Japanese lifestyle brand, Muji, will open the doors to its first Australian store at Chadstone Shopping Centre today.

Dubbed “Japan’s answer to Ikea”, the debut store will be open to the public from 12pm.

“Our first Australian store is finally here in Chadstone! The grand opening is 12:00 noon today! The opening ceremony is held in front of the store from 8:15am-9:00am also and everyone is invited,” Muji Australia posted on its Facebook page.

The Australian flagship will be joined by a CBD Melbourne site at CFS Retail’s Emporium by early 2014.

Sydney stores are also in the pipeline, with Muji’s primary expansion focus on the eastern seaboard.

Muji sells homewares, furniture, clothing, health and beauty, and other consumer goods.

It works to a philosophy of “no brand quality goods” and is often compared to Swedish chain, Ikea.

It has more than 600 stores in key markets, such as Europe, the US, and Asia, and is scouting for franchisees in Western Europe.

Muji launched in 1980 with a range of nine household products and 31 foods.

Today it sells more than 5000 products in Japan.