If you have ever been to the Tenjin district in Fukuoka, you might already have seen the large PARCO building. This department store is connected directly to the Tenjin train station, and has its subway exit, located inside the adjacent Tenjin Chikagai.

The PARCO building can also be recognized very easily, located at the Tenjin crossroads on the opposite side of Tenjin Core. When it gets dark, the PARCO building is lit up with LED strips on its facade, making it a distinct landmark of Fukuoka’s nightlife. Let’s take a closer look at the company behind PARCO and what it actually is.

PARCO Co. Ltd. is a chain of department stores mostly operating inside Japan. The first store was established in Tokyo on February 13, 1953 – 63 years ago. Since then, the company has opened stores in cities all over Japan. The PARCO Group primarly conducts business through its Shopping Complex Business segment, which includes PARCO Urban Stores, PARCO Community Stores, and Zero Gate complexes. Zero Gate serves as a platform for other retail establishments to offer their goods.

PARCO is currently implementing a hybrid business model that combines retail businesses with real estate. The company also undertakes property management and consultant projects on a contract basis. Basically, PARCO is a department store with focus on fashion. Stores offer lots of different brands in different price categories. They can also often be found in combination with life style shops such as Tower Records (music) or cafes.
Make sure to pay a visit to PARCO, next time you want to go shopping!

About Asahi Nihongo

http://www.japanese-school-asahi.com/