Inside a Huge Japanese Shopping Mall

Inside a Japanese Mall! Get Exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/to... Risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee! Today we are checking out what a shopping mall in the countryside of Japan is like!
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Norm Nakamura - Tokyo Creative Redhorse Corporation Co. Ltd
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[@TokyoLens]

Huge Thanks to NordVPN for always supporting this channel! Check it out here: nordvpn.com/tokyolens AND BIG LOVE TO THE NOTIFICATION SQUAD!! GIVING AWAY FREE MERCH TO NOTIFICATION SQUAD PEEPS ALL SUMMER! It is that time of the week again!! And by popular request, this week we are hitting up a Japanese shopping mall! **Different from your country? Join the discussion below!! **

[@Lizraeh]

The gachapon one could be episode ideas and another for subscribers to win items.

[@monotonehell]

"NORN" is not called "NORM" because of trade mark reasons. Same with "NORM VPN"

[@BlackyBrownDestruction9337]

I like to see your opinion on each gachapons they have lol

[@Malatryx]

This reminded us a lot of a local mall in Edmonton called city centre mall. It's 2 parts and a huge variety. The wide open shops kinda blew our minda tho.

[@leponpon6935]

11:29 Wait....isn't that NORN VPN?

[@confuzzledbear]

I went to a different Aeon mall years ago and remember getting culture shock at how open everything was! The ones where I'm from usually have glass partitions/displays, and you'd have to go inside each store to see what they had, whereas you have a clearer view of things in a Japanese mall. Seeing this layout again takes me back!

[@shep4516]

Unfortunately most of the malls in America (or at least here in NY) have been shutting down for years. We've got a few big ones that still operate but not nearly as many as there used to be. The closest one to me has a small humane animal exhibit and an old carousel so that's cool at least. It's mostly fast food, clothing and game areas (mini golf, a mirror maze, etc.).

[@shep4516]

@@aGGeRReS It started long before c19 hit. Rent prices were going up but fewer and fewer people were going to them so the stores couldn't keep up. Online shopping hit a lot of the non-chain stores hard as well. I couldn't really tell you what happened from there. I suppose online shopping and new locations for the in-person shopping are now available.

[@waisiechun1510]

most of the malls in america is much narrower compared to the ones in japan. we don't have those such big malls here. it's mostly outlets and bargain stores in the US

[@hyundaisonata580]

The malls started to disappear when the street gangs started to spread.

[@mionka96]

I love Japanese shopping malls! There's one in Nagasaki called Mirai Nagasaki Coco Walk that has a ferris wheel on the 5th floor! It is somewhat similiar to this mall but it's bigger, plus it has SEGA in it :D

[@TokyoLens]

I love the ones that toss a random Ferris wheel on the roof! I wish this one had that 😊

[@QuickQuips]

There's one in Osaka with a ferris wheel, a whale, and a massive vr floor. It's a must see.

[@silis_pap8473]

@@QuickQuips What's it called? I'll be visiting Osaka and I'd like to see that

[@Narnendil]

@@silis_pap8473 I can't remember what the mall with the whale is called, but it's just outside the Umeda station in Osaka.

[@ajawang2401]

@@silis_pap8473 i think its called HEP Five? the one with red ferris wheel

[@jenl2530]

Japanese malls are often much more open in appearance and welcoming to browsing than US malls are, I have noticed. I suspect that the difference is partially because there is much less risk of theft in Japan and a more customer friendly approach. Malls are very much on the decline here in the US, in part, I believe because they are so dominated by chain stores. Fyi… Sports Authority is a US chain. Huge big box stores often. I assume this is a licensing arrangement in Japan, but maybe not.

[@samtovar2447]

yes it is under a licensing arrangement in japan.

[@samtovar2447]

also there no longer open in the usa do to chapter 7 bankruptcy.

[@rovhalt6650]

Everything in America these days is owned by chain stores. It's killing off your economy.

[@kandigloss6438]

I've heard that the decline of the popularity of shopping malls here in the US is also due to the popularity of online shopping, which I believe is something that never caught on in Japan the way it has here.

