Geographical Dimension of E-commerce Logistics Facilities in Tokyo Metropolitan Region, Japan

抄録

The emergence of E-commerce gives rise to new forms of logistics facilities, commonly known as fulfilment centres. Although the spatial effects of online trading widely discussed in academic literature, the geography of these typologies blurred within the logistics and retail sectors. This study describes the geographical distribution pattern of different types of e-commerce logistics facilities in the Tokyo region, Japan and compares the pattern with contemporary trends in retail and logistics in the region. It draws on the spatial analysis of geo-referenced location data obtained from four firms operate fulfilment facilities in Tokyo. The findings indicate the importance of accessibility to expressways for pure online retailers locate at low-density areas while omnichannel retailers are exploiting the advantage of stores at high-density regions. The characteristics discussed in the paper will enhance the understanding of the logistics facility location in an e-commerce environment.