The Least Useful Guide to Fukuoka

However, some stores could be no-go zones for some reasons. In this unusual time, the “the more expensive, the nicer” theory doesn’t seem to work. The followings are what I have observed so far. I have been to the following stores at different times and things should be really different depending on the time, location and situation which is really fluid now. So, these are just the impressions I got in a span of few weeks and may well not work next time. But just for reference…Excuses have been made.

Aeon and Sunny can be a hell with shoppers taking their entire family members and creating long queues at the tills. When I visited, a customer with a young unmasked child got close to me at the packing area even though there was plenty of space around other packing tables nearby. I also had to feel sorrier for the cashiers than in any other stores. They look less protected and more stressed than employers in other stores.

Bon Repas can also be a hell in different ways. This so-called high-end store has relatively well-off customers who tend to take it for granted that they should be well cared for and don’t take care of others. This made the narrow isles clogged and increasingly difficult to keep comfortable distance from other shoppers. To cap it all, time to checkout can be longer as there is no measures taken to quicken the checkout process and their elegant manner consumes a bit of time. I admit this comment includes a bit of my jealousy of local celebs.

Despite its seemingly limited resources, Marukyo appears to do well. They have widened the packing area, set makeshift packing tables and keeps relatively wide distance between displays. To be honest, its shelves are not always perfectly stocked, which seems to be preferable in this particular setting not to create a crowd of customers. However, while in the queue for checkout, the shopper behind you tend to attempt to get closer to you, probably out of fear of getting cut in.

Gooday is doing well, too. The DIY store has made screens out of clear acrylic panels to divide the cashiers and customers at the tills so that both sides can feel protected from each other. It also put stickers on the floor to tell us where to stand while waiting checkout, which gives us a peace of mind.

Nishitetsu Store felt the calmest, least tense. I guess they have some margin of operating capacity which may result in somewhat reliable atmospheres. I saw an employee who is not an outsourced cleaner rigorously wiping everywhere with disinfectant. It is not very crowded in nature and seemingly many of the customers are quiet elderlies living alone. There are fewer family shoppers and teenagers. Furthermore, the store has stopped all attractive events and services not to encourage unnecessary shopping outing. Although you have to pay more, feeling safer is more important for the time being and we still can choose lower-priced alternatives.