PARCO

Quick Facts

What it is

PARCO (株式会社パルコ)—whose name translates from Italian as "Park"—has stood at the vanguard of Japanese youth culture, avant-garde fashion, art, and experimental media since its founding in Tokyo in 1969. Operating today under J. Front Retailing alongside Daimaru and Matsuzakaya, PARCO is not merely a shopping mall; it is an incubator of cutting-edge cultural expression that launched the careers of iconic Japanese fashion designers, underground filmmakers, and visual artists.

The absolute crown jewel of the brand is Shibuya PARCO, which reopened in late 2019 following an architectural reconstruction designed like an ascending spiral mountain path. Shibuya PARCO achieved global legendary status for its 6th floor, "CYBERSPACE SHIBUYA"—a world-class pop-culture epicentre uniting Nintendo TOKYO (the first official Nintendo flagship in Japan), Pokémon Center Shibuya (featuring a life-sized animatronic Mewtwo in an incubation tank), Capcom Store Tokyo, and the Jump Shop. Paired with high-mode runway floors (Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, Undercover, Ambush) and the retro-futuristic Chaos Kitchen dining basement, PARCO is one of the most culturally exciting retail spaces in the world.

How to order

Step 1: Navigating Shibuya PARCO's Themed Floors

Floor themes vary by location. At the flagship Shibuya PARCO:

• B1F - Chaos Kitchen (カオスキッチン): Eclectic dining and drinking den featuring vegan ramen, craft beer bars, vinyl record shops, and retro izakayas.
• 1F–2F - Mode & Art: Avant-garde international luxury and Japanese mode fashion (Loewe, Gucci, Thom Browne, Comme des Garçons, Undercover).
• 3F–5F - Japanese Streetwear & Day-to-Day Style: Onitsuka Tiger, Porter, visual art galleries, and modern lifestyle boutiques.
• 6F - CYBERSPACE SHIBUYA (JAPAN CULTURE): Nintendo TOKYO, Pokémon Center Shibuya, Capcom Store Tokyo, Koei Tecmo, and Tokyo Otaku Mode.
• 7F–10F: Restaurant floor, PARCO Theater, mini-cinema (White Cine Quinto), and the rooftop garden terrace.

Step 2: Visiting Nintendo TOKYO & Pokémon Center Shibuya (6F)

• Because CYBERSPACE SHIBUYA is exceptionally popular, on weekends and peak tourist holidays, Nintendo TOKYO may distribute timed entry tickets (整理券) near the store entrance or outside on the 1F pedestrian ramp.
• Arrive early in the morning (around 10:00 to 11:00) to secure access, or visit on a weekday afternoon for walk-in entry.

Step 3: Shopping at Individual Brand Boutiques

• Each boutique operates its own dedicated cashier counter.
• Browse, try on clothes, and pay at each brand's register.
• Retain all your itemized store receipts for duty-free processing.

Step 4: Checkout & 2026 Tax-Free Refund Procedure

• Tax-free eligibility varies by branch and tenant boutique (varies by store; look for the red-and-white Japan Tax-Free logo).
• In major flagships like Shibuya PARCO and Shinsaibashi PARCO, duty-free processing is handled at each participating boutique's cash register or at the centralized Tax-Free Service Counter.
• Present your purchases and your original physical passport (photocopies or digital images are strictly prohibited by Japanese tax law).
• Under Japan's airport refund tax-free mechanism (enacted November 1, 2026):
  1. Pay the full tax-inclusive total at the counter using cash, international credit cards, or supported mobile payments.
  2. The participating retailer verifies your eligibility and registers the tax-free purchase electronically in the National Tax Agency’s system, directly or through an approved provider. Follow the shop’s passport or supported Visit Japan Web procedure.
  3. Using non-consumable purchases: Anime merchandise, character figures, apparel, shoes, and video game accessories may be used or worn as appropriate while traveling in Japan if you carry the same items out of Japan for customs export verification within 90 days. The former legal categories of “General Goods” and “Consumables” were abolished on November 1, 2026, and special sealed packaging is no longer required.
  4. At the airport on departure day (within 90 days of purchase, and BEFORE checking your baggage with your airline), present your passport at a tax-free procedure terminal for export confirmation. Keep all purchased tax-free goods available; show them at the customs inspection area only if a red result requires it.
  5. The tax refund is executed by the merchant where purchased or its designated refund operator, using the method registered at the time of purchase (such as a direct credit card account reversal). At some airports, participating purchases may qualify for cash collection at a designated refund terminal; check the availability and registered refund method with the seller.

What to order first

1. Nintendo TOKYO Exclusive Statues, Apparel & Kitchenware

• Japanese Name: Nintendo TOKYO 限定グッズ (スーパーマリオ・ゼルダの伝説・スプラトゥーン)
• Price: ~¥880–¥16,500 (tax-included; subject to revision)
• Why It Is Essential: As Japan's official Nintendo flagship store, Nintendo TOKYO carries exclusive merchandise collections that cannot be purchased anywhere else in the world. Discover high-end resin statues of Link from The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon street apparel, Super Mario kitchenware, and character plushies sold in pristine collector packaging.

