Department stores typically feature women's clothing on many of their floors, with additional floors of men's and children's clothes, and home furnishings. Basement floors usually house a food department, while the top floors are restaurant floors featuring various types of restaurants like Japanese, Chinese, Western, etc.

The service in a Japanese department store is excellent. Personnel stand ready everywhere in order to help and greet customers. Many elevators are operated by elevator ladies who announce the floors and open and close doors. The goods are beautifully presented, and much care is given to the nice wrapping of purchases.

Department stores are open on Saturdays, Sundays and most national holidays as these are typically the most popular shopping days. Some stores are instead closed on one weekday per week.

Some of the largest department store chains are:

• Mitsukoshi
• Takashimaya
• Isetan
• Seibu
• Daimaru
• Matsuzakaya
• Tobu
• Odakyu
• Tokyu