Japan can be an expensive country for those who are on a Paki pay-roll. So, there are some handy stores which offer goods at cheaper prices than others. Generally dont assume that what price you get at one place will be same at other e.g. a simple mouse pad.. which has nothing but a soft fabric surface will cost 500 Y, but if you really go through the trouble then you can find a leather coated mousepad with hand rest and the works for 300 Y even. There is a HUGE difference in prices of same product at different locations and shops.
So, hopefully the following Top 4 shops will be a guideline for those coming in future to Isezaki / Kennai / Bandobashi areas:
- Shop 99
SPECIALTY : This is the most recommended shop. The name gives u the hint … everything for 99 Yen. Well yes you be amazed that what good products you can find here for just 99 Y which others are giving for double or triple the price. e.g. a 150ml coke from outside will cost you 150Y but here you can buy 1 liter coke for 99Y. Now tell me that aint amazing!!!
GOODS : This shop has nearlly every variety of item. So, its one stop shopping trip. Just as you enter you will find vegetables and fruits. Move ahead and there is bread and bakery items. On left will be dairy products. In the last lane will be drinks. In middle aisle of back rows is alcohol.. so just skip that, cuz some people might get confused by simple bottles with lemon on its picture, but inreality its vodka with , lemon taste (every label is japanese so u cannot read it). The way to spot the difference is the percentage number on label. i.e. if there is written something like 10% or 5% then it surly means that its 10% alcohol… so avoid those. Secondly alcohol and juices are placed in different aisles anyway, so once you know which aisle is which it will be a lot easier. Now on extreme right are stationary and house-hold plastic ware etc. and near the counters you will find cookies, chips etc.
DIRECTIONS : Washignton hotel / Isezaki Station is in center of Isezaki, start walking south across Odori park towards the Cosmo Petrol Pump. While standing at the pump, diagonal to it across the road is the Shop. - Bandomaschi-cho Grocery Street
SPECIALITY : This is a covered market much like Sunday markets. You might wanna go there on weekends too when you have more time. There are lots of shops here. Eggs and vegetables packed in larger packaging is more cheaper here.
GOODS : Although you can find grocery at Shop 99, but if you want more variety in Vegetables, Fruit and Fish then opt for this. There are some inner route going to sidelines from inside the main grocery street. I do recommend you go there, as the some vegetable shops there give even more cheap rate than the ones in main street.
DIRECTIONS : Start walkign along the odori park to west from Isezaki station, and you will surly spot a fully covered street with grocery shops, to your south. This is it. - Yamada Store
SPECIALITY : This store has been a heart favorite of many asians for its cheap rates. But I find it on 3rd ranking. Its speciality is frozen goods and spices.
GOODS : In the aisles from Left to right: you will find: spices, next Frozen chopped vegetables, next meat lots of it in next aisles, then alcohol, then juices. in circumfrential shelves you will find sauces, bread, wheat, flour, cooking powder etc. But I will recommend buying from here, when you can find nothing from above two mentioned places. Goods worth picking up from here are frozen lady fingers (japanese dont eat much of this, so its very rare in shops), cooking oil, pizza yeast and macroni (just 130 Y a packet here).
DIRECTIONS : Start walking north from Isezaki station across the washignton hotel. keep to your left and you will come infront of big departmental store with big green board with japenese on it. People say that it is written Yamada. But for non-japense there is no english written on board so most people miss it. Just keep an eye for a key smith and shoe mender stall, and the shop next to them is the one with big green board. - 100 Yen shop
SPECIALITY : This should be the last priorty on your grocery trip cuz quite frankly speaking it keeps no grocery, it is mainly for common household items. but their speciality… yup everything for 100 Yen. Originally there are many branches of it all across japan and every region even has 1 or 2 of these shops in Yokohama. But with Shop 99 available, this shop holds no charm.
GOODS : It has stationary items, household items like soaps, detergents, umbrellas, knives, plastic ware, baskets, tools etc. There are very few eatable items.. limited to snack family etc only.
DIRECTIONS : It is the last shop in south on the Bandomaschi-cho Grocery street. But if u live in Bandobashi area, you should come from opposite side … it will 1st or 2nd shop for you… so much easier access.
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