The Kumamoto trams started running in 1924 and continue today as a testament to the city’s rich heritage, enduring identity, and commitment to sustainable urban mobility. Connecting neighbourhoods, landmarks and communities, the tramways foster a sense of cohesion. With the rapid modernisation of transit throughout Japan, several similar systems have been replaced with faster services, but Kumamoto’s has remained. What makes it truly special is its blend of historic charm and contemporary efficiency, reflecting the city’s dedication to upgrading existing tram cars rather than replacing them outright. This simultaneous pragmatism and respect for tradition is shared by our Store Design team and longstanding collaborators Marsollier Villacorta LLC, who conceived our space within the Tsuruya department store exactly one hundred years after the Kumamoto trams began. Notably, the A and B lines cross directly in front of the retail centre, providing a literal as well as conceptual way to travel into our understated homage to the unique character of the area’s public transport.
Aesop Kumamoto Tsuruya
Signature store
Opening hours
- Monday10:00am - 7:00pm
- Tuesday10:00am - 7:00pm
- Wednesday10:00am - 7:00pm
- Thursday10:00am - 7:00pm
- Friday10:00am - 7:00pm
- Saturday10:00am - 7:00pm
- Sunday10:00am - 7:00pm
一時的な営業時間の変更や休館等については、恐れ入りますが各商業施設の公式ホームページをご確認ください。
Marsollier Villacorta were particularly taken by the interiors of the 1970s tramcars, which boast almost-garish green, boldly patterned upholstery. Details observed during their visit—pivot hinges and exposed fasteners placed in a specific arrangement; touches of chrome; speakers with a perforated pattern; analogue lighting; suspended mirrors with bevelled corners—were incorporated into an abstract interpretation, a distinct language for Aesop Kumamoto. The site itself presented opposing conditions to that of an enclosed cabin: with a vast void above, 180 degrees of open space, and extremely bright lighting, the spot was originally a stage within an atrium. The architects were able to transform this location into a sanctuary of sorts, maintaining its openness while also creating a feeling of containment. Much like the tramlines through the city, shelving units wind through the store, while custom chrome fixtures inspired by tramway handrails illuminate each product bay. The soft, bevelled edges of the basin and counter echo the tram’s idiosyncratic geometry, welcoming visitors into a space where functionality meets an ethos of repair and authenticity.