This is a page summing up information we have collected from our international students and scholars concerning shopping, food and other local businesses that may be helpful for when staying at NAIST.

Nearby shopping options

Daily Yamazaki

A convenience store on campus

Business hours:

8:00～21:00 weekdays
9:00～17:00 weekends and some holidays

Yaohiko Supermarket

A 10-minute walk from NAIST
9:00～21:00 weekdays, weekends and some holidays

Shopping Centers

AEON Mall Nara Tomigaoka (Various ATMs)

Located next to the Gakken Nara-Tomigaoka Station (One station from Gakken Kita-Ikoma Station)
The major stores are the Aeon Supermarket and Department Store, Kaldi import foods store, a bakery, Joshin Electronics store, GU clothing store and the Daiso 100 Yen store. There are also various restaurants located in the food court.

Shopping:

food, clothing, footwear, medicine, furniture, electrical appliances, kitchen utensils, bedding, interior goods, etc.

AEON Mall Takanohara (Various ATMs)

Located next to the Takanohara station (can be reached by one bus) and is the largest shopping center close to NAIST.
There are many stores including the Aeon Supermarket and Department Store, a bakery, cell phone shops, Uniqlo clothing store, Can Do 100 Yen store, Mont Bell outdoor store, a movie theater, and many restaurants.

Shopping:

food, clothing, footwear, medicine, furniture, electrical appliances, kitchen utensils, bedding, etc.
*There is also a small shopping center nearby with a supermarket and a Daiso 100 Yen store.

Apita in Seikacho (Local bank ATMs)

Located in Keihanna Science Town across from National Diet Library There are many stores including the Apita Supermarket and Department Store, a bakery, Akachan Hompo baby and childcare store, Seria 100 Yen store, Himalaya sporting goods store, a drug store, and a few restaurants in and around the food court.

Shopping:

food, clothing, footwear, medicine, furniture, electrical appliances, kitchen utensils, bedding, etc.
*There is also a Lamu, a discount supermarket, a Daiso 100 Yen store, and restaurants on one side of Apita and a Kohnan home center on the other side.

Supermarkets

  • Yaohiko: a 10-minute walk from NAIST
  • AEON Tomigaoka supermarket: next to the Gakken Nara-Tomigaoka Station
  • Okuwa: across from the Gakken Kita-Ikoma Station
  • LAMU: a discount supermarket located near Tomio and in Keihanna Science Town
  • Gyomu Super: a wholesale supermarket with various countries' foods located in Oshikuma and Tomio.

Convenience stores

  • Daily Yamazaki: located on-campus (Not open 24 hours）
  • Lawson: In front of the Gakken Kita-Ikoma Station
  • 7-Eleven: Located close to Gakken Nara-Tomigaoka Station

Home centers

  • Kohnan: located in Keihanna Science Town
  • Cainz: located in Tomio
  • Royal Home Center: Located in Oshikuma

Drugstores

Drugstores are found close to most supermarkets (except Yaohiko and Lamu)

  • KusurinoAoki drug store: the closest drug store to NAIST
  • Cocokarafine drug store: located in Okuwa Supermarket

Clothes

For international brands such as H&M, Forever 21, and various sportswear etc. it may be easier to find them in Osaka or Kyoto. However, in addition to the department stores nearby, many students often shop at:

  • GU: located in Aeon Mall Nara Tomigaoka
  • Uniqlo: located in AEON Mall Takanohara and near Oshikuma

Online shopping

  • Amazon
  • Uniqlo (You can buy bigger size than the shops)
  • Beticrom (Halal foods, spices, import foods)
  • Sariraya (Halal foods, spices, import foods)
  • Yahoo
  • Rakuten

Restaurants

In addition to the restaurants and food courts located in and around the shopping centers, there are a variety of restaurants in the area around NAIST. Some of them are:

  • One Karubi: a Korean BBQ restaurant close to Gakken Kita-Ikoma Station
  • Sushiro: a conveyor belt sushi restaurant ( A 10 minute walk from AEON Mall Nara Tomigaoka)
  • Starbacks coffee shop: close to Gakken Kita-Ikoma Station
  • Shinshinkaku: a Chinese restaurant close to Gakken Nara-Tomigaoka Station
  • Grazie Gardens: an inexpensive Italian restaurant with all-you-can-eat pizza ( A 10 minute walk from Gakken Kita-Ikoma Station)

ATMs

ATMs are often located in various convenience stores and supermarkets. NAIST students often use the ATM in the 7-11 convenience store close to Gakken Nara-Tomigaoka Station and the ATMs at AEON mall.
Note: Depending on the bank, time and card type money may not be able to be withdrawn. Many short-term students and scholars without Japanese bank accounts have found that the most reliable ATM is at 7-11 convenience stores.

CISS (Center for International Students and Scholars) ciss@ad.naist.jp

For inquiries or further information you may contact the respective section below:

  • For information concerning international students
    International Student Affairs Section: ryugaku@ad.naist.jp
  • For information concerning NAIST employees & international scholars employed by NAIST
    Welfare Section (Personnel Division): fukuri@ad.naist.jp
  • For information concerning other international scholars
    International Affairs Section: kokusai@ad.naist.jp