[@Uniacoty]

Perhaps Amazon isn't as popular in Japan? Alot fewer people are shopping in person when now that they can order something at home and have it the next day.

[@memeranglaut]

Got to say, the Kyushu mall reminds me of the malls in Malaysia - but to be fair, the malls here are mostly designed to be be similar to Japan. Aeon is a big anchor for many malls here in Malaysia. And sized to match too.

[@LapisandHamtarolover]

Kyushu and Okinawa feels quite different compared to the mainland and Hokkaido in their malls; probably due to the climate there being longer summers since they're closer to the equator.

[@andymurphy9016]

What struck me is this: I am an Indonesian living in Jakarta. First time I was in inside a Japanese shopping mall was 25 years ago in Osaka. I was awestruck. Never in my life I saw something so beautiful, with tons of fascinating goods spread all over. Today I watched your video and I was surprised how the shopping mall you showed here is so familiar. If I watch this video without sound I wouldn’t be able to tell where is this until you showed that the price is in Yen. I would only be able to tell that this is in Asia, but for all I know this could be in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, or even Hanoi. All shopping malls in Asia nowadays look like this.

[@aaetherakashaa4143]

in every continent they have malls like this , even africa

[@LapisandHamtarolover]

Feels like the malls in south east Asia with Kyushu and Okinawa high streets with their shopping centers.

[@Nutamu]

I don't think i'll ever be able to travel the world, to see places like Japan so thank you for sharing your journey there!

[@melissareid640]

Shopping malls are dying in America and I have found memories as a child meeting my grandma and having lunch as well as shopping but mostly because we just felt special and loved. It was about the time and not the stuff. Rest her soul.

[@derek.thomas0061]

👋 hello

[@aminat599]

I LOVED the shopping in Japan! 😍😍Sunshine city was my absolute favorite I felt like I really was in a small city! I can’t wait until I can finally go back but until then thank you for making these videos that really help me feel like I’m there ☺️☺️☺️

[@wudgie895]

7:19 I was kinda amazed to see this sign. I was amazed because of the fact that Sports Authority is listed as a shop on it. For those that don't know or have forgotten Sports Authority was one of the biggest Sports retailer chains in America. Though they filed for Bankruptcy back in 2016 and closed down. So its fascinating to see that there's actually one overseas, and in Japan at that.

[@briankennedy9829]

The West Edmonton Mall has a Rec Room. Rec Room game centers/restaurants have really taken off since, obviously, the last time you were in Canada. Most bigger "mall areas" have them now. Shopping malls, with everything under one roof, have given way to "shopping destinations," collections of separate stand alone shops and services. One in Calgary even has an iFLY indoor skydiving wind tunnel.

[@zacharyleonard9413]

I'm from Mississauga but I've been to shopping malls in Dubai and to a sort of mall in Tokyo. I think they all have a familiar feel in each country. I like it.

[@Shanyandao]

I just love the malls in Japan. We don‘t have things like gachapon, fancy vending machines and game centers here in Switzerland.. The variety of shops is also great, i remember spending a whole day in a mall in Tokyo once :‘D

[@TokyoLens]

Honestly it just makes me wanna buy my own Gachapon machines!!

[@Narnendil]

@@TokyoLens If you have a gachapon machine at home, you should fill it with different kinds of those candies you like :) A fun way to get your snack!

[@luckydannumber2]

In Australia they are appearing in the malls and the arcades are only limited to the biggest arcades malls in Australia like Chatswoods and George Street in Sydeny but don't expect in smaller states/country towns

[@alcor4670]

@@TokyoLens If you're still looking for ideas on what to fill your gacha machine with, you might want to try some unique Canadian trinkets, fridge magnets, and souvenir items. Maybe set it up in front of your house or somewhere nearby.

[@Viroh]

So you just wanna gamble

[@anotherhayley86]

Please do the grocery / supermarket bit downstairs! Would love to see all the different things they sell :)

[@indysaur]

It is great to see a mall full and thriving, shopping malls here (USA) and back home (Canada) are dead, 90% empty. Hanging out at the mall on the weekends was my teenage years, sad to see them just become an empty shell.

