ÆON SUPER CENTER YOKOTE-MINAMI
A large ÆON Super Center shopping complex in Yokote, Akita, operated by ÆON Tohoku and anchored by an ÆON Super Center store.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
ÆON SUPER CENTER YOKOTE-MINAMI (イオンスーパーセンター横手南店) is a shopping center in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, Japan, operated by ÆON Tohoku Co., Ltd., a regional operating company of the ÆON Group. The complex is anchored by an ÆON Super Center store and includes roughly 33 specialty tenants. It is located at 4-1 Nakada, Fuke-Ōtsutsumi, Yokote, Akita 013-0063, and offers a large free parking lot with 1,305 spaces, including 10 accessible spaces. The direct-operated store is open from 8:00 to 22:00, with a drug section open 9:00 to 19:00; first-floor specialty stores keep their own hours, and second-floor specialty stores generally operate 10:00 to 20:00. Services include drugstore counters, bill payment, ATMs, Wi-Fi, and tax-free shopping. The site has its origins in JUSCO Yokote-Minami, which opened on October 28, 1998 as the core of the "New Yokote Shopping Center." It was developed by JUSCO (later ÆON) after the company decided to relocate from its older Yokote store in the Ugo Kotsu Building near Yokote Station. The opening was notable because it was adjacent to Yokote Saty, operated by rival Mycal Tohoku, making it the only location in Japan where JUSCO and Saty stores stood side by side. The two retailers had competed fiercely for land, resulting in an unusual layout in which parcels acquired by Mycal Tohoku were interspersed among JUSCO's holdings. On March 21, 2004, the store was converted from a general merchandise store to the Super Center format and renamed ÆON Super Center Yokote-Minami. Directly operated sales floors were consolidated on the first floor, while the second floor became entirely specialty retail space, including fashion-related tenants. It was the second Super Center in the Tohoku region after the Goshogawara store and the fourth Super Center operated by ÆON Co., Ltd. at the time. In November 2005, operations were transferred from ÆON Co., Ltd. to ÆON Super Center Co., Ltd. On March 1, 2025, following the absorption merger of ÆON Super Center Co., Ltd. by ÆON Tohoku Co., Ltd., the store came under the operation of ÆON Tohoku. The center serves as a regional shopping destination in Yokote, offering food, daily necessities, fashion, books, dining, and services. Its tenant mix includes Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald's, Hamazushi, Daiso, Miraiya Shoten, and various service providers such as vehicle inspection and lottery sales. The store also maintains a disaster-relief cooperation agreement with Yokote City and has received recognition from the Yokote Police Station for cooperation with police activities. It is located near the Yokote Interchange of the Akita Expressway and is accessible by bus from Yokote Station.
History
The history of ÆON Super Center Yokote-Minami begins with JUSCO's earlier presence in Yokote. On March 9, 1977, JUSCO signed a 20-year lease with Ugo Kotsu for the five-story Ugo Kotsu Building near Yokote Station, opening JUSCO Yokote as its core tenant. In June 1993, JUSCO submitted a plan to the Yokote Chamber of Commerce and Industry for a new shopping center near the Yokote Interchange, indicating its intention to withdraw from the Ugo Kotsu Building when the lease expired in 1997. JUSCO sought a new site because the existing store could not be laid out as desired and had parking problems. JUSCO announced plans to open on farmland in Fuke-Ōtsutsumi, Yokote. However, Mycal Tohoku, then a competitor, also announced plans to open on adjacent farmland, leading to a fierce competition for land rights between JUSCO and Mycal Tohoku. Mycal Tohoku opened Yokote Saty (now ÆON Yokote) on April 25, 1997. About a year later, in October 1998, the "New Yokote Shopping Center" opened with JUSCO Yokote-Minami as its core store. This was the only location in Japan where JUSCO and Saty stores were adjacent, and due to the land competition, parcels acquired by Mycal Tohoku were scattered within JUSCO's site, creating an unusual layout. To differentiate from Saty, JUSCO emphasized food, especially seafood. It introduced face-to-face seafood sales for the first time among JUSCO stores in Akita Prefecture, and for the first year after opening, a seafood department employee was stationed at the store to establish procurement routes not only from Akita wholesalers but also from Iwate Prefecture. In September 2001, Mycal went bankrupt. Some good stores operated by Mycal Tohoku were transferred to the parent company, but Yokote Saty was not included. Mycal later rebuilt with ÆON's support and joined the ÆON Group, so in the Yokote area JUSCO and Saty competed while adjacent. Yokote Saty discontinued its food section and specialized in apparel and children's goods to differentiate. On March 21, 2004, JUSCO Yokote-Minami converted from a general merchandise store to the Super Center format and reopened as ÆON Super Center Yokote-Minami. Directly operated sales floors were consolidated on the first floor, and the second floor became entirely specialty retail space, including fashion-related tenants. It was the second Super Center in Akita Prefecture and the Tohoku region after the Goshogawara store, and the fourth Super Center operated by ÆON Co., Ltd. A shuttle bus service between the store and Yokote Saty began. In November 2005, with the establishment of ÆON Super Center Co., Ltd., the store was transferred from ÆON Co., Ltd. to that company. On December 27, 2008, ÆON Super Center and Yokote City signed an agreement on cooperation for disaster prevention activities during disasters and normal times. On January 16, 2024, the store received a letter of appreciation from the Yokote Police Station for cooperating with police operations, including participatory training and various events for police public relations. On March 1, 2025, following the absorption merger of ÆON Super Center Co., Ltd. by ÆON Tohoku Co., Ltd., the operation of the store was transferred to ÆON Tohoku Co., Ltd. Separately, the original JUSCO Yokote store continued operating with a reduced sales area on the third floor after the opening of JUSCO Yokote-Minami, at the request of Yokote City and consumer groups. It closed on August 20, 2001, and was succeeded by MaxValu Tohoku, which opened MaxValu Yokote Ekimae on the first floor of the same building on August 29, 2001. That store closed in December 2005 due to redevelopment of the Yokote Station area, which became the Yokote East redevelopment zone.
JUSCO signs 20-year lease with Ugo Kotsu and opens JUSCO Yokote in the Ugo Kotsu Building.
JUSCO submits plan for a new shopping center near Yokote Interchange to the Yokote Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mycal Tohoku opens Yokote Saty (now ÆON Yokote).
Safety prayer ceremony held for the new shopping center.
"ÆON Furusato no Mori-zukuri" tree-planting ceremony held.
Soft opening begins (through October 27).
New Yokote Shopping Center opens with JUSCO Yokote-Minami as core store.
Original JUSCO Yokote store closes.
MaxValu Yokote Ekimae opens as successor in the Ugo Kotsu Building.
Store converted from JUSCO Yokote-Minami to ÆON Super Center Yokote-Minami; shuttle bus to Yokote Saty begins.
Products and positioning
A regional one-stop shopping center in Yokote offering food, daily necessities, fashion, and services under the ÆON Super Center format, operated by ÆON Tohoku.
Groceries and fresh food
Direct-operated food section including seafood with face-to-face sales.
Drugstore items
Drug section open 9:00–19:00.
Apparel and fashion goods
Available through specialty tenants on the second floor.
Books and stationery
Provided by Miraiya Shoten.
Dining and fast food
Includes KFC, McDonald's, and Hamazushi.
Sources6 sources
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