station
A bookstore in a station
Tokyo Station - the "front door" of the nation's capital - houses a bewildering assortment of ekiben, or "station lunches," which are a favorite on long train trips. Souvenirs from around the country are on display in the station's many stalls, which are surrounded by fast-food shops and kiosks, stalls offering up to 500 different products in a tiny 15-square-meter space. This is the traditional image of a major train station in Tokyo.

But train and subway stations are places of constant flux, and today this traditional image is giving way to a more business-oriented one. Railway operators are looking to attract a wide range of businesses to their stations. Today you are likely to see convenience stores, supermarkets, bookstores, barbers, and restaurants offering everything from sushi and onigiri rice balls to ramen and soba noodles. Tokyo Station is seeking to attract women consumers with its new facilities, which include an upscale beauty salon, a massage parlor, and even a day-care center. In this way the station is recreating itself as a hub for shoppers and information as well as trains and subways.