Look! Design Magazines in Japanese

It always gives us a thrill to see something so familiar (Elle Decor) look so worldly and special, when translated into a different language. Jump down to see where we had this glossy multicultural experience. We'll give you a hint: it's only five minutes from IKEA...

We once heard Mitsuwa Marketplace, located less than four miles from Schaumburg's IKEA, described as a Japanese Wal-Mart. If we're talking size, we agree but Mitsuwa is so much cooler. The marketplace is filled with aisle upon aisle of Japanese groceries, beauty products, cookware, and toys. If that isn't enough, there's also a bakery (Pastry House Hippo!) and a Nippon-focused food court.

Sanseido Bookstore, another feature of this great Japanese store, is where we spotted Elle Deco and other home-based magazines. Even though we don't have any grasp of Kanji, we were so tempted to pick up a copy of Best Flower Arrangement.

Comments (14)

I agree Japanese Walmart it is not, it's MUCH better. My husband and I go there whenever we are in the Schaumburg area (which is a lot since his grandma lives in Des Plaines). I love Mitsua! Just be prepared to feel a little out of place when you first go in there. Groceries, pottery, books and manga (japanese comics), sushi, restaurant, alcoholic beverage store (saki anyone?), travel agency... lots in there!

posted by RedMaiko on October 14th 2008 at 6:24am
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I wish they had a store like this in Toronto! It would make the transition home a lot easier.

posted by OliviaTokyo on October 14th 2008 at 6:26am
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Maybe a post about other interesting and useful things found in Ethnic Food and Hardware stores would be in order?

posted by bepsf on October 14th 2008 at 6:28am
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Oops, misspelled Mitsuwa...

posted by RedMaiko on October 14th 2008 at 6:28am
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Yeah, Mitsuwa is great! You can buy food, housewares, small appliances and even cosmetics not readily found anywhere else. Next time you run out of "skin whitener", this is the place to go. Plus, if you go shopping hungry you can eat a good meal just beforehand. If you REALLY love it, you can buy a plane ticket to Japan on the way out!

posted by TaylorF on October 14th 2008 at 6:40am
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Anything like this in New York. I just moved here from Japan and really need my Nippon goods!

posted by EddiePages on October 14th 2008 at 6:54am
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On the webpage it says there is one in New Jersey...depending on how far you want to go.

posted by RedMaiko on October 14th 2008 at 6:58am
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I've been to a few Mitsuwa markets in the Cupertino/San Jose area, but if you live in the Seattle area, Uwajimaya is very similar. Actually, I kind of think it's better. The one in the International District has a Kinokuniya attached - the number of Japanese design resources they carry is overwhelming!

posted by confusednazgul on October 14th 2008 at 7:14am
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There is a shuttle bus that goes straight to Mitsuwa from Port Authority Bus Terminal. You can also get there via NJ Transit buses.
http://www.mitsuwanj.com/en/shuttle_service.htm

posted by spozon on October 14th 2008 at 7:16am
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oliviatokyo, do you know of j-town in markham? this would be our closest equivalent that i know of. it is much smaller and no one sells appliances there than i'm aware of, but it's a cluster of japanese merchants in one plaza. big focus on food products, cooked and merchandise.

posted by pinstripeprincess on October 14th 2008 at 7:45am
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RedMaiko, it's "sake," not "saki." The last letter is pronounced "eh" not "ee."

I live about 20 minutes from Mitsuwa, and my brother and sister-in-law live within walking distance. My brother and I grew up in Japan, so Mitsuwa is a required part of each of our grocery shopping trips. :)

I am SO glad I can get shoku pan there!

posted by Mrs.Mack on October 14th 2008 at 9:06am
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Mrs. Mack, yeah I know. I saw it after I corrected my misspelling of Mitsuwa and said the heck with it. Annoying with how much into Japanese culture I am, need more sleep...

posted by RedMaiko on October 14th 2008 at 9:30am
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I loved my trip to Chicago's Mitsuwa. :) I need to go back and get some more osenbei!

Too bad there isn't anything quite as good in Mpls.

posted by eccentriffic on October 14th 2008 at 11:54am
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Mitsuwa!

posted by nikko on October 14th 2008 at 12:02pm
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