Tokyu Store
Japanese supermarket chain brand, part of Tokyu Group.
Last updated October 13, 2026
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Overview
Tokyu Store is a Japanese supermarket chain, mainly dealing in food and daily necessities, with stores in Tokyo and surrounding areas.
History
Tokyu's corporate history is rooted in the development of private electric railways serving the Tokyo metropolitan region. The oldest identified predecessor is the Musashi Electric Railway, whose railway opened in 1908 and whose operations were incorporated in 1910. In 1920, industrialist Keita Goto became chief executive of the predecessor business and began a program of expansion that treated railway construction and suburban development as connected activities. Meguro-Kamata Electric Railway was registered on September 2, 1922. Its formation was closely associated with Den-en-chofu, a planned residential district developed alongside railway infrastructure. Musashi Electric Railway acquired Meguro-Kamata shortly before changing its own name to Tokyo-Yokohama Electric Railway in 1924. The latter was widely known as Toyoko. Meguro-Kamata initially remained a subsidiary, but the two railway companies were formally merged on October 16, 1939, with the consolidated enterprise retaining the Toyoko name. The emerging group diversified beyond railway operation. In 1938 it established Toyoko Eiga, an entertainment company that later became Toei. Wartime state policy then drove a major enlargement of the railway system. The company adopted the Tokyu name on May 1, 1942, and was required to acquire the Odawara Express Railway and Keihin Electric Railway in 1943. In 1944 it also acquired the Keio Teito Electric Railway, which had previously been combined with the Odawara Express Railway. The resulting organization was informally called Dai-Tokyu, or Great Tokyu. The wartime structure did not survive intact after 1945. In 1948 Tokyu separated the acquired railway businesses, which developed into the companies now known as Odakyu Electric Railway, Keikyu Corporation, and Keio Corporation. Tokyu then concentrated on its own railway network while expanding the private-railway model into real estate, retail, hotels, buses, and other services. The Tokyu Group subsequently owned or operated department stores, hotels, inns, smaller railway companies, and overseas businesses. Its historical portfolio also included Japan Air System and a major shareholding in Japan Airlines Holdings after the airlines' merger. Tokyu's transport identity has been expressed through successive generations of electric multiple-unit trains, including the 9000 series from 1986, the 1000 series from 1988, the 2000 series from 1992, the 300 series from 1999, the 5000 series from 2002, and the 6000 and 7000 series from 2007. The 2020 and 6020 series entered service in 2018, followed by the 3020 series in 2019. The company also operates the Kodomonokuni Line and the Minatomirai Line under contractual arrangements with the relevant railway companies. On September 2, 2019, the corporate entity adopted the name Tokyu Corporation, replacing Tokyo Kyuko Dentetsu. Its railway business was organized through Tokyu Railways Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary. The contemporary group continues to present itself as a multi-business urban-services organization whose railway network provides the foundation for connected residential, commercial, retail, and hospitality activities.
- 2019
Tokyu Corporation becomes the corporate name
[1]On September 2, the company changes its name from Tokyo Kyuko Dentetsu to Tokyu Corporation.
- 2018
2020 and 6020 series enter service
[1]New generations of Tokyu commuter electric multiple units begin passenger service.
- 1948
Postwar railway divestitures are completed
[1]Tokyu separates the acquired railway businesses, which become the foundations of Odakyu Electric Railway, Keikyu Corporation, and Keio Corporation.
- 1944
Keio Teito Electric Railway is acquired
[1]Tokyu acquires the Keio Teito Electric Railway as part of wartime transport consolidation.
- 1943
Wartime railway acquisitions enlarge Tokyu
[1]Government-directed consolidation brings the Odawara Express Railway and Keihin Electric Railway into Tokyu.
- 1942
The company adopts the Tokyu name
[1]The corporate name changes to Tokyu during the wartime period.
- 1939
Toyoko and Meguro-Kamata are consolidated
[1]The two railway companies are formally merged, with the combined business retaining the Toyoko name.
- 1924
Musashi becomes Tokyo-Yokohama Electric Railway
[1]Following its acquisition of Meguro-Kamata Electric Railway, Musashi changes its name to Tokyo-Yokohama Electric Railway, commonly called Toyoko.
- 1922
Meguro-Kamata Electric Railway is registered
[1]The company associated with the development of Den-en-chofu is registered on September 2.
- 1920
Keita Goto leads the predecessor business
[1]Keita Goto becomes chief executive and initiates a major expansion program.
Products and positioning
A railway-led Japanese urban-services group that combines commuter transportation with property development, retail, hospitality, and other businesses connected to metropolitan life.
Railway transportation
Tokyu Toyoko Line
A principal Tokyu commuter railway corridor connecting Tokyo and Yokohama-area destinations. It is one of the group’s defining passenger railway services and forms part of the urban network around which Tokyu has developed residential and commercial activity.
Railway transportation
Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line
A major suburban commuter line associated with Tokyu’s model of integrating railway operation with planned residential development. The line serves the western Tokyo metropolitan area and is closely connected with the group’s urban-development identity.
Railway transportation
Tokyu Meguro Line
An urban railway service within Tokyu’s Greater Tokyo network. It contributes to the company’s metropolitan passenger business and connects with other rail services serving Tokyo’s central and suburban districts.
Railway transportation
Tokyu Setagaya Line
A short urban railway operated with distinctive rolling stock in Tokyo’s Setagaya area. It represents a local-scale component of Tokyu’s otherwise extensive metropolitan commuter system.
Rolling stock · 2018
Tokyu 2020 series
A modern ten-car electric multiple-unit series introduced into Tokyu service from early 2018. It forms part of the group’s continuing program to renew commuter rolling stock on its metropolitan railway network.
Rolling stock · 2018
Tokyu 6020 series
A seven-car electric multiple-unit series introduced from early 2018. The trains are part of Tokyu’s modern rolling-stock generations serving its urban and suburban railway operations.
Retail
Tokyu Department Store
The group’s upscale Japanese department-store business, representing Tokyu’s long-standing diversification beyond railways into shopping and urban consumer services.
Hospitality
Tokyu Hotels and Tokyu Inns
Hotel brands and lodging operations associated with the Tokyu Group. They extend the group’s urban-services portfolio into accommodation in Japan and complement its railway, property, and retail activities.
Brand decisions
2019
Corporate rebranding as Tokyu CorporationStrategyBackground
The company had long been known as Tokyo Kyuko Dentetsu, while Tokyu was already its established abbreviated name and group identity.
Action taken
The legal corporate name was changed to Tokyu Corporation on September 2, 2019.
Aftermath
The Tokyu name became the formal corporate identity, while railway operations were conducted through the wholly owned Tokyu Railways subsidiary.
2018
Introduction of the 2020 and 6020 train seriesProduct launchBackground
Tokyu continued replacing and modernizing rolling stock across its Greater Tokyo commuter network.
Action taken
The company introduced new ten-car 2020 series and seven-car 6020 series electric multiple units into service.
Aftermath
The new trains became part of Tokyu’s contemporary commuter fleet and were followed by the 3020 series in 2019.
1948
Postwar separation of acquired railway businessesStrategyBackground
The enlarged wartime Tokyu organization included several railway businesses acquired under government-directed consolidation.
Action taken
Tokyu divested the Odawara, Keihin, and Keio-related railway businesses after the war, allowing them to develop as separate companies.
Aftermath
The separated operations became the foundations of Odakyu Electric Railway, Keikyu Corporation, and Keio Corporation, while Tokyu retained its core network and pursued broader group diversification.
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