Based around AL PLAZA Kusatsu in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, this article reports from the store on the features of community-focused Heiwado, including local specialties, original merchandise and the points program.
Heiwado operates approximately 170 stores, mainly in Shiga Prefecture, and AL PLAZA Kusatsu, about a 6-minute walk from Kusatsu Station, is introduced as one of its flagship stores. The large general merchandise supermarket has food on the first floor and clothing and daily necessities on the second, serving as an important part of daily life in the community. Restaurants and variety stores are also located on the premises, creating an environment where visitors can enjoy shopping and dining throughout the day.
The store is spacious and designed to be easy to navigate with strollers and shopping carts, allowing shoppers with small children to browse comfortably without worrying about those around them. A health-promoting device is installed in the produce section, while the cooking support area provides useful information for planning daily meals, including menu suggestions and tastings of new products.
The store offers a wide selection of Shiga specialties, including red konjac from Omihachiman, ayu and fresh fish caught in Lake Biwa, funazushi and other locally distinctive processed foods and regional dishes. Simmered young ayu is described as using fish that have gone through a growth stage unique to Lake Biwa, with a distinctive aroma and bitterness. In the meat section, products bearing the E-WA! mark and Heiwado’s original Ajiwai Beef brand are highlighted, while products suited to everyday meals, such as roast beef, stand out as popular sellers.
The prepared foods section is spacious and offers a wide variety of Japanese-style items, including fried chicken and tempura, at affordable prices. The store’s community-focused initiatives and product lineup are also highlighted through handmade burgers made with wheat from Shiga Prefecture, salad bread, and strawberry monaka made with strawberries grown at the company’s local farm.
The article concludes by introducing Heiwado’s lineup of original merchandise, including stuffed toys and stationery featuring Hatoppy, as well as limited-edition logo socks, caps and T-shirts. The HOP points program, which allows points to be exchanged for cash, is also covered. Customers earn 1 point for every ¥100 spent, and 1,000 points can be exchanged for ¥1,000.