ÆON MALL Suzaka
ÆON MALL Suzaka is a large shopping center in Suzaka, Nagano, Japan, opened in October 2025 as the largest mall in Nagano Prefecture.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
ÆON MALL Suzaka (イオンモール須坂) is a shopping center located in Ōaza Fukushima, Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It opened on October 3, 2025, and is operated by ÆON Mall Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the ÆON Group. The mall is situated about 3 km southwest of central Suzaka and about 8 km east of central Nagano, roughly 400 meters from the Suzaka-Nagano-Higashi Interchange toll gate, giving it a broad catchment across the Hokushin and western Tōshin regions, and drawing visitors from as far as the Chūshin region and Jōetsu in Niigata Prefecture on weekends. Annual visitor numbers are projected at approximately 7.5 to 8 million. The facility is a steel-frame structure with three above-ground floors (partly four), designed with a modern gray-and-white color scheme and a symbolic large roof that respects the mountainous and green landscape of Suzaka. Excluding ÆON directly operated space, the sales floor area is about 63,000 square meters, with approximately 170 stores. Of these, 57 are first entries into Nagano Prefecture and 45 are first entries into the Hokushin region; 32 stores are from locally headquartered companies. It surpasses ÆON Mall Matsumoto to become the largest shopping center in Nagano Prefecture. The concept is "このまちで ずっと つながる つなげる" (roughly, "always connected, connecting, in this town"). Key features include a diverse gourmet zone, a garden where visitors can stroll with children and pets, an all-weather amusement facility, and a cinema. Small dogs and cats are allowed, and the mall focuses on attracting families as its main customers. ÆON Mall states it aims to be "a regional exchange hub where people can meet and connect, not just shop and eat." The approximately 4,500-square-meter open garden "SUZAKA no Teien" near the first-floor main entrance comprises four areas: the Community Collaboration Garden, the Kids' Garden & Environmental Symbiosis Garden, the Event Garden, and the Gathering Garden. The Community Collaboration Garden reflects designs proposed by students of Nagano Prefecture Suzaka Sōsei High School, who also planted some of the vegetation and cooperate in maintenance. The Gathering Garden plants the same cherry trees as Garyū Park. ÆON MALL Suzaka promotes "regional co-creation," aiming to rediscover local assets and charm, to be a place that collaborates with the region to polish and transmit culture and resources, and to co-create a relaxing space for multiple generations. The core tenants are ÆON Style Suzaka and ÆON Cinema Suzaka. ÆON Cinema Suzaka is the first cinema complex in Suzaka City, with nine screens including an IMAX theater, all equipped with laser projectors. The IMAX theater features "IMAX Laser" and the latest 12-channel sound system. Screen 8 introduces Japan's first "DTS Surround Cinema" and a 4K laser projector, with a speaker layout designed according to DTS guidelines supporting 5.1ch and 7.1ch surround. This is the first IMAX in the prefecture in about 18 years and the first in the Hokushin region, and the first IMAX Laser in the Kōshin region including Yamanashi. All seats in the theater feature independent seats with both armrests, a first for ÆON Cinema in Nagano Prefecture. The mall is the core facility of the "Tourism Attraction Facility Site" within the Inter Suzaka Industrial Park. The site also includes Ark Square Suzaka, which houses Route Inn and the largest Home Center Musashi (sales floor about 15,500 m²) and Yamada Denki (sales floor about 11,500 m²) in Nagano Prefecture. The parking lots of ÆON Mall and Ark Square are connected by a walkway and used as one, with a total of about 4,900 parking spaces including Ark Square Suzaka. Roadside stores are located nearby, forming a commercial area.
History
The development of ÆON MALL Suzaka began with a proposal in July 2015, when the land consultant company Chōkō Co., Ltd. (based in Mie Prefecture) presented a plan to Suzaka City and its city council to develop farmland west of the Inter Suzaka Distribution Industrial Park into a commercial facility. Because of its proximity to the Chikuma River, the proposal included a wide-area disaster prevention base-type commercial facility. The proposal document, titled "Suzaka Mall Project: Next-Generation Commercial Facility and Wide-Area Disaster Prevention Base Initiative," targeted over 600,000 residents of the Nagano and Hokushin regions plus tourists, and had the support of ÆON Mall, which was considering opening a store. However, the planned site was mostly farmland, and development was strictly regulated. In August 2015, Mayor Masao Miki, when asked for his view, said the concept of a wide-area disaster prevention base-type commercial facility would be important for the Chikuma River area, and noted that while some citizens were concerned about the impact on central city stores, he saw benefits for agriculture, commerce, tourism, and exchange. In December 2015, Mayor Miki expressed "active support" for the location at a city council general question session, citing low in-city purchase rates for clothing and cultural goods and low satisfaction with commercial revitalization in citizen surveys, concluding that from a broad consumer perspective there was high support for a large commercial facility. He also noted that large commercial facilities increasingly include local stores as tenants, saying "we are entering an era of co-creation between large commercial facilities and local areas." Following the mayor's statement, the Suzaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the city shopping district association expressed willingness to seek coexistence and co-prosperity. In February 2016, the city established a project team within the city hall to begin concrete coordination with national and prefectural authorities regarding land use changes. However, the planned site was in an urbanization control area and agricultural promotion area, requiring exclusion from agricultural promotion areas, conversion of agricultural land, and inclusion in an urbanization area. The city's urban development department noted that since the revision of the Agricultural Land Act in fiscal 2009, large commercial facility locations had become particularly difficult, and that they were not aware of any cases where a large commercial facility had been established under the same conditions as Suzaka City. In January 2017, the city explained the progress of the development plan to the city council's special committee on development around the interchange. The plan area of about 35 hectares including ÆON Mall was subject to strict regulations, and the city considered using a "district plan" to enable development while remaining in the urbanization control area, but this still required coordination and permission from national and prefectural authorities for agricultural promotion exclusion and agricultural land conversion. The city's urban development division chief said that obtaining approval for the development of about 35 hectares of farmland would be extremely difficult. On July 31, 2017, the Regional Future Investment Promotion Act came into effect, and the development proceeded using support measures under this law. In February 2019, Suzaka City announced that it had obtained consent from the prefecture for a land use adjustment plan covering about 37.8 hectares (at the time) including the large commercial facility and distribution center site west of the expressway, as part of the large-scale development plan north of the interchange. The city expected that if Chōkō prepared a regional economic driving business plan and obtained prefectural approval, development would become possible, enabling exclusion from agricultural promotion areas under the Agricultural Promotion Act and conversion of agricultural land under the Agricultural Land Act. The city also expected to clear the City Planning Act regulations through a district plan. The city's urban development division said that a major hurdle of land regulation removal was in sight. In May 2019, in response to an interview by the Shinano Mainichi Shimbun about the plan for an ÆON Mall north of the Suzaka-Nagano-Higashi Interchange, ÆON Mall said it was "one of many candidate sites nationwide." In September 2019, the regional economic driving business plan submitted by Chōkō to the prefecture under the Regional Future Investment Promotion Act was approved as of the 20th. In October 2020, the city explained it was preparing for applications for agricultural land conversion and development permits; agricultural promotion exclusion and district plan decisions were made in July. In June 2021, Chōkō ordered and began land preparation work for the "tourism attraction facility site" including the planned ÆON Mall site. In September 2021, ÆON Mall officially announced its entry, initially planning to open in spring 2024. In March 2023, land preparation was completed and the land was handed over to ÆON Mall. Chōkō reported that due to the large scale of development, the impact of rising construction materials and labor shortages was significant, and that adjustments to the entire project including the opening timing were underway. In August 2023, ÆON Mall announced detailed plans, postponing the opening from spring 2024 to autumn 2025. In March 2024, ÆON Mall announced the start of construction, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held later with the mayor of Suzaka City and the vice governor of Nagano Prefecture in attendance. In June 2024, the facility name was officially decided as "ÆON MALL Suzaka." In June 2025, ÆON Mall held a general overview briefing for the press, revealing details of tenants and the opening date. In July 2025, the "Suzaka-Nagano-Higashi Interchange Surrounding District 2" including ÆON Mall was incorporated into the urbanization area. In August 2025, a signing ceremony for a disaster agreement between Suzaka City and three ÆON Group companies and a tree-planting ceremony were held. On September 25, 2025, a preview for the press was held; on September 26, a soft opening for nearby residents; and on October 3, 2025, the grand opening took place.
- 2025
ÆON Mall held a general overview briefing for the press, revealing tenant and opening details.
- 2025
The "Suzaka-Nagano-Higashi Interchange Surrounding District 2" including ÆON Mall was incorporated into the urbanization area.
- 2025
A signing ceremony for a disaster agreement between Suzaka City and three ÆON Group companies and a tree-planting ceremony were held.
- 2025
A preview for the press was held on September 25, and a soft opening for nearby residents on September 26.
- 2025
Grand opening on October 3.
- 2024
ÆON Mall announced the start of construction; a groundbreaking ceremony was held later.
- 2024
The facility name was officially decided as "ÆON MALL Suzaka."
- 2023
Land preparation was completed and the land was handed over to ÆON Mall.
- 2023
ÆON Mall announced detailed plans and postponed the opening from spring 2024 to autumn 2025.
- 2021
Chōkō ordered and began land preparation work for the tourism attraction facility site including the planned ÆON Mall site.
Products and positioning
Regional co-creation hub and largest shopping center in Nagano Prefecture, targeting families with dining, entertainment, and community spaces.
ÆON Style Suzaka
ÆON Cinema Suzaka
SUZAKA no Teien
Sources3 sources
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