Pieri Moriyama

Pieri Moriyama (ピエリ守山, Pieri MORIYAMA) is a large shopping mall located in Imahama-cho, Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, on the shore of Lake Biwa. It is one of the largest shopping centers in Shiga Prefecture. The facility is designed with an almost entirely white exterior intended to resemble a luxury cruise ship, and its original concept was 'a day spent cruising, surrounded by rich nature.' Its official name at the time of its closure for renovation was 'Biwako Cruising Mall Pieri Moriyama' (琵琶湖クルージングモール ピエリ守山). The mall was jointly developed by Yamato System and Oumi Toshi Kaihatsu on the site of the former Biwako Wanwan Kingdom, which had been operated by an Itochu-affiliated company from October 1998 to January 2005. The site was acquired in December 2006, designed by Ruikei Sekkei and built by Obayashi Corporation, with construction starting in November 2007. It opened provisionally on September 18, 2008, and formally on September 20, 2008, with about 200 specialty stores and core tenants including the food supermarket Valor, the sporting goods store Himalaya, and the shoe retailer ABC-Mart. At opening, the mall targeted roughly 9 million annual visitors and about 18 billion yen in annual sales. After opening, the mall suffered from the global financial crisis and competition from nearby large commercial facilities. Store numbers fell from about 200 at opening to about 70 by March 2012 and to just 4 by November 2013. Despite lights and escalators still operating, most store spaces became vacant, and the desolate 'dead mall' atmosphere became an internet topic, earning nicknames such as 'bright ruins,' 'living ruins,' and 'neo-ruins.' Ownership changed several times: Yamato System operated it until March 2012, when it was sold to kodo.cc; in August 2013 Milestone Turnaround Management acquired the operating company's shares, later transferring them to Samty. The mall closed entirely on February 28, 2014, for a full renovation and reopened on December 17, 2014, under the operation of Sojitz Commercial Development. After reopening, tenant numbers recovered to about 110 within a year, and the mall regained vitality with live events drawing around 3,000 people. In September 2015, a tax-free counter for foreign tourists was installed. As of February 2020, fast-fashion brands such as H&M, ZARA, GAP, Bershka, and Stradivarius were tenants, alongside experiential facilities including Biwako Sky Adventure and the super sento 'Suifu.' In November 2018, Sojitz Commercial Development acquired the real estate trust beneficiary rights from Ambient Garden Moriyama, a Samty consolidated subsidiary. The mall continues to operate as 'Lake & Happy Side Mall Pieri Moriyama.'

