Japan is a shopper’s paradise, and its malls are as much about experience as they are about retail therapy. Below are some of the largest and most famous shopping malls across Japan.
Lalaport Tokyo Bay (Chiba) – One of Japan’s biggest malls, with over 400 stores ranging from fashion to electronics.
Canal City Hakata (Fukuoka) – A visually stunning complex with shops, restaurants, a theater, and even a canal running through it.
DiverCity Tokyo Plaza (Odaiba, Tokyo) – Famous for its life-sized Gundam statue and a wide range of entertainment and shopping options.
Shibuya Hikarie (Tokyo) – A sleek, modern mall with eight floors of shopping and two floors of dining. It even has refrigerated lockers for your sweets.
Yaesu Shopping Mall (Tokyo) – Located right by Tokyo Station, this massive underground mall has over 100 shops and 60 restaurants.
Grandberry Park (Tokyo) – A sprawling open-air outlet mall with a park-like atmosphere and a Snoopy Museum nearby.
Abeno Harukas Kintetsu (Osaka) – Part of Japan’s tallest skyscraper, this department store is a luxury shopping destination with panoramic city views.
Porta Kyoto (Kyoto) – An underground mall beneath Kyoto Station, perfect for fashion, souvenirs, and gourmet bites.
China is home to some of the most colossal and extravagant shopping malls in the world. Below are some of the largest and most famous ones. Each of these malls is more than just a shopping destination—they’re
cultural and architectural landmarks in their own right.
New South China Mall (Dongguan) – Once dubbed the largest mall in the world by total area, this mega-structure boasts over 6.5 million square feet of space and more than 2,500 stores.
New Century Global Center (Chengdu) – Not just a mall, but a self-contained city. It includes a water park, IMAX theater, hotels, and even an indoor beach. It’s considered the largest building in the world by floor area.
Golden Resources Mall (Beijing) – Nicknamed the “Great Mall of China,” this massive complex spans over 6 million square feet and houses more than 1,000 stores.
Global Harbor (Shanghai) – A baroque-style shopping and entertainment complex with luxury brands, restaurants, and even a museum.
MIXC Shenzhen (Shenzhen) – A high-end mall known for its luxury boutiques, gourmet dining, and an indoor ice rink.
IFC Mall (Hong Kong) – A luxury shopping destination with stunning harbor views, Michelin-starred restaurants, and top-tier fashion brands.
Harbour City (Hong Kong) – The largest mall in Hong Kong, featuring over 700 shops and a prime location along Victoria Harbour.
Vietnam is home to some truly impressive shopping malls that blend luxury, entertainment, and local flavor. Below are some of the largest and most famous ones.
In Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Vincom Center (District 1): A landmark mall split into two buildings (A & B), offering high-end fashion, electronics, and dining.
Saigon Centre & Takashimaya: A sleek, modern complex with international brands and a Japanese department store.
Crescent Mall: Located in District 7, known for its scenic lakeside setting and family-friendly vibe.
AEON Mall Tan Phu Celadon: One of the largest malls in the city, with over 84,000 m² of retail space.
ICON68 Shopping Center: Located in the Bitexco Financial Tower, it offers shopping with a view.
In Hanoi
Vincom Mega Mall Royal City: A massive underground mall with an ice rink, cinema, and hundreds of stores.
AEON Mall Long Bien & Ha Dong: Japanese-style malls with a wide range of shops and eateries.
Lotte Center Hanoi: A mix of shopping, dining, and panoramic views from the observation deck.
In Other Cities
Vincom Plaza (Da Nang, Nha Trang, Can Tho, Hai Phong, etc.): These malls are part of a nationwide chain offering consistent quality and variety.
Phu Quoc Centre: A popular spot for both shopping and nightlife on the island.
Thailand is a shopper’s paradise, and its malls are nothing short of spectacular. Below are some of the largest and most famous shopping malls across Thailand.
Central WestGate (Nonthaburi) – The largest in Thailand by gross leasable area, this mega-mall boasts over 700 stores, an IKEA, and a massive cineplex.
ICONSIAM (Bangkok) – A luxury shopping and lifestyle destination on the Chao Phraya River, featuring high-end brands like Louis Vuitton and Hermès, an Apple Store, and the unique SookSiam cultural zone.
Siam Paragon (Bangkok) – Known for its upscale shopping, gourmet food hall, and attractions like Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World and the Paragon Cineplex.
CentralWorld (Bangkok) – One of the largest lifestyle malls in Southeast Asia, offering everything from fashion and tech to entertainment and dining.
Terminal 21 (Bangkok) – A themed mall where each floor represents a different world city—London, Tokyo, Paris, and more. It’s a favorite for both shopping and selfies.
MBK Center (Bangkok) – A legendary shopping complex popular for affordable fashion, electronics, and souvenirs. It’s a must-visit for bargain hunters.
Mega Bangna (Samut Prakan) – A sprawling one-story mall anchored by IKEA, with hundreds of shops and a family-friendly vibe.
Central Phuket (Phuket) – A stylish mall combining high-end retail with local culture, perfect for tourists exploring the island.
