Mitsukoshi and More: A Deep Dive Into Department Stores

Mitsukoshi is one of Japan’s most beloved department stores. It’s more than just a place to get clothes, souvenirs, and accessories. You can try new food, go to an art or music exhibition, watch a movie, and even bask in the sunlight from the rooftop garden.

And if you’re interested, there are many more chains to explore with their features and attractions. Join us on this deep dive into Mitsukoshi and other Japanese department stores! 

What is a department store?

A department store (depāto or hyakatten in Japanese) has floors dedicated to specific categories. Usually, the basement contains food stores, with cosmetics, women’s fashion, and men’s fashion higher up. After the sports, stationery, and lifestyle items, you’ll get one or two restaurant floors and sometimes even a rooftop garden.

We’ll get into more of the attractions you’ll find in a depāto in a moment, but the buildings are usually open every day except New Year’s Day (some close for one day of the week). They’re also open late, from 10 am to 8 pm. You can easily spend a whole day there, or you might even need two days to check everything out!

What was the first department store in Japan? 

The first department stores were once kimono or urushi (Japanese lacquerware) shops. However, in the early 20th century, they expanded their wares to attract more customers, including foreigners. Mitsukoshi, originally a kimono store named Echigoya, opened its first depāto in 1904, and Matsuzakaya opened its first store in 1910. Other chains soon opened, including those founded by the rail companies Hankyu and Seibu.

When those shops began their second life, they were more exclusive, selling or displaying their products. Even today, you’ll see specific floors dedicated to traditional Japanese items, and gift certificates to more luxurious stores are often given to business partners and corporate clients. However, the depāto was forced to modernize after facing competition from convenience stores and supermarkets in the 1980s.

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What can I expect at a department store in Japan?

As we mentioned earlier, a depāto houses more than just shops. It also contains children’s play areas, galleries, museums, cinemas, aquariums, and exhibition spaces for digital and visual artists. These spaces often contain pop-up stores and events celebrating J-pop and K-pop musicians, including album releases and anniversaries. And did we mention that you’ll get exceptional customer service wherever you go?

On the more practical side, department stores are often built around transportation hubs. Remember Hankyu? Its main store in Umeda, Osaka, is directly connected to the rail service. They also offer many services for international visitors, including foreign exchange and ticket reservations. Tax-free shopping is available at most stores for items over 5000 JPY ($35 USD), and refunds are available at a customer service desk as long as the shopper is carrying their passport with them.

Which department stores should I visit?

Mitsukoshi 

According to their website, with over 50 stores worldwide and 200 million annual visits, Isetan Mitsukoshi is Japan’s premier depāto chain. The main store in Chuo, Tokyo, has two buildings, the older one containing a rooftop garden and a theater. The Ginza branch is home to the Art Aquarium Museum, whose current exhibition runs until September 25. Isetanmitsukoshi Group Guest Card holders get a 5% discount and tax refunds on their purchases. 

Locations: 20, including four in Tokyo (Nihonbashi Main Store, Ginza Mitsukoshi, Isetan Shinjuku, and Isetan Tachikawa)

Daimaru 

Owned by Daimaru Matsuzakaya, this chain used to be a drapery store. These roots can still be seen through its many luxury fashion and cosmetics brands and a 1998 collaboration with Dominique Sirop, “Dominique Sirop for Daimaru.” Daimaru offers a special 5% discount for foreign nationals who have been in Japan for under six months, so be sure to use it if you’re new to the country. Oh, and did we mention their mascot is a Sakura Panda?

Locations: Nine, including two in Osaka (Shinsaibashi and Umeda) and two in Tokyo (Ueno and Chiyoda)

Kintetsu

Osaka is a shopper’s paradise, and Kintetsu is just one depāto company you’ll find there. The main store is located in Abeno Harukas, Japan’s tallest building until 2023 (standing at 984 feet, or 300 meters, tall). It boasts 14 floors in the tower building and nine in the wing building, with three dedicated to dining, a Foreign Customer’s Salon providing services in English, Chinese, and other languages, and breathtaking views of Osaka. Almost every Kintetsu location is on or near a railway line, which is perfect if you’ve just arrived in that city.

Locations: 10, including two in Osaka, as well as four related stores

Why are department stores like Mitsukoshi necessary?

Department stores like Mitsukoshi showcase a mixture of national and international brands. This variety is excellent for tourists who want to buy something local and look for something familiar from their countries. These stores are also great places for creators to promote their work. They can sell merch to international fans who can’t find their products back home while also gaining new fans through the tourists passing by.

Finally, there are a wide range of activities besides shopping. You’ll have a great time tasting different foods, visiting exhibitions, and taking countless photos. There’s so much to do and see, you’ll be back again before you know it! Have you visited Mitsukoshi or any other Japanese department stores? Let us know in the comments below.