If you are tired of going to the malls because you need to ride the trains, then you need to know this “shopping station” in Japan. Ekinaka came from the two Japanese words, eki which means “train station,“ and naka which means “inside .”
A fast-growing railway business
This kind of train station has started increasing in numbers since the early 2000’s. These shopping areas are located inside the ticket gates of the stations. Just like a normal shopping mall, ekinakas have sophisticated shops, food stalls, bakeries, bookshops and restaurants. It also has shops that offer facial massage.
Impossible to Possible
In Tokyo Station alone, there are around 1.1 million passengers who use the train everyday. This sparked an idea on the minds of the owners behind these shopping malls. At first, the shopping malls were built inside the ticket gates. To give more opportunities to business owners in Japan, people decided to build the shopping malls outside the ticket gates. In this way, the non-railway passengers can also visit the shopping malls inside the station.
Ecute Omiya
The first to build an ekinaka was the Omiya Station in Saitama Prefecture, which is used by 60,000 people a day. Named as Ecute Omiya, the space is 2300 square meters and houses 68 shops inside. When it was launched, the mall became an instant hit. Many passengers go to the station to buy food and souvenirs. After the success of the shopping mall inside the Omiya Station, many other station build their own ekinaka.
The Heart of all the Stations
Tokyo Station is the heart of the Japanese railway network. It is the most impressive ekinaka so far. Many people come to Tokyo Station for the 50 shops and 10 new brand stores occupying the 1500 square meter area between the Marunouchi and Yaesu exits.
Gransta is another of Tokyo’s largest facilities built in 2007. The shopping mall has been a part of the Tokyo Station Development. Many commuters go to the station around 7am to visit the shops that offer select breakfast menus at the Grand Dining banner. To make the customers’ shopping a lot easier, the management employed the use of the transit smart card, not only for boarding the trains but also for shoppers to use for paying.
Ekinaka Events
Aside from the food stalls and other shops, the ekinakas also offer events to shoppers. You may find charity events, art exhibitions and even concerts. The events happen in the open spaces around the area. Just look for the flyers or online announcement of the events.
The ekinaka shops are still evolving and expanding. More businesses are still planning to invest and open their own shops. This also influenced other countries to build their own shopping stations. Vietnam is now ready to build their own recreational facilities in Duong, with the help of the Japanese train company in Tokyo.
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