'Depachika':
A hidden gourmet world under your feet
What do you get when you combine the Japanese words for department store (depāto) and basement (chika)? The answer is ‘depachika’, the portmanteu that describes the basement levels of Japan’s high-end department stores.
Above ground, these department stores are known for luxury brands, cosmetics and fine culture, but underground, they feature a world of gourmet delights. Depachika are filled with shops selling prepackaged meals like bento boxes and sushi as well as confectionaries, Japanese tea, sake and even everyday groceries — all presented with a touch of extra panache to stand out from the ordinary. Your Amex Card can be used in a vast majority of depachika stores, so why not explore these culinary treasure troves and enjoy a unique shopping experience?
Daimaru Tokyo
Unparalleled selection and convenience
One big advantage of depachika — and what makes them so fun to browse — is that they feature so many stores in one place. Whereas getting your hands on a product from a specific boutique confectionary or sushi shop might otherwise require a trip to its standalone location, in depachika, you can find rows of such shops, offering the same great products as their flagship stores. In addition, all the shops at depachika have been carefully selected by their host department store for the quality of their wares, so you can be fully confident in whatever choice you make.
The store layout also allows you to easily compare A, B, and C to find the perfect item and engage in some seriously efficient shopping. After all, where else can you find products as diverse as sweets, sushi, and sake in the same place? From items of extreme rarity and value to small treats that add sparkle to everyday life, depachika have it all — and they’re a great way to enjoy the same shopping experience as Japanese locals.
Finally, because depachika are underground, many have direct access to the subway system, saving a trip above ground and into the elements when going home — an occasional lifesaver, as anyone who’s experienced Japan’s rainy season or sweaty summers can attest. Some even feature coin lockers with refrigeration in case you need to store your purchases while, for example, popping back to the upper levels of the department store for that item you forgot.
Depachika story
Japan’s first depachika was born in 1936 in the city of Nagoya, and the concept soon spread to department stores nationwide. The portmanteu “depachika,” however, really caught on in the early 2000s thanks to a shift from high-end gifts to items that appealed to a wider range of consumers, a wave that was set off in Tokyo’s trendsetting neighborhood of Shibuya (where else?). Today, high-end and everyday items alike line the stalls of depachika, including seasonal and other limited-edition finds exclusive to these unique Japanese shopping spaces. If you visit a Japanese department store, make sure to visit its below-ground levels: there’s a hidden world of gourmet fun waiting for you.
Daimaru Shinsaibashi
Explore our partner stores
Daimaru (Tokyo Station)
Daimaru, conveniently connected to Tokyo Station, offers 14 floors of high-end shopping in addition to confectionery shops, a hobby and lifestyle store, and dining options with stunning views.
Takashimaya (Nihonbashi, Tokyo)
Takashimaya's Nihonbashi store, a cultural landmark built in 1933, blends Western and Japanese design.
It houses high-end fashion, lifestyle brands, a member's salon, and an exhibition floor.
Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store (Umeda, Osaka)
Founded in 1929 in Umeda, Osaka, Kankyu Department Store was the world's first department store connected to a railway station terminus.
American Express acts solely as a payment provider and is not responsible or liable in the event that such services, activities or benefits are not provided or fulfilled by the service establishment. Card Members acknowledge that any disputes in relation to the above are to be directed solely to the service establishment providing such services, activities or benefits.
All information is correct at the time of publication.
