CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER HANSEN
I debated whether or not to write about the Awase Shopping Center. This is where the Toy’s-R-Us is located and I figured that most of you have probably visited it already. Then I got to thinking, if you don’t have kids you might not have checked it out, and it really is an awesome place to shop.
The shopping center is two levels of shops with a two level parking garage on top, much like Jusco. Also like Jusco, there are several shops inside the building designated by open shopping areas.
Level 1 has the 100 yen store, photography studio and various “booths” of merchandise. Level 2 has the Toys-R-Us, more “booths,” an arcade and (my favorite) Outlet-J.
Outlet-J is a cute clothing store. It sort of reminds me of Old Navy. Remember to bring your size charts when you go.
Overall, it’s one of my favorite places to shop. I like it’s location as well. I can hit the Living Design Square on the way there and make a day of it.
Happy shopping!
Directions:
Take the 81. Make a left on 329 (pass the Living Design Square). At the big McDonalds, take a right. The shopping center will be on your right hand side. Turn before shopping center and the entrance to the parking garage is on your left.
Very informative but the one thing you forgot to mention is what city the shopping center is in. It might help readers who are very new to Okinawa more
Awase — “Awase” shopping center.
AWESOME – I have been wondering where this is. And I keep seeing a sign on the way to Naha Airport for BABIES R Us…. do you know how to get THERE? It’s making me crazy. I desperately need another baby gate and can’t find them at Foster Furniture, PX, or KAB BX. I tried Babies R Us online but they won’t ship here. (But they’ll darn sure take our money to send people gifts through their registry if they are Stateside.) I know you can use a secondary shipper but I don’t want to pay shipping twice if I can help it…. that and BRU is just fun to wander – I’d love to compare the Japanese branch to what I’m used to.
I haven’t been to the other Toys-R-Us. I’ve been meaning to. I’ll try to get down there soon so that I can write about it.
Do you live on base? If so, you can go to Eagle hardware (either on Kadena or Foster) and pick up a baby gate for FREE! Let me know if you need directions.
They do sell gates at this Toys-R-Us in case you’re off base.
Melanie, the Birthday store also sells baby gates which are over on the far left-hand side of the store on the wall. I think they were about 60 for the walk through style? The babies r us in Naha is right by a huge Mall and an Art Museum. I can’t for the life of me remember how to get there though. I took back roads via someone else’s directions and I had a heck of a time getting there. I want to say it was near the ommarachi(sp??) train overpass. I’m sure someone else can chime in here.:)
Just so you know, Eagle will only issue ONE baby gate- so if you need more than that you have to purchase them yourself.
Here are directions to the Naha Toys-R-Us. (as well as dirctions to the Awase one) They were posted at one time but I can’t remember who to credit- sorry!
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ToysRUs Naha store from Camp Foster Commissary gate:
left on Hwy 58, keep going south, pass Kinser, pass over the bridge, stay on left side and look for Uenoya T-intersection. i call it a “T-intersection” cuz you can only either keep going straight or make a left on this one. i believe this is after a pachinko on your left. you also can look for a Birkenstock shoe store on your right of this intersection as a referrence.
turn left on “UENOYA” and again, stay left. you will see a sports store on your left, a few stores on a shopping center (Ryubo shopping center) still on your left side, and when you see a McDonald’s, start looking for ToysRUs/BabiesRUs on the shopping complex coming up on your left which is also on the same one as a Co-Op market, with a red apple symbol on it. if you see the Big San-Ei Naha Main place then you have passed it.
*coming out of gates Legion, PX (and another one along Hwy 81), turn right and keep heading towards 58, turn left on Hwy 58 and follow the rest of directions.
*coming out of Sgt Major gate, turn right, then left on 330, then straight on 81, then left on Hwy 58 heading south towards Naha and follow the rest of directions.
***The one in Awase takes Visa/Yen/American Cash (but change is given back in Yen)
ToysRUs Awase store from Camp Foster:
left turn out of Sgt Major gate (where Westpac is at) and keep going downhill and curvy roads. you will pass the expressway above you. you will also pass a big intersection Hwy 329 (you are heading towards the water on the other side of island) and beyond this big intersection, Hwy 81 (the road you’ve been on since leaving out of Sgt Major gate) becomes Hwy 227 and you still keep going. this is the same road going to a Water Comprehensive park. you will pass a high school on the left, the Prefectural Sport stadium also on your left, going past under a “bridge”, look to your right and you will see water comprehensive park on your right side (i was just giving you a quick tour hehehe) and keep going straight still. you will turn LEFT on a light called Awase intersection. halfway through this big road you will see a San-Ei with ToysRUs next to it. if you see a McDonald’s on the right and the intersection Hwy 329 then you have gone too far.
how far from kinser is it about how many minutes
I live on Kinser and it takes me maybe 10-15 minutes to get to Toys R Us in Naha and about 20-30 depending on traffic to get to the one in Awase!
I just want to add that the bread in there at the grocery store is quite delicious. Haven’t been there in probably 9 months though since Jusco is just more convenient.
Thanks to all who gave directions. Yes, the “one baby gate” rule is the problem we have. My husband got our one – but we needed at least one more, preferably two. Luckily my neighbor’s letting me borrow theirs while his wife and daughter are in the States – that gives me time to jot down these directions and go grab another. YAY! Thank you all!
Can you tell me how to get to Awase shopping center from Kadena?? Out of any gate will work!
Can someone help me with a place close to Kadena to find baby safety gates? Eagle Hardware no longer carries them and I didn’t see any in the Kadena BX. I can’t believe they are so hard to find.
The easiest way that works for me is to take Gate 2 Street to 329 (Takahara Intersection). Turn right on 329 and go straight until you reach the McDonald’s. Turn left at the stoplight and the Awase Shopping Center is up a block or two on the right-you can’t miss it. Turn right at the stop light right before the shopping center and there is a parking lot entrance on the left.
I was there last week and saw several varieties of baby gates and other baby-proofing items in the Babies-R-US section of Toys-R-Us.
Just an update on the post about Eagle Hardware issuing baby gates…they no longer carry them!!
I went there hoping to get one to keep my crazy little toddler from going upstairs and much to my dismay they told me that they are not carrying them anymore. There was no explaination why but you CAN buy them at the PX…Last time I went there were two varieties, a plastic one that was about 18 ish dollars and a pretty one with wood and black iron for 60 ish dollars. I am sure that this may vary as time goes by but as of Apr. 2010 that is all there is…other than that you would have to go off base to Toys R Us. Another option, if you are ok with second hand merchandise is Okinawayardsales.com …People PCS all the time and sell everything you can think of. You just have to check often…
Good Luck all!!