If you’re looking for a convenient place to shop, eat, or spend some time near Chubu Centrair International Airport, AEON MALL Tokoname is a great option.
AEON MALL is one of Japan’s most popular chains of large shopping malls.
At AEON MALL Tokoname, you’ll find not only plenty of shops and restaurants, but also several things that make the mall especially interesting for visitors to Tokoname, including a shop selling Tokoname ware, a Japanese 100-yen store, a large public bathhouse, and even a giant maneki-neko lucky cat.
It’s also an easy place for international travelers to shop for Japanese food and snacks or enjoy a casual meal.
Since it’s only a short train ride from Centrair, it’s especially useful if you:
- Have some extra time before your flight
- Are looking for something to do on a rainy day
- Want to experience everyday shopping in Japan
- Want to buy Tokoname ware
- Want to experience Japanese bath culture
Here are some of the highlights of AEON MALL Tokoname, a shopping mall that locals also use regularly.
Getting to AEON MALL Tokoname｜Just a Short Walk from Rinku Tokoname Station
The nearest train station to AEON MALL Tokoname is Meitetsu Rinku Tokoname Station.
Once you leave the station, you’ll see the mall nearby, so it’s relatively easy to find even on your first visit.
You can also reach Rinku Tokoname Station easily by Meitetsu train from Centrair.
One important thing to remember:
Rinku Tokoname Station and Tokoname Station are two different stations.
For AEON MALL Tokoname, use Rinku Tokoname Station.
For the Pottery Footpath, where you’ll find Tokoname ware shops, kilns, and galleries, Tokoname Station is the more convenient stop.
The names are very similar, so make sure you get off at the right station.
Another advantage of AEON MALL Tokoname is that it’s close to the station and almost everything can be enjoyed indoors, making it a convenient choice on rainy days or during Japan’s hot summer months.
Recommended Spots & Shops at AEON MALL Tokoname
AEON MALL Tokoname has many stores, but here we’ll focus on places that are particularly interesting or useful for international travelers.
From everyday Japanese shopping to Tokoname pottery and Japanese bath culture, you can experience quite a lot without leaving the mall.
Japanese Supermarket: Discover Everyday Japanese Food at Local Prices
One place I surprisingly recommend to overseas visitors is the supermarket.
Unlike souvenir shops in tourist areas, this is an ordinary supermarket used by people who live in Japan every day.
You’ll find products such as:
- Japanese snacks
- Drinks
- Seasonings
- Instant foods
- Bento boxes
- Onigiri rice balls
- Prepared side dishes
- Fresh fish, meat, and vegetables
These are sold at normal supermarket prices rather than typical tourist-area prices.
Even just walking around and seeing what people in Japan actually buy and eat can be interesting.
Snacks, drinks, and cup noodles are also easy items to take with you and can make fun, inexpensive souvenirs from Japan.
Another option is to buy a bento box or prepared food and enjoy it later at your hotel — a very ordinary but authentic part of everyday life in Japan.
Both cash and credit cards are accepted.
Tokoname.com: An Easy Place to Shop for Tokoname Ware
If you’re looking for a souvenir that feels distinctly Tokoname, visit Tokoname.com on the first floor.
Despite the name, Tokoname.com is the name of a physical shop, not just a website.
Inside, you’ll find a variety of products including:
- Tokoname kyusu teapots
- Bowls, plates, and other tableware
- Maneki-neko lucky cats
- Cat-themed goods
- Souvenirs from the Chita Peninsula
Tokoname ware is one of the city’s most famous traditional crafts and is part of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns.
If you really want to spend time comparing Tokoname ware from different artists and shops, the Pottery Footpath is also highly recommended.
But if you’re short on time or visiting on a rainy day, Tokoname.com at AEON MALL Tokoname is a very convenient option.
You can also learn more about Tokoname ware in our separate Tokoname Ware Guide.
▶︎Tokoname Ware Guide: History, Teapots, Lucky Cats & Where to Buy
DAISO: Japan’s Famous 100-Yen Shop
DAISO is one of Japan’s best-known 100-yen shop chains.
The store is packed with a huge variety of products, including stationery, kitchen goods, travel items, storage products, snacks, everyday accessories, and all kinds of useful little items.