[@TokyoLens]

I haven’t had a chance to check out the Canadian mall in a few years I’ll have to go back sometime~

[@indysaur]

@@TokyoLens There is a KZbin channel of a guy doing walkthroughs of malls in USA and Canada, found my hometown mall on his channel, was heartbreaking to see it entirely empty.

[@lucas839]

@@TokyoLens could it be because of car centered cities and online shopping? I mean first time is like "wow I could buy anything is so cool" then there is really no point to go in there outside of wasting time I went on vacation and always passed on nakano Broadway was always on my way to the station so you definitely go everyday to a ministreet shopping mall Other guy mentioned here in the comments is "shotengai"

[@max--park]

I feel like most malls (those I went to in Canada at least!) have the same shops from major retailer brands, or smaller shops that carry the same stuff as the big brands. There's little discoveries to be made any more.

[@amara560]

@@indysaur What is the channel called?

[@geriattrique7141]

I was waiting for the MUJI! We have one in downtown Toronto, just down the street from me and I’m addicted to the place! I love their pens and notebooks. A good friend of mine said their international prices are wayyyy more expensive than in Japan, but they are nice quality!

[@derek.thomas0061]

👋 hello

[@hhutcheo]

Yes! I'd love to see a supermarket video. I love exploring supermarkets in other countries.

[@thempstead]

I like a good Japanese mall. Don't think I've been to a Aeon one, due to their locations, but I've been to others in various cities. They always seem to have a far wider range of stores than malls here ... which tend to be a lot more limited to clothes, mobile phones, trainers and shops selling misc crap. I love the bookshops in the Japanese malls as well as the food halls their or in the basements of department stores. Always good for a wander around. Village Vanguard is always good for a wander around and I like Muji (we used to have a Muji store in my city but it closed about 10 years ago). We don't tend to have hardware stores in malls as they tend to be in cheaper, standalone, out of town locations.

[@iqbalchuvan4890]

Its pretty cool how this huge shopping mall is located in the countryside! Im from Indonesia and I get the impression that while shopping malls let alone the huge ones might be pretty rare in Japan, here especially in the capital there are a lot of them! Even bigger than this one!

[@Sahara333]

Japanese malls are so cool! I come back to this video every now and then so I can pretend I’m there 😅 I used to spend almost an entire day at the malls in Japan going into all the stores, speaking with the staff (I barely speak any Japanese but I pretended I understood for practice), eating food, buying so many cute accessories!! The bathrooms are so great usually, the pretty big and clean and they don’t stink.

[@explorer_bln]

Are the Malls still thriving in Japan? Here in Germany they are "dying out". Often third or half of the stores/area are not rented. They are partly converted into office space.

[@TokyoLens]

Very thriving! I wouldn’t go anywhere near them on a weekend lol

[@therealteal620]

I love how their clothes aren’t all branded. Like basic, simple yet stylish clothes without being a walking advertisement for a fashion company.

[@Steve_Hickman]

Shopping malls like that are becoming so rare these days in the US, and those that are still around that are well maintained are becoming even rarer.

[@VerhoevenSimon]

I can't imagine a mall like this in Belgium, especially one with such a game center. I'd actually love to see a deeper gander at the hardware store, maybe as a tie in with Sharlas home renovation? I am curious about some Japan specific things, and also the adaptations that are taken into consideration.

[@aaetherakashaa4143]

its because people in west game at home , they dont need to go to a mall for that sht , there is no market for it in the west, arcades are boring for 99% of ppl

[@ehlersdanlosandi]

These walk/explore with me type of videos are my favorite because I can really imagine myself where you are and live vicariously through your explorations! Thanks for making these.

[@azkaazryhns]

I was wondering if AEON malls in Japan also have the same floor plan arrangements as AEON malls outside of Japan ( like Indonesia for example ) until this video came up and answers my question. It's kinda interesting to learn that AEON manage to reuse their mall's floor plan arrangement at certain points and was able to apply it to various locations with different site contexts. Thank you for vlogging this, now I can sleep soundly haha.

[@albatross1688]

I'm impressed that the Japanese didn't mind your filming and commentary all throughout the mall, including the business owners. I figured at least some places would not be super keen on that.