2. Pokémon Center Shibuya Graffiti Pikachu & High-Tech Exclusives

• Japanese Name: ポケモンセンターシブヤ 限定グラフィティピカチュウ / スケートボードデッキ
• Price: ~¥1,650–¥19,800 (tax-included; subject to revision)
• Why It Is Essential: The Shibuya Pokémon Center features a distinctive urban street-art aesthetic. Highlights include the limited-edition "Graffiti Pikachu" plush line created in collaboration with famous Tokyo street artists, official Pokémon skateboards, and high-tech smartphone cases, alongside the life-sized animatronic Mewtwo in the entrance chamber.

3. Capcom Store Tokyo Monster Hunter & Street Fighter Collectibles

• Japanese Name: カプコンストア トーキョー (モンスターハンター / ストリートファイター)
• Price: ~¥1,100–¥9,900 (tax-included; subject to revision)
• Why It Is Essential: The official Capcom flagship features exclusive merchandise from iconic video game franchises: Monster Hunter weapon keychains, Resident Evil tactical patches, Street Fighter retro pixel art pins, and Mega Man desk accessories that make extraordinary gifts for gamers.

4. Japanese Avant-Garde Mode Fashion (Undercover, Ambush, Comme des Garçons)

• Japanese Name: 国内モードアパレル (アンダーカバー / アンブッシュ / コム デ ギャルソン)
• Price: ~¥18,000–¥110,000+ (tax-included; subject to revision)
• Why It Is Essential: The 2nd and 3rd floors of Shibuya PARCO house flagship boutiques for Japan's most revered streetwear and mode designers. Ambush's bold jewelry and hoodies, Undercover's punk-inspired tailoring, and Comme des Garçons' runway collections are displayed in museum-grade, immersive boutique environments.

5. Chaos Kitchen Eccentric Dining Delicacies & Vinyl Records

• Japanese Name: B1F カオスキッチン (ヴィーガン真打ラーメン / レコード・カルチャー)
• Price: ~¥900–¥2,500 (tax-included; subject to revision)
• Why It Is Essential: The B1 floor is an artistic dining wonderland designed by architect Sou Fujimoto with mirrored ceilings and neon signs. Enjoy rich vegan ramen, authentic Japanese craft draft beers, or traditional kissaten parfaits, and browse through Union Record's curated vintage vinyl displays.

Payment & practical info

Prices and details checked: November 2026.

• Accepted Payment Modes: Cash (JPY), major global credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay), transit IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA), e-money (iD, QUICPay), and mobile QR codes (PayPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay, etc.).
• Tax-Free Refund Rules (Enacted November 1, 2026):
  • Minimum eligible spend: In general, qualifying goods purchased by the same person at the same participating tax-free store on the same day must total ¥5,000 or more before tax. Ask staff how multiple checkouts are registered. Eligible purchases from different stores can be combined only where the designated joint tax-free procedure permits this.
  • Pay the tax-inclusive price and follow the participating seller’s purchase-registration procedure in the National Tax Agency’s system. At departure, complete customs export confirmation at a tax-free procedure terminal within 90 days and before baggage drop; show the goods if inspection is required. The seller or its refund operator pays through the registered refund method.
  • Non-consumable products (anime figures, apparel, game accessories) can be worn or used in Japan; must be exported within 90 days.
• Operating Hours: Specialty shops and CYBERSPACE typically operate from 11:00 to 21:00 daily; B1F Chaos Kitchen operates from 11:30 to 23:00 (hours vary by store and tenant).
• Rooftop Park: The 10th-floor rooftop outdoor park at Shibuya PARCO is free to access, offering panoramic sunset views across the Shibuya skyline and Yoyogi Park.
• Promotional Discounts: Promotional discount campaigns or digital payment promotions may be offered during specific seasonal cultural exhibitions. These offers specify designated validity periods and participating payment partner cards. Inquire at customer service desks for current terms.

Good to know / Common mistakes

1. Timed Entry Tickets on 6th Floor

During peak tourist seasons, weekends, and holidays, Nintendo TOKYO on the 6th floor often issues numbered entry tickets (Seiriken) to prevent overcrowding. If visiting on a Saturday or Sunday, check the 6th floor entrance early in the morning to grab your ticket.

2. Connected Walkway at Shinsaibashi PARCO

In Osaka, Shinsaibashi PARCO is directly connected via indoor pedestrian skybridges to Daimaru Shinsaibashi. You can move effortlessly between PARCO's pop-culture floors (including Tokyu Hands and anime shops) and Daimaru's luxury fashion departments without going outside.

3. Taking Anime Figures Home

Collector figures, plushies, and gaming apparel may be used in Japan if the same items are carried abroad at departure. You do NOT have to keep your newly bought Pikachu or Mario plushies locked in your suitcase; you can display them in your hotel room immediately, provided they leave Japan with you within 90 days.

Sources

• PARCO Co., Ltd. Official Corporate Portal (Verified: 2026-11-09)
• Shibuya PARCO Official Store Directory & Highlights (Verified: 2026-11-09)
• Japan Customs Departure Tax-Free Regulations (Verified: 2026-11-09)