Nakano, Administrative district in western Tokyo, Japan
Nakano is a western district of Tokyo covering roughly 15.59 square kilometers with residential zones, small independent shops, and narrow lanes. The streets link different neighborhoods and thread between low-rise buildings, local markets, and quiet back courtyards.
The towns of Nogata and Nakano merged in 1932 to form a ward within Tokyo. Eleven years later, the area received official special ward status in 1943.
The name comes from medieval fields that lay midway between two villages, now buried beneath apartment blocks and corner shops. Baishoin temple grounds open up during spring when visitors walk beneath flowering branches and small stalls line the pathways.
Several rail lines cross the ward, including JR East Chuo, Seibu Shinjuku, and the Tozai and Marunouchi subway routes at different stops. These lines connect the ward to the center and neighboring areas, letting visitors switch between neighborhoods easily during the day.
The Nakano Broadway building rises with multiple floors filled with specialized shops for Japanese entertainment media, manga stores, and collectible dealers. Visitors comb through tight aisles hunting for rare figures, old comics, and unusual items from decades of Japanese pop culture.
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