Hansot Dosirak is the largest bento box manufacturer in South Korea, founded in 1993, and operates a chain of stores. In 2011, it was awarded the grand prize in the Bento Specialty Store category at Korea’s Most Loved Brands Awards. Currently, it holds the number one position in the bento box industry in the country, with virtually no competitors. “Hansot ...
On the first floor of the Nara Park Bus Terminal West Building, easily found just east of the Nara Prefectural Office, you’ll discover a sizable souvenir shop. With its well-maintained premises, this shop offers a fitting place to explore and purchase mementos after touring Nara Park. After ascending the Nara Prefectural Office Observatory for a high-altitude view of Nara Park, ...
Situated on the 9th floor of Osaka’s Shinsaibashi Shopping District, Daimaru Department Store presents a different atmosphere compared to typical department stores found in South Korea. While traditional department stores in Korea generally handle clothing and accessories, often focusing on luxury brands, Japanese department stores also allocate space for selling “character goods,” creating an eye-catching experience. “Jump Shop at Osaka ...
In Japan, various electronics and appliances superstores can be found, akin to electronic megastores like “Hi-Mart” in South Korea. One such establishment with a similar concept is the “Bic Camera” store. Found throughout Japan, it’s natural to come across Bic Camera in major cities like Osaka. Especially in the Namba area, renowned as a representative shopping district in Osaka, you ...
A common sight in Japan is the general store known as “Don Quijote.” Unlike other markets or department stores neatly organized into sections, Don Quijote takes a different approach. It places various miscellaneous goods in a haphazard manner, creating a concept that feels like a treasure hunt. The store is densely packed with a wide range of products. These stores ...
In Japan, it’s easy to find various general and variety stores. It’s convenient for shoppers as they gather and sell various items in one place. “Village Vanguard” is one such general store chain that operates as a bookstore. In reality, Village Vanguard doesn’t focus much on books. Instead, it mainly deals with clothing, miscellaneous goods, and daily necessities. Despite being ...
In Japan, unlike South Korea, it’s easy to find large department stores or variety stores operated by major companies. “Loft” is one such variety store and is operated as a franchise, making it easily accessible in various locations. The concept is simple: it’s a place that gathers and sells various lifestyle goods and miscellaneous items. “Loft at Osaka Namba Parks” ...
Osaka’s Den Den Town is a renowned hub of subculture, often compared to Tokyo’s Akihabara. Initially starting as an electronics market, Den Den Town gradually transformed into a subculture epicenter, featuring stores dedicated to animation and similar works, much like Akihabara. Comparatively, it exudes a vibe similar to Yongsan Electronics Market or the Southern Terminal Shopping Area in South Korea. ...
Japan can be considered a paradise for subcultures, with stores selling products related to subcultures found all over. Animate is one such specialty store dealing with various products related to manga and animation. Operating as a franchise, it can be found throughout Japan. In Osaka’s Den Den Town, you can also find Animate, situated in the heart of Den Den ...
One of the major attractions in the Namba area of Osaka is Dotonbori. While Dotonbori shares a similar atmosphere with Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon, if Cheonggyecheon exudes a calm and quiet ambiance, Dotonbori is more dynamic, akin to a lively tourist destination. At the heart of Dotonbori, you’ll find a large general store commonly seen in Japan, known as “Don Quijote.” Unlike ...
When you ascend to the 6th floor of PARCO Department Store, located in the heart of Osaka’s Shinsaibashi district, you’ll discover various character shops. Among them, you can also find the representation of Japan’s iconic monster character, “Godzilla.” “Godzilla, a Japanese Monster Film Released in 1954” Godzilla is a Japanese monster film released in 1954. While known as “Gojira (ゴジラ)” ...
America-mura in Osaka carries a vibrant atmosphere reminiscent of Seoul’s Hongdae and Itaewon in South Korea. Among its attractions, the shopping mall “Big Step” stands out as a landmark in America-mura. The mall hosts unique and distinctive stores, and one of the last shops I explored at Big Step was “Kemari87.” “Osaka America-mura Soccer Equipment Specialty Store” Compared to the ...