Samsung opened a new Galaxy store in Tokyo on Tuesday to mark 500 days to go until the 2020 Olympics. The eight-story store is Samsung’s largest Galaxy showcase store yet. Named Galaxy Harajuku, the store will facilitate visitors with Samsung’s cutting-edge mobile technology, as well as a variety of interactive activities.

Japan is preparing to rollout 5G networks ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. And Samsung, being a Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, is exploring ways to expand its foothold in the Japanese market. Samsung has been a Worldwide Olympic Partner for over two decades now. The company signed an extension for another decade last year.

Samsung opens a new flagship store in Tokyo

With the Olympics fast approaching, Samsung has opened a new flagship store in the buzzing streets of Harajuku in Tokyo. The company held a celebration event with officials from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other Olympic partners. DJ Koh, President and CEO of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung, was joined by Timo Lumme, Managing Director of IOC Television and Marketing Services, and Toshiro Muto, the Director General and CEO of the Tokyo Organising Committee for the Olympic, for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The exterior of the store is designed by Japanese designer Tokyujin Yoshioka. The front facade is decorated with over 1,000 Galaxy smartphones that illuminate the otherwise monolithic structure. Orchestrated by what appears to be a series of rotating shelves, the smartphones work together to create an ever-changing pattern of light.

Samsung says the store is designed to express the company’s “vision for the future”. The venue will also be used to introduce new mobile experiences it pursues in the future, the company said.