[@mollysprague9663]

Well, first of all it looks a lot more prosperous than most malls that I’ve seen in the US. All the stores you showed looked full of products, well-organized, clean, and well-lit. Malls I’ve been to in the US are half empty, dark and unkempt and not looking very healthy. It was nice to see a thriving mall. Thanks!

[@michellespring]

This reminds me of the AEON mall near where I used to live in the countryside in Mie prefecture. Tokyo has everything, but I really do miss shopping malls like this. I'm not really one for wandering around shopping malls, but a movie and wandering around the mall (with a Bookoff) on a rainy day was fun and relaxing.

[@vaguelyweird]

the laketown mall is huge, and fairly close if you live on the north side -- i used to go with my father so he could get his steps in.

[@jeremytome]

Now I want to take my kids to the only mall we have left in Austin. There were 3, one converted to a massive community college, the other had an ice rink but now the shops are on the outside.

[@AWKW800]

Love your videos and your narration through them, informative, straightforward, not pushing agenda, useful opinion, etc. This one makes me miss Japanese malls so much and Japan in general. Can’t wait til they open the border for individual travelling!

[@chrisicu4236]

That was a fun video and your enthusiasm was fun to listen to. I do miss Muji. Great quality and I use daily what I’ve bought from them. Hey Norm here’s a suggestion I haven’t seen before. How about an episode of online retailers who ship Japanese products to overseas customers. There are some companies who won’t ship internationally.

[@Ohhcrystaal]

I’ve been missing Japanese shopping malls so THANK you for sharing this!! I am from LA area so I am fortunate to have many shopping malls around me, however they differ SO much from the malls in Japan (ie. the grocery stores, arcades, gachapon, etc.) There’s great malls in Chiba, Japan where a lot of my family are. It’s funny that no matter how many times I go shopping there, I have still have not been able to see and appreciate everything there!

[@BlackHayateTheThird]

We have a Muji in Toronto, and it's such a great store, the prices are awesome. The brand is so popular you find stuff on Amazon being sold 3x the price online than in the store (since not all cities have Muji). Reminds me I need to go shopping there soon and get some cooking chopsticks and their pens (they're so awesome).

[@ladykadiijha]

Heaven Learning Japanese is so difficult but when I watch these type of videos it inspires me to keep going. I wish I could go there soooo bad

[@derek.thomas0061]

👋 hello

[@frozenbean]

There's a few Beard Papas in Metro Vancouver. They're pretty good! The one mall in Tokyo that's really cool is Venus Fort in Odaiba. That Toyota History exhibit is so fascinating and well done.

[@cvera__]

I love your videos! I’ve been binge watching them wanting to visit Japan but for now your videos make my day! They’re so good!

[@bernardocardoso1356]

I like how warm and welcoming Japanese shopping malls look. Maybe it's all the wood, good lighting and varying floor designs. Shopping malls in Canada like Eaton Centre and Yorkdale in Toronto and Dixie and Square One are so bland and depressing.

[@LapisandHamtarolover]

Most likely the darker colors like black being used in the West instead of white/beige/yellow/blue used in Japan.

[@ScottMcMaster-er4xj]

Osaka has some absolutely stunning shopping malls. Definitely worth a visit Norm. Also can we both agree that the Starbucks in Japan are so much better than Canada and they have incredibly comfortable interior and seating. Also Kawasaki station on the way from tokyo to Yokohama has a really beautiful mall, with stunning Christmas lighting in winter.

[@SIRsmackzALOT]

The shopping malls near me have devolved into a cluster of clothing and brand stores. No more uniqueness. It's not fun to look around in a mall when you can get everything you want somewhere else. It really makes it to where there's no reason to explore or hang out with friends. The mall your showing off looks sweet though, you could spend hours finding new and interesting stuff.

[@skysmashify_]

*me taking notes on what shops to look out for when I finally go to Japan* I also love how this is laid out, almost like traffic calming for indoors. The vibe is very chill, compared to shopping malls here in Ireland which are usually massive and very open, and usually use a lot of white paint and mirrors. This almost seems like you're moreso walking through a chain of various shops, than in an actual mall. Also, chocolate equivalent to 1 euro? Now I get why you moved to Japan!

[@infinite_g]

I stayed in Odaiba for 3 months in 2016 for business travel, and there were malls galore in that area it seemed. The biggest one being Diver City (with it's awesome Gundam outside) at 7 floors, but also on the other end of the Yurikamome line in Toyosu was the Urban Dock LaLaPort which was pretty big (5 floors I think?). Also that crazy 20,000 leagues under the sea boat had a berth there.

[@EdwardKayeplus]

I think the West Edmonton mall has a large arcade in it, as well as a giant swimming pool and adventure park. Malls here in Victoria, BC are basically ghost towns.

[@DisabledCursedPrince]

This is definitely on my to-do list whenever we can go! Oh and the camping stuff! I'm gonna have to rewatch this video and pause often to take everything in. It's so visually overstimulating but I kinda love that- LOVE seeing interesting things in every corner, every frame. I feel like I could have a year in Japan and it still wouldn't be enough because there's so much to see, and so much changing all the time. And Norm, I totally relate to the not eating thing. Actually, I realized I don't eat, drink, potty, or sleep without having to ask myself if I need to do those things and genuinely having to think about it (and poke my bladder) sometimes. Learned that's probably a divergent thing- got diagnosed with ADHD this year too (that probably would have saved me during class back in the day ;-;) Making lists is also something I have to do or I'll get distracted and never get anything done otherwise. The struggle bus is real haha but I think things like that are what make people so interesting sometimes. Like I'm not personally interested in many techy-type things but I think it's so cool how diverse your interests are on those things- from camera lenses, old tech, to... planes? It's like there's just so much to learn. Every month I'm onto seemingly random things- this month seems to be.. fish, economics, and fish economics (just kidding, more like plankton and seaweed agriculture. Fish economics sounds cuter though.) Hope that coffee was great and not stale lmao and wishing you a great day c:

[@strippinheat]

As someone that was an American teenager in the late 80s and early 90s, I am VERY excited to see this.

[@sanashi27]

This made me miss going to a mall. There are big shopping malls here in the philippines and some of the big ones in the city have large arcades too although only if you see two different arcades side by side as one thing. I've seen two malls with arcades huge enough to even have a rides in it but one has closed and I'm not sure of what happened to the other one.

[@dancedj2k2]

I love shopping malls. When ever I go to a new state or country, the first place I head to is a mall. You can tell what people wear, eat, and like to shop for all from a mall. Malls are dying in many areas due to online shopping, but there are still some advantages a well run mall has. The ability to have an item now, and the ability to see if the item truly is what you want or need. Clothing being number one. Online shopping for shoes or clothes is just horrible. Electronic goods as well need to be seen in person. Thank you for spending time showing us this place.

[@derek_li]

Love Japanese malls. Especially the newer ones. They are all have wide walkways and lots of areas where you can sit down to take a break. Also I noticed that most shops do not have a display window/space, but their entrances are wide open so that you are more likely walk into the shop feeling welcomed. Amenities are abundance and well designed. Thanks for the video!

[@dessusenpai2921]

Love the content, I'm showing these to my friends who are planning to have a trip to Japan. Just to hype up expectations of everything. Keep up with great vids!

[@MrWordcat]

So I noticed there were some lockers on the first floor and decided to look it up. Turns out they're refrigerated lockers for your groceries so you can pop produce in there and continue the rest of your shopping. Now that's just civilized! P.S. my favorite dagashi is umaibō, I try to get them any chance I can. 😋

[@BC_Outside]

Seeing The Sports Authority was a throwback. I'm from the US and I had one just around the corner from where I grew up. They declared bankruptcy a while ago but my local one closed down probably 20 years ago. It's strange to see it still around in another country.

[@Technodoki]

That’s what I said in another comment. I can’t believe they are still running in Japan. That is where I went for all my sporting stuff as a kid

[@ahabwolf7580]

Wow, compared to the malls in my area, that looked super clean and organized. I suppose that might just be a general thing to expect in Japan, but still pretty cool to see. Thanks for the video Norm

[@leonnahofer9138]

Right behind the gochapon vending machines (the first ones you showed us) there was a row of what looks like some type of lockers. What is it?

[@briankennedy9829]

They coin lockers are for bags etc to put stuff in while shopping.

[@TokyoLens]

And sometimes they go abandoned……. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZLNlIiMeal1i5o

[@leonnahofer9138]

@@briankennedy9829 oh ok thanks

[@soph96374]

I'm from the UK but have spent quite a bit of time in the Philippines, and there are more similarities with shopping malls in the Philippines, but not much similarities with the UK 😊🛍️ However in some UK supermarkets I've seen a few gashapon machines by the checkout counters 😀. I had no idea these were a big thing in Japan until I watched your video!

[@Dariaosu]

I am glad to see someone who could literally spend a day in a mall looking at all the stuff like me XD

[@derek.thomas0061]

👋 hello

[@MeiWatashi]

This is one of my favorite videos! I never thought about the differences in malls between countries. Theres a small arcade in my medium town's mall in the midwest, but I never went in as a kid because my parents said it was too expensive and I hardly go to the mall as an adult so I don't know if it is even open anymore. I wish we had more arcades like this mall does! It makes me want to travel to a big city and go shopping haha

[@dattmay]

Something I never see enough of are shopping malls in other countries. These places really show an insight into the community that you can’T get elsewhere, and I’m so interested in seeing the different stores that I never see here in America. That Hide and Seek store would have absolutely sucked me in as well, I totally understand, Norm!

[@DaniilHomyak]

I haven’t been to AEON in Tsukuba, Ibaraki and it’s quite smaller. We didn’t encounter any arcades but shopped in bookstore, DHC and their supermarket on the ground floor, ate at marugame seimen (to feel the difference, since we have ‘em in our home country) and traversed several clothes shops throughout for like two hours. I feel like we were the last people leaving the mall right before it closed for the night 😅 It was something else! So much memories! Thank you for your video and thank you for the awoken memories ❤

[@gwynnmccallan8856]

This has to be the biggest mall I've ever seen! $600 for a school kid's backpack??!! That's absolutely insane. You can buy a backpack here in the US for your kid for $30-$40. A lot of shopping malls in the US are shutting down or just empty. It seems people are buying more on Amazon and having it delivered.

[@XShadowPrincessXx]

Reason why it’s so expensive is because they are made of really good materials and the kids won’t be using any other backpack until they reach their middle school years. So they really last for a long time.

[@lainiwakura1776]

The US also doesn't require elementary students to use special backpacks. It's a nice tradition, but they seem kind of cumbersome for a child, considering how few things children need to bring to and from school at that age.

[@chelseacarpenter2302]

The fact the the SEGA store closing, robot cafe closing, and the capsule hotel being dismantled it kinda breaks my heart that I'll never get to see that anywhere other than your videos along with others like abroad in Japan, Sharla, aki, ect.. the fact that I'm less than a year late to being able to see those things as well as other things that may close and be destroyed before I end up getting to go to Japan just makes me want to cry. Don't get me wrong I'm so excited to be able to go next year (fingers crossed it's still open to tour groups, if not regular travel) but it's still a bummer to not be able to see some of the things I found amazing about Japan when I'm there. So thank you so much for being able to show us so much of Japan. As someone who's been following for years, your content never gets dull or old but always better and more beautiful and it always makes my day! 💜 Much love from Arizona 💜💜

[@iicydiamonds]

Been looking forward to this! It's always fun to compare how different places approach the "same" thing, eh?

[@TokyoLens]

There are some similarities to Canadian shopping malls but a lot of differences as well 😊

[@sophiechan390]

I love AEON mall ! My first aeon mall was in Cambodia and not in JAPAN but I can say that in japan their mall are more bigger and interesting to have fun for spending time with family or friends.

[@philfedora495]

Nothing better than a Japanese shopping video with Norm!

[@9Potato1]

This reminds me of the SM supermalls when I visited the Philippines when I was little. Asian malls are on a whole other level

[@baitboy3191]

In so many other countries, Malls remain to be a social center, where everyone hangs out and socializes. In the US malls are pretty much dead, the malls in my area are pretty much ghost towns, barely any foot traffic even on the weekends, though there are still stores open, the amount of people especially young people has drastically reduced.

