There are many department stores in Japan that offer a wide assortment of clothing and accessories for both men and women.
If you are wondering which department store is a must-visit to buy some of your clothing needs, scroll down to this post as I will introduce the Major Department Stores in Japan!
Popular Department Stores in Japan
10th Place: Odakyu Department Store
・What is Odakyu Department Store?
Odakyu Department Store is a department store belonging to the Odakyu Group. They have stores in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Machida City, and Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
The slogan of the entire Odakyu Department Store is “Good access to the next me.” It was founded in June 1961. Established as Odakyu Department Store Co., Ltd. In 1978, they began issuing our own credit cards, the Odakyu Free Card and the Odakyu Royal Card.
The main target is women who want to expand their world while maintaining balance in a natural way.
For these women, who are increasing in number today, they aim to be a department store that is both physically and mentally close, with the goal of giving them a sense of “good access.”
・Odakyu Department Store Sales
Looking at the sales of Odakyu Department Store, it was 135.1 billion yen in 2018. The year-on-year rate is 94.5%. In 2019, it was 136.9 billion yen, and you can see that the numbers are relatively favorable.
If you look at the official website of Odakyu Department Store, you can check the sales trend since 2013, but basically, it will not fall below 94% compared to the previous year, so it can be said that it is doing well enough.
・What is Odakyu Department Store Actually Like?
For people who have never actually been to Odakyu Department Store, the question is, “What is Odakyu Department Store actually like?”
Looking at the reviews, it seems that the store is generally good, although there are some variations between stores. They often received comments that access was good and that the product lineup was abundant.
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9th Place: Tobu Department Store
・What is Tobu Department Store?
Tobu Department Store is a department store operated by Tobu Department Store affiliated with Tobu Railway and Tobu Utsunomiya Department Store Co., Ltd. Currently, there are 2 Tobu Department Stores and 3 Tobu Utsunomiya Department Stores.
The history of the Tobu Department Store began in July 1946. It started under the name Chuo Shoko Co., Ltd. In April 1962, it became a subsidiary of Tobu Railway. The Ikebukuro store opened the following month.
One of the characteristics of the Tobu Department Store is that it puts a lot of effort into special events and sales promotions.
At department stores, where women tend to be the main target, we are actively holding new events targeting families. The project is handled by employees in their twenties from a young perspective, so it will be very useful to see the new face of the department store.
・Tobu Department Store Sales
Tobu Department Store sales in 2019 were 139.6 billion yen. Although it decreased by 0.3% compared to the previous year, it can be seen that it is doing well because net income has increased.
・What is Tobu Department Store Actually Like?
Tobu Department Store is relatively easy to access and has a reputation for its spacious floor area. If you check the reviews, you’ll find that the floor size, accessibility, and product lineup are all very satisfying.
Also, it seems that they are very satisfied with events such as product exhibitions, so if you are going to Tobu Department Store for the first time, you may be more satisfied if you check the events before going.
8th Place: JR Tokai Takashimaya
・About JR Tokai Takashimaya
JR Tokai Takashimaya is a company created jointly by Central Japan Railway Company, the so-called JR Tokai, which operates the Tokaido Shinkansen, which is the main artery of Japan, and Takashimaya Co., Ltd., a major department store company.
As for department stores, there is a three-dimensional city directly above Nagoya Station, the core facility of JR Central Towers, and the large complex department store JR Nagoya Takashimaya. In this section, let’s mainly look at “JR Nagoya Takashimaya”.
・Sales of JR Tokai Takashimaya
The sales of JR Tokai Takashimaya are approximately 143.5 billion yen. 2.3% year-on-year increase, showing strong performance. Looking at operating income which is about 4,936 million yen, and net income is 3,668 million yen.
Every year, JR Nagoya Takashimaya holds a chocolate event called “Amour du Chocolat ~I love Chocolat~” that boasts the highest sales in Japan. It can be said that it is an event that greatly contributes to the sales of JR Tokai Takashimaya.
・What is JR Tokai Takashimaya Really Like?
JR Tokai Takashimaya (JR Nagoya Takashimaya) is a department store that is directly connected to Nagoya Station, making it easy to access.
If you look at the reviews of JR Nagoya Takashimaya, you will find positive opinions about the good location. There were also many praises for events such as product exhibitions.
7th Place: Tokyu Department Store
・What is Tokyu Department Store?
Tokyu Department Store is a department store located in Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. Standing as a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyu, it has become a company that forms the core of the Tokyu Group.
