TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Hitachiota will open on Wednesday, June 24th, in a public-private partnership complex in Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
2026.06.24
Press Releases
Culture Experience Co., Ltd. / Book Ace Co., Ltd.
Culture Experience Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shinichiro Kamaura; hereinafter "CX") and Book Ace Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture; President and CEO: Kosaku Okuno; hereinafter "Book Ace"), a member company of TSUTAYA, opened "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Hitachiota" on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, within a public-private partnership complex being built on the site of the Eastern Land Readjustment Project being undertaken by Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Store Concept: "A place where people and the community connect - bookstores that revitalize the community -"
The Eastern District Land Readjustment Project aims to improve the shopping environment and create jobs by developing commercial and business land using large blocks, while also promoting the settlement of young people and sustainable urban development.
"TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Hitachiota" has adopted the concept of "A place where people and the town connect - bookstores energizing the town" as its core location within the public-private partnership complex.
Beyond its function as a bookstore, we aim to contribute to solving local challenges facing Hitachiota City, such as the declining birthrate, aging population, and population decrease. We will actively develop projects that provide a place where citizens can easily gather and interact, host a variety of events, and promote the charms of the region.
We aim to be a hub for interaction that connects people to people and people to the community, supporting the daily lives of local residents and contributing to the creation of new vibrancy in the area.
Features of "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Hitachiota"
1) Opening a store in the "Hitachiota City Public-Private Partnership Complex"
In addition to our shop, the facility will also house a cafe, which was highly requested by the citizens, and three local restaurants.
A Starbucks Coffee shop has opened in the cafe area. As part of our BOOK & CAFE partnership, you can bring books and magazines you haven't purchased yet into a Starbucks Coffee shop and enjoy a relaxing time while sipping coffee.
Furthermore, the food court within the "Hitachiota City Public-Private Partnership Complex" features a diverse range of local restaurants, offering Italian cuisine, ramen, set meals, sweets, and more. From the food court, you can enjoy a pleasant time while taking in the view of the lawn in front of the facility and the peaceful rural scenery of Hitachiota, along with a delicious meal.
Going forward, we will work in cooperation with each tenant and local organization to create a vibrant community throughout the entire facility, aiming to become a hub for interaction that connects people and the town.
2) The largest selection of books in the region and a wide variety of items
Our store is one of the largest bookstores in the region, stocking approximately 170,000 books. We offer a wide range of genres, from popular bestsellers to specialized books, to meet the diverse needs of children and adults alike. In particular, we have a well-stocked children's book section, offering a wide variety of picture books, children's literature, and study guides.
In addition, Book Ace will be operating a trading card specialty store called "Trading Card Ace" on the premises, offering products and services that can be enjoyed by everyone from beginners to enthusiasts. Furthermore, in addition to operating "AME&KAZE," a select shop featuring carefully chosen food products from Japan and abroad, we also have a general merchandise section that carries cosmetics and a well-stocked stationery section, offering a wide range of products to enrich your daily life.
We will support the enriched lives of local residents through a wide variety of products, primarily books, but also related to food, hobbies, learning, and lifestyle.
3) Event and community functions that foster local interaction
Our store features a study space for students and working adults to use on a daily basis, a kids' space for young children to enjoy, a trading card game area, and a kitchen space that can be used for cooking classes, workshops, and more. In addition, the facility features an artificial turf plaza in front, providing a space where visitors can easily gather and interact. Each space will be designed to be a place where local residents can use it on a daily basis, and will also be used as a venue for various events and community activities, working to promote local interaction and showcase the charm of the region.
■Currently planned events and campaigns
・July 4th (Sat) - September 30th (Wed): Elementary School Reading Marathon in Hitachiota (Collaborative project with Hitachiota City Board of Education)
・July 5th (Sun): Tanabata Festival Event (organized by Hitachiota Rotary Club)
・July 18th (Sat) - 20th (Mon, public holiday): Nontan mascot costume event (hosted by our store*)
・August 2nd (Sun): Cooking event for elementary school students (hosted by our store*)
*Further details will be announced on our official social media accounts and other channels as soon as they are finalized.
4) Initiatives to support families raising children
As part of our efforts to support families raising children, our store will be holding a children's book fair called "A Town That Supports Child-Rearing: Recommended Picture Books," in collaboration with local child-rearing support facilities and related organizations. At this fair, we will be displaying recommended picture books for preschool children, selected by childcare support facilities and related organizations, along with their introductory comments. This resource can be used as a reference when choosing picture books, and it also introduces the activities of various facilities and organizations, aiming to create opportunities to connect parents with local support resources.
Additionally, the store's kids' space will permanently feature a craft corner where children can freely enjoy creative activities, as well as educational toys. The craft corner is equipped with stationery and crafting materials, creating an environment where people can easily enjoy making things.
5) Novelty items featuring Hitachiota City's official mascot character, "Jozuru-san"
As part of our efforts to promote the charm of the local area, our store will be offering original novelty items in collaboration with Hitachiota City's official mascot character, "Jozuru-san."
As a special opening promotion, we have created book covers and bookmarks for paperback books that are inspired by our store's unique "book and cafe" concept. Additionally, we offer original bookmarks featuring the "Jozuru-san" design as a permanent novelty item. Each novelty item will be distributed to customers who purchase paperbacks or other books, with the aim of fostering a deeper sense of attachment to and interest in the local community through reading.
■Store Information
・Store Name｜TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Hitachiota
・Address｜1177 Babacho, Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture 313-0004
・Telephone｜0294-33-9535
・Items Handled｜Books, stationery, miscellaneous goods, cosmetics, food (AME&KAZE), trading cards (Trading Card Ace), games
・Business Hours｜9:00 AM - 10:00 PM (Open all year round)
・Sales Floor Area｜2,019.70 m² (over 610 tsubo)
Documents related to this matter
TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Hitachiota will open on Wednesday, June 24th, in a public-private partnership complex in Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Inquiries regarding this matter
Culture Experience Inc.
Public Relations Office
TEL: 03-6774-7814／MAIL: cx_press@cl-ex.co.jp
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