AEON MALL Nara Tomigaoka — Local services in Ikoma

On our way back from Kyoto to Nara on the afternoon of 12 August 2025, we decided to take a little detour from the main road and drop by AEON Mall Nara Tomigaoka. For Malaysians, the name AEON is nothing new — we’ve all shopped there countless times back home — but visiting one in Japan feels like seeing a familiar friend in a completely different outfit.

This mall, sitting right next to Gakken Nara–Tomigaoka Station, isn’t one of those gigantic, overwhelming complexes. Instead, it’s compact, easy to navigate, and surprisingly relaxing. Opened in 2006, it blends Japanese efficiency with a friendly, local vibe. The ground floor has the AEON supermarket we all know, plus gems like Kaldi Coffee Farm for imported treats, Daiso for bargain finds, and Joshin Electronics if you’re into gadgets. Upstairs, you’ll find GU for affordable fashion, Asahiya Bookstore for a literary fix, and even a nostalgic arcade for a quick round of retro games.

What makes it even more charming is how it feels like a modern version of Japan’s traditional shotengai — a community hub where locals shop, eat, and gather. The food court stays open until 11 p.m., and with free Wi-Fi, tax-free shopping, and bilingual signs, it’s as tourist-friendly as it gets.

For me, the highlight was buying a yukata here for my wife — a small but meaningful souvenir from Japan that I know will remind us of this trip for years. AEON might be a household name in Malaysia, but here in Nara, it’s also a warm, welcoming stop that connects everyday life with the...

2023年9月1日から駐車場サービス変更 1時間無料は変わらず イオンのアプリにあるQRコードで さらに1時間無料に変更。 購入金額は2000円で1時間無料になりました （以前は買い物1000円から1時間無料） この変更はスマホでアプリを登録できる方であれば嬉しい変更かと思います。 何も購入しなくても2時間駐車場料金無料と言うことです。 イオンモールアプリの方ですので、ご注意ください。写メして保存して、後から使うと言う事はできないようです。ご注意ください。

1000円未満しか買い物しないけれども、駐車場料金が1時間以内じゃ足りない時に助かります。

2023年6月16日追記 スーパーのレジ待ち解消の新アイテム導入です。レジゴーというスマホ端末でバーコード読み取りながら買い物できます。 我が家はレジカゴに掛けられるサイズの袋を持っていないのでちょっと不便でした。 しかもベビーカーでの買い物だったので清算エリアで荷物を詰められない💦 大きなレジカゴ用袋がある方にはレジ待ち解消できて便利です。

駐車場料金改悪（ ; ;...

Good supermarket, but no enough checkouts. The lines were massive and were plodding along so slowly that I nearly gave up and left. Good selection and quality is good as always with Aeon, but needs more staff. Couldn’t see a self checkout for the people with just a few items. Might be worth installing a few. Freshly made food was...