To effectively use the space in Japan's urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, facilities are built under elevated structures. These spots are filled with appealing shops, and their popularity has been growing recently, with many foreign visitors too checking them out. Let's all take a look at the scene under elevated railways and roads, which varies from street to street!

Relaxing Spaces for Japanese Business People – What is "Under-the-Tracks Culture"?

Why has the space under elevated structures been developed, one spot after another, in urban areas in Japan? One reason lies in the land area. Because urban areas have large populations on not much land, facilities and warehouses have traditionally been built under elevated structures to effectively use the limited space. The disadvantage of this space underneath is that it tends be dark and depressing if left undeveloped. To avoid this impression, the railway and expressway companies that own the land have worked to develop the space under elevated structures so that the surrounding areas flourish and thrive as much as possible.

In 1920, eateries were built under an elevated railway for the first time in Japan. The site was Yurakucho, one of the busiest downtown areas in Tokyo. Since then, more and more spots under the tracks have been developed, one after another. A common characteristic of eateries under elevated railways and roads is that they are all compact, each with a capacity of only about 10 people. They serve familiar Japanese dishes at reasonable prices, such as yakitori, which is bite-sized pieces of grilled chicken and vegetables on a skewer, and oden, which consists of vegetables and meat stewed in a soy sauce-flavored broth. These eating places under the tracks are popular places for business people to have a drink and unwind and refresh themselves after a day at work. Recently, they have also been popular among foreign visitors to Japan because they find the old-fashioned appearance and friendly service to be "unique to Japan and interesting."

Industries Passed Down for Over 100 Years at Establishments under Elevated Railways

The establishments under elevated structures include not just the traditional taverns where business people get together. Let's take a look at spots that tell the history of local industries. They exist for the purpose of passing down the respective industry of their areas.

One such spot opened near Okachimachi Station in Tokyo in 2011 with the concept of "Japanese monozukuri" (process of making or creating things). The area used to have many studios for artisans of traditional crafts, such as glassware and leather goods. There was demand for this precious industry to continue, unbroken over time, and for a place where artisans can communicate directly with customers. Spurred on by this desire, the conversion of a parking lot and warehouse space under an elevated railway brought together craft shops with attached studios into one facility. The space was reborn as a place where shoppers can look for their favorite goods while getting an up-close look at the careful work of artisans.

A contrasting spot is a place that used to be a fruit and vegetable market and was later revitalized as a place to go for food culture. The facility was built near Akihabara Station in Tokyo, and it handles orders for select food by buyers from all over Japan. After the fruit and vegetable market moved and the front of Akihabara Station was redeveloped, the area was about to lose all traces of the food district that it used to be. However, this local industry was successfully brought into the modern era by the effective utilization of the space under an elevated railway.

Fashionable Leaders: Culture Spreading from Spots under Elevated Railways and Roads!

Next, let's take a look at some much-talked-about spots under elevated railways as vanguards of modern culture. In Tokyo, a shopping arcade under elevated railway tracks was built in Nakameguro, a town that young people find popular with its fashionable boutiques and cafes here and there. Stretching out a total length of 700 meters, the arcade's extensive space accommodates nearly 30 shops including stylish restaurants, a boutique, a flower shop and a bookshop. In the open terrace set up along the river running near this spot, visitors can enjoy cherry blossoms in full bloom in spring.

Another spot under an elevated road was created near Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. It is a spot that carries the essence of the big city of Shinjuku, where people of various nationalities come and go. The food court is crammed with small restaurants like food stalls and decorated with pinks, yellows and other vivid colors. Exciting events, such as live performances by young artists and exhibitions of works in the gallery, take place daily. The spot has a unique atmosphere akin to a mix of cultures from various countries, which may have visitors feeling as though they are wandering off into another dimension when they step into the space.

Some spots tell a story of what the town was like, and others show the spread of modern culture. Both fully show the uniqueness of Japan, and visitors will never be bored there. Go and see for yourself by exploring spots under elevated structures when you visit Japan.