| Shimokitazawa is a vibrant district that is especially
popular with young people. One corner of Shimokitazawa allows visitors to experience
the atmosphere of the black markets that flourished in Tokyo immediately after
World War II. There, a crisscross of narrow alleyways is home to small shops selling
things like fresh groceries, dried foods, everyday necessities, and clothing.
These alleys are always seething with shoppers.
Most markets like this have long since been redeveloped into supermarkets. The
one in Shimokitazawa is such a rarity that many people come especially to revisit
the atmosphere of the markets they remember from their childhoods.
Just a few steps from this example of living history is a trendy corner of
Tokyo that appears to be populated entirely by young people. What gives Simokitazawa
its unique vibe is the eight theaters concentrated in the area around the station,
which include the Honda Theater
and the Suzunari (site is Japanese only).
Shimokitazawa is a mecca for modern and underground theater and is where many
young directors first reveal their ambitious, challenging works to the world.
This hotbed of creativity has been a springboard to big-stage success for quite
a few theatrical performers. Young people are drawn to the unique vitality of
a place that is at the frontline of the creative arts and could even be described
as the "Off-Off-Broadway" of Tokyo.
Of course, this district has much more to offer besides theaters. The shopping
streets around the station are lined with gourmet restaurants, Japanese-style
pubs, and boutiques stocking the latest cutting-edge fashions. Unlike the crowded
streets of areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya, Shimokitazawa has a relaxed, at home
feel. The young people who flock here from all over the Tokyo region exist in
harmony with the local residents. |