Toyoko Department Store, which was originally opened by Tokyo Yokohama Electric Railway (Tokyu Corporation) at Shibuya Station in 1934, merged with Shirokiya, a long-established kimono department store, and became its present form.
The slogan of the Tokyu Department Store is “hug everyone”, which is said to be a rule of thumb when working, as it means hugging customers, coworkers, business partners, society, shareholders, and the world.
・Tokyu Department Store Sales
Tokyu Department Store sales in 2019 were 190.6 billion yen. At the stage of January 2018, it issued a figure of 183.4 billion yen, which shows its popularity.
By the way, unlike other department stores, Tokyu Department Store has its fiscal year ending at the end of January.
・What is Tokyu Department Store Actually Like?
The Toyku store targets women in their 20s and 30s, and the main store in Shibuya targets women in their 40s and 50s. The atmosphere seems to be different, but what is the actual situation?
If you check the reviews, you can see many people saying that they often use it because they like the relaxed atmosphere. Many people say that the interior of the main store is quiet and you can take your time shopping, so it is also recommended for people who don’t like the hustle and bustle.
6th Place: Kintetsu Department Store
・What is Kintetsu Department Store?
Kintetsu Department Stores is a major company of the Kintetsu Group and is headquartered in Abeno Ward, Osaka City. Junichiro Nakabayashi founded Marumono, which is the whole body of the Kintetsu Department Store.
It was originally called Kyoto Bussankan but changed its name to Marumono in 1931. After that, the death of Mr. Nakabayashi caused the business to deteriorate, and it was decided to join the Kintetsu Group.
Although the Gifu store and the main store of Marumono remained, the business was not good, and in 1977 it was changed to Kyoto Kintetsu Department Store.
・Sales at Kintetsu Department Stores
Kintetsu department store sales are 261.5 billion yen. This is an increase of 0.9 from the previous year.
Looking at the latest sales of existing stores, as of January 2020, it has fallen slightly compared to the previous year, but it seems that it has increased compared to the previous month. It can be said that the ranking of sales in 2019 is strong enough.
・What is Kintetsu Department Store Actually Like?
In recent years, Kintetsu Department Store Abeno Harukas Kintetsu Main Store has been doing very well and has a good reputation among users.
Looking at the opinions of those who have actually used it, many of them say that it is moderately prosperous and that it is easy to enter and shop. Abeno Harukas itself is very popular, so you might say it’s easy to access.
The convenience of being directly connected to the hotel and the station makes it an easy location not only for locals but also for people from afar.
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5th Place: Hankyu Hanshin Department Store
・What is Hankyu Hanshin Department Store?
Hankyu Hanshin Department Store is a department store operated by Hankyu Hanshin Department Store Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of H2O Retailing Co., Ltd.
Hankyu Hanshin Department Store Co., Ltd. as a corporation is the first corporation, H2O Retailing Co., Ltd. The second-generation company merged with Hanshin Department Store Co., Ltd. in October 2008 and changed its name to Hankyu Hanshin Department Store Co., Ltd.
There are many stores, and they are spread from the Kansai region to Kyushu, so many people are probably familiar with them.
・Hankyu Hanshin Department Store Sales
Sales at Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019 were extremely strong at 452.2 billion yen.
This is an increase of 1.2% compared to the previous term. It is believed that the strong performance of stores in urban areas was directly linked to sales, leading to an increase in sales.
・What is Hankyu Hanshin Department Store Actually Like?
The Hankyu Umeda Main Store, which is conveniently located near Osaka Station and Umeda Station, is well-known for its excellent customer service.
You can receive wonderful customer service from sophisticated staff who are suitable for an elegant store.
4th Place: Sogo/Seibu
・What is Sogo/Seibu?
Sogo & Seibu Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Seven & I Holdings, which operates the Sogo and Seibu department stores. The former Sogo Group went bankrupt, and in 2005, Seven & I Holdings acquired its shares as part of its restructuring, bringing it under its control.
In 2009, Millennium Retailing Co., Ltd., Seibu Department Store Co., Ltd., and Co., Ltd. merged with Sogo as the surviving company. Renamed Sogo & Seibu Co., Ltd.
・Sales of Sogo and Seibu
Sogo and Seibu’s sales are not strong, even though they are ranked high in the sales rankings. Sales are 615.2 billion yen, which is enough if you look at the numbers alone.
However, sales decreased by 10.3% from the previous year, a double-digit decrease. It cannot be denied that the closure of the Seibu Funabashi store and the transfer of the Sogo Kobe and Takatsuki stores cast a dark shadow over the company.
・What are Sogo and Seibu Really Like?
