Tokiwa Beppu store

Tokiwa Beppu store (トキハ別府店) is a department store and shopping complex located in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, Japan. It is a branch of Tokiwa Co., Ltd., a regional department store chain headquartered in Oita City. The store opened on October 8, 1988, and is one of the largest commercial facilities in Beppu, with a total sales floor area of 29,728 m². The core department store occupies 21,100 m² of that space. The complex consists of a main department store building and a specialty store wing, along with a multi-story parking garage. It is situated at the intersection of Beppu Station Front Street and National Route 10, near Beppu Station, making it a key transportation hub with numerous local and highway buses stopping in front. The store was developed as part of the "Beppu Shopping Plaza Cosmo Pier" project, a third-sector initiative by the Beppu Commercial and Tourism Development Public Corporation. After facing financial difficulties, the specialty store wing was acquired by Tokiwa in 1998 for 4.4 billion yen. Since then, Tokiwa Beppu store has undergone various renovations and tenant changes. In the 2010s, it returned to profitability and continues to operate as a central retail destination in Beppu. The store features a wide range of tenants, including MUJI, Chanel (cosmetics), Right-on, ABC-Mart, Starbucks Coffee, and various restaurants and services. It also includes a food hall operated by Tokiwa Industry, a group company. The store's catchphrase is "Furusato no depato, sekai no shohin" (The hometown department store, world-class products), shared with the main store. Tokiwa Beppu store is known for its large souvenir section, catering to tourists visiting the hot spring resort area. It also hosts events and exhibitions, such as the "Burari Theater Beppu-za" performances. The store is actively involved in community activities and has implemented environmental initiatives, including ISO 14001 certification. As a key commercial facility in Beppu, it plays a significant role in the local economy and culture.

The history of Tokiwa Beppu store begins with plans by Tokiwa to open a store in Beppu. In March 1952, Tokiwa planned to build a Beppu store in Kitahama, Beppu City, but the plan was canceled after opposition from local shopping districts. In September 1980, the Oita Godo Shimbun reported that Tokiwa was considering re-entering Beppu, initially planning a 10-story building above ground and 2 below near Beppu Station. In October 1986, the Beppu Commercial and Tourism Development Public Corporation began construction of a commercial building on the site of the former Beppu International Tourism Hall in Kitahama. On July 30, 1987, the building was named "Beppu Shopping Plaza Cosmo Pier." On March 19, 1988, Beppu Kintetsu Department Store also announced its intention to open in the area. On June 23, 1988, the cornerstone ceremony was held for both Cosmo Pier and Tokiwa Beppu store. On August 22, 1988, after competition with Beppu Kintetsu Department Store, Tokiwa's entry into Cosmo Pier was officially decided. On October 8, 1988, Tokiwa Beppu store and Cosmo Pier specialty store street opened. On opening day, 80,000 people visited, and special trains were operated. Initially, there were about 64 tenants. In the following years, the store underwent various changes. On December 1, 1990, the basement "Daily Foods Market" of Cosmo Pier became an indoor amusement park "Wonder Planet." On August 31, 1995, Wonder Planet closed and a food court was later installed. In September 1996, the 4th and 5th floors of the main building were fully renovated, a home appliance section was newly established (abolished in 2009), and Chanel opened on the 1st floor. On September 20, 1996, a direct sales vegetable corner "Sazanka Cross Yasai-kan" opened in the basement. On December 1, 1998, Tokiwa acquired Cosmo Pier specialty store street for 4.4 billion yen, and it reopened as Tokiwa Beppu store specialty store street. On December 27, 1998, Daiso opened in the basement, the first in the Beppu area. On September 23, 1999, Libro Beppu opened on the 4th floor, and the directly managed bookstore on the 6th floor closed. In the 2000s, further renovations took place. From October to December 2005, Tokiwa Industry Beppu store Food Kitchen opened in the basement, a futsal court on the 8th floor, and Starbucks Coffee on the 1st floor. On January 27, 2006, the restaurant floor on the 7th floor was renovated and operating hours extended, and a see-through elevator was installed. In January 2009, the large home appliance section on the 5th floor closed. In August 2009, rental offices were completed on the 6th floor. On December 17, 2009, the food court and Daiso in the basement were renovated, and a large Seria store opened. On April 1, 2010, the Beppu Chamber of Commerce and Industry moved into the renovated event hall on the 7th floor. On May 20, 2010, the entire building was renovated. On August 25, 2010, UnionPay cards were introduced, the first for a large commercial facility in Oita Prefecture. From June to August 2012, the 2nd floor directly managed sales floor was abolished, and children's clothing was converted to specialty stores only. On September 20, 2012, Fashion Center Shimamura and its group stores Avail and Chambre opened on the 2nd floor. From November 2012 to August 2013, large-scale exterior renovation and maintenance work was carried out. On September 1, 2013, new point service "TOKIPO" and electronic money "RUCCHA!" were introduced. In November-December 2013, Gibraltar Life Insurance moved into most of the 6th floor. On August 3, 2014, the Beppu Chamber of Commerce and Industry moved out. In March 2015, a rooftop painting by Yusuke Asai was completed on the 12th floor. From February to March 2017, parts of the 1st floor and basement were renovated. On September 6, 2019, the entire building was remodeled, reopening with 46 stores including 22 new ones, and operating hours were extended to 21:00. The store has faced challenges, particularly with the Cosmo Pier specialty store street. The third-sector corporation that operated it struggled financially, and in 1998, Tokiwa acquired it for 4.4 billion yen. After the acquisition, the store gradually improved its performance, turning profitable in the 2010s. As of 2015, it had been operating in the black since fiscal 2010. The store continues to evolve, with recent renovations and new tenant openings, such as Loft in October 2024.