[@KenKobayashiRasmussen]

What about making a mukbang video about the basement of Japanese malls, the luxury food court?

[@MulinaTheAngelWolf]

! A mall that isn't dead! This is lovely to see. ... that candy store is fantastic omg

[@aewriter]

I really enjoyed this video. It's not the basic popular or famous places people video. You video every corners of Japan! ✌ so happy to see a mall

[@krispy12345-d]

Ooh this takes me back! 3 coins was one of my fav stores, got a few things from there. Japanese food courts are a little lackluster compared to Australian ones, but they have us beat for gaming centres and interesting shops 😂 and we don't have Pringle vending machines 😭😂 never knew I needed that in my life before now. We do have a Muji in the Sydney CBD though! Down the stairs from a Kinokuniya and near a Daiso. We have a lot of Japanese places here these days. And as a fellow adult who never really grew up, I'm so glad you're so drawn to the toy sections 😂 as always, thanks for the adventure!

[@normar3773]

😱I’ve seen a BeardPapa in Canada! It was always super popular and smelt amazing.. (Fun baker fact: the French dough used to make the crispy shell of a cream puff is called “pâte à choux” …👞shoe cream makes sense.) Thank you for the informative content! It’s always nice to learn about different cultures, especially Japan. ☺️

[@KirstenReusch]

Ok, did not check the running time. 🤣 ALL the long format 💜 Sooo much more to see, and I think this is why I've avoided going into the malls. I know impulse control would definitely be a thing. And yes, another dagashi haul/vid, please.👍

[@Mwei25]

I went to a huge mall last time I was in Japan. In the morning, they open level by level , it was so cool! Every shop greets you with a bow at the front of the store. It felt soo different but soo japanese! Never thought going to a simple mall would be so memorable for me!

[@Saggs786]

Man, i love watching those videos. In my city on Argentina the shopping mall has 1 floor and we dont even have starbucks or anything that major cities usually have, just a cinema, local food stores and a couple of clothing stores

[@BurritoBabePNW]

Loved C.C. Lemon when I visited Osaka!!!

[@RenerDeCastro]

Love these videos. I visited an Aeon Mall in Kyoto a few times during my last stay in the city. My only regret was not having time to explore it, since I only had 2 days to go around Kyoto at the time. Didn't help that there were other places worth visiting nearby, including Kyoto Station itself.

[@aprilrich807]

You’re happiness and excitement while at that mall was infectious!! 😊

[@ComboBreakerHD]

The way the mall is set up with Aeon taking part of the floor reminds me of how The Bay was at Eaton Center Toronto in the 90s, they occupied the entire PATH space and there was a confectionery, restaurant, health and beauty goods and such. Department stores were a lot of fun back then.

[@kurilord]

I took my mom to some mall when we were in Japan during a heatwave. It was fun to do during the hottest hours of the day. My mom loved to see all the brands we don't have at home. I love the crafting and stationary stores, sometimes I picked up gifts at these shops. One thing I would tell people that are visiting is to check out the foodcourt and DONT FORGET THE CAFES! Some have amazing views and the food is priced really well! As I do love to stay cool, I do prefer the fleemarkets~! That would be a cool video.

[@doors54]

Yes! There’s a MUJI here in Oregon, and I got jinbei there and wear it during heat waves.

[@fay33e]

The last time my parents took me to Japan was back in 2019, and I was still a teenager back than, since than I moved to UK and I don’t think I will have another chance to go until I’m older. Missing this so much rn.

[@JotaceLIVE]

Game centers will always surprise me, one of the malls in my city used to have one until it closed down around this year. Im fairly young so I didn't get to experience it but seeing sega rally, crazy taxi, DDR and many more all in one place ready to try was amazing, also an amazing bonding place for anyone who liked games, will definitely miss that one like the JP folks also miss the ones that are closing over there

[@minorglitch01]

That mall seems way better than anything in Toronto! Most of our malls are just clothing stores, cell phone kiosks, and a sad food court. I guess the closest thing we have to an arcade in a mall is the one inside some Cineplex's. Although there used to be one in Pacific Mall. Not sure if it's still there though.

