AEON MALL Okayama is really huge. If there are specific brands you want to visit, I recommend checking the floor and location before going in, or you can easily wear yourself out walking around inside. But its size also has advantages: the selection of brands is very comprehensive. You can shop at brands familiar to Taiwanese travelers, such as DAISO, 3COINS, JINS, and MUJI, all in one place. I especially thought the MUJI here was very large.
Compared with running around different areas of Osaka or Tokyo for different brands, here you can get almost all your household goods, clothing, glasses, drugstore items, and souvenirs in one place. It’s a great stop for getting all your shopping done at once. Another especially traveler-friendly feature is that many specialty stores offer tax-free shopping, and the official website lists which stores provide it. There’s no need to check each brand’s website, which saves a lot of trouble. Definitely a plus.
For the best shopping order, I also recommend visiting the individual stores first and then shopping at the supermarket on the first floor last. The supermarket stays open until 23:00, much later than the other stores in the mall, which close at 21:00. Besides the timing, if you buy a lot of food at the supermarket first, carrying it all around while shopping can be pretty tiring.
Discounts on prepared foods starting in the evening are also very popular. When I went close to 8:00 p.m., there was still food available, but many popular items were already gone. Since the supermarket itself is large enough, it usually won’t be completely cleaned out, but if there’s something in particular you want to eat, don’t wait too late.
Also, after arriving in Okayama on Tigerair Taiwan and getting into the city, many tourist attractions are already about to close, so AEON MALL is actually a great option at that time. You can also use it as a one-stop shopping destination on your last day. For me, AEON MALL Okayama’s biggest advantage is being able to buy everything in one place, with a comprehensive selection of brands and a supermarket that stays open later. The shopping convenience is even better than in many major cities.