• Tokiwa planned to build a Beppu store in Kitahama, but the plan was canceled after opposition from local shopping districts.

• Oita Godo Shimbun reported that Tokiwa was considering re-entering Beppu.

• Beppu Commercial and Tourism Development Public Corporation began construction of a commercial building on the site of the former Beppu International Tourism Hall.

• The commercial building was named "Beppu Shopping Plaza Cosmo Pier."

• Beppu Kintetsu Department Store announced its intention to open in the area.

• Cornerstone ceremony held for Cosmo Pier and Tokiwa Beppu store.

• After competition with Beppu Kintetsu Department Store, Tokiwa's entry into Cosmo Pier was officially decided.

• Tokiwa Beppu store and Cosmo Pier specialty store street opened. 80,000 people visited on opening day.

• The basement "Daily Foods Market" of Cosmo Pier became an indoor amusement park "Wonder Planet."

• Wonder Planet closed; a food court was later installed.

• The 4th and 5th floors of the main building were fully renovated; a home appliance section was newly established and Chanel opened on the 1st floor.

• A direct sales vegetable corner "Sazanka Cross Yasai-kan" opened in the basement.

• Tokiwa acquired Cosmo Pier specialty store street for 4.4 billion yen; it reopened as Tokiwa Beppu store specialty store street.

• Daiso opened in the basement, the first in the Beppu area.

• Libro Beppu opened on the 4th floor; the directly managed bookstore on the 6th floor closed.

• Tokiwa Industry Beppu store Food Kitchen opened in the basement, a futsal court on the 8th floor, and Starbucks Coffee on the 1st floor.

• The restaurant floor on the 7th floor was renovated and operating hours extended; a see-through elevator was installed.

• The large home appliance section on the 5th floor closed.

• Rental offices were completed on the 6th floor.

• The food court and Daiso in the basement were renovated; a large Seria store opened.

• The Beppu Chamber of Commerce and Industry moved into the renovated event hall on the 7th floor.

• The entire building was renovated.

• UnionPay cards were introduced, the first for a large commercial facility in Oita Prefecture.

• The 2nd floor directly managed sales floor was abolished; children's clothing was converted to specialty stores only.

Regional department store and shopping complex catering to local residents and tourists in Beppu.

Product categories. Department store merchandise · Souvenirs · Cosmetics · Clothing · Accessories · Home goods · Food products

1. 1別府店｜ふるさと大分の百貨店トキハtokiwa-dept.co.jp
2. 2会社概要｜ふるさと大分の百貨店トキハtokiwa-dept.co.jp
3. 3個人情報保護方針｜ふるさと大分の百貨店トキハtokiwa-dept.co.jp
4. 4トキハ別府店 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
5. 5ふるさと大分の百貨店トキハtokiwa-dept.co.jp
6. 6Tokiwa Beppu storewikidata.org