[@Technodoki]

I used to go to Sports Authority all the time as a kid here in the States to get my soft ball and field hockey equipment. I got my first pair of basketball shoes there too. I thought the company went out of business like 15 years ago so I am surprised to see it in Japan!

[@olive4naito]

I always liked being able to buy fabrics and crafting supplies in various shotengai in Japan. I had forgotten how affordable buying clothes in Japan actually is. You always have wait for clothes to be clearance or final sale in Canada to get those prices. Watching a movie on Tuesdays are still cheap in Canada. Wish we could have seen a bit more of the camping section! I like to occassionally watch Japanese solo camping videos like Morinone. I'd have a hard time finding rubber boots for $20 here but it would be impossible trying to fit a pair into a suitcase to bring back to Canada. The hardware store was small. I'm curious as to what a stand alone Japanese hardware store looks like. I miss shopping, eating, (and climbing mountains) in Japan. Everything in Canada is so expensive! Hopefully there will be a chance to visit soon.

[@dpi209]

You should really get your own Gatchapon! There's so many things you could fill them with, provided you could get someone to make that stuff for you: Shamisen artist chibis, japanese music instruments, different captain's hats (airline and boat, of course, but I guess there are more), the Norm camera collection - the possibilities are endless! :D

[@Midami422]

Its so cool to have the same reaction as you when Im watching your vids. Please keep posting these vids. They make me want to go to Japan!!!

[@seandavie3672]

Thanks Norm. Always fun to explore with you!

[@yvan2218]

Had a pretty bad day today, but a new Tokyo lens vid will help bring a smile to my face.

[@TokyoLens]

Early today! Love it~

[@kristie3592]

In my part of America, shopping malls are dying. However, in one of our malls, an arcade +play space took over one of the empty big stores, so yes we do have a huge arcade in one of our malls.

[@ashtrees8969]

I feel like I could spend hours just exploring everything I love it

[@stevew8513]

I went to a mall here in Texas last week and was blown away to see dozens of gachapon machines. Inside the mall is also a Round 1 Bowling & Amusement place, loaded with Japanese arcade games and crane machines. Plus, they just got a Daiso. I thoroughly approve of the "Japan-izing" of the Grapevine Mills Mall in Grapevine, TX. At 18:38, was that a Battle Cats plushie crane machine? That's my favorite iPhone game for the past year or so, I'd love to get to win a Mohawk Cat. I hope those make their way here to Texas too.

[@AubryRugBurn]

A few interesting things for me: - Flower shops being in malls, and also noticed on my trip to Japan that they're in train stations, and pretty much everywhere. If I need to get flowers in the area I live at in the US, it's at least a 5-10 minute drive and I don't see them in malls at all. - Gachapon - Japan definitely has a whole new level of gachapon, we have some in our malls here in Cali but it's only for popular anime characters, I would love to have all the random tiny food, tiny trucks ones those are so fun. - Japanese "cheap" clothing is still good. I noticed that the quality was better than US "cheap" clothing, which is basically see-through and feels cheap. - I'm amazed how many shops have English names. Your mall video is a perfect example of this. And in my time in Japan I felt like unless i was near a shrine or in a more traditional area, it was almost half-and-half English to Japanes? But maybe that's just my experience.

[@awesomeadamfrom2099]

Awesome job bro I love your thrid store keep up

[@ImmortalMalcolm]

I was amazed to see the full on Grocery store inside the mall, mid mall at that too. Very cool and very large!

[@kurisu7885]

I live in the USA so it's always a great thing to see an arcade actually open, in fact ht newest one I know of closest to my home in a mall opened a few years ago, A Round 1, which as I understand it started in Japan.

[@mistyfog24]

I like to live vicariously through these videos.

[@patmiller244]

Love the info on the VPN! Ty so much. Enjoying your channel,so glad I found it!

[@knifeincident3491]

rip to the 100 yen shops i wish there were more. Its interesting to see the differences in Japanese malls and American ones! Thanks for the tour very interesting.

[@eric1800es]

Great way to spend a rainy weekend for sure.