Costco



Today we went to Costco.  In my pre-Japan life that would not have been much of an accomplishment or very exciting, but here and now it is both.

Costco is far away - in Kobe - about 180 KM away.  Drive time was just over 2 hours there and 2 hours back.  Aside from the distance, going to Costco is costly.  Driving there and back you have to use the expressway, which is a toll road.  The cost used to be much more reasonable but the prices have been raised to help Japan recover from the March 11 disaster.  Our total tolls for the day were 7100 Yen, or $88 USD.  Half tank of gas = 2500 Yen, $30 USD.  This is why going to Costco is an accomplishment.  Maybe investment would be a better word.

Unlike all the American Costcos that I have been to, this one has a parking garage instead of the giant parking lot.  Land is scarce.  Parking was an adventure.  You know how you drive up and down the isles, waiting for someone to come toward you with a cart?  Then you slow way down and stalk to shopper until they load their groceries and get on their way?  Well, here you just stop in the middle of the isle in your car for undetermined amounts of time, whether someone is loading up or not.  You just sit and wait.  I guess someone will leave eventually.  For me, as the cart-pushing shopper, I notice a car waiting for my spot and I put my speed on.  I load quickly and move on,  Again, not here.  Here you load your car carefully, slowly, intentionally.  Maybe you stand at the trunk and gaze at your purchases,  or maybe you make a phone call.  Maybe you just stand there driving the crazy white person waiting for your spot nutty.  In any case, parking sucked.

Next, we made our way to the esca-ramps.  Love them!  They are ramps that are really escalators to take the carts up and down from the store to the garage.

Above you see a smiling Jason as we take the esca-ramps down to the store to begin shopping.  Empty carts!  Next to Jason is our buddy Sam, post shopping riding the esca-ramps up.  Full carts, tired Sam.

The inside of Costco is mostly unremarkable.  They carry many of the same things that we would see in an American Costco.  Like in the US, there is a Kirkland version of just about everything alongside a popular US brand.  There were some unique to Japan foods and brands, especially in the soaps and medicines.  This Costco had two isles dedicated to alcohol - Vodka, Rum, Tequila, Sake, Shochu, Beer.  A case of Corona bottles, 24 of them, was 4500 Yen, $56 USD.  Fortunately my vodka was much more affordable.  There was a pretty impressive wine section - impressive mainly for the fact that I haven't seen many of those wines since leaving the US.  There were clothes, books, camping gear, home decor - all the basic Costco standards.

Once difference here is the whole sample thing.  I guess it isn't that different but, here, people line up for samples - and they wait.  There were 20 or more people standing in line to sample little bites of cake and another one for sausage.  Um, no thanks...

While I waited in line and paid, Jason waited in line for lunch.  There was no way we could leave without a Costco dog and some pizza.  The hot food offered here is exactly the same as that at home - pizza, hot dogs, smoothies, churros, ice cream, etc.  It looks the same - but doesn't taste exactly the same.  Oh well, it was still good.  Here is a pic of the food court:
So, that was Costco.  I'm sure that there were a million things there I didn't see.  I think that is in part due to sensory overload and part due to the gazillion people there.  There is always next time!


Comments

  1. JeniferJune 17, 2012 at 4:55 AM

    So how long were you actually shopping in Costco? And are the carts the same size as in the US. By the sound of it, I'm surprised you didn't run over a poor old grandma! HAHAHA!

    ReplyDelete
  2. tawnyaJune 17, 2012 at 3:19 PM

    We were there for about 2 and a half hours. Navigating the crowds was a challenge - because yes, the carts are the same size - and there are so many of them...all parked in the center of the isle...As for the poor old grandmas, they are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. They scare me a little!

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