The commissary is your obvious choice when it comes to grocery shopping in Okinawa. But is it the smartest? We are going to explore the many options you have when it comes to grocery shopping in Okinawa.

When you are stationed anywhere in the states, you have the option of shopping at stores like Walmart, Target, Wegmans or Vons. You have weekly farmers markets where you can get high quality produce at good prices. Once you get over the shock of living in a foreign country and figure out how to count yen, there are so many grocery shopping options off base that are very similar to our American counterparts.

Shopping at the Commissary

Let’s get the obvious option out of the way first. Shopping at the commissary is a great option when you first get to the island. Most commissaries carry similar products and have similar layouts so you are going to feel like you are right back in the states and it may be a form of comfort as well.

If you came from Southern California or any other place with a high cost of living, the prices won’t be so much of a sticker shock to you. If not then prepare yourself, the prices may take your breath away. We do receive COLA while here so that will help.

An important rule of thumb for shopping at the commissary is remembering that most of the products were shipped here on cargo ship or plane and it took a long time for it to get here. You are going to want to check the expiration date on everything. Fresh and shelf stable products alike. You’ll routinely find that many products will have already expired or are close to expiring and there’s nothing like buying two gallons of milk for your family of 6 to find they both expire tomorrow.

If you have special dietary needs, the commissary will serve as a great place to get those things. With a decent variety of vegan and gluten free options, the commissary may be the only place on the island where you’ll find certain items for special dietary needs. Some of the off base grocery stores have a small section for these but you’ll routinely find they are out of stock and don’t carry many options.

You’ll find a good selection of healthy alternatives as well. Low sugar, dye free, organic or all-natural are a few other options you’ll find at the commissary. These alternatives can be hard to find off base, not to mention you’ll be using a translation app to read ingredients shopping off base. So, if you need any of these specific alternatives, commissary is a good choice.

Overall, the commissary is a great place to start until you get comfortable shopping off base or have very specific dietary needs. Many will tell you it’s cheaper off base but you need to decide what is best for you and your family.

Off Base Grocery Shopping in Okinawa

There are so many options when it comes to grocery shopping in Okinawa off base. You have big name grocery stores, smaller ones that seem to be on every corner, and then you have farmers markets of all sorts. All of them offer a wide variety of options. They all have sales of their own but most will have sales on meat on the 29^th of every month. This is a play on words as “ni” is two and “ku” is nine combining to niku which is the Japanese word for meat. Checking the flyers for each store is the best way to find sales.

AEON

Aeon is a major retail company throughout all of Japan. You can recognize their main Aeon logo in pink background with white lettering simply saying AEON. Their stores include Aeon, Aeon Style, Aeon Drug, MaxValu, and Big Express. For grocery shopping you’ll shop at Aeon, MaxValu, and Big Express.

Big Express is the cheapest, lower end option, similar to a Grocery Outlet. Cheap prices, a decent amount of stuff but not a lot of variety. You’ll also find it’s hit or miss, with the quality of their products. Big Express used to be its own company until forced into bankruptcy, and the Aeon group bought them out. Their logo is in English and usually big letters in orange.

MaxValu is mid-level grocery shopping. If you’ve shopped in Southern California, you’re familiar with Stater Brothers or on the east coast a Food Lion. This is easy to find as the store name and logo are in English. The logo is usually pink and white like Aeon, and some actually include Aeon on the sign.

Aeon itself would be closer to the value of a Wegmans. Aeon grocery stores are usually found in malls or outlet style shopping centers. Aeon grocery stores are popular with tourists as they provide high end, quality products along with many local products they can take home as souvenirs. With these grocery stores in malls or outlet style shopping centers, you’ll have access to stores carrying a wide variety of other daily necessities and products. Food courts or multiple restaurants can also be found surrounding the Aeon grocery stores.

These grocery store options will carry a variety of brands and options. They aren’t limited to local products, so you’ll find all the brand name options here. Aeon grocery stores usually come in a mall style set up where there are many other options for shopping, along with a variety of restaurants or a food court.

There are numerous options for Aeon shopping throughout the island. Aeon also has a membership system where you can apply for a membership card to use at any of their locations. You can build points and use those points for future purchases. Aeon accepts cash or card and offers a self-checkout option, and most places have an English option as well to make the process a little easier.

SAN-A

San-A is a grocery chain based in Okinawa and is much loved by the locals. It is a mid-level grocery option often referred to as the “Okinawa Walmart”. Similar to the others mentioned, it’s a full-sized grocery store offering everything you need. San-A is usually found in a mall set up with stores that cater to other needs like houseware, drug stores, clothing, and kids/baby products.

Your location on the island will determine the size and variety of product offerings, but San-A will typically have slightly better prices than Aeon on most things. San-A also offers a loyalty card where you can accumulate points for future purchases. San-A also accepts cash or card as payment but you will see most locals pay in cash as their preferred payment type. No fear, a credit card machine is near! Some locations also have a self-checkout, but most are in Japanese and can be intimidating.

San-A has over 80 store options throughout Okinawa and can be found by looking for a sign with a yellow background with three A’s in red. “San” is “three” in Japanese, so it’s easy to remember at the store with three A’s on the sign.

KANEHIDE

Kanehide is a retail chain based in Okinawa that prides itself on providing local products. From produce to meat to alcohol, almost all their products are produced locally. Since they mostly only provide local products, they have a limited selection and produce is seasonal.

Kanehide has over 50 stores located throughout Okinawa. It is recognizable by the circular logo with two birds, usually with a green background, one white bird and the other in orange. Most signs are in Japanese kanji with the occasional “market” included on the sign. If you search on google maps for Kanehide, their stores will pop up and you can find the one closest to you. Like the major grocery stores, Kanehide stores accept cash or card payments.

DON QUIJOTE

Don Quijote, also known as Don Q, is mostly a store for ALL the things. You can find anything you could possibly need in this store but it’s worth mentioning for grocery shopping because the prices are usually cheaper here. It’s known as a deep discount store for its products to include their grocery section.

A large selection of alcohol, snacks, and candy gives you lots of options to try new things. Their produce selection is small but some of the best prices you’ll find on the island. Personally, this is the place I get my strawberries when they are in season because they are always the cheapest. I also leave singing their catching store jingle in my head for days afterwards.

Don Q comes in mega stores as well, which are often referred to as a “jungle style” store because of the close quarters, small walkways, and jam-packed product style shopping. There are less than 10 stores on the island of Okinawa, found mostly in the more populated areas near Naha with only one store in the northern end of the island in Nago. As a magnet for tourists, Don Q offers cash or card payment options.

UNION

This grocery store is probably the most loved among the locals. It is an Okinawa based store with almost 20 locations in the central and southern regions of the island. It is most recognizable for its red letters and green outline on its sign, which is also in English. The logo above the store name is a large “U” with red trim. The store is most loved for its 24/7 hours and is popular for those who work late shifts or night shifts.

Union is another popular grocery store for tourists as it boasts products from all over Okinawa. They have a large selection of Awamori, an indigenous distilled alcohol made using long grain indica rice, which is popular among Okinawans as a celebratory drink and is a symbol of Okinawan identity. Along with Awamori, Orion Beer is also a symbol of the relaxed, island life of Okinawa and is brewed in the Nago region and shipped locally and internationally. Union Supermarkets have a fun souvenir section filled with Orion Beer, Spam, and Blue Seal merchandise, as well as their own merchandise.

In addition to carrying the more famous Okinawan cultural symbols, they carry a variety of local produce, drinks, snacks, and bento boxes with local cuisine that will keep you coming back to try all the wonderful things this island offers. When shopping at Union, just remember to bring cash/Yen as they choose as a company to offer low prices to their customers by not having to pay for credit card surcharges.

GYOMU SUPER

The literal translation of this is “wholesale for professionals supermarket”. This is the Costco of Okinawa until, of course, Costco opens in the fall of 2024. Gyomu Super is geared towards food service professionals, but they welcome anyone to shop there. They offer products in bulk sizes as well as individual. You won’t find a large selection of produce here and it can vary by location, but you will find some.

