Today in Japan, Apple previewed the upcoming grand opening of their newest retail store. Located in the city of Kyoto, the store will be the company’s 504th location worldwide and ninth operating in Japan.

Kyoto’s Shijo Street is a commercial and retail center, home to many luxury shops and retailers including the upscale Daimaru department store. Steps from Daimaru is Kyoto’s Zero Gate, a branch of the shopping complex chain owned by retailer Parco. Apple will occupy a large space on the corner of the first floor of the building, which first opened in November 2017. A short distance from the Karasuma train station, the storefront will receive generous foot traffic directly below the Hankyu-Kyoto Line.

Overnight, Apple stripped construction barriers and scaffolding away from the building, revealing an Apple logo teasing the store’s arrival over a curved glass facade. An intricate pattern resembling woven bamboo – a traditional craft in Kyoto, covers the signage. We first saw hints of Apple’s Kyoto store in March, after an interview with retail SVP Angela Ahrendts shed light on Apple’s five-year plan for Japan. In conjunction with the opening of Apple Shinjuku, images on Apple’s retail site – one matching the design of today’s banners – indicated the arrival of two more stores before the end of 2018.

Source: 9to5mac