Ito-Yokado Opens Japan's Largest LED-Lit Shopping Center

Ito-Yokado Co. opened the doors on a new large shopping center Friday that is equipped with 13,000 LED lights providing some 70% of the total illumination.

The Ario Hashimoto shopping center is equipped with 13,000 LED lights.

The Ario Hashimoto in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, is fitted with more LED lights than any other shopping center in Japan and consumes around half of the electricity it would consume if the facility were illuminated by regular lighting instead. Over the course of a year that will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by some 554 tons.

The Ario Hashimoto is equipped with 1,178 solar panels, which is the most of any shopping center operated by Ito-Yokado. It also has a charger for electric cars.