Welcome to Kichijoji Nakamichi Shopping Street
Notice about Translation
The website of Kichijoji Nakamichi Shopping Street uses the Google automatic translation service. Because the translation is done by an automatic machine system, the translation may not always be accurate.
Please keep this in mind when you see translated web pages.Especially, please be careful about the following two points:
- Proper names may not always be accurately translated.
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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.
A view from the entrance of PARCO
Nakamichi Shopping Street sign
Nakamichi Shopping Street in the evening
Nakamichi Shopping Street on a holiday
Nakamichi Shopping Street in the snow
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.
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.
Inokashira Street is parallel to Nakamichi Shopping Street
Summer festival on Nakamichi Shopping Street in the 1980s
The arch put up around 1955
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.
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.”
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.
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.
(Photos courtesy: Ikuo Suzuki, Laquan Studio/Masatomo Ando/Ryoichi Akimoto, ex-Yoshinoya/Tomoyuki Kubota, Pearls White)