Print Story "An Outside Market & the Market Under Hachiko"
Boredom
By lylehsaxon (Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 09:37:34 PM EST) (all tags)
I visited a couple of markets one evening on the same day - one an old outdoor shopping street, and the other an almost traditional-feeling market under the Hachiko Plaza in Shibuya.  Naturally, I had (video) camera in hand.


The outdoor shopping street is called Togoshi-Ginza, which is confusing, since it is not in Ginza, or even near Ginza, but rather is in a suburb of Tokyo and is just one of several old-style shopