Hanshin Intercontinental Shopping Plaza Opens, Mayor Lu Shiow-yen Recommends 'Lens-kun' to Disperse Crowds
The "Hanshin Intercontinental Shopping Plaza," a joint investment by Hanshin Department Store and Taiwan Life, has opened in Taichung City. Mayor Lu Shiow-yen emphasized Taichung's profitability for department stores and recommended the smart traffic service "Hanshin Intercontinental Lens-kun" to manage traffic. With a total investment of NT$12 billion and 66,000 pings of area, it features over 500 brands, aiming for NT$7 billion in sales in its first year and NT$20 billion in the future.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 17:24
- 🔍 Collected: April 10, 2026 at 18:00 (36 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 21:48 (123h 48m after Collected)
The "Hanshin Intercontinental Shopping Plaza," a joint strategic investment exceeding NT$12 billion by Hanshin Department Store and Taiwan Life, opened today. Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, Kuo Yang Group founder Hou Hsi-feng, Kuo Yang Group CEO and Hanshin Department Store Chairman Hou Chia-chi, Taiwan Life Chairman Hsu Shu-po, Hanshin Department Store General Manager Yosuke Minamino, and KMT Legislator Huang Chien-hao attended the opening ceremony.
Mayor Lu Shiow-yen stated in her speech that Taichung City's commerce and industry are prosperous, attracting many department stores because each is highly profitable. For example, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taichung Store and Far Eastern Department Stores Taichung are the most profitable branches within their respective groups, and Costco's global top-performing store is also in Taichung. She thanked everyone for investing in and being optimistic about Taichung.
Regarding potential traffic issues after the Hanshin Intercontinental Shopping Plaza's operation, Lu Shiow-yen said that Hanshin has fulfilled its social responsibility by deploying many staff for traffic guidance. The city government has also implemented many dispatching plans and launched the smart traffic service "Hanshin Intercontinental Lens-kun," which integrates real-time images and a traffic information platform. People can use Lens-kun to check if surrounding roads are congested and see nearby parking availability, allowing them to choose their visiting time and disperse crowds.
Yosuke Minamino explained that Hanshin Intercontinental is a new shopping complex combining a department store and a mall, with a total investment of NT$12 billion and a total area of 66,000 pings. It has introduced over 500 brands, with 470 brands opening on the first day, an opening rate of about 95%. The projected first-year sales target for 2026 is NT$7 billion, and the 2027 sales target is NT$10 billion, with a future goal of NT$20 billion.
Yosuke Minamino stated that Hanshin Intercontinental combines international boutiques, beauty and fragrance, Japanese and Korean trends, home appliances, and diverse dining options. It also introduces a cinema and activity experiences, such as the 6th-floor Glazed Garden and the first-ever urban high-altitude overnight camping experience, leveraging the advantages of the Intercontinental Baseball Stadium to create a living area where visitors can stay all day, offering a new consumer experience different from traditional department stores. (Editor: Chen Jen-hua) April 10, 2026
Mayor Lu Shiow-yen stated in her speech that Taichung City's commerce and industry are prosperous, attracting many department stores because each is highly profitable. For example, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taichung Store and Far Eastern Department Stores Taichung are the most profitable branches within their respective groups, and Costco's global top-performing store is also in Taichung. She thanked everyone for investing in and being optimistic about Taichung.
Regarding potential traffic issues after the Hanshin Intercontinental Shopping Plaza's operation, Lu Shiow-yen said that Hanshin has fulfilled its social responsibility by deploying many staff for traffic guidance. The city government has also implemented many dispatching plans and launched the smart traffic service "Hanshin Intercontinental Lens-kun," which integrates real-time images and a traffic information platform. People can use Lens-kun to check if surrounding roads are congested and see nearby parking availability, allowing them to choose their visiting time and disperse crowds.
Yosuke Minamino explained that Hanshin Intercontinental is a new shopping complex combining a department store and a mall, with a total investment of NT$12 billion and a total area of 66,000 pings. It has introduced over 500 brands, with 470 brands opening on the first day, an opening rate of about 95%. The projected first-year sales target for 2026 is NT$7 billion, and the 2027 sales target is NT$10 billion, with a future goal of NT$20 billion.
Yosuke Minamino stated that Hanshin Intercontinental combines international boutiques, beauty and fragrance, Japanese and Korean trends, home appliances, and diverse dining options. It also introduces a cinema and activity experiences, such as the 6th-floor Glazed Garden and the first-ever urban high-altitude overnight camping experience, leveraging the advantages of the Intercontinental Baseball Stadium to create a living area where visitors can stay all day, offering a new consumer experience different from traditional department stores. (Editor: Chen Jen-hua) April 10, 2026
FAQ
Where did the Hanshin Intercontinental Shopping Plaza open?
It opened in Taichung City.
What service was introduced to address traffic issues?
The smart traffic service "Hanshin Intercontinental Lens-kun" was introduced.