Old and faded Japanese shopping streets aren’t uncommon. Their sights, entrances and general dilapidation also make them as fascinating as they are faded, but this particular covered arcade in Hyogo prefecture is something else altogether.
Running alongside a newer, and far busier location, its best days are very much long gone, with only a small number of stores remaining. That said, a few spots have been stripped out and reopened as new concerns catering to a younger, more underground crowd, which will hopefully help preserve the surroundings. A truly tiny but also regularly booked music venue being one such example. Only time will tell as far as that goes, but for now at least, the shutters, decay and stretches of darkness make it a truly unique location.
Denise says
Woah that sure is one sad shopping center……… 🙁
Lee says
Yeah, its best days are definitely long gone, but at the same time it’s an incredible place to see and experience.
Pierre says
Some of the pictures in this article really look like some areas of Taipei, in Taiwan. Now I understand better why a lot of people say that Taiwan looks like what Japan was 50 years ago 🙂
Lee says
That’s very interesting. Sounds like a trip to Taipei is needed!
Richard says
Great but depressing photos. I would find it a bit scary at night. Could be a setting for a post apocalyptic film.
Lee says
Thanks. Yeah, not necessarily the cheeriest looking place. It was interesting watching locals casually pass through, and visitors doing quite the opposite. And yes, it really would.
cdilla says
Old and worn maybe, even dying in places, but full of character and history. A nice collection of photographs showing the life that is still there.
Lee says
Cheers. Thoroughly enjoyed exploring and taking photos. Like no shotengai I’ve ever seen. And yes, so much character and history. It’d be fascinating to see photos going back over the years.