If you’re visiting Okinawa, a must-see spot has just opened for the new season. Japan’s major convenience store chain, FamilyMart, has teamed up with the Ryukyu Golden Kings, an incredibly popular professional basketball team in Okinawa, to create special collaboration stores called “Kings Mart.” For the 2025-26 season, these unique spaces, captivating basketball fans and many others, are open in two locations: Okinawa City and Chatan Town.
In Japan, it’s common to see limited-time initiatives like this, where companies and local sports teams collaborate to energize the community. This goes beyond simple product sales and is one of Japan’s interesting phenomena where local culture and commerce merge. Convenience stores, in particular, are an integral part of daily life for people all across Japan, making it a very rare endeavor for one to completely transform its appearance for a specific theme.
The “Koza Sports Park” Store, Located at the Ryukyu Golden Kings’ Home Base
First up is the Koza Sports Park store, the closest FamilyMart to the Kings’ home court, Okinawa Arena. This store is designed with a deep navy blue theme, as if to symbolize the team’s strength.
This navy color is inspired by the quiet, powerful sky before dawn, representing the Kings’ solid foundation and hope for the future. The store’s walls feature hibiscus flowers, a symbol of Okinawa, as a layered pattern, with dynamic images of the players designed on top.
Step inside, and you’re instantly immersed in the world of the Kings. Photos of the players and illustrations of the team mascot, “Go-dee,” are everywhere on the walls and pillars, creating an irresistible space for fans. When visiting Okinawa City for a game, stopping by this store will surely amplify your excitement before and after the match.
The Golden “Chatan Town Office” Store, Shining in a Tourist Hotspot
The other store is in Chatan Town, a bustling area popular with tourists. In contrast to the Koza Sports Park location, this one’s theme color is a brilliant gold, shining like the sun. This design is inspired by the powerful energy of a flower in full bloom and the symbolic “light” that connects the community and the Kings.
Located along National Route 58, a popular road for tourists, it’s easy to stop by during a drive. The gold design is extremely eye-catching, and many people will likely stop in their tracks to take a look.
The interior is unified with the same brilliant design as the exterior, allowing you to immerse yourself in the world of the Kings. Along with Okinawa’s beautiful sea and sky, this special convenience store also serves as a fantastic photo spot to commemorate your trip.
Not Just a Convenience Store! A Special Experience Only at Kings Mart
What makes these stores special isn’t just their appearance. They are packed with unique features designed to delight fans, exclusive to Kings Mart.
First, a selection of official Kings merchandise is sold inside the store. Official merchandise is often only available at game venues or specialty shops, but here, you can easily purchase it 24 hours a day. For fans looking for a last-minute gift or a souvenir, this is an incredibly convenient service.
Additionally, there are also Kings Mart-exclusive crane game machines. Being able to enjoy a Kings-themed version of the classic crane games, a staple in Japanese arcades, will make anyone want to give it a try, not just the fans.
What’s especially noteworthy is the eat-in space at the Koza Sports Park store. This area is decorated with special visuals that make you feel the heat and intensity of being in the stands at the home arena. Even on non-game days, just sitting here for a break allows you to experience the excitement of a Kings game. This could be described as a unique attempt to revolutionize the concept of a convenience store eat-in area.
In this way, “Kings Mart” is not just a place to buy things; it has become an entertainment space where you can support the team and experience its world. When you visit Okinawa, be sure to stop by this extremely rare collaboration convenience store, even for Japan, and feel the local community’s love for their team and the new possibilities of Japanese convenience store culture.
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