Last Saturday, I met up with a mom friend and our kids for a casual day out at Aeon Mall. It’s about 1.9 kilometers from our home — close enough to walk — so we decided to go on foot.

Getting There: Walkability in Japan

Sidewalks and roadways are separated, and traffic signals are properly managed, allowing for safe walking. Children walk holding hands with adults.

A typical Japanese Mall

That day, we went to a suburban mall called Oak City. Despite it being just after the 10 a.m. opening, many people had already arrived.

The interior is clean and well-maintained, ensuring a comfortable stay at all times, which I really appreciate.

Game Centers for Kids

This mall has arcade games for young children, where you can play as many games as you like for 60 minutes for 1,000 yen ($6.45). There are games like Mario Kart and fishing that kids love, as well as educational games like garbage sorting.

Of course, there are also games for adults and teenagers, and the area for children’s games is separated.

Food Court Experience

For lunch, we used the food court. Japanese food courts provide handwashing stations, free water, and small chairs for children, and anyone can use them.

The food court offers a wide variety of menu options, including McDonald’s, which kids love, several types of Chinese food, Korean fried chicken, and more.

My child chose a Happy Meal at McDonald’s.

How Much Did We Spend?

That day, the only money we spent at the mall was 1,000 yen at the game center, 1,270 yen at McDonald’s, and 760 yen at Baskin-Robbins.

total：3030Yen（19.63USD）

During that time, we enjoyed ourselves by using clean restrooms, drinking free water, and browsing various shops.

For about 3,000 yen, I can comfortably spend the whole day without worrying about the weather, which is very much appreciated. There’s a park nearby, but it’s too small to spend an entire day there.