Local News

The Kyushu branch of the Development Bank of Japan released the results of its survey into the effect of the new JR Hakata Station building on local shopping patterns. The survey showed there was a sharp increase in the frequency of shoppers going to the Hakata area to shop, and a relative decline in the importance of the Tenjin district, Kyushu’s largest shopping area. While 75% of the survey respondents said they frequently went to Tenjin, compared to 25% for Hakata, those who said they went to Hakata for shopping more than once a month rose from 34.0% before the station facility opened to 51.5% after it opened.