...I'm worried about the traffic lights out front. Do you stop, go, or yield if they are all lit like that... 
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Apple to Open New Retail Store in Tokyo's Omotesando District in March 2014
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Funny guy. Look at the streak of the break lights. It is a slow shutter speed shot....I'm worried about the traffic lights out front. Do you stop, go, or yield if they are all lit like that...
As an ex-employee of Shibuya Apple Store, I can only say... about freaking time! Some two years ago the traffic was unimaginable for a store that size. Finally there's gonna be some room to breathe!
As ongoing customer: agree. The Shibuya store is small and awfully located ... For me always the impression of a narrow side road. Should be closed and moved closer to the big crossing ... A big
on the big crossing would be a great impact.No worries there. Modern Japanese are a lot more pragmatic than the MK-Ultra alumni who call the shots in San Francisco.
Talking about San Francisco, Apple has a fascinating market position in Japan. In that country, owning American consumer brands is big in the "Hanran-sha" sub-culture (Japanese for "rebel") of any age.
Sony is very quite about how devastating the iPod was to the Sony Walkman. That brand has yet to recover from its post-iPod days. Last time over there, I was really surprised to see a group riding Harley-Davidson Sporties on National Route 20 in the middle of Tokyo.
Look at those who run "Misute rareta" companies (Japanese for "outcast") who constantly challenge established neo-zaibatsu domestic industries such as DoCoMo, Sony, Honda, Mitsubishi, et. al. and you'll see a lot of American friendly distributors. Was told SoftBank is one of these.
One of the biggest rebellious actions in Japan is serving imported rice at a meal with guests. Louisiana rice is very coveted to Hanran-sha and makes a great gift. Just be very careful whom it is presented to when invited to a Japanese home.
One
I've heard Omotesando called many things in my life. But I've never before heard it called "famed."
Now open 3 or 4 more in places that are convenient for people and it would actually help. There's already one in Shibuya and Omotesando is only a few stations away. Spread the stores out a bit. The biggest mall in Japan could definitely use one (Koshigaya Laketown)...coincidentally less than 10mins from my house
You're about 10 minutes closer than me! I doubt the boardroom discussion of "Should we put the new store in Omotesandō or Saitama" lasted very long, though.
You're about 10 minutes closer than me! I doubt the boardroom discussion of "Should we put the new store in Omotesandō or Saitama" lasted very long, though.
Here's another vote for Saitama-ken! Though I'd prefer it to be a bit closer to the Manga University campus in Kawaguchi
Basically they have a few, such as in Umeda Osaka, the Yodobashi has a mini Apple store right by the entrance and there are other examples around the country.
Not their direct prime customer group ... Akihabara is too much for the "technical specialists" ; tweaking, building, modding etc.
Apple don't fit into that ... They have more the regular consumer in mind.
Actually, I think Apple should build a store in Akihabara. There is a pretty strong Apple brand presence in Akiba with the Softmap Apple specialty store, and the various Apple resellers and specialty stores there.
Akiba is being pushed more towards the otaku culture, thanks to AKB and maid cafes. The hardcore tech parts stores are slowly being pushed out, thanks to all the new development in the area, and the shift in focus to the Otaku culture.
You can tell what market Apple is focusing on in Japan with the opening of a store in Omotesando. All major fashion brands and boutiques have their offices and showrooms located either in Omotesando or Minami Aoyama. It's almost a rule in Japan, that if you want to be considered upscale, you need a presence in either one of those locations.
As ongoing customer: agree. The Shibuya store is small and awfully located ... For me always the impression of a narrow side road. Should be closed and moved closer to the big crossing ... A big
Yeah, I hate going to the Shibuya store. Way too crowded. I think an Omotesando store isn't enough, though. Geeze, they're so close! What is it, like one train station away? Expand (or expand and move closer to scramble) Shibuya and make a huge store slightly further away.
I don't think the two stores are much closer than Grand Central (or the Broadway store), to the flagship under 5th in NYC. When it opened, the Shibuya store was placed where it was to sell iPods more than anything else. Now, it just seems like an odd location; and, insufferably crowded.
Being right at the exit of the subway (before the Hills, even) will make this new store a pretty popular spot. Even in non-launch times, the Softbank flagship further up Omotesando is fairly busy. And, it might allow the Shibuya store to get back to focus on its creative market (although, Apple as a rule seems to be forgetting about this as well). Oops... ranting in the wrong thread.
I think it will be where the Bvlgari Store currently is. Last week I got a letter from the store saying they will be closing next month. I am a customer there and was surprised that they will be closing. but their store is on 3 floors with a basement. So it fits.
I think it will be where the Bvlgari Store currently is. Last week I got a letter from the store saying they will be closing next month. I am a customer there and was surprised that they will be closing. but their store is on 3 floors with a basement. So it fits.
No -- the new Apple store is at the other end of the boulevard, just outside the exit of Omotesando Station, near the Ito Hospital. Here's a link from last February with some details. http://ameblo.jp/japanproperties/entry-11450548614.html