Coredo Nihonbashi (Jiji)

New Tourist Spot Offers Taste of History and Culture
In 1603 the newly established Tokugawa shogunate built a bridge high enough for large ships to pass under at what is now Nihonbashi. The following year, the bridge was designated as the starting point for five major roads leading in different directions across the country (the Tokaido, Nakasendo, Nikko-kaido, Koshu-kaido, and Oshu-kaido). Since then, Nihonbashi has served as the center of commerce not just for Edo but for of all Japan. It is here that Coredo Nihonbashi opened its doors on March 30, 2004.

Coredo Nihonbashi occupies the first basement through the fourth floor of the glass-lined, 20-story Nihonbashi 1-Chome Building, which stands 120 meters (394 feet) high. Some 8,600 square meters (92,570 square feet) of this space is dedicated to retail shops, and there are a total of 33 eating and drinking establishments, 17 of which have set up shop in Tokyo for the first time or are new types of operations. The goal was not to bring in whatever happened to be trendy at the time but to invite shops that match the image of Nihonbashi as a district of history and traditions. One example of this is the shop Serendipity, which occupies an entire floor of the building. Conceived along the lines of Sony Plaza, an outlet that retails imported knickknacks to a younger clientele, Serendipity offers a range of products for women aged around 35 who have an eye for quality. Though the products are somewhat expensive, they are of impeccable quality and design. The shop is popular among women working in nearby offices. Another shop is an outlet called Garage that is operated by toy-maker Takara Co. Along with toys that have caught the interest of many adult males, this store has on display a Q-Car, a small electric car that can be driven on public roads. Customers can experience what it is like to sit in this car.

The types of shoppers who have in the past tended to visit Nihonbashi in the daytime were usually middle-aged and older women. In order to lure nearby office workers and attract families to the area on weekends, most of the restaurants are open until 11:00 on weeknights, and the facility is open for business on weekends and holidays.

A New Tourist Attraction
Other major redevelopment efforts have helped to revitalize the Nihonbashi area. In April, the nearby Takashimaya department store underwent a grand reopening aimed at making it more upscale by adding a tea salon run by a famous chef specializing in French cuisine, as well as a wine boutique offering high-end labels. Mitsukoshi, another department store in the neighborhood, will open a new annex on October 11 to mark the 100th anniversary of its founding.

Moves are also underway to make the area a stop for tourists. Metrolink Nihonbashi, a free bus service connecting the Yaesu, Kyobashi, and Nihonbashi areas, began service in March. The buses themselves run on electricity and are very environmentally friendly, and the exterior of the vehicles is decorated with scenes of Edo. The route, which has 12 stops, takes passengers to historic structures that have been designated as important cultural assets, such as the Nihonbashi Bridge, Mitsukoshi, and the Bank of Japan, as well as many old shops that have been in business since the Edo period.

 Page Top

Copyright (c) 2004 Web Japan. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.