On August 4, Lawson opened the “Happy Lawson Town Hino-Takahatadai” store (650 Hodokubo, Hino City, Tokyo).
This is the second store nationwide under the “Happy Lawson Town” initiative, which promotes community development and regional revitalization with stores as hubs. While the “Happy Lawson Town Ikeda Fushiodai Store”—which opened earlier in June—was located near a neighborhood of single-family homes, this store is located within the grounds of the UR Takahata-dai Rental Housing Complex and marks the first store of its kind in a multi-unit residential complex.
In conjunction with its launch, the facility is collaborating with KDDI, the Urban Renaissance Agency (UR), and Hino City; in addition to providing remote access to government services and creating community spaces, it will also serve as a disaster relief hub.
For example, the store displays an AI concierge on its digital signage to provide government information and guidance via voice interaction on the procedures for obtaining certificates of residence and full family register certificates (which can be processed at the store’s multi-function copiers), and providing specific support for daily life, such as instructions on how to dispose of bulky waste. In addition, private booths with doors are installed next to the digital signage, allowing residents to consult directly with city officials via video call.
A pilot program is also underway (through the end of November) that connects some residents of the housing complex with local stores via video calls on tablets to assist with shopping, with deliveries made right to their doorsteps. The program provides daily living support to households that have difficulty going out, such as those raising children, caring for family members, or undergoing medical treatment. KDDI is providing the communication infrastructure for these services.
The store was created by renovating and upgrading a facility that had operated as a Lawson Store 100 until June. In addition to the standard products and services offered by a Lawson convenience store, it stocks approximately 90 items—including vegetables, fresh meat, and frozen fish delivered daily from the “Comodi Iida” grocery store (60 fresh produce items, 20 meat items, and 7 frozen fish items). It also features a Quall Pharmacy within the store, selling over-the-counter (OTC) medications, nursing care products, and special dietary foods.
The area just inside the store features a spacious dine-in section that includes a raised seating area, with a total of 26 seats. The store also plans to host health events for seniors, smartphone classes, and hands-on events for children.
Regarding this store layout, Sadanobu Takemasu, President and CEO of Lawson, stated, “Some people might want to lie down in this raised seating area, right? By creating spaces like this, people will be drawn to Lawson—thinking, ‘Let’s just stop by Lawson’ or ‘Let’s take a break at Lawson’—and the store will become a lively, cheerful place filled with smiles.” He expressed his hope that this would foster the formation of new communities centered around the stores.
He also expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “By expanding Happy Lawson Town to the many former ‘new towns’ across the country, we aim to contribute to regional revitalization. We want to create a future where, by providing communities with a sense of connection and convenient living, people—especially the younger generation—will return, occupancy rates will rise, and these towns will become increasingly vibrant.”
Looking ahead, the company is considering initiatives such as establishing facilities for online medical consultations near its stores, utilizing drones for community monitoring, river patrols, and infrastructure inspections, as well as conducting pilot tests for product delivery using delivery robots. There are high hopes for further deepening collaboration with medical facilities, Hino City, KDDI, and others.
© Source travel watch