Daimaru Kobe is a department store located in Kobe’s central Motomachi district. There has been a Daimaru store in Kobe since 1908 and the store is still very popular with local residents. In recent years sales at the Daimaru Kobe have exceeded those of its nearest rival, the Kobe Hankyu department store.
Daimaru Kobe Store in Motomachi
Daimaru Kobe has ten floors above ground and two basement levels. This department store sells a great range of fashion, accessories, cosmetics, furniture and interior goods, art and crafts, food and groceries. Most floors have a café where you can take a break from shopping and one floor has a variety of restaurants and an art museum.
In this article we will introduce some of the highlights of this store.
Cosmetics on the B2 basement level
The B2 basement level has cosmetics and stationery, while the B1 basement level has a large food market where you can find fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, a bakery, confectionery, delicatessen supplies, tea, coffee and a liquor store.
The food market on the B1 basement level
The 1st floor of the store has women’s clothing and shoes, cosmetics and accessories.
A display of women’s shoes on the 1st floor
The 2nd floor has a mixture of international luxury brand fashion boutiques which include Tiffany, Chanel, Dior, Saint Laurent and Max Mara.
Max Mara on the 2nd floor
More ladies’ clothing and ladies’ bags can be found on the 3rd floor.
A display of ladies’ bags on the 3rd floor
The 4th floor has more ladies’ clothing, ladies’ underwear and ladies formal wear.
A display of ladies clothes on the 4th floor
On the 5th floor you can find children’s clothing and goods and clothes for outdoor activities including golf.
Children’s clothes on the 5th floor
Outdoor and golf goods on the 5th floor
On the 6th floor you can find clothes and shoes for men.
Menswear on the 6th floor
A display of men’s shoes on the 6th floor
The 7th floor has furniture, interior goods and traditional Japanese kimono.
A furniture store on the 7th floor
The 8th floor has watches, jewelry, glasses and art.
Glasses on display on the 8th floor
The 9th floor is the store’s main dining section. Here you can find restaurants serving sushi, tempura, broiled eel, tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlets), udon noodles, grilled steaks, and Chinese food.
A noodle restaurant on the 9th floor
The Daimaru Museum, which hosts regular exhibitions ranging from fine art to manga, is also located on the 9th floor.
The view from Daimaru Kobe’s rooftop
On the 10th floor you can find a pizza restaurant as well as a rooftop garden and a rooftop space where you can look out over the city of Kobe.
Tax-Free Shopping
Foreign visitors who are in Japan for less than 6 months can get a tax refund on items they have bought if they go to the Tax Exemption Counter on the B2 basement level on the day of purchase. To get a refund, bring the items you have purchased with receipts, the bank card that you used to buy those items, and your passport to the Tax Exemption Counter. A small fee will be charged for this service.
Other Services & Facilities
There is an information desk on the 1st floor where you can make enquiries about the store and pick-up a guide to the contents of each floor. Some staff are able to offer interpreting services in Chinese and English.
Wheelchairs and strollers for small children can be borrowed from the 1st floor information desk.
There is a Seven Bank ATM, which accepts most major international bank cards, on the B1 basement level.
Location
Daimaru Kobe Store is a 4-minute walk from Motomachi Station on the JR Kobe Line, Hanshin Main Line and Kobe Kosoku Line. The B2 basement level of the store connects directly to Kyukyoryuchi-Daimarumae Station on the local subway system’s Kaigan Line. Daimaru Kobe Store is located directly across the street from the entrance to the shopping arcade Kobe Motomachi Shotengai (Kobe Motomachi Shopping Street) and is also close to Kobe Chinatown and Sannomiya Shrine. Here is a map showing its location.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.
