吉祥寺中道通りとは

English

Welcome to Kichijoji Nakamichi Shopping Street

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What’s Nakamichi Shopping Street like?

Nakamichi Shopping Street, located in the west of Kichijoji, is a 540-meter-long street of stores with a brick-pavement road. By looking straight, you can get an unobstructed view to the end of the street.

Quite a few unique, stylish shops have recently opened and the street is widely recognized as one of the major shopping streets in Kichijoji, although the atmosphere of a nostalgic old shopping street remains.

The row of shops on Nakamichi Shopping Street form the center of the area; in addition, there are shops on the crossing side roads and Inokashira Street, which runs parallel to Nakamichi Street, all creating a large-scale shopping area.

パルコ前より望む
A view from the entrance of PARCO
中道通り標識
Nakamichi Shopping Street sign
夜の中道通り
Nakamichi Shopping Street in the evening
中道通り
休日の中道通り
Nakamichi Shopping Street on a holiday
雪の中道通り
Nakamichi Shopping Street in the snow
横道も面白い
Sideways are also interesting

The Symbol of Nakamichi Shopping Street

At the very end of Nakamichi Street are Kichijoji Nishi Park and Nakamichi Park. Nakamichi Park is a playground for children and has a fountain.
A big acorn tree in Nishi Park is the icon of Nakamichi Shopping Street, watching over the community and its children. This park is equipped with a disaster prevention facility in addition to creating space for relaxation and refreshment, playing a significant role in the community and serving the residents and visitors.

中道通り
中道通り
中道通り

History of Nakamichi Shopping Street

Nakamichi Shopping Street was originally a farm road. After numerous shops moved to the center of Kichijoji due to the redevelopment project in the 1970s, the foundation of the current shopping district was formed. In the 2000s, the district expanded to the west and the roads were resurfaced (interlocking block pavement) in 2008, making the shopping area lively and easier to walk around. In 2015, surveillance cameras were installed to further ensure the safety and security of the town.

並走する井の頭通り
Inokashira Street is parallel to Nakamichi Shopping Street
1980年代の中道通りとお祭り
Summer festival on Nakamichi Shopping Street in the 1980s
昭和30年頃の旧アーチ
The arch put up around 1955
商店街の旧アーチ
The old arch of the shopping district

Special attractions of Nakamichi Shopping Street throughout the year

Monthly cleanup activity

Volunteer members from the shop association clean the street. It is a great opportunity to strengthen ties between people including the employees at major clothing retailers and residents.

中道通りの風物詩
中道通りの風物詩
中道通りの風物詩
Installation of “Red Chairs”

Anyone can sit on these memorial red chairs arranged all over Kichijoji. They are placed inside/outside of many stores on Nakamichi Shopping Street, providing residents, visitors and merchants with a place to communicate and interact. An event to paint chairs red is occasionally held as part of the main “Red Chair Project.”

「赤い椅子」の設置
「赤い椅子」の設置
Kichijoji Fall Festival

During “Kichijoji Fall Festival” on the second weekend in September every year, a portable shrine unique to Nakamichi Shopping Street parades around the town. The magnificent sight of the portable shrine, enthusiastically carried by young people along Nakamichi Shopping Street, is very well worth seeing.

吉祥寺秋祭り
吉祥寺秋祭り
吉祥寺秋祭り
吉祥寺秋祭り
Candle Night – Heartful Street

Soft flickering candle lights illuminate Nakamichi Shopping Street at dusk in winter. Candle Night has become one of the winter traditions in December and January each year.

キャンドルナイト
キャンドルナイト
キャンドルナイト
キャンドルナイト
キャンドルナイト

(Photos courtesy: Ikuo Suzuki, Laquan Studio/Masatomo Ando/Ryoichi Akimoto, ex-Yoshinoya/Tomoyuki Kubota, Pearls White)