Must Visit Shotengai Shopping Streets in Japan

Kichijoji Sunroad

Kichijoji’s Sunroad stretches from the north exit of the station towards the northern suburbs, in the opposite direction to Inokashira park. Sunroad opened in the 1970s and has been a mainstay for locals needed to pick up any necessity. It is filled with both local and commercial stores and restaurants, where you can buy cheap groceries, clothing, used electronics, and much more. Sunroad is also convenient for grabbing a quick lunch or drinks after work. Most of the second floors house izakayas or cafes, making it easy to pick up household goods and meet a friend directly afterwards. Sunroad is in the main shopping district, next to a Coppice mall and a few minutes from the Tokyu department store and a seven-floor Uniqlo. Visitors will also see a queue for Satou, a famous meat shop next to Sunroad. Late at night, the closed storefronts begin to fill with university students drinking and partying and young musicians busking for some extra cash.

Koenji’s Pal Street

Starting from the south exit of Koenji station, Koenji’s Pal Street houses not only stores selling household necessities and restaurants serving cheap lunches but also some of the vintage stores the town is best known for. While some of the secondhand stores in Koenji can sneak into boutique pricing, the stores on Pal Street truly represent the best thrift stores. In addition to the vintage stores, shoppers can find the ubiquitous household goods and produce stores that are necessary for day-to-day living. Pal Street makes it easy for shoppers to pick up a fun secondhand outfit in one store and grab groceries in the neighboring shop.

Osaka’s Tenjinbashisuji

Tenjinbashisuji in Osaka is one of Japan’s longest shotengais, at 2.6 kilometers. Tenjinbashisuji has a history as long as its street. It was originally constructed in the Meiji era to provide commercial enterprises for the locals living in the area. The shotengai is still running strong, with over 600 establishments. This shopping district differs from its more famous neighbors Namba or Tennoji. Tenjinbashisuji has more of a community and casual vibe, with locals shopping for their daily groceries rather than tourists scouting out international brands. There are also plenty of cafes, izakayas, and eateries, perfect places to watch shoppers go about their daily lives. The shotengai is also home to the Tenjin summer festival, during which food stalls and games replace the storefronts for a couple of days.

Sendai’s Clis Road and Sun Mall

The covered shopping arcades of Clis Road and Sun Road run from JR Sendai station to central Sendai itself. Clis Road starts from the central west exit of Sendai station and crosses Sun Mall a little ways in. Clis Road and Sun Mall both offer the same necessities that all shotengais have, in addition to higher class and specialty stores. The road is a combination of a typical humble shotengai and an American shopping mall. The road is long and covered, the perfect place to spend a rainy day.

Takamatsu’s Tamachi

There is no shortage of shotengais in Takamatsu. Competing with Osaka’s Tenjinbashisuji, Tamachi is a 2.7 kilometer long shopping arcade combining cheap eateries and stores on the southside and designer clothing stores on the newly redeveloped north end. Tamachi is one of the oldest shopping arcades in Japan. It opened in the Edo period and became the focal point for business in all of Takamatsu. Nowadays, shoppers can visit Tamachi to purchase both lavish goods and economical electronics and groceries.

Kichijoji Sun Road Shopping street Shinko Union

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Tokyo Musashino-shi Kichijoji Honcho 1-chome 12-1

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高円寺パル商店街

東京都杉並区

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Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street

Osaka Osakashi Kita-ku Tenjimbashi

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クリスロード商店街

宮城県仙台市青葉区

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