Shinsegae Department Store, located in Seoul's Jung-gu district, is the largest and oldest department store in South Korea.
It was originally established in the 1930s as the Gyeongsong branch of Mitsukoshi, a Japanese department store franchise, before adopting its current name in 1963. This flagship store, which underwent
a major remodeling in 2007, contains floor upon floor of designer names representing everything from fashion to books and from kitchenware to toys; it also has a beautiful spa, a relaxing roof garden
and an impressive 60 tee golf driving range. The store is a luxury shopping destination featuring high-end brands, designer boutiques, and cultural spaces like Trinity Gardens and art halls.
Shinsegae Department Store is also known for its Christmas media facade, a dazzling display of lights and music during the holiday season.
Shinsegae Department Store, Macy's, Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, Selfridges, and Harrods are the most largest department stores in the world, which offer a mix of luxury brands,
dining options, and entertainment facilities, making them more than just shopping destinations.
Shinsegae Department Store (South Korea) – The largest department store globally, with a total floor area of over 3.16 million square feet.
Macy's (United States) – One of the most iconic department stores in the U.S., covering 2.2 million square feet.
Galeries Lafayette (France) – A prestigious department store in Paris, spanning 1.8 million square feet.
Printemps (France) – Another major French department store, with 1.6 million square feet.
Selfridges (United Kingdom) – A well-known luxury department store in London, covering 1.5 million square feet.
Harrods (United Kingdom) – One of the most famous department stores in the world, with 1.4 million square feet.
Harrods, Macy's, Galeries Lafayette, El Corte Inglés, Isetan, Nordstrom, KaDeWe, are Selfridges are ones of the most iconic department stores in the world; they are not just places to shop but also cultural landmarks in their
respective cities.
Harrods (London, UK): Known for its luxury goods and opulent interior, Harrods is the largest department store in London.
Macy's (New York City, USA): This historic store is famous for its Thanksgiving Day Parade and its massive flagship store in Herald Square.
Galeries Lafayette (Paris, France): A stunning department store with a beautiful glass dome and a wide range of high-end products.
El Corte Inglés (Madrid, Spain): The largest department store group in Europe, offering everything from fashion to electronics.
Isetan (Tokyo, Japan): A high-end department store known for its excellent customer service and wide range of products.
Nordstrom (Seattle, USA): Known for its customer service and wide range of products, Nordstrom is a popular choice in the US.
KaDeWe (Berlin, Germany): One of the largest department stores in Europe, offering a wide range of luxury goods.
Selfridges (London, UK): Known for its innovative displays and wide range of products, Selfridges is a popular shopping destination.
Isetan, Takashimaya, Lotte, Sogo, Shinsegae, Central, Parkson, and City'Super are the most famous department stores known for their vast range of products and unique shopping experiences in Asia; these notable department stores provide
not only a fantastic shopping experience but also a glimpse into the local culture and lifestyle.
Isetan (Tokyo, Japan): A high-end department store offering a variety of products, from fashion to gourmet food.
Takashimaya (Tokyo and Osaka, Japan): Known for its luxurious merchandise and excellent service, with locations in several cities.
Lotte Department Store (Seoul, South Korea): A popular destination for both locals and tourists, offering a wide range of products and services.
Sogo (Hong Kong and Taipei, Taiwan): A well-known department store chain with a diverse selection of goods.
Shinsegae (Seoul, South Korea): One of the largest department stores in the world, known for its luxury brands and impressive facilities.
Central (Bangkok, Thailand): A major department store chain with a variety of products, from fashion to electronics.
Parkson (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia): A popular department store chain with locations throughout Malaysia and other Asian countries.
City'Super (Hong Kong): A premium lifestyle supermarket and department store offering high-quality products.
Harrods, Selfridges, Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché, KaDeWe, La Rinascente, El Corte Inglés, and Bijenkorf are the most famous department stores in Europe; these most prestigious and iconic department stores are not just
shopping destinations but also cultural landmarks in their respective cities.
Harrods (London, UK): Known for its luxury goods and opulent interior.
Selfridges (London, UK): Renowned for its innovative displays and wide range of products, Selfridges is a popular shopping destination.
Galeries Lafayette (Paris, France): A stunning department store with a beautiful glass dome and a wide range of high-end products.
Le Bon Marché (Paris, France): One of the oldest and most elegant department stores in Paris, offering a curated selection of luxury items.
KaDeWe (Berlin, Germany): One of the largest department stores in Europe, offering a wide range of luxury goods.
La Rinascente (Milan, Italy): A historic department store in the heart of Milan, known for its high-end fashion and gourmet food section.
El Corte Inglés (Madrid, Spain): The largest department store group in Europe, offering everything from fashion to electronics.
Bijenkorf (Amsterdam, Netherlands): A premium department store known for its high-quality products and excellent customer service.
In 2024 the increase in store closures and bankruptcies is significant, with 7,300 stores expected
to close, compared to 5,500 in 2023. The rise in bankruptcies, with 48 retailers filing for bankruptcy, including Big Lots, Party City, Express and Joann, in 2024 compared to 25 last year, highlights the financial difficulties many are facing.
