The encyclopedia · Strategy & Leadership · Strategic decision · 2010–2026
H&M's Dotonbori flagship bows out — 16 years opposite the Glico sign
Kansai's first H&M, opened 2010 as the chain's world 2,000th store, closes its Dotonbori flagship on July 26, 2026 — H&M now has no store in Minami.
Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) · 2026-07-26
What happened
H&M arrived in Kansai on 6 March 2010 with a store in the RAZ Shinsaibashi building on the former KPO Kirin Plaza Osaka site — the chain's 2,000th store in the world. The Ebisubashi-area presence shifted between two facing buildings over the years and settled into its final form in September 2019: a flagship of about 900 square metres over three floors on the Dotonbori canal, directly opposite the Glico Running Man sign, and one of the most photographed retail corners in Osaka.
The closure was announced through the official app: 26 July 2026 would be the last day. The nearby Shinsaibashi store had already closed in 2024, so the Ebisubashi exit leaves H&M with no store in the Minami shopping district at all — the district where its Kansai story began. Within Osaka city only the Umeda store remains; six stores survive across Osaka prefecture.
The decision fits the group's global pattern. H&M reported a net reduction of 128 stores in the year to May 2026, part of a restructuring under CEO Daniel Ervér that has closed more than 600 stores worldwide since 2022, framed as an 'omni-channel' shift away from unprofitable physical space toward the app and online sales, with Shein and Temu pressure accelerating the rethink. Dotonbori riverbank rents are the highest in Osaka, and the store's own closure notice gave no individual reason.
Why it happened
- The 2010 flagship was a market-entry statement; sixteen years on, Dotonbori rent buys visibility rather than profit for a 900-square-metre fashion floor.
- Omni-channel optimisation grades stores on contribution, and even Osaka's most photographed corner is not exempt.
- Shinsaibashi went in 2024; Ebisubashi's exit completes the retreat from the district where H&M launched in Kansai.
The lesson
H&M opened its world 2,000th store in Osaka in 2010 to say it had arrived; 16 years later global optimization and Dotonbori's rent closed the flagship, and H&M has no store left in Minami.
Aftermath
The Dotonbori riverbank site, a prime spot, awaits a successor tenant as the district's tenant mix tilts further toward food, drugstores and entertainment. H&M keeps six Osaka prefecture stores — Umeda, LaLaport EXPOCITY, LaLaport Kadoma, Linoas Yao, LaLaport Sakai and LaLaport Izumi — while the group continues its store-network restructuring.
Sources
- 都市商業研究所 (Urban Commerce Research) — "H&M Ebisubashi store to close 26 July 2026 — Kansai first-store flagship in Dotonbori; only one store left in Osaka city", 4 July 2026 (opened March 2010; H&M's first store in Kansai and Kansai flagship; floors 1–3, sales area about 900 square metres; closes 26 July 2026; within Osaka city only H&M Umeda store remains; prime Dotonbori riverside site's future use watched)
- Daily Sports online — "First store in Kansai… Dotonbori 'H&M' to close in July; which Osaka stores remain?", 2 July 2026 (entered Kansai as region's first store in 2010; about 900 square metres over three floors; locals and overseas visitors; originally two H&M stores in Minami area but Shinsaibashi store closed 2024; closure announced via official app; after Ebisubashi closes, only Umeda and Kadoma stores remain in Osaka)
- Go Dotonbori News — "End of the canal era: Kansai's first H&M closes on 26 July", July 2026 (opened March 2010 as first H&M in Kansai region; 16 years in Ebisubashi building directly opposite Glico Running Man sign; one of Osaka's most photographed retail corners; fully closes 26 July 2026; H&M Group reported net reduction of 128 stores in year to end-May 2026, part of multi-year restructuring under CEO Daniel Ervér closing more than 600 stores worldwide since 2022; cuts framed as 'omni-channel' transition closing unprofitable physical stores to strengthen app and online sales; Shein and Temu pressure accelerating rethink; Dotonbori riverbank rents highest in Osaka and 900-square-metre fashion store no longer profitable against what restaurants can pay; H&M left with no store in Minami shopping area)
- Re-urbanization (再都市化) — "H&M Ebisubashi store to close 26 July — curtain falls on 16 years of Dotonbori, from the 'world 2,000th store'", July 2026 (H&M's Kansai entry 6 March 2010 opened as world cumulative 2,000th store commemorative shop in RAZ Shinsaibashi building on former KPO Kirin Plaza Osaka site; refreshed to current store form September 2019; closing store inherits the first store's history; closure notice gave no individual reason; six stores remain in Osaka prefecture — Umeda, LaLaport EXPOCITY, LaLaport Kadoma, Linoas Yao, LaLaport Sakai, LaLaport Izumi)
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