Shopping

Shopping centers

Shopping centers

These are new complexes established at the city center through area redevelopment. In some cases, world-famous hotels, movie theaters, stage theaters, offices and luxury condominiums are built around super-high-rise buildings. Major shopping centers include Roppongi's "Tokyo Midtown" with its Midtown Tower, the highest building in Tokyo, "Roppongi Hills" with a TV station and observatory, and "Caretta Shiodome" in Shiodome. Moreover, even though they do not have entertainment facilities, popular spots such as "Marubiru (Marunouchi Building)", "Shin-Marubiru (Shin-Marunouchi Building)" and "Marunouchi Oazo" were established on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station. In Toyosu in the bay area, there are large commercial facilities such as "Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu". The main characteristic shared by all these shopping centers is that they have tenant shops that have advanced in Japan for the first time or brand shops that have developed their business in a unique style. The restaurants always have queues regardless of whether it's day or night. In Osaka, the Umeda area underwent large-scale redevelopment, and super-high-rise buildings were constructed to create "Osaka Garden City" and "Herbis OSAKA" containing flagship brand shops.

Fashion buildings

Fashion buildings specialize in clothing, miscellaneous goods and cosmetics. They have a good range of select shops that carry domestic and overseas brands for women and some shops prepare products according to the sense of the owner. Many fashion buildings also have stage or movie theaters attached. For instance, in Shibuya in Tokyo, there is "Parco", "109" and "Marui". In Shinjuku, there is "Lumine", "Atre" and "Mylord", all conveniently located close to the station. "Aqua City Odaiba" and the "Venus Fort" shopping mall with its medieval streets of Europe are also popular as date spots. In Osaka, there is "E-ma" in Umeda, Shinsaibashi "HEP" with its huge Ferris wheel and "OPA" in Shinsaibashi.

Outlet malls

Outlet malls have an atmosphere similar to a theme park but they are actually shopping centers where you can buy brand products at a reasonable price. There are presently about 30 outlet malls in Japan. Both the indoor and outdoor malls have wide passageways, so you can truly enjoy walking around and shopping. The "Rinku Premium Outlet" in Osaka is the largest outlet mall in Japan, and a shuttle bus travels there from the Kansai International Airport. The "Town Outlet Mare" facing Osaka Bay is situated in Cosmos Square and you can enjoy it together with the amusement facilities or observatory at the Osaka World Trade Center, which is the tallest observatory in Western Japan. In Tokyo, there is "La Fête Tama" reflecting an image of the streets of Province in the South of France, and the spacious "Grandberry Mall" about 1 hour from the center of Tokyo by train.

Miscellaneous goods stores

(The Loft, Mujirushi Ryohin, Tokyu Hands, etc.)
Miscellaneous goods include the many daily products that add fun and convenience to our life. Functionality is required, but additional value is expected in the form of design quality and sense of fun. There is a wide range of genres of miscellaneous goods from stationary, antiques, and tableware to party goods. Stores with nationwide outlets include "The Loft", "Tokyu Hands", "Mujirushi Ryohin (MUJI)" and "Plaza". "The Loft" in particular has a variety of colorful everyday items with high-quality design, and they have 26 stores throughout Japan, including ones in Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Osaka/Umeda and Shinsaibashi. "Mujirushi Ryohin (MUJI)", popular for its simple designs based on monotone colors, has started increasing the number of its overseas stores. "Plaza", the first imported miscellaneous goods stores was established in 1966 and presently has 68 stores throughout Japan, with Barbapapa products and stationary as their popular items.