Macy's founded by Rowland Hussey Macy in 1858 in New York City started as a small dry goods store and grew into a major retail chain, eventually moving to its flagship Herald Square location in 19021, it's the first department store in the U.S.
Wanamaker's founded by John Wanamaker in 1861 in Philadelphia was influential in the development of the retail industry and was the first store to use price tags, it's one of the early department stores in the U.S.
Arnold Constable & Company was a department store chain in the New York City metropolitan area; at one point it was the oldest department store in America, operating for over 150 years from its founding in 1825 to its closing in 1975.
A shopping mall (or simply mall) is a North American term for a large indoor shopping center, usually anchored by department stores. There are two main types of shopping malls, super regional malls and regional malls.
A super-regional mall is a shopping mall with a size of over 800,000 sq ft, three or more anchors, mass merchant, more variety, fashion apparel, and serves as the dominant shopping venue for the region (25 miles or 40 km) in which it is located.
A regional mall is a shopping mall with a size of 400,000 sq ft to 800,000 sq ft and at least two anchor stores.
The other malls include strip malls and outlet malls. A strip mall is strictly sub urban and usually consist of large parking lots surrounded by single story shops, and an Outlet mall is a special shopping mall where manufacturers sell
their products directly through their own stores.
Southdale Center, a shopping mall located in Edina, Minnesota, opened in 1956 and is both the first and the oldest fully enclosed, climate-controlled large-scale shopping mall,
with nearly 75 shops filling two levels of retail space, in the United States. Today, Southdale Center has 1,297,608 square feet of leasable retail space, and contains 106 retail tenants.
The mall is owned by Simon Property Group and the anchor stores are Macy's,
Dave & Buster's, AMC Theatres, Hennepin Service Center, and
Life Time Athletic.
One of the first department stores in the world was Bennett's in Derby, first established as an ironmonger
(hardware store) in 1734; and it still stands today, trading in the same building. However, the first reliably dated department store to be established, was Harding, Howell & Co., which opened in 1796 on
Pall Mall, London.
A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store, each area ("department")
specializing in a product category. Arnold Constable was the first American department store; it was founded in 1825 as a small dry goods store on Pine Street in New York City.
David Jones was the first department store opened in Australia on 24 May 1838, by Welsh born immigrant David Jones in Sydney,
New South Wales; it's the oldest continuously operating department franchise in the world.
Statically, in 2021, around 2.14 billion people worldwide purchased goods online with ecommerce sales at estimated $4.891 trillion;
63% of shoppers bought goods online, and around half of these consumers shopped more on mobile. Online marketplace sites operated by Alibaba, Amazon, and eBay accounted for more than 50% of global web sales.
Chinese platform Taobao was the biggest online marketplace with a online sale of $515 billion while Tmall and Amazon ranked second and third with annual $432 and $344 billion sales, respectively.
The largest mall in the world by total area is The Dubai Mall, which has 1,200 shops at its
over 13 million square foot of space (equivalent in size to more than 50 football fields). It is the most visited building on the planet, attracting around 54 million visitors annually.
From its origins in the fur trade, the Hudson's Bay Company is the oldest corporation in North America and was the largest department store operator in Canada until around mid-1980s.
The major department stores in the United States are J. C. Penney and Sears.
J. C. Penney had four stores in 1908, 312 in 1920, and 1452 in 1930. Sears, a giant mail-order house, opened its first eight retail stores in 1925, and operated 338 by 1930, and 595 by 1940
Italy's most famous department stores are Coin, established in Mirano, Venice in 1926 and
La Rinascente, founded in Milan in 1865 by Luigi and Ferdinando Bocconi.
Neiman Marcus had the first customer loyalty program (InCircle), and the first in-store gift-wrapping service. InCircle, launched in 1984, was one of the first department store loyalty programs to reward high-spending customers with
perks like private shopping experiences, early access to sales, and even travel benefits.
- As a leading American retailer with one of the 100 largest corporate workforces in the world. Federated
Department Stores owns Macy's and
Bloomingdale's.
- One of the world's largest specialty retailers
with three of the most recognized and respected brands in the apparel
industry — Gap, Banana Republic and
Old Navy.
- One of the most widely recognized
brands in the world. The Company designs and markets a leading lifestyle collection
of casual apparel and accessories for women, men, children, and babies.
- Headquartered in Freeport, Maine, L.L. Bean operates a
worldwide catalog business, an award-winning Web site and Retail Stores and Factory Stores throughout
the U.S. East Coast.
- One of well-known
fashion stores that designs and markets an extensive range of women's
and men's fashion apparel and accessories appropriate to wearing occasions
ranging from casual to dressy.
- A leader in the design, marketing
and distribution of premium lifestyle products including apparel, home accessories,
and fragrances, in both the U.S. and international markets.
- As a general merchandise retailer, Target provides value
to American consumers through multiple retail formats ranging from upscale discount and moderate-priced,
to full-scale department stores. It also owns Marshall Field's and Mervyn's, and each has its own
distinct brand.