Massive department store complex with 15 floors including a dedicated Japanese craft and lacquerware section, excellent basement food hall, and restaurants on upper floors. Connected directly to Shinjuku Station.
Takashimaya Times Square is a 15-story department store and retail complex directly connected to the southern exit of Shinjuku Station in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The building is operated by Takashimaya, one of Japan's oldest department store groups (founded 1831), and functions as one of the largest single-building retail operations in Japan, with floor space of approximately 100,000 square meters.
The retail floors cover an exceptionally wide range of categories. The main department store floors carry international luxury fashion, Japanese artisan craft goods, tableware, lacquerware, calligraphy tools, and an extensive Japanese craft and lacquerware section noted among collectors and gift shoppers. Mid-level floors house a creative supplies and homeware retailer (Tokyu Hands equivalent) and Kinokuniya Bookstore International, which stocks the largest English-language book selection in the Shinjuku area. The building's brand mix is broader than most competitors, spanning luxury, mid-tier, and functional retail in a single structure.
The basement food halls (B1 and B2) are among the most extensive in Shinjuku. Takashimaya operates two underground levels dedicated to prepared foods, sweets, regional Japanese specialties, breads, and imported gourmet goods. The depachika (department store food basement) features bento boxes, sushi platters, regional wagashi confectionery, and a rotating selection of Japanese prefectural specialty items—a serious draw for food-oriented visitors and professional buyers.
Bargaining is not practiced; prices are fixed throughout. The store operates a comprehensive tourist tax-refund service, with foreign-passport holders eligible for consumption tax exemption on purchases over ¥5,500 (tax-excluded) per day at a dedicated counter. Major credit cards and IC cards are universally accepted throughout the building.
The direct connection to Shinjuku Station's southern ticket gates makes Takashimaya Times Square the most transit-convenient large department store in the area—no street crossing required in any weather. For layout orientation: basement levels for food, lower floors for luxury, middle floors for mid-range goods and specialized retailers, and upper floors (13–14F) for restaurants with panoramic Shinjuku views. A store map is available at the information counter and is recommended given the building's scale.
| Hours | 10AM-8PM |
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Highlights
- Shop across 15 floors covering luxury fashion, Japanese craft and lacquerware, Kinokuniya English bookstore, and creative homeware supplies
- Explore one of Shinjuku's most extensive depachika food basements, with regional specialties, prepared bento, and wagashi confectionery
- Browse a dedicated Japanese lacquerware and folk-craft section sought by collectors and visitors looking for distinctive gift items
- Enter directly from Shinjuku Station's south exit via covered passage without crossing a single street in any weather
Tips for visiting
- Pick up a store map at the ground-floor information counter before ascending—the 15-floor scale rewards orientation
- The food basement depachika is best visited before 1PM; prepared bento and specialty items sell out by mid-afternoon
- Kinokuniya International Bookstore on the upper floors carries the best English-language book selection in the Shinjuku area
- Tax-free shopping is available at the dedicated counter; bring a passport for the consumption tax exemption on qualifying purchases
- Restaurant floors (13–14F) offer panoramic Shinjuku views; popular tables fill by 6:30PM on weekday evenings—arrive early or reserve
Frequently asked questions
How is Takashimaya Times Square different from Isetan Shinjuku?
Both are flagship Shinjuku department stores, but Takashimaya's building includes non-department-store tenants (Kinokuniya Books, homeware retailers) and has a larger total floor area. Isetan is more tightly fashion-focused with a renowned curated sake and food hall.
Is there an English-language bookstore inside the building?
Yes. Kinokuniya Bookstore International, located on the upper floors, carries one of the largest English-language book selections in Tokyo alongside Japanese-language titles and stationery.
Does the building connect directly to Shinjuku Station?
Yes. A covered underground walkway connects Takashimaya Times Square directly to Shinjuku Station's south exit, providing weatherproof access without outdoor navigation.
What are the best items to buy as gifts?
The Japanese lacquerware section, regional wagashi confectionery from the food basement, and artisan craft goods are particularly valued as distinctive Japanese gifts. The food basement's prefectural specialty rotation also yields unique, high-quality edible souvenirs.
Is the food basement worth a separate visit?
Yes. The depachika floors are among the most comprehensive in Shinjuku, with regional Japanese specialties, prepared bento, high-quality sushi platters, and imported gourmet goods that reward browsing even for visitors without plans to shop the full building.