Japanese Big Box

As in America, the big box stores I've seen so far in urban Japan provide ample free parking. However, due to small sites, these stores are not surrounded by a large surface parking lot in front and on the sides. Instead they have big garages, making the buildings generally taller and much more square (cube-like) than their suburban America counterparts. (I haven't yet seen a big box in a more suburban / rural setting in Japan - I'd assume the parking's up front like in the US).

Like big box stores probably everywhere, the aesthetics appear to be an after-thought (if considered at all). However, the more square urban form of the stores I've seen enables easier access by pedestrians and bicyclists. Because of the smaller building footprint, the building can have a "real front door" - which can be integrated into the surrounding neighborhood's sidewalk and street network. With just a few garage access points, the pedestrian/vehicle conflicts points are much more defined. There's no "parking lot street" immediately in front of the front door, as is the case in every suburban shopping center/ big box design.

Below are a few pictures from two stores in Yokosuka - I'll try to add more.