Hungry and too tired to look for a place to eat? Then head for the department store!

Dining options at the department store

Japanese department stores are well-known for housing a wide variety of dining options within their premises. You can either head for the sprawling basement floor where quick options are available or if you have more time, go to the top floors where the nice restaurants are. 

Depa-Chika – for quick meals

Head to the food stores, called “depa-chika” (basement of department store) in the basement floor of a department store, especially if you’re tired and hungry and looking for quick, delicious meal options. There’s takeout food from the deli counter or bread from the bakery, or sweets, or sushi, or bento, all beautifully presented in showcases. The variety of options available are mind boggling. Many department stores have roof top gardens where you can eat the takeout you buy at depa-chika. Especially recommended are Ginza Mitsukoshi and Ginza Six rooftops!

In addition to food, many department stores also offer a selection of local and rare souvenirs for those looking to take home a little piece of the experience. For example, a friend of mine had been looking all over Tokyo for a bottle of the rare Suntory Hibiki whisky without much success. Then she found it at Ginza Six department store, at Jule’s Whisky Collection B2F. in Ginza!

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The pictures below are from Yokohama Takashimaya depa-chika.

Upper floors – for dining in style

If you want to enjoy a leisurely meal in a restaurant go to the upper floors of the department store. These restaurants offer unique menus by renowned chefs or of local flavors. This sets them apart from traditional mall food courts or standalone restaurants, giving diners a chance to sample something different and exciting. The high-quality ingredients and service that these restaurants provide make dining in a department store a delightful experience without having to leave the comfort of the department store. 

So many department stores!

You can find famous department stores all over Tokyo and Yokohama near major stations or often directly connected from the subway stations. Of course, you can also find them in major cities all over Japan.

Mitsukoshi, Isetan and Takashimaya Department Stores are among the most prestigious in the Kanto area but each department store has its good points, and they all offer a diverse range of dining experiences. Enjoy!

Here are the various department stores in Tokyo/Yokohama . All have “depa chika” and an impressive selection of restaurants on the top floors. The Ginza and Nihonbashi area stores are the most prestigious.

Department stores in Tokyo:

Ginza – Mitsukoshi (lion statue at the entrance), Matsuya, Ginza Six (the newest), Wako (specializes in watches)

Nihonbashi – Mitsukoshi, Takashimaya

Tokyo – Daimaru

Shinjuku – Isetan, Takashimaya, Keio, Odakyu

Ikebukuro – Seibu, Tobu

Shibuya – Seibu

Asakusa – Matsuya

Ueno – Matsuzakaya

Futako Tamagawa – Takashimaya

Department stores in Yokohama: Sogo, Takashimaya