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The basement level of any major department store might not stand out as a bona fide attraction, but in Japan, these depachika—a portmanteau of the words depato (department store) and chika (basement)—offer a quintessential local food experience. One of Tokyo’s most notable depachika is that of Mitsukoshi’s Nihonbashi flagship, housed within the historic 1935 main building. The food hall is lined with displays of beautifully arranged bento boxes, prepared dishes, regional specialties, and luscious Western-style pastries and delicate wagashi (Japanese sweets). Things get busy in the early evening as people shop for dinner ingredients, ready-made meals, or gifts.
As a bonus, visitors can eat their purchases upstairs in the rooftop garden, which features an elegant pond and a small shrine. The heritage-listed building is also a fine place to soak up some history and culture on the side. Mitsukoshi traces its origins more than 350 years ago to a kimono business, and the company opened Japan’s first department store in 1904. Its Nihonbashi store has an impressive marble-clad central hall rising to the fifth floor, while the sixth-floor art gallery hosts a range of free-to-enter exhibitions all year round. Outside, the two bronze lion statues guarding the entrance have been a popular meeting point for generations of Tokyoites. —<a href="https://destinasian.com/contributor/louise-george-kittaka">Louise George Kittaka</a>
Access: One minute from Mitsukoshimae Station; five minutes from Nihombashi Station
<a href="https://cp.mistore.jp/global/en/nihombashi.html?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cp.mistore.jp</a> 
1-4-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8001, Japan

Art meets commerce: The breathtaking central atrium of Nihombashi Mitsukoshi, featuring the legendary Tennyo statue, defines Tokyo's historic luxury.

Mitsukoshi Department Store (Nihonbashi): Foodie Favorite