This paper focuses on the Tenmaya department store in Okayama city and the Darumaya department store in Fukui city, describing the characteristics of the locations, the exteriors of the buildings, and the background of the surrounding cityscapes when the stores first opened for business. Tenmaya opened in a part of Okayama that had been a commercial district since the Edo period. Darumaya was established on the site of the former prefectural office across from Fukui Station. Tenmaya's display windows gave it a modern appearance, while Darumaya was housed in a low-rise building that had an accessible feel for shoppers.
