Canal City Hakata, Shopping center in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
The complex stretches across several blocks with a 590-foot (180-meter) artificial waterway running through its central zone, flanked by multilevel shopping areas and pedestrian paths.
The development opened in April 1996 on the site of a former Kanebo textile factory, transforming abandoned industrial grounds into a retail and leisure destination designed by American architect Jon Jerde.
The multilevel center functions as a gathering spot for young people from Fukuoka and draws visitors with its mix of retail shops, entertainment venues and dining establishments that combine Japanese and international brands under one roof.
Nearly 300 shops operate from 10 AM to 9 PM, with restaurants serving until 11 PM. Direct buses from Hakata Station reach the entrance, or visitors can walk the distance in roughly ten minutes from the station.
An integrated theater hosts regular performances by local and international artists, while the building itself serves as a canvas for nighttime projections that display seasonal themes and artistic installations across exterior walls.
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