Isezakichō, Commercial district in Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan
Isezakichō is a shopping district in Yokohama that extends roughly 1.4 kilometers from JR Kannai Station, with a central pedestrian mall containing numerous stores and restaurants. The area connects to several transportation hubs through underground shopping arcades and features traditional merchant buildings throughout.
The district received its name in 1874 from three merchants who contributed to road improvements: Ise-ya Nakamura Jirōe, Sagawa Giemon, and Sasaki Shingorō. This founding story shows how local merchants shaped the neighborhood's development during the early modern period.
The name comes from three merchants who helped improve the street in 1874, and their contribution is still remembered through the traditional shops and restaurants that line the pedestrian areas today.
The district is easy to navigate and connects seamlessly to train stations through underground arcades, which is especially useful in bad weather. Plan time to explore the side streets and smaller shops, which are often overlooked by visitors.
Fujiya Restaurant, founded in 1922, claims to be the birthplace of Japanese-style shortcake and still operates in the area today. This dessert shows how local businesses adapted foreign influences into something distinctly their own.
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