Wai Plaza Wajima

Wai Plaza Wajima (ワイプラザ輪島) is a shopping center located in Taketa-machi, Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, operated by Yasusaki Co., Ltd. (株式会社ヤスサキ), a regional retail group headquartered in Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture. It opened in December 2003 as the largest-scale shopping center in the Okunoto region of the Noto Peninsula. The center is anchored by three Yasusaki-operated core stores: Gourmet-kan (グルメ館), a food supermarket; Wai Home (ワイホーム), a home center; and Fashion Plaza (ファッションプラザ), an apparel store. It also hosts a range of tenant shops including Docomo Shop, au, Daiso, Megane Super, Yamada Denki Techland, and Nihon Chouzai Wajima Pharmacy, as well as ATMs from Hokuriku Bank, Hokkoku Bank, and Kono Shinkin Bank. Yasusaki Co., Ltd. was established in February 1966 and began as a general apparel chain store. Over the decades it expanded into food supermarkets, home centers, and suburban shopping centers, primarily in Fukui and Ishikawa prefectures. Wai Plaza Wajima is notable within the group as its only GMS-format (general merchandise store) location; other Yasusaki outlets in Ishikawa Prefecture are franchise stores such as TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Aeon Mall Hakusan and Daiso Okeizuka. The Wai Plaza Wajima complex serves as a key retail hub for the central Wajima city area and the broader Okunoto region. In September 2020, Yasusaki began operating the mobile supermarket service "Tokushimaru" in Wajima City, using the Wai Plaza Wajima operation as its eighth such route. The service targets elderly and other shopping-vulnerable residents, covering 120 households across three routes with over 400 product types including fresh fish, meat, prepared foods, and sundries. On January 1, 2024, the Noto Peninsula earthquake struck the region, forcing Wai Plaza Wajima to suspend operations. The shopping center fully reopened on August 29, 2024, with reduced operating hours from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The store's regular operating hours are 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, excluding special business hours.

Wai Plaza Wajima opened in December 2003 in Taketa-machi, Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, as the largest-scale shopping center in the Okunoto region. It was developed by Yasusaki Co., Ltd., a Fukui-based retail group founded in February 1966 as a general apparel chain store. Yasusaki had expanded into food supermarkets in 1981 with the opening of Wajima Sunpoa, and into home centers in 1983 with its first Yasusaki Home Center in Katsuyama City. In 1997, the company opened its first "Wai Plaza" suburban shopping center in Fukui City, establishing the format that would later be replicated in Wajima. The Wai Plaza Wajima complex was designed as a one-stop retail destination anchored by three Yasusaki core stores: Gourmet-kan (food supermarket), Wai Home (home center), and Fashion Plaza (apparel). It also houses numerous national and regional tenant brands including Docomo Shop, au, Daiso, Megane Super, Yamada Denki Techland, and Nihon Chouzai Wajima Pharmacy, along with ATMs from Hokuriku Bank, Hokkoku Bank, and Kono Shinkin Bank. The center is located in Wajima's central urban area, south of the Kawarada River, near public facilities such as Wajima Municipal Hospital, Wajima City Hall, and the Roadside Station Wajima. Within the Yasusaki Group, Wai Plaza Wajima holds a unique position as the only GMS-format store; other Yasusaki-operated locations in Ishikawa Prefecture are franchise outlets such as TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Aeon Mall Hakusan and Daiso Okeizuka. The shopping center serves as a critical retail hub for the Okunoto region. In September 2020, Yasusaki launched the mobile supermarket service "Tokushimaru" in Wajima City, operating from the Wai Plaza Wajima base. This was the eighth Tokushimaru route for Yasusaki, which had been running the service in Fukui Prefecture since 2017. The service covers 120 households in Wajima City across three routes: Mondays and Thursdays for Wajima and Kawarada areas, Tuesdays and Fridays for Oya, Futamata, and Bessho-dani areas, and Wednesdays and Saturdays for Konosu area. It offers over 400 product types including fresh fish, meat, prepared foods, and sundries. On January 1, 2024, the Noto Peninsula earthquake struck the region, causing Wai Plaza Wajima to sustain damage and suspend operations. The shopping center fully reopened on August 29, 2024, with adjusted operating hours from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Regular operating hours are 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, excluding special business hours.

• Wai Plaza Wajima opens in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, as the largest-scale shopping center in the Okunoto region.

• Yasusaki begins operating the mobile supermarket 'Tokushimaru' in Wajima City, based at Wai Plaza Wajima, as its eighth route.

• The Noto Peninsula earthquake damages Wai Plaza Wajima, forcing a temporary closure.

• Wai Plaza Wajima fully reopens after the earthquake, with operating hours from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Largest-scale shopping center in the Okunoto region, serving as a one-stop retail hub for Wajima and surrounding areas.

• Gourmet-kan (food supermarket)

  Yasusaki's food supermarket format offering groceries and fresh food.

• Wai Home (home center)

  Yasusaki's home center format offering home improvement and DIY goods.

• Fashion Plaza (apparel store)

  Yasusaki's apparel store format offering clothing and fashion accessories.

1. 1ファッションプラザ輪島店 店舗情報 ヤスサキグループyasusaki.co.jp
2. 2会社情報 ヤスサキグループyasusaki.co.jp
3. 3ワイプラザ輪島 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
4. 4Wai Plaza Wajima - Wikidatawikidata.org