Welcome to Okinawa! If you’re new to the island, welcome to Brandy’s List! A few weeks ago I was chatting with a friend who is about to move to Okinawa. One of the topics was where I shop for groceries. San-A, Big Express, Kanehide, Co-op, Ryubo are all popular chain supermarkets in Okinawa. Allow me to introduce some local super markets that are similar to farmer’s markets in the US and others that remind me of market places in Taiwan.

JA Okinawa

www.ja-okinawa.or.jp/fm/market/
Address: 字登川２６９７−２, Okinawa, 904-2142

When we first moved here, I attended some Japanese cultural classes on base, and one of the classes was on local grocery shopping. Our teacher took us to JA, and introduced us to local ingredients and ways to prepare them. JA is Okinawa’s farmer’s market, you can find them everywhere here. I shop at JA often because they have some of my favorite Okinawan vegetables.

Happy More

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

Can’t talk about supermarkets without mentioning Happy More, a favorite of me and my friends! Their yams and tomatoes are fresh and sweet, also worth noting is their freshly squeezed juice. Getting to Happy More requires superb skills navigating through the narrow alleys of Okinawa, but I always come away fully loaded. Their reward card lets you accumulate points that you can use for redeeming juices.

Banana Stand

www.facebook.com/BananaStandOkinawa/
Address: 2 Chome-9-2 Chibana, Okinawa, 904-2143

Every military spouse knows this grocery store! Banana stand is mostly patronized by Y plates (US military affiliated license plates), but you do see locals shop here sometimes. At the peak of the pandemic last year, grocery shopping was one of the few remaining joyous tasks to look forward to, because Banana Stand became a place of random rendezvous between friends. As its name suggests, you can always count on them carrying fresh bananas here. Their vegetables are affordable and portions are generous, but occasionally you may find some duds. Great if you are a vegetable connoisseur.

Yumeseika

Address: 5 Chome-21-4 Misato, Okinawa, 904-2153

Like Banana Stand, another favorite of military spouses! During persimmon season, UN and I would come here at least twice a week to stock up on persimmons and we would just eat our hearts out. Japanese persimmons are plump, juicy and sweet. They even have freshly squeezed juices and smoothies!

Hallab

hallab.pecori.jp
Address: 3 Chome-4-1 Mekaru, Naha, Okinawa 900-0004

Similar to Happy More, they carry lots of organic foods. At first I was attracted by online photos of their interior design, and I decided to come and take some pictures. But I ended up finding sauces with no additives! I’m hooked! They carry only seasonal ingredients, including raw bamboo shoots in the spring.

Compared to American supermarkets, Japanese groceries are on the expensive side. On Facebook, one of the most frequently asked questions is if food costs more here than back in the US. That’s correct! But here you can also find groceries that you won’t find in America. Okinawa has many other great supermarkets, I hope you like this intro to Japanese grocery shopping. Tune in for more on farmer’s market!

Chinese Translation

幾個禮拜前和一位準備搬來沖繩的朋友聊天，其中聊到在沖繩哪裡買菜。San-A、Big Express、Kanehide、Co-op、Ryubo等等都是沖繩有名的連鎖超市，這次來介紹一下比較像美國農夫市場和台灣菜市場比較類似的地方。

JA Okinawa

www.ja-okinawa.or.jp/fm/market/
地址：字登川２６９７−２, Okinawa, 904-2142

剛搬來時，美軍基地提供認識日本生活的課程，其中一堂是逛超市。老師帶著我們到JA買菜，介紹沖繩當地食材和烹煮方式，讓我們這群剛從美國搬來沖繩的軍人和軍眷們能快速適應環境。JA是沖繩當地農會超市，整個島從南到北都能找到JA。美國人稱JA農夫市場（farmer’s market）是我在沖繩每次買菜必逛超市，裡面賣的長生百葉也是我最愛的沖繩蔬菜之一。Google Maps請搜尋：farmer’s market，能快速找到各地JA超市。

Happy More

happymore.jp
地址：1 Chome-11-247-1 Shimashi, Ginowan, Okinawa 901-2213

講到超市絕對不能不提Happy More，朋友群的最愛！這裡的地瓜和番茄超甜超新鮮，現打果汁也非常棒。雖然往Happy More的方向有夠窄（還離家有點遠），根本是挑戰我的開車技巧，但每次我都滿載而歸。他們有會員卡，集點能換果汁。

Banana Stand

www.facebook.com/BananaStandOkinawa/
地址：2 Chome-9-2 Chibana, Okinawa, 904-2143

軍眷裡無人不曉的蔬菜店！每次去必有一堆Y Plate（美軍相關人士的車牌），但也鮮少看到當地日本人在這逛。去年疫情期間，當我們只剩下買菜為樂時，每次來必見到朋友，像是我們防疫期間唯一能在基地外見面的方式了。如同英文名一樣，這裡永遠有新鮮香蕉能買。這裡的菜份量大也便宜，但有時會碰到雷，非常適合對蔬果有研究能挑出好又嫩的青菜最適合來。我最常在這裡買根莖類食材（非常便宜），拿來大量煮湯完全不心疼。