasing lately, and they've had some very nice stuff, at last!), and a sporting goods dept. If you're coming to Iwakuni, I recommend that you buy bikes for everyone in the family before you come; selection here is usually small & often expensive. And buy a good lock, you'll NEED it. Even if you lock your bike, you may need to replace it before you leave Iwakuni... you'll find bikes at both the Exchange and the Bike Shop at Crossroads Mall. Effective July 1, 1998, helmets are required for ALL ages (yes, even the invincible Marines), when bike riding, rollerblading, etc. Helmets are available in the MCX.

  Attached to the exchange is the 7-day store. They have school supplies and computer paper, liquor & magazines, beauty products, personal products and some over-the-counter medicines, etc. The selection of these last 3 items is very poor, here and in the commissary. There is no Thrifty Drugs or Revco to run out to, when you can't find what you want on base. The Japanese stores may carry similar items, but if you can't read the instructions on a medicine bottle, you can't be sure of what you're getting! Also carried here is some food, milk and juice, for those emergency times when the commissary is closed.

  The video store, which used to be located within the seven day store, has moved to a building across the street from the post office. It's much bigger, with a larger selection, & better hours- quite an improvement! Their new hours are: Sun-Thurs, 10am to 10pm; Fri & Sat, 10am to 11pm.

• CROSSROADS MALL: The latest shopping-type addition to the base, new in 1997. Places to shop include the EWC's Thrift/Consignment store and the OWC's Treasure Trunk, both located on the 2nd floor. The consignment/thrift store is open Mon., 10am-2pm; Tues., 9am-1pm; and Wed., 6-8pm. Donations can be left in the drop slot, across from the elevator, when the store is closed. Call 253-4721 for more info. The Treasure Trunk is only open on the first 3 Wednesdays of the month, from 11am-6pm. You can also browse through books and magazines in the Bookmark bookstore, on the 1rst floor. It's open Mon-Sat, 10am-7pm; Sun & Holidays, Noon-7pm. 253-5849.

• HOME BUSINESSES:

  If you have a home business with an e-mail or webpage, let me know, and I'll put it here! Or you can put it on my Classified Ad page! Did you know you can now advertise your home biz in the MCCS Preview? You can! Text & full-color graphics, priced by column-inch. Call 253-6373.

  Links to other sites on the Web

  Independent Wife 3/12/99 A webpage for military WAHW (work at home wives). Useful place for networking; check it out!
  AAFES Catalog Online (authorized Exchange customers only) Want to expand your shopping experience beyond the MCX? Here's one online option!
  Stateside Shopping Online Just found this service, designed for Americans abroad, especially DOD types! They'll find you the best price on items you need or want from the USA. There is a fee involved but it seems reasonably small. Haven't used this... if you do, let me know what you think!
  

• PC-INTERNATIONAL: This place is right outside the main gate, and specializes in computers and computer parts... best part is that you will be able to conduct your business in English, as the guy is an American! Other computer services available, as well.
• DRAGONFLY: This was one of the first places we were taken to after we arrived here, while we were still half asleep from the stress of moving and the jet lag. Eventually, after we woke up, we found our way back on our own! I'm told there are two of these stores around Iwakuni, but I've only been in one. It's like a thrift store- it's filled with all kinds of stuff, from furniture & golf glubs, to dishes & TV's. We are told the Japanese are not fond of used things, preferring to throw out the old and buy new. Those that don't mind buying used, can clean up in a place like this, where the prices are very reasonable!
• NAFCO: We only recently went into this store for the first time; and we will definetly be going back. This store has a comforting (for me, as an American) resemblance to a Home Depot downstairs, and to an IKEA when we went upstairs! There are all kinds of things for your home, indoors and out, and the prices aren't too bad for "out in town".
• IZUMI'S: This seems to be the major store here. There is one downtown, and one in the opposite direction from the base. It's a department-type store. It reminds me of an old Montgomery Wards (not Electric Ave.; the old bargain-basement style Wards). It's interesting, if not satisfying, to shop here.
• J House (hardware): In the Izumi's parking lot, is this small hardware store, which seems for all the world like a Tru-Value hardware store. And it seems to be a chain, as well.
• DEO (formerly Daiichi): Electronic Super Store, next to Izumi's. We were told to try here, when we needed to replace our computer's mouse, and (as usual) the exchange was out. They do have a fairly good selection, and we were able to find a mouse (compatible with our computer) for a price comparable to what we would have paid on base.
• 100 YEN STORE: Yes, indeed! It's the Japanese version of, you guessed it, the almighty Dollar Store! This store is great for all those little doo-dads and hoo-rahs that you can't find anywhere else, on or off base. It's fun to browse in, too, and try to guess what on earth some of the things could possibly be!

