Okinawa baby shopping was one of the things I absolutely had on my list for this trip, especially a stop at Nishimatsuya. I missed it on our last Osaka trip because we ran out of time, so this time in Okinawa, Japan, I finally made it happen. I’m also sharing the adorable Japanese traditional baby outfit I picked up at Akachan Honpo—a hakama romper.
When I was planning our Okinawa trip with a baby, this was one stop I was determined not to miss.
Nishimatsuya, the Japanese baby store chain, was high on my list.
We didn’t have time to go during our last trip to Osaka, Japan,
so I was genuinely bummed to miss it then.
This time, though, we finally visited during our Okinawa trip.
And since I also bought a Japanese traditional baby outfit at Akachan Honpo,
I’m including that hakama romper in this post too.
Okinawa Baby Shopping at Nishimatsuya Chatan, Okinawa, Japan
There are quite a few Nishimatsuya stores around Okinawa.
They’re all large warehouse-style locations, and the product selection
is pretty similar from store to store, so whether it’s Naha, Chatan, Itoman,
or Nago, I’d just go to whichever branch is closest to you.
The branch I visited was Nishimatsuya Chatan,
which is near American Village.
If you’re traveling in Okinawa, Japan,
there’s a good chance you’ll already be visiting American Village,
so it’s an easy place to stop after sightseeing and pick up baby clothes.
The Chatan branch has a huge parking lot, so even if you’re driving a rental car—like most Okinawa travelers do—this is a super easy shopping stop.
Store hours are long too: every day from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
We stopped by around sunset.
There are carts right by the entrance,
so if you think you’ll be buying a lot, definitely grab one.
They also have the baby carts
you see in a lot of Japanese stores.
The first price tag I saw when I walked in
was honestly wild: 359 yen.
That’s under $3 for baby clothes.
Of course, there were plenty of pricier items too,
especially the cuter ones with extra details,
but if you’re flexible on design, you really can get brand-new clothes for almost nothing.
This top-and-bottom set was in the $6 range,
and it’s not like the clothes were ugly either. They were actually really cute.
They also had sleep vests and similar basics.
There were so many cute socks too, and now I wish I’d bought more.
They usually sell them in multi-packs instead of single pairs.
Looking back at the photos, I kind of want those onigiri socks.
Next time, I’m definitely stocking up on socks.
Compared to the clothing, though, the socks felt a little pricey.
Still, after seeing baby socks back home go for $4 to $5 a pair, these were absolutely worth it.
Since my little Happy is a girl,
I spent a good amount of time digging through the girls’ section.
I ended up bringing home that pink striped top with the frilly sleeves.
I think it’ll look adorable with biker shorts in summer.
The baby underwear and loungewear selection was seriously huge and so cute.
There were also lots of fun designs for boys too—cars, construction vehicles, and more.
We also tried on some adorable hats in the hat section.
Now I’m wondering if I should’ve bought one of those too.
I feel like I’d shop way more efficiently next time…
Of course they had bodysuits too,
and one thing to know is that even if the front item on the rack doesn’t wow you,
there are often different designs hanging behind it,
so it’s worth flipping through everything one by one.
At first I wondered if the quality would be terrible because the prices were so low,
but honestly, the fabric felt totally decent.
There were more baby clothes than I could possibly photograph.
You might not always find your exact favorite design in the exact size you want,
but for the most part, the size range was pretty well stocked.
If you have nieces, nephews, or friends with babies,
you could easily spend around $35 here and walk out with armfuls of gifts.
They don’t just sell clothes either.
They also carry baby essentials like diapers,
so if you’re traveling in Japan—whether it’s Okinawa or elsewhere—
it’s smart to stop at Nishimatsuya or Akachan Honpo at the start of your trip
and buy diapers there instead of packing a huge stash from home.
They even had mats too—though I don’t think most Korean travelers would buy those here.
There were baby blankets or pads too,
plus body wash and shampoo.
They also sell food and snacks.
If you suddenly need baby snacks, this would work in a pinch,
but even some snacks meant for younger babies
contain salt or sugar,
so definitely check carefully with a translation app before buying.
There were spoon-and-fork sets, tableware, and more.
That Anpanman-faced item over there is a snack container.
Before I had a baby, I would’ve wondered why anyone needed that,
but once your little one reaches the age where they can feed themselves snacks,
those things are amazing.
If you’re heading to Okinawa for a babymoon,
go ahead and buy one Anpanman snack container in advance.
Straw cups,
formula containers and cleaning supplies,
nail care items,
shampoo caps and portable baby tubs,
portable tissues and towels,
and even a toy section.
Nishimatsuya also carries maternity clothes, not just baby clothes.
From the price tags I saw, a lot of them were under about $8,
so if you’re on a babymoon,
it could be worth checking out some easy, comfy outfits to wear around town.
These are the clothes I brought home for Happy from Nishimatsuya this time.
The Blue Seal item was bought somewhere else,
so I only got four pieces here in total.
One short-sleeve tee, two pairs of cropped leggings,
and one Miffy zip-up hoodie. I really should’ve bought more.
For reference, Nishimatsuya does not offer tax-free shopping.
I tried the apricot-colored cropped leggings on her at home,
and they were a little too perfectly fitted, which was a bit sad—but still very cute.
I’m planning to send her to daycare in them a few times this spring.
And these were gifts for my nephews.
There were so many cute car-themed shirts that I spent a while picking out the best ones.
Akachan Honpo Review: Hakama Romper Shopping in Okinawa, Japan
Now onto Akachan Honpo.
There are only two Akachan Honpo stores in Okinawa,
and I ended up visiting both.
Unlike Nishimatsuya,
Akachan Honpo offers tax-free shopping, so don’t forget your passport.
The very first place we stopped after arriving in Okinawa
was Akachan Honpo San-A Hamby Town (pin A on the map).
It’s on the second floor of the San-A Hamby Town mall.
Into the cart she went.
There were lots of cute things to browse,
but compared to Nishimatsuya, the prices here were definitely much higher across the board.
While browsing, I spotted Japanese traditional outfits for babies,
and they were so unbelievably cute that I had to stop and look.
I later found out they’re called hakama rompers,
and that Japanese babies often wear them for their first birthday.
There were a few different styles, but I didn’t manage to photograph the display,
so all I have are photos of me holding them up against Happy.
They had both boys’ and girls’ versions.
They were so cute that I ended up buying two.
A few practical things… and then two of these, obviously.
The first hakama romper was this soft pastel-toned one.
This one was a little pricey, around the low $30s.
Its standout detail was the fluttery sleeves.
Those sleeves might not be the most practical for everyday wear,
but once it’s on, it is ridiculously adorable.
This version had separate top and bottom pieces.
I thought it was cute, of course, but I think Japanese locals found it even cuter
because it was a foreign baby wearing it.
We heard a lot of “kawaii,” which was pretty fun.
And this was the other one.
This version was a one-piece,
and it was cheaper too, in the high teens to low $20s.
But once she had it on, I actually thought this one looked even prettier because the colors were brighter and more vivid.
I dressed her in it when we went to Shurijo Castle,
and a group of Japanese women in their 20s absolutely lost it over how cute she looked.
The sleeves seemed like they might be a little inconvenient,
so I didn’t keep her in it all day,
but it’s such a fun outfit for taking special travel photos in Japan.
If you want to make your trip feel a little extra special while traveling with a baby,
I really do recommend picking one up at Akachan Honpo, dressing your baby in it,
and just enjoying the moment while you explore.