Most products are very inexpensive, making it an easy place to browse and shop without spending much.
It can also be particularly useful while traveling.
If you suddenly need a small bag, some stationery, or inexpensive souvenirs to give to friends and family, DAISO is a convenient place to look.
For people living in Japan, DAISO is simply part of everyday life.
But for international visitors, it can be surprisingly entertaining to see just how many different things are available at such low prices.
Standard Products: Affordable and Stylish Japanese Lifestyle Goods
Another shop worth visiting is Standard Products, which is operated by the same company as DAISO.
While DAISO focuses on offering a very wide range of inexpensive products, Standard Products places a little more emphasis on design, materials, and everyday lifestyle goods.
Many items have a simple, understated look.
You’ll find products such as:
- Kitchenware
- Tableware
- Towels
- Home accessories
- Stationery
- Small travel-friendly items
Prices are still relatively affordable.
It’s a good choice if you’re looking for something you can actually use at home rather than a typical tourist souvenir.
If you enjoy Japanese lifestyle goods, it’s worth browsing both DAISO and Standard Products.
Margo no Yu: Experience Japanese Bath Culture While You Shop
AEON MALL Tokoname is also home to Margo no Yu, a large Japanese bathhouse.
In Japan, spending time relaxing in a large communal bath is a familiar part of the culture, and it can be a memorable experience during your trip.
One of the convenient things about Margo no Yu is that you can enjoy shopping and a meal at the mall, then relax in a bath without traveling somewhere else.
It can be a nice stop when you’re tired from walking around or before or after using Centrair.
However, Japanese public baths have their own customs and etiquette.
For example:
- Wash your body before entering the bath
- Do not put your towel into the bathwater
- Swimsuits are generally not worn
If it’s your first time using a Japanese bathhouse, it’s a good idea to learn the basic rules beforehand.
We also have a separate guide explaining Japanese onsen and public bath etiquette in more detail.
▶︎Guide to Japanese Onsen Etiquette: What to Know Before You Bathe
Giant Maneki-Neko: A Very Tokoname Lucky Cat!
When you visit AEON MALL Tokoname, don’t miss the giant maneki-neko located in the restaurant area on the first floor.
Tokoname is well known as one of Japan’s major production areas for maneki-neko lucky cats.
So of course, there’s a giant one inside the mall too!
Maneki-neko have long been popular in Japan as symbols believed to attract good luck and prosperity.
It also makes a fun photo spot and is an easy way to feel that you’ve arrived in Tokoname.
Plenty of Places to Eat! Restaurants on the 1st Floor and a Food Court on the 2nd
Of course, AEON MALL Tokoname is also a convenient place to eat.
If you’d like to sit down and enjoy a more relaxed meal, head to the restaurant area on the first floor.
If you want something more casual with plenty of different choices, the food court on the second floor is a convenient option.
One advantage of a Japanese food court is that everyone in your group can choose food from a different restaurant and then sit together at the same table.
So if one person wants Japanese food while someone else wants something completely different, it’s very easy to keep everyone happy.
There are also seats near the windows with views toward Centrair.
You can often see airplanes taking off from or landing at the airport in the distance.
Enjoying a meal while watching planes is one of the little things that makes AEON MALL Tokoname unique to its location near Centrair.
AEON MALL Tokoname Is Easy to Enjoy for Half a Day!
AEON MALL Tokoname is close to Centrair and mostly indoors, so it’s easy to include in your travel plans regardless of the weather.
And it’s not just a place to shop.
You can explore a Japanese supermarket, browse affordable goods at DAISO and Standard Products, shop for Tokoname ware, enjoy a meal, and relax at a Japanese bathhouse.
Combine several of these activities and you can easily spend half a day here.
AEON MALL Tokoname is especially worth considering if you:
- Have extra time around Centrair
- Need somewhere to go on a rainy day
- Want to experience an everyday Japanese shopping mall
- Want to buy Tokoname ware or Japanese lifestyle goods
- Want to combine shopping, food, and a Japanese bath experience
If you’ll be traveling through Centrair, consider taking a short trip to AEON MALL Tokoname while you’re in the area.