Gyomu Super prides themselves on their everyday low prices. With offering low prices daily, they do not have daily sales or any huge promotional days. Especially with their bulk selection, this could be some of the cheapest shopping around the island. If you’re in the market for food and single use dinnerware for a large event, this is the place to go.

Along with carrying bulk items, Gyomu Super has a large variety of halal and vegan food items. They don’t have a specific section for these items so it can take some time to scour the store for them, especially if you need help from your translation app, but once you find them you’ll be able to make your next shopping trip quicker. Their freezer section is huge with lots of variety, their produce section is crazy cheap, and their bulk selection will get you through your next unit event at the local park.

Your best bet for finding one of these stores is typing it into your maps app of choice and finding the location closest to you. Their sign is usually in Japanese Kanji so you might not be able to pick it out immediately just by driving by, but it is green with white kanji/lettering. There are less than 10 stores island wide with them all in the central and southern areas. There are 4 in the central area of Okinawa, all close to any of the major bases. Just be sure to have enough yen on you as Gyomu Super does not accept credit cards.

CO-OPS

Co-ops are a great option for grocery shopping in Okinawa as they offer variety from local farmers. Co-ops are local products in a grocery store format. Some Co-ops in Okinawa are COOP and A-Coop. The difference between these, and any coop throughout Okinawa and Japan, is which cooperative oversees the store.

COOP is easily identifiable by the giant red apple, although after a quick google map search there seem to be a few with a green apple, but an apple regardless. It will also have COOP on the sign. COOP in Okinawa carries a wide variety of organic produce and products. They have their own brand of products that’s “nearly” organic at a cheaper price. So if you can’t quite afford the organic price, the COOP store brand can provide a better alternative at a cheaper price.

They offer a membership, but it is not required to shop at the store. A membership offers the opportunity to accumulate points. Once you’ve accumulated a certain amount of points you get a discount coupon you can use for future purchases. If you plan to shop there often, a membership could be beneficial. Also, notable is their only payment option is cash so be sure to have enough yen on you when shopping here.

A-Coop usually has the name in English on the sign but also will include their orange and green logo of an A with a green leaf covering the top half of the “A”. Some will also have the “JA” of the Japanese Agriculture Group logo since A-Coop is run by the JA Group. Like COOP, A-Coop provides a variety of local produce and products from local farmers. A-Coop markets usually accept cash or cards but some of the smaller ones may not offer card so, as always, remember to have yen on you when shopping here.

Coops offer local products and produce for great prices, taking the “middleman” out of the big grocery store companies. With this, though, comes availability issues and seasonal options. This is something you should get to know living in Japan, as prices and availability regardless of where you shop fluctuate with the seasons. A quick search on Google maps and you’ll be able to locate the closest coop to you.

FARMERS MARKETS

There are many farmers markets throughout the island, most with signs in Kanji, and a diamond in the rough. Farmers markets are some of the best places to get high quality produce at cheap prices. These are the locals’ best kept secrets since they usually are privately owned, with only a handful operated by the JA group.

JA Farmers Markets

These farmers markets are the bigger farmers markets and have a huge variety of local produce and food products. They are set up like a grocery store and run by the Japanese Agriculture Group Cooperative. The variety and availability won’t fluctuate quite as much as the smaller markets but they will fluctuate with the seasons.

You’ll be able to find them by looking for the JA logo which is a red or green JA, along with a green background with produce in the foreground. Not all JA Farmers Markets have these telltale symbols on their signs so be sure to search on your maps app to find the closest one to you. These JA Markets are cash or card payments.

Yasai Batake

Yasai Batake is probably the most popular among the military community. You may be more familiar with the name the Americans have given it, Banana Stand. Don’t let the name fool you, while they sell some amazing bananas at an insanely cheap price, this farmers market carries a variety of produce at crazy cheap prices compared to the bigger grocery stores. The availability depends on the farmers they work with and the seasonal produce available. One week you may find the biggest juiciest watermelon and the next week they are half the size. They bag most of the produce to offer bulk prices but keep the same produce individually for those not looking for 15 green peppers that week.