As a department stores, Sogo and Seibu are divided into “Seibu Department Store” and “Sogo Department Store”, but both seem to be relatively highly rated.
The atmosphere is more like a department store than a department store, so even those who feel that department stores are difficult to use can use it without problems. Compared to modern department stores, it seems to have a slightly retro feel.
3rd Place: Isetan Mitsukoshi
・About Isetan Mitsukoshi
Isetan Mitsukoshi is a subsidiary of Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. which opened stores in all ordinance-designated cities in Japan and has a long history of global expansion.
Isetan is characterized by its strong fashion sense and is supported by a wide range of generations, from young women to middle-aged and elderly people and families.
Mitsukoshi boasts overwhelming brand power, and many people think of it as a department store.
・Sales of Isetan Mitsukoshi
Mitsukoshi, which is supported by the wealthy, and Isetan, which attracts a wide range of generations.
Sales for the fiscal year ended March 2019 were 659.7 billion yen, which looks good, but decreased by 2.1% from the previous year.
setan Mitsukoshi proceeded with the liquidation of unprofitable stores, and in 2018, the “Isetan Matsudo store” was closed. The closure of three stores was announced in March 2020, and I am concerned about future trends.
・What is Isetan Mitsukoshi Look Like?
Mitsukoshi and Isetan have different customer bases and characteristics, but what is the actual situation?
Looking at word of mouth, even Mitsukoshi confirmed that it is easy to see and easy to go with children even though there are luxury brand stores. It seems that it has succeeded in attracting a wider audience.
On the other hand, Isetan has a lot of people, and it seems that there are many customers from overseas, so it seems to be relatively busy. Mitsukoshi may be more suitable for those who want to enjoy shopping in a relaxed manner.
2nd Place: Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store
・What is Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store?
Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores is a company operated by Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co., Ltd. It is divided into long-established department stores such as “Daimaru” and “Matsuzakaya”.
In 2007, Daimaru and Matsuzakaya Holdings decided to merge their businesses and established a joint holding company through a stock transfer. It has become a form of being under its umbrella.
After that, in 2010, as the final stage of management integration, the department store business was integrated into a single company, and Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co., Ltd. was launched. Daimaru Co., Ltd. was dissolved.
・Sales at Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores
Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores, which is affiliated with J. Front Retailing, recorded sales of 680.4 billion yen in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2019, up 1.1% year-on-year.
The company itself posted a 22.9% increase in duty-free sales to 58.8 billion yen, which was a sharp increase due to the impact of inbound consumption.
・What is Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store Actually Like?
Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store is divided into Daimaru and Matsuzakaya. Looking at word-of-mouth, there were voices of people who were fascinated by the beauty of the Daimaru Shinsaibashi store as a building.
The Shinsaibashi store, which has a modern design while maintaining its retro appearance, is a very impressive department store even for the purpose of just looking.
1st Place: Takashimaya
・What is Takashimaya?
Takashimaya Co., Ltd. is a department store headquartered in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture. Its history began in 1931 when it started a used clothing and cotton business in Kyoto, and the name Takashimaya was established around this time.
Many people may be surprised that Takashimaya, which is headquartered in Osaka, is the number one department store in terms of sales. Because it is expanding, it boasts name recognition and popularity that is not limited to Kanto and Kansai.
・Takashimaya Sales
Takashimaya, headquartered in Osaka, had sales of 729.1 billion yen in the fiscal year that ended February 28, 2019, an increase of 0.6% compared to the previous fiscal year, but an increase.
As a result, we maintained our number one position in department store sales for the second consecutive year. In addition, duty-free sales increased by 12% to 54.7 billion yen, which also seems to benefit from inbound consumption.
・What is Takashimaya Actually Like?
Takashimaya has won the number one department store sales ranking and has overwhelming brand power in the Kansai region.
It is a powerful department store that is expanding its brand power nationwide, not only in the Kansai region but also in the Kanto region.
One of the appeals of the store is its flexible attitude that is not bound by brand image, such as making it a shopping mall format depending on the store.
There is no doubt that Takashimaya is an excellent department store just because it has not lost momentum in the midst of the nationwide recession.
Which Department Stores in Japan are Worth Visiting?
n recent years, the number of stores has decreased and department stores are said to be in a recession nationwide, but the goodness of department stores has not diminished, such as when you want to feel a little more luxurious than usual and when choosing gifts for your loved ones.
Many people may have an image of choosing customers for some reason, but in recent years there are many department stores that make full use of ideas to attract customers and make them easy to stop by.
If you’re in the area, you might find something new to discover by visiting a department store.
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