New Mall Opens in Taiwan! '2,300-Ping Space, 50 Brands' Conveniently Located at Transit Station, Visitors Praise: Rich in Dining, Entertainment, and Unique Shopping Experience

The underground commercial space 'Kaohsiung Eki Ichiban Street' at Kaohsiung MRT's Kaohsiung Station recently held its grand opening ceremony for the northern section. Following the successful trial launch of the southern section in 2023, the new 1,300-ping northern area has now officially commenced operations, linking both zones into a combined 2,300-ping anime-themed space featuring over 50 anime and dining brands. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai personally attended the event, and the Kaohsiung MRT Company revealed that daily ridership growth during the trial period ranked highest among all stations, demonstrating strong commercial performance.

New mall in Kaohsiung opens on July 18! 2,300 ping of fully connected north-south space, with 50 brands including animate and Muse Moshihwa moving in.

The 997-ping southern section of 'Kaohsiung Eki Ichiban Street' opened in 2023, successfully infusing the station with anime culture. After six months of trial operation, the 1,300-ping northern commercial space officially opened in July.

With both sections now fully connected, the mall features popular anime merchandise stores such as MUSE Moshihwa, Zhen Guang Toys, animate, and Pig Hat Models, as well as specialty dining outlets like Hu Hu Tea and KAMI CAFÉ. During the opening ceremony, Mayor Chen Chi-mai took photos with popular anime characters including 'Hatsune Miku' and the Kaohsiung MRT mascot 'Station Master Mikan,' quoting the classic line from 'Saint Seiya': 'Burn, my cosmos!'—expressing his hope that Kaohsiung Station will become a stage where anime fans can relive their youth and fulfill their dreams.

Themed mall drives ridership! Kaohsiung Station sees highest growth across the entire MRT network

Kaohsiung MRT Company Chairman Yang Yue-kun stated that themed commercial spaces effectively create a magnetic effect. During the trial operation of the northern section, the average daily ridership at Kaohsiung Station increased by 1,075 passengers compared to the same period last year—the highest growth rate among all Kaohsiung MRT stations—and total ridership now ranks second only to Zuoying Station, a major high-speed rail transfer hub.

The company explained that 'Kaohsiung Eki Ichiban Street' centers on ACG (Animation, Comics, Games) culture, bringing together over 50 brands focused on anime, specialty dining, and lifestyle entertainment. It aims to create a new urban hub that combines transportation convenience with youth-oriented cultural experiences, allowing travelers and residents to begin a fresh city exploration the moment they step off the train. The goal is to establish southern Taiwan’s representative anime cultural hub, transforming Kaohsiung Station from a transportation node into a new urban landmark integrating commerce, culture, and tourism, continuously attracting foot traffic and revitalizing the surrounding business district.

Taiwan Railways mall to open in 2028! Legislators urge creation of anime-themed underground passage to connect surrounding areas

In addition to the MRT underground mall driving foot traffic, Taiwan Railways has awarded the commercial building on the west side of the station to the Crown Group, scheduled to open in 2028 (Minguo Year 117).

· Suggestions for commercial district expansion: Kaohsiung City Councilor Tang Yung-yu hopes the Taiwan Railways commercial space can replicate the MRT’s success by establishing a distinct theme. She also suggests that the city government assist in building footbridges or underground passages to extend youth traffic to surrounding areas such as Changming, Houyi, Zhongshan Road, and Shin Kuchiwa.

· Signage system improvements: Councilor Cheng Meng-ju pointed out that as a major transportation hub in southern Taiwan—with future high-speed rail access—Kaohsiung Station’s current signage system still has room for improvement. The Kaohsiung MRT Company responded that a comprehensive lightbox guidance system is already in place and will continue to review and enhance directional assistance measures.

User reviews: Full of dining, entertainment, and shopping—rich, unique, and truly enjoyable

Actual Google reviews state: 'The underground street at Kaohsiung’s new station is now really fun to explore, especially the long anime street on B3. Anime fans must visit Animate and Muse Moshihwa—the merchandise and gachapon are very rich. Note that most anime stores open after 11 a.m. B2 has shops, restaurants, and a food court, with many tasty options like the Japanese-run Menya Takahashi, Malaysian-style Bak Kut Teh, and Huada Milk Tea. Overall, this Inkfan Mall at Kaohsiung Station replicates the success of Formosa Boulevard Station. With the new station in use, foot traffic is gradually increasing, and future development around the station looks promising.'

'Kaohsiung Railway Station’s underground street is divided into north and south sections, connected on B3, with dining and文创 stalls on B2. Though much smaller than Taipei’s, it’s still enjoyable, especially for southern residents wanting to explore underground shopping and anime goods.'

'The stamp collection event for Conan posters had very friendly staff, and the layout was well-planned. The entire event and mall design were fantastic—highly recommended!'

'Great location—right after exiting the MRT at Kaohsiung TRA station. Anime fans will go wild.'

'Some dining tenants have moved in, though not fully occupied yet. Looking forward to more stores joining to make it even better. This is a great destination for young people and anime fans, with very rich and distinctive stores.'

'Kaohsiung Station’s underground mall is great to explore in summer with air conditioning, and it’s super convenient via MRT.'

Q1: Where is 'Kaohsiung Eki Ichiban Street' located? A: Located in the underground commercial space of Kaohsiung MRT’s Kaohsiung Station, with the north and south sections connected, totaling 2,300 ping.

Q2: Which well-known brands have entered the underground mall at Kaohsiung Station? A: Includes anime and model brands such as MUSE Moshihwa, animate, Zhen Guang Toys, and Pig Hat Models, as well as dining brands like Hu Hu Tea and KAMI CAFÉ—over 50 stores in total.

Q3: Besides the MRT underground mall, what future development plans does Kaohsiung Station have? A: The commercial building on the west side of the station has been awarded to the Crown Group and is scheduled to open in Minguo Year 117 (2028).

Source: Kaohsiung City Government Global Information Network