Canal City Hakata, Fukuoka-Shi

Canal City Hakata revolutionized the shopping and entertainment industry in Fukuoka. This multi-level complex basically has everything: dozens of brand-name stores and small shops, many restaurants, a multi-screen movie theatre, a Sega amusement theme park, two hotels, banking facilities, an art theatre, business offices, showrooms, and even regular street performers. In the Sun Plaza, located in the center, some of the performances are by extremely talented professionals and may include acrobats, magicians, or musicians. The architecture incorporates water in many creative ways making the design is as much an attraction as anything else.