• MEGA MART (near Yanai): This is about as close to Wal-Mart/K-mart/Target as you're going to get in Japan... same concept, even discount prices as compared to other Japanese stores. Take plenty of yen, though... charge cards don't seem to be accepted here. It's in a very new L-shaped shopping center, 5K beyond Yanai, which is 20 minutes south-west of the bridge to Oshima Island, or about an hour from the base. While it's probably not worth the drive to pick up a couple items, this would be the place to go if you had a large shopping trip in mind! Also here, is a good-sized 100 Yen Store, a lovely grocery store, a garden shop, a toy store, and an amusement center. All very new and with a definite American-style (including western toilets!)
• ALLPARK MALL (Hiroshima): Okay, I'm impressed!!! I finally made it to this place, after hearing about it for more than a year; now I wish I'd gone sooner :-) This is a HUGE, 6 story mall. There's a Disney Store :-), several restaurants, a fitness center, a drive-in theater (yes, you read that correctly), an arcade, a kiddie train and a carrousel, not to mention 6 stories of stores to shop in!!! The walk-through aquarium that was there when I first went there is gone now, though :-( This mall is also very easy to get to (now that I know how), being right by the train station.
• TOYS-R-US (Hiroshima): This store looks just like and American Toys-R-Us, and the good news is, it pretty much is! It's laid out exactly the same, so you shouldn't have any problem finding what you want. About 2/3 of the stuff is the same as you would get in the states, the rest is Japanese, to one extent or another. It might just be an American product with Japanese writing on the box, or it might be a Japanese version of an American toy (the video games and video movies, for instance). There are a few strictly Japanese toys, too. I got some Japanese yen play money. Prices are a little higher than in the states, but no more than the cost of shipping and handling, if you try to order the same thing by mail.
• YOU ME TOWN (Otake City): The Japanese have an interesting way of using the English language! While pronounced as the English words they look like, You Me, a similar (?) Japanese word "yume" (pronounced you-may), means "dream". The shopping center is sometimes called Dream Town! This is a shopping center with several stores, including a hardware/garden store, a DEO electronics store and more. It's only about 15-20 min. from base, if the traffic isn't too heavy.
• THE MALL (Kudamatsu): We ended up here when we took a Sunday Drive, and just followed the road to see where it went. Stores here are different; they're like a cross between a department store and a mall. This one has several clock towers by the stairs, like American malls might have fountains, or gardens. On the ground floor of this store (and many others, too) is the food department, where they sell both prepared and unprepared foods. Other departments sell clothing, housewares & furniture, jewlery, etc. Nothing is cheap in a store like this, but it's interesting to see.

Links to other sites on the Web

Wal-Mart Online From here you can get to both Wal-Mart and Sam's Club!
J. C. Penney Online
Current Inc. I order my checks from Current... they also have cute gifts and stationary :-)
See's Candies MMMMmmmmm!!!! See's chocolates available online, and shipped to APO/FPO :-)
Computer Shopper NetBuyer
United CD ROM
Amazon books
Barnes and Noble
Asahi Japan Collectibles Great selection of Japanese items, including kimonos, dolls, swords and postcards. Looks like reasonable prices, too. I haven't ordered from them yet, though. They are located in the US, by the way.
Jun Gifts 2/13/99 Lovely site, which sells some small, hard to find, Japanese items; also much info about Japanese culture :-)

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