砂町銀座商店街, Traditional shopping street in Koto, Japan
Sunamachi Ginza Shopping Street is a covered shopping arcade in Koto with around 180 stores selling fresh produce, seafood, and local specialties. The entire passage is protected overhead and offers shelter from rain and intense heat as you move through the narrow, lively corridors.
This shopping street emerged after the Second World War as a small collection of street vendors and grew into an important commercial center for eastern Tokyo's population. The name was inspired by the wealthier Ginza district in western Tokyo, expressing aspiration and hope for the growing neighborhood.
The street takes its name from Tokyo's famous Ginza district, reflecting the merchants' ambition to create a comparable shopping hub. Visitors today can observe how longtime shopkeepers personally greet regular customers and share the stories of their individual businesses.
The shops are arranged under continuous overhead cover, making it easy to shop regardless of weather. The entrance is straightforward to locate and does not become excessively crowded, so you can explore the corridors at your own pace, especially outside the busier midday hours.
Some of the oldest sweet shops here use recipes and techniques passed down over several decades by family members. These handcrafted sweets differ noticeably from mass-produced items in modern supermarkets and represent a continuing link to local artisan traditions.
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