There is only one Banana Stand market on the island and you would probably just drive by if you didn’t know to look for it. It is very small and no sign to let you know you found the right place. It’s in a building with a laundromat next door and apartments above it. There is usually a truck with produce on it out front that the workers are constantly unloading as the day goes on.

A few of the ladies who work here speak fluent English, will love on your babies while you shop, and are always willing to help, so you won’t be totally overwhelmed shopping locally. This is a cash only establishment so make sure to have plenty of yen on you since every time you go, you’ll find something new.

Address: 2 Chome-9-2 Chibana, Okinawa, 904-2143

PIN: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cXDKU1Y9NtEWKCGL9

Happy More Farmers Market

Another one-of-a-kind market, this one is located in the back streets of Ginowan. They offer a wide variety of high-quality produce and local products along with a variety of vegan foods. They pride themselves in the careful selection of every product they sell in their store. They also offer a buying guide for their produce that is color coded based on the amount of pesticide and fertilizer used on each fruit or vegetable. They also provide personal messages from farmers that provide information about their passion for growing, how to eat the fruit or vegetable, and what might make them different from other similar products.

Their store is constantly moving to provide their customers with an optimal shopping experience and provide upfront and center products that may be in season or limited quantity. So, every time you shop here the layout may be different depending on the products they offer, keeping you on your toes.

Happy More also boasts a line of their own brand of products. Their most notable one is their smoothies. These are chock full of local produce and each contains Happy More’s original enzyme syrup. The recipes change as the seasons change and the availability of local ingredients change.

Happy More also carries original baked goods such as the Ripe Banana Cake and the Lemon Andagi (Okinawan doughnut). The ripe banana cake is available daily along with other cakes that change with the seasonal produce available. The Lemon Andagi is an original product that was made by a staff member who wanted to eliminate the amount of lemon peels wasted after making smoothies. What started as a treat for other workers soon became a store staple. They are only sold on certain days of the month and the schedule can be found on their website.

Happy More Farmers Market accepts cash or card for payments and also offers a points card. As your points accumulate, you can use them towards a purchase of their popular smoothies.

Address: 1 Chome-11-247-1 Shimashi, Ginowan, Okinawa 901-2213

PIN: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZHrbEjFRXdhYp3Z79

Other Farmers Markets

This island is full of farmers markets around every corner, it just takes some searching on your own and on your favorite map app. Many of them are smaller and frequented more by locals but always worth checking out. If you are traveling around the island on an adventure and need a snack, always keep an eye out for a produce stand on the side of the road and support the local farmers. There are flea markets, pop up stands, and brick and mortar markets alike that offer a wide variety of seasonal produce usually at cheaper prices since it’s direct from the farmers.

Some farmers markets worth looking into are:

• Yumeseika 5 Chome-21-4 Misato, Okinawa, 904-2153
• Hallab 3 Chome-4-1 Mekaru, Naha, Okinawa 900-0004
• Nakagusuku Farmers Market Minami 405 Minamiuebaru, Nakagusuku, Nakagami District, Okinawa 901-2424
• Onna no Eki “Nakayukui Market” 1656-9 Nakadomari, Onna-son, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture 904-0415, Japan
• Okisen Market 372-2 Kaneku, Kadena, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0205

Grocery shopping in Okinawa can be overwhelming when you first get here, I know it was for me. The commissary offers a wonderful selection of produce along with all the comforts of home and normal products carried by stateside commissaries. Give yourself some time to settle into life here in Okinawa and don’t be afraid to adventure out to see what there is locally. Asking neighbors and friends who have been here for a while is always a great way to find out where everyone shops and maybe you’ll find a friend to give you a tour of their favorite local store. MCCS also offers a grocery store tour occasionally and information can be found by visiting their activity calendar.

Looking for more? Check out these other popular articles on moving to Okinawa.