The number of commercial buildings with a wide variety of shops began increasing gradually in Japan from around 1990 and in the early 2000s, increasingly larger commercial complexes were developed one after another. Especially in Tokyo, commercial complexes tend to be developed inside a train station when the station is renovated, or created as a new tourist spot. The number of the facilities is still increasing.

A typical commercial complex has a shopping zone with designer brand stores and stores selling miscellaneous goods and a restaurant zone. Recently developed facilities often have multiple screen cinemas. Some facilities even have spa facilities such as hot spring baths, bedrock baths and saunas. Tall tower commercial complexes often have office and residential floors in addition to shopping and restaurant floors.

Like Shibuya Hikarie in Shibuya, Tokyo, some commercial complexes are directly connected to a train station. Some commercial complexes are located in famous sightseeing areas such as Tokyo Skytree (R) and Tokyo Dome. The famous commercial complexes, Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown, are both in Roppongi. Garden Place, which was built on the site of a former factory in Yebisu, Tokyo is also popular.