[Comparison between Korea and Japan] ⑤ Japanese Seniors Going Outside... Customized Bookstores, Department Stores, and Shopping Streets [Report]

[The Era of 10 Million Elderly, Learning from Japan] ⑤
Finding 'Senior Activities' in the Heart of Tokyo
Barrier-Free Streets, Walker-Like Carts... Creating an Accessible Environment

"Are you Korean? Many Korean tourists come here to buy shoes for their mothers!"

Recently visited a shopping street near Sugamo Station in Japan. This street, about 800 meters long in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, is lined with shops on both sides. What stands out are the elderly couples with white hair and seniors pushing walkers. The items sold in the shops are not the usual things seen on the streets these days. Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets), red thermal underwear, herbal pharmacies... This place, also called the "Harajuku for the elderly," is the Sugamo Jizo-dori Shopping Street.

Elderly people are shopping at Sugamo Jizo-dori Shopping Street in downtown Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Park Yujin

We spoke with Michiko Sato (55), an employee at "Alps Shoe Store," which has been in business here for 48 years. She explained, "We mainly sell shoes that are easy for seniors to wear, with simple designs and lightweight materials," adding, "We stock cushioned comfort shoes and casual shoes that are easy to put on." Promotional materials posted here and there featured images of middle-aged women. Michiko said, "I often see Korean tourists buying shoes for their mothers."

A store in the Sugamo Jizodori Shopping Street. It is a specialty shop for senior women's underwear and miscellaneous goods. Photo by Park Yujin

Throughout the street, there were traditional shops that evoke nostalgia for the elderly. A kimono specialty store with 30 years of history, a meriyasu (knitwear) specialty store established in 1958, and a confectionery shop with an 80-year tradition. At the pants store "Matsumiya," they handled women's clothing made by experts who tailor pants to fit senior women's body shapes. Pants cost about 30,000 KRW. It’s not just shops selling goods. This street also houses facilities such as orthopedic clinics, rehabilitation clinics, and herbal physical therapy centers. Many seniors visit to improve chronic joint diseases or pain caused by aging. Due to good public transportation access, many people come here for outings with their families.

Akiko Yamamoto, a woman in her 60s whom we met on the street that day, also came out to enjoy some "mother-daughter time." She said, "I occasionally come for a walk and shopping with my elderly mother," adding, "There are shops that have been operating for decades, and every time I come, I see young people and tourists, which makes the place feel lively."

Senior-tailored department stores and bookstores... From curb-less streets to walkers combined with carts

A women's wig store located on the 8th floor of Shinjuku Keio Department Store. Photo by Park Yujin

The space for the elderly is not limited to this area in central Tokyo. The Keio Department Store, located just above Shinjuku Station, has dedicated its 8th floor exclusively to products for seniors. The floor directory even labels it as "Nursing Care Products." There is a separate elevator on the first floor that goes directly to the 8th floor. Upon entering the 8th floor, the first thing you see is a wig specialty store for women experiencing hair loss. Inside, there are dozens of types of walkers, hearing aids, and canes for sale, attracting attention.

An elderly man is reading a book at Kinokuniya Bookstore. Photo by Park Yujin

The large bookstore "Kinokuniya," located in downtown Tokyo, is also famous as a place frequently visited by Japanese seniors. Established in 1927, this bookstore dedicates one floor to caregiving and medical-related books. From guides on how to use ventilators to books on elderly oral care. On the day the reporter visited, a male senior was browsing health-related books.

The reason seniors flock to these spaces is that the design itself is elderly-friendly. The Sugamo Jizo-dori Shopping Street, which houses about 200 stores, has removed curbs between sidewalks and roads to accommodate seniors using canes or wheelchairs, and vehicles are not allowed to pass through. At the Keio Department Store, product names are printed in large fonts for easy recognition by seniors, and chairs are placed intermittently so shoppers can rest comfortably.

A Japanese shopping cart designed like a walker. Photo by Park Yujin

In Japan, there is also a method of making everyday items elderly-friendly by slightly modifying their designs. On that day, the reporter noticed a distinctive shopping cart at a large supermarket in Tokyo. It was clearly different from the tall, large carts seen in Korean supermarkets. Instead of the usual waist-high handle, the handle was positioned lower, allowing elderly customers to use it as a walking aid. It serves not only as a simple shopping tool but also as a support to help seniors walk safely. This design reflects the innovation and meticulous care of the Japanese retail industry in response to a super-aged society.