Department stores in Japan

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Mitsukoshi Department Store in the Nihombashi section of Tokyo

An 1856 ukiyo-e depicting Echigoya, the current Mitsukoshi.

Department stores in Japan are referred to as hyakkaten (百貨店) or depāto (デパート), an abbreviation of the English term.

1 History
2 Characteristics
3 Famous department stores in Japan
4 See also

[edit] History

The first "Western-style" department store in Japan was Mitsukoshi, founded in 1904, which has its root as a kimono store called Echigoya from 1673. When the roots are considered, however, Matsuzakaya has an even longer history, dated from 1611. The kimono store changed to a department store in 1910. In 1924, Matsuzakaya store in Ginza allowed street shoes to be worn indoors, something innovative at the time. [1] These former kimono shop department stores dominated the market in its earlier history. They sold, or rather displayed, luxurious products, which contributed for their sophisticated atmospheres. Another origin of Japanese department store is that from railway company. There have been many private railway operators in the nation, and from 1920s, they started to build department stores directly linked to their lines' termini. Seibu and Hankyu are the typical examples of this type.

[edit] Characteristics

From the 1980s and onwards, Japanese department stores are facing the fierce competition from supermarkets and convenience stores, gradually losing their presences. Still, depāto are bastions of several aspects of cultural conservatism in the country. Gift certificates for prestigious department stores are frequently given as formal presents in Japan.

Department stores in Japan generally offer a wide range of services and can include foreign exchange, travel reservations, ticket sales for local concerts and other events,

Due to their roots, many Japanese department stores have sections devoted to kimono and Japanese traditional crafts, including pottery and lacquerware. The basement level usually has a grocery and food court.

Operating hours are usually from 10am to 8pm. Some close one day a week, often a weekday.

[edit] Famous department stores in Japan

Some stores also have branches outside Japan.

[edit] Nationwide

Daimaru (大丸, Daimaru^?)
Hankyu Department Stores (阪急百貨店, Hankyū Hyakkaten^?)
Isetan (伊勢丹, Isetan^?)
Mitsukoshi (三越, Mitsukoshi^?)
Seibu Department Stores (西武百貨店, Seibu Hyakkaten^?)
- Loft (ロフト, Rofuto^?) (hobby oriented, nationwide)
- Parco (パルコ, Paruko^?) (fashion oriented, nationwide)
Sogo (そごう, Sogō^?)
Takashimaya (高島屋, Takashimaya^?)

[edit] Hokkaidō

Marui Imai (丸井今井, Marui Imai^?)

[edit] Kantō region

Keio Department Store (京王百貨店, Keiō Hyakkaten^?)
Marui (丸井, Marui^?) (fashion oriented)
Lumine (ルミネ, Rumine^?) (fashion oriented)
Matsuya (松屋, Matsuya^?)
Matsuzakaya (松坂屋, Matsuzakaya^?)
Odakyu Department Store (小田急百貨店, Odakyū Hyakkaten^?)
Printemps Ginza (プランタン銀座, Purantan Ginza^?) (from France)
Tobu Department Store (東武百貨店, Tōbu Hyakkaten^?)
Tokyu Department Store (東急百貨店, Tōkyū Hyakkaten^?)
- 109 (Ichi-maru-kyū) (fashion oriented, Kantō region)
- Tokyu Hands (東急ハンズ, Tōkyū Hanzu^?) (hobby oriented, nationwide)
Wako Department Store (和光, Wakō^?)