I City 21

I City 21 (アイシティ21, "i city 21") is a suburban shopping center located in Yamagata Village, Higashichikuma District, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, near the boundary with Matsumoto City. It is operated by Inoue Co., Ltd. (株式会社井上), a Matsumoto-based department store company whose history reaches back to the Meiji era. The center opened on October 26, 2000, and is anchored by the "Inoue Department Store I City 21 branch" (井上百貨店アイシティ21店), making it notable as the only department store recognized by the Japan Department Stores Association to be located in a village. The facility is an enclosed mall composed of a three-story department store building and a two-story specialty store wing, connected by an atrium mall where events are frequently held. It is a Heart Building Law (ハートビル法) compliant shopping center and includes a heliport adjacent to its parking area, which accommodates roughly 2,000 vehicles. Major tenants include the cinema complex "I City Cinema" (アイシティシネマ), the local supermarket chain Tsuruya's Yamagata store, a Yamada Denki electronics store (formerly Best Denki), and an NHK Culture Center classroom. I City Cinema opened in 2000 with three screens and was expanded to six screens in 2003; it now has 754 seats and introduced MasterImage 3D projection on May 1, 2010. The center is easily reached by car, about 20 minutes from central Matsumoto and about 20 minutes from the Shiojiri-kita Interchange, and is served by several local bus routes including a shuttle to Matsumoto Airport. In 2025, Inoue consolidated its operations: the main Matsumoto station-front store closed on March 31, 2025, and the I City 21 store became the company's principal retail location, with a new "Inoue Satellite Plus" opening near the former main store. I City 21 itself was renewed in 2025. The center remains a key retail and entertainment destination for the Matsumoto area.

The history of I City 21 is tied to Inoue Co., Ltd., a Matsumoto department store company founded in the Meiji era. According to the company's official history, Inoue Gofukuten (井上呉服店) was established in 1885 (Meiji 18) in Matsumoto's Ote 2-chome (Rokku-cho). Over the following decades the business expanded and modernized: it was rebuilt as a modern three-story store in 1936 (Showa 11), incorporated as Inoue Co., Ltd. in 1950 (Showa 25), and installed Nagano Prefecture's first escalator during its first expansion in 1956 (Showa 31). Further expansions followed in the 1960s and 1970s, and in 1979 (Showa 54) the store relocated to its then-current location and introduced a POS system. In the 1980s and 1990s Inoue diversified into suburban formats and new services. It launched the "Inoue Ai System" home delivery business in 1986, opened suburban "Life Inoue" stores in Hotaka (1989) and Suwa (1992), and opened various specialty shops. In 1999 it opened East Boy United and marked the 20th anniversary of its station-front relocation. The decisive step for I City 21 came on October 26, 2000 (Heisei 12), when Inoue opened the suburban shopping center "I City 21" in Yamagata Village, Higashichikuma District, Nagano Prefecture. The center was designed as an enclosed mall with a three-story department store and a two-story specialty store wing linked by an atrium. Its cinema complex, I City Cinema, opened simultaneously with three screens and was expanded to six screens in 2003 (Heisei 15), reaching 754 seats. On May 1, 2010, the cinema introduced MasterImage 3D projection. I City 21 was renewed in 2013 (Heisei 25), when the local supermarket Tsuruya opened within the center. In 2015 (Heisei 27) Inoue celebrated its 130th anniversary. In 2025 (Reiwa 7), Inoue carried out a major consolidation: the main Matsumoto station-front store closed on March 31, 2025, and the I City 21 store became the company's principal department store location. Inoue Satellite Plus opened near the former main store, and I City 21 itself was renewed. Because the Inoue Department Store I City 21 branch is a member of the Japan Department Stores Association, it is regarded as the only department store located in a village in Japan.

• 2025

  Inoue main store closes March 31; operations consolidated into I City 21; I City 21 renewed

• 2013

  I City 21 renewed; Tsuruya supermarket opens (Heisei 25)

• 2010

  I City Cinema introduces MasterImage 3D projection on May 1

• 2003

  I City Cinema expanded to six screens (Heisei 15)

• 2000

  I City 21 opens on October 26 (Heisei 12)

• 1986

  "Inoue Ai System" home delivery business starts (Showa 61)

• 1979

  Store relocates to current location; POS system introduced (Showa 54)

• 1956

  First expansion; Nagano Prefecture's first escalator installed (Showa 31)

• 1950

  Inoue Co., Ltd. established (Showa 25)

• 1885

  Inoue Gofukuten founded in Matsumoto (Meiji 18)

Suburban enclosed shopping center anchored by a regional department store, serving the Matsumoto area with retail, dining, entertainment, and community facilities.

• Inoue Department Store I City 21 branch

• I City Cinema

• Tsuruya Yamagata store

• Yamada Denki Techland I City Matsumoto

• NHK Culture Center Matsumoto I City classroom

1. 1松本井上アイシティ21 公式サイトinouedp.co.jp
2. 2会社概要 | 松本 井上百貨店 アイシティ21<公式サイト>inouedp.co.jp
3. 3アイシティ21 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
4. 4I City 21 - Wikidatawikidata.org