Echika

Echika is a Japanese commercial facility brand consisting of underground shopping malls (chika-gai) located inside Tokyo Metro stations. It is operated by Metro Properties Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. The brand was created as part of Tokyo Metro's "EKIBEN Project," which aims to make subway stations more convenient and enjoyable. The name "Echika" is a portmanteau of "eki" (station) and "chika" (underground), and the letter "E" is said to stand for "Excellent" and "Exciting," evoking an elegant impression. The Echika brand encompasses two main formats: large-scale commercial facilities under the Echika name, and medium-scale facilities under the Echika fit name. As of August 2026, the large-scale Echika facilities are Echika Omotesando at Omotesando Station in Minato Ward, Tokyo, and Echika Ikebukuro at Ikebukuro Station in Toshima Ward, Tokyo. The medium-scale Echika fit facilities are Echika fit Ueno at Ueno Station in Taito Ward, Echika fit Ginza at Ginza Station in Chuo Ward, Echika fit Tokyo at Tokyo Station (Marunouchi side) in Chiyoda Ward, and Echika fit Nagatacho at Nagatacho Station in Chiyoda Ward. Echika Omotesando opened on December 2, 2005, targeting women in their 20s to 40s with 27 specialty stores spread both inside and outside the ticket gates. With an area of approximately 1,300 square meters, it was the largest commercial facility inside a subway station in Japan at the time. Echika Ikebukuro opened in phases in 2009, with the Fukutoshin Line section opening on March 26 and the Yurakucho Line section on November 27, alongside the adjacent Esola Ikebukuro building. It targets couples in their 20s to 40s with 40 specialty stores and a concept of "Ikebukuro Montparnasse." The Echika fit format includes Echika fit Ueno, which opened on February 20, 2009, with 6 stores; Echika fit Tokyo, which opened on February 20, 2012, with 6 stores; Echika fit Nagatacho, which opened on August 8, 2013, with 6 stores; and Echika fit Ginza, which opened on June 29, 2012, closed in 2019 for station renovation, and reopened on July 22, 2020, with 10 stores. The brand also has a mascot character, "Echika-chan," a white rabbit inspired by the White Rabbit from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, who guides people from the surface to the underground shopping street.

Echika is a chain of underground shopping facilities operated by Metro Properties, a subsidiary of Tokyo Metro. The brand was established as part of Tokyo Metro's "EKIBEN Project," an initiative to make subway stations more convenient and enjoyable. The name "Echika" combines "eki" (station) and "chika" (underground), with the "E" also signifying "Excellent" and "Exciting." The first facility, Echika Omotesando, opened on December 2, 2005, at Omotesando Station. It targeted women in their 20s to 40s and comprised 27 specialty stores, with a total area of approximately 1,300 square meters, making it the largest commercial facility inside a subway station in Japan at the time. On November 1, 2006, "Tossed Salad" opened in the MARCHE DE METRO zone, replacing the existing "Crepe Sucre," which became the first store to leave Echika Omotesando since its opening. The second large facility, Echika Ikebukuro, was announced in March 2007 for a planned opening in December of that year, but the opening was postponed. It eventually opened in two phases: the Fukutoshin Line section on March 26, 2009, and the Yurakucho Line section on November 27, 2009. The adjacent building-style commercial facility "Esola Ikebukuro" opened simultaneously with the Yurakucho Line section. Echika Ikebukuro targets couples in their 20s to 40s with 40 specialty stores and a concept of "Ikebukuro Montparnasse," aiming to blend with the city as a gateway with artistic and cultural flair. The Echika fit format, for medium-scale facilities, began with Echika fit Ueno, which opened on February 20, 2009, with 6 stores. Its history can be traced back to the "Chikatetsu Store" opened by the then Tokyo Underground Railway in 1930, and later became the first Metro Pia station store when Teito Rapid Transit Authority (Eidan) began developing it in 1988. In 2009, it was renovated under the concept "Next Metro Store: Next-generation station-close" to become the current format. Echika fit Tokyo opened on February 20, 2012, with 6 stores, located on the south side of the Marunouchi Line central ticket gate at Tokyo Station, between the Marunouchi Building and the Shin-Marunouchi Building. Echika fit Ginza opened on June 29, 2012, with 10 stores, all outside the ticket gates; it closed in 2019 for station renovation and reopened on July 22, 2020. Echika fit Nagatacho opened on August 8, 2013, with 6 stores, as a food court-style facility in the station concourse. The brand also features a mascot character, "Echika-chan," a white rabbit inspired by the White Rabbit from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. She is depicted as a girl rabbit who guides people from the surface city to the underground shopping street (Echika). The character appears in advertisements and station decorations, and was featured on a Passnet (SF Metro Card) sold to commemorate the opening of Echika. The stuffed animal version of Echika-chan was designed and produced by the artist ToyField, though in the fictional setting she was made by "Aunt Emilia" who can make moving and talking stuffed animals.

• 2020

  Echika fit Ginza reopens on July 22 after renovation.

• 2019

  Echika fit Ginza closes for station renovation.

• 2013

  Echika fit Nagatacho opens on August 8.

• 2012

  Echika fit Tokyo opens on February 20.

• 2012

  Echika fit Ginza opens on June 29.

• 2009

  Echika fit Ueno opens on February 20.

• 2009

  Echika Ikebukuro Fukutoshin Line section opens on March 26.

• 2009

  Echika Ikebukuro Yurakucho Line section and Esola Ikebukuro open on November 27.

• 2007

  Tokyo Metro announces plan to open Echika Ikebukuro in December (later postponed).

• 2006

  Tossed Salad opens in MARCHE DE METRO, replacing Crepe Sucre.

• 2005

  Echika Omotesando grand opening on December 2.

Convenient and enjoyable underground shopping facilities inside Tokyo Metro stations, offering fashion, food, and lifestyle goods for commuters and shoppers.

• Echika Omotesando

  Large-scale underground shopping facility at Omotesando Station, opened 2005, 27 stores, approx. 1,300 m².

• Echika Ikebukuro

  Large-scale underground shopping facility at Ikebukuro Station, opened 2009, 40 stores, approx. 1,400 m².

• Echika fit Ueno

  Medium-scale facility at Ueno Station, opened 2009, 6 stores.

• Echika fit Tokyo

  Medium-scale facility at Tokyo Station, opened 2012, 6 stores.

• Echika fit Ginza

  Medium-scale facility at Ginza Station, opened 2012, reopened 2020, 10 stores.

• Echika fit Nagatacho

  Medium-scale facility at Nagatacho Station, opened 2013, 6 stores.

1. 1Echika・Echika fit web siteechika-echikafit.com
2. 2エチカ (商業施設) - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Echika - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Echika list - Metro Propertiesmetropro-sc.jp
5. 5official_website_homepagemetropro-sc.jp