Pieri Moriyama stands on the site of the former Biwako Wanwan Kingdom, an animal-themed facility operated by an Itochu-affiliated company from October 1998 to January 2005. In December 2006, Yamato System and Oumi Toshi Kaihatsu acquired the site. The project was designed by Ruikei Sekkei and constructed by Obayashi Corporation, with building work starting in November 2007. During planning and construction, the provisional name was 'Biwako Moriyama Resort Shopping Center,' and the concept was 'a day spent cruising, surrounded by rich nature.' The mall opened provisionally on September 18, 2008, and formally on September 20, 2008, as a facility operated solely by Yamato System. At opening it had about 200 specialty stores, with core tenants including the food supermarket Valor, the sporting goods store Himalaya, and the shoe retailer ABC-Mart. The opening target was approximately 9 million annual visitors and about 18 billion yen in annual sales. Its opening kicked off a wave of large-scale retail openings in the southern Shiga area, with Aeon Mall Kusatsu and Foreo Otsu Ichiriyama opening about two months later. Around the time of opening, the global financial crisis (Lehman Shock) occurred. The planned sale of the mall was postponed and then cancelled, which contributed to Yamato System's bankruptcy in October 2010. Store numbers declined sharply due to the worsening economy and competition from surrounding large commercial facilities that opened or expanded. From about 200 stores at opening, the count fell to about 70 by March 2012 and about 60 by February 2013. After Sanmaruku Cafe and Aqua Name closed on September 23, 2013, only 8 stores remained; by November 4, 2013, only 4 stores were left. Many tenants that had been present at opening, including Valor, Daiso, and Muji, closed. Although lighting remained bright and escalators and other equipment continued to operate, most store spaces became vacant and shoppers were few. The desolate 'dead mall' state became an internet topic, and the mall was nicknamed 'bright ruins,' 'living ruins,' and 'neo-ruins.' In January 2012, Yamato System, which had applied for civil rehabilitation in 2010, sold Pieri Moriyama to kodo.cc, a company based in Mie Prefecture. kodo.cc considered renovating the facility and attracting a supermarket and home center, and in February 2013 announced that the home center Ayahadio and the food supermarket Happy Terrace would open in early summer of that year. However, a September 2013 J-CAST report revealed that a final contract was not reached and the openings were cancelled. On September 25, 2013, Milestone Turnaround Management announced it had acquired shares in Pieri Partners, the mall's operating company, and stated it would 'revitalize Pieri Moriyama as an attractive commercial facility.' On the same day, Milestone Turnaround Management and Samty announced they would invest in Ambient Garden Moriyama, which would operate the asset. According to reports on October 2-3, 2013, the plan was to reopen in late 2014 or early 2015 as a shopping center with 100 to 200 stores, and tenant recruitment was underway. For the autumn 2014 renovation opening, areas other than the passageways leading to a few still-operating stores were closed, shifting to partial operation, and on February 28, 2014, all stores closed and renovation work began. In May 2014, popular fashion brands such as ZARA and Bershka began recruiting for 'Pieri Moriyama stores.' Milestone Turnaround Management later transferred all of its investment in Ambient Garden Moriyama to Samty, making Samty the sole investor, and it was decided that Sojitz Commercial Development would ultimately become the operating company, with reopening set for December 17, 2014. One year after the renovation reopening, the tenant count had reached 110 stores, and live-style events attracted about 3,000 people, showing that the mall had regained liveliness. In September 2015, a consumption tax exemption procedure counter was installed inside the mall to attract foreign tourists and increase spending. On November 30, 2018, Sojitz Commercial Development acquired the real estate trust beneficiary rights from the limited liability company Ambient Garden Moriyama, a Samty consolidated subsidiary. As of February 2020, fast-fashion leaders such as H&M, ZARA, GAP, Bershka, and Stradivarius were tenants, and a tax-free counter for inbound tourists was installed. In addition, experiential facilities such as 'Biwako Sky Adventure' and the super sento 'Suifu' opened, making the mall popular with families from inside and outside the prefecture. On July 29, 2024, the preparation office for Shiga Prefecture's new baseball team (later SHIGA HIJUMPS) was established in the 2F jump studio.

• Yamato System and Oumi Toshi Kaihatsu acquired the former Biwako Wanwan Kingdom site

• Building construction started by Obayashi Corporation

• Provisional opening (pre-open)

• Formal opening (Phase 1) with about 200 specialty stores

• Sold to kodo.cc

• Milestone Turnaround Management acquired shares of the operating company

• Partial operation began; areas other than passageways to 3 remaining stores closed

• All stores closed for renovation

• Reopened after full renovation under Sojitz Commercial Development

• Biwako Sky Adventure (paid outdoor athletic facility) opened

• Consumption tax exemption procedure counter installed

• Sojitz Commercial Development acquired real estate trust beneficiary rights from Ambient Garden Moriyama

• Shiga Prefecture's new baseball team preparation office (later SHIGA HIJUMPS) established in the 2F jump studio

A large lakeside shopping and leisure destination in Shiga Prefecture, positioned as a family-oriented mall with fast fashion, dining, and experiential facilities, and known for its cruise-ship design and revival story.

• Fashion and fashion goods

• Lifestyle goods

• Groceries

• Food and dining

• Amusement and experiential facilities

• Limited-time shops

• Pieri Card

1. 1レイク&ハッピーサイドモール PIERI（ピエリ）守山｜滋賀県守山琵琶湖沿いショッピングモールpieri.sc
2. 2ピエリ守山 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Pieri Moriyama - Wikidatawikidata.org