The Least Useful Guide to Fukuoka

Supermarket/Grocery Store: Coop Sapporo, Hokkai Ichiba (northern ocean market) and Toko Store. Each has its strengths and drawbacks. Coop has the widest range of products and a good farmers' market section, but you have to be prepared for the sulky and rude staff (or "comrades"?) and a sense of chaos that pervades the store. Actually, the chaotic floor arrangement reminds me of Don Quijote's. The difference is that DQ's chaos is designed, in other words artificial, whereas Coop's doesn't seem to be intentional. 

At Hokkai Ichiba, meanwhile, the staff are much more attentive and professional than at Coop. It offers a range of fresh fish at relatively affordable prices. I look forward to getting its packaged sushi on special occasions. 

Toko store is the most expensive of the three, and its product range is quite limited at my nearest store, but I haven't bought anything wrong or bad at any of its stores. Everything is relatively well organized and the quality of the products is relatively good. 

Department store: Marui Imai. I appreciate its attitude of not relying on Uniqlo or other mall brands. I don't like department stores that try to attract tight-fisted shoppers by introducing cheaper brands.  In my opinion, department stores should be a place where you are supposed to splash out on unnecessary goods in exchange for immersing yourself in out-of-everyday atomosphere.  If you are a thrifty person, you wouldn't go to department stores in the first place, would you? And no Uni or Muji means that the store is less like a duty-free shop full of tourists. In this respect, I see the department's pride and conviction in prioritising its local clients. (Though it does house a small Nitori, I should say in a low voice).