| 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.
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