J Avenue

For obvious reasons, you usually have to have enough population of specific ethnicity before you can form a "plaza" full of stores. J Avenue is one of many shops in this adorable Japanese plaza. Whenever I'm down Columbus' way, it's become a must visit because I can do a meal, grocery, deserts/pastries and goods shopping all at once. J Avenue falls into the novelty goods shopping criterion.What I like about JA is that it's a shop that offers little bit of everything that you'd normally get from other Japanese themed shops. You have your mall-based Anime shops naturally focusing on Anime goods that are currently popular. Some big cities have other big name chains like Daiso, which is basically a Dollar store for Japanese household items. JA is a mix between all of them. They have sections of everyday household goods like mugs, chopsticks, shampoos, aprons, etc. But they also have sections with Anime related things but more "classics" like Sanrio or Studio Ghibli things. They also have cute stationeries. Of course they also have random novelty goods that represent Japanese culture in general.Store clerks are mostly Japanese, whom speak English well and very kind. You'll feel welcomed in every which way.My 14 year old daughter's eyes light up whenevet we're here, which reminds me of my time spent in Korea as a youth, having many, many choices of these novelty shops. Other cities in Ohio simply don't have the demands for things like these, but am super happy I found this place and able to share the same joy with my daughter.

This is another fun spot in the Tensuke Market area. The name doesn't really tell you what's inside, but you walk by a window display of super cute plush animals that pulls you inside for more. Inside is very clean and the staff is very welcoming. The store is well organized based on the different types of items they offer. Bring your credit card because they offer tons of super fun and unique things that you probably won't be able to find elsewhere. I think the prices are fair for what's offered.

I had recently discovered this location and was so excited to check it out. Upon arrival I struggled to find any tote bags aside from the ones on display, I saw under a table they had some packed to look through. Excited, I started flipping through all of the bags, granted I was very aware to keep it as neat as I found it. A worker with glasses and short brown hair came up to me to let me know those were their extra storage for things on the floor already. I let her know I couldn't find those totes anywhere and just blamed my lack of knowledge on it being my first time visiting and how excited I was. She seemed to not care in the slightest and was very rude. Honestly, it makes me hesitant to even come back, the least a worker can do is make their customers feel welcomed...and that I did not feel.

This is a gift shop where I can't figure out what many of the items are, but yet want to buy everything anyhow. I know...I am confused by it too. The cuteness (and weirdness) factor is high here. If you need a knit strawberry cap for your cat, they have those. If you need jewelry dishes shaped like mushrooms, they have those. If you need Pokemon coffee mugs, they have those. You get the picture. A perfect place to find gifts for that hard-to-buy for person in your life.

man those bathrooms are so clean. i just had to comment on it because that's much needed in this society to point out, bahahaha. anyways, the cutest trinkets for all. i bought a cat vegetable grater today and i was so excited all day. the workers are kind and considerate! cheap trinkets to more expensive dishes and more. i've been going here for years and it's gotten cuter every time!

I try to visit this little Japanese Gift Shop almost every time I visit Columbus. It always has a cute selection of gift and houseware items and is surrounded by several Japanese restaurants and a grocery store. Their selection ranges from traditional Japanese items to anime and art, stationery, ceramics, housewares, and toiletries.

Such a wonderful store! Everything is displayed so beautifully and I always find something interesting and beautiful. The staff are so helpful and courteous!

This place is the cutest!! They have skin and hair care, stationary, puzzles, homeware like bento boxes and little rice molders, and plushies :D I immediately gravitated towards the front table which had cute floral and animal pattern socks and notebooks. I then made my way to the shelves where I saw plushies from brands such as hello kitty and gudetama. They also had plushies from my hero academia and demon slayer. If you like cute things, you need to come here :)

This store is clean, spacious, and well-stocked. It was a Wednesday around 6:00 pm and I was amazed at how many people were shopping there. It's obvious this is a popular place.There's so much variety. I loved the gift cloths. There was an adorable zippered pouch with fried eggs printed on it I know my son would love. In fact, he was with me, but we are minimalists so we took a pass, especially since it was $17.00 The egg printed pouch is just one example to show that their items are pricey. I will come back when I have more time to browse.

J. Avenue Japanese Collections is a cool gift shop in Kenny Centre Mall that sells a curated collection of items (including toys, stationery, kitchen and dining, home & living, and health and beauty) made in Japan. Some of my favorite items include the chirimen furoshiki, nanoblock lego sets, pizza/doughnut socks, cat car charms, corgi/lucky cat coin purses, Rolife DIY kits, danica studios keychains, Rilakkuma and friends plush, canvas print tote bags, ceramic owl/cat figurines, Pokemon stickers, Torune Mama's Assist Japanese Food Picks, cat print oven mitt and pot holder, ceramic mugs, panda sauce dishes, cute sipping animal planters, and tell your tale earring sets.