Daimaru Tokyo
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Tokyo Station · 1 min walk (JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin-Tōhoku Line, JR Chūō Line)
- Hours
- B1F–11F: 10:00–20:00; 12F: 11:00–22:00 (Tax-free counter 10:00–20:00); 13F: 11:00–23:00; closed Jan 1
- Admission
- Free
- Time needed
- 20–45 min
- Best time to go
- 10:00–11:30 on weekdays, when all fresh bento counters are stocked and popular confectionery queues have shorter lines than the evening Shinkansen rush
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Directly connected to Tokyo Station, Daimaru Tokyo is a massive, multi-story department store that serves as the ultimate stop for last-minute shopping. It is highly regarded for its legendary 'Depachika' (basement food hall) filled with high-end bento boxes, regional Japanese sweets, and savory snacks. Upstairs, you will find premium cosmetics, fashion, and a hands-on hands-on crafts section at hands-on retailer Hands.
What Japanese guides note
Daimaru Tokyo occupies floors B1 through 13 of the GranTokyo North Tower, situated at the Yaesu North Exit of Tokyo Station. Because many visitors are in transit to catch Shinkansen services, the average customer visit lasts roughly 10 minutes, prompting the store to prioritize high-visibility signage and fast checkout lanes. In-store public address announcements and promotional background audio are deliberately kept to a minimum across all floors to reduce sensory fatigue for travelers.
Details from local sources
- Unlike most Japanese department stores that keep all food in the basement, Daimaru Tokyo places its 50-shop confectionery hall on the 1st floor directly level with Tokyo Station's exit for quick souvenir purchasing. [source]
- The B1 food section includes a 60-meter Bento Street and Meat Alley that sells over 10,000 boxed meals per day across 1,000 rotating varieties throughout the year. [source]
- Refrigerated coin lockers are installed on the B1 food floor so travelers can store chilled meal boxes and perishable sweets before train departures. [source]
- The 12th-floor tax refund counter deducts a 1.55% store processing fee from refund totals, returning a net 8.45% on standard 10% tax purchases. [source]
- Floor directories and hanging navigation signs are designed with high-contrast black backgrounds rather than standard white to help hurried passengers read them quickly from a distance. [source]
- Between the 3rd and 11th floors, the department store positions public cafes at the exact same exterior-window location on every level except the 9th floor. [source]
Insider Tip
Head to the basement food hall right before boarding your Shinkansen to grab a gourmet bento box and seasonal sweets for the ride.
Frequently asked
Which Tokyo Station exit leads directly into Daimaru Tokyo?
JR Tokyo Station's Yaesu North Exit ticket gate opens directly onto the first-floor confectionery concourse. Travelers arriving underground can enter the B1 bento section directly from the Yaesu Underground Central or North exits without going outdoors, which avoids station plaza congestion.
Does Daimaru Tokyo charge a fee for processing tax refunds?
Yes. The tax refund counter on the 12th floor charges a 1.55% processing fee on tax-free merchandise. Consequently, the net refund returned to customers is 8.45% for goods subject to Japan's 10% consumption tax, rather than the full 10%.
Can international travelers use the 5% visitor discount coupon on food?
No. The 5% visitor guest coupon provided at the 12th-floor duty-free counter excludes all basement and first-floor food halls, alcoholic beverages, luxury boutiques, and special sale items. The promotional coupon is restricted almost exclusively to cosmetics purchases across designated counters.
Can I store chilled food purchases while shopping at Daimaru Tokyo?
Yes. Dedicated refrigerated coin lockers are installed on the B1 food floor near the Tokyo Station underground access walkway. Travelers can store chilled bento, fresh deli cuts, or temperature-sensitive souvenir confectionery there until they are ready to board their departing train.
What are the operating hours for the shopping and dining floors?
The B1 through 11th floors, including the first-floor sweets hall and B1 bento alley, operate daily from 10:00 to 20:00. The 12th-floor restaurant floor operates from 11:00 to 22:00, and the 13th-floor restaurant XEX TOKYO stays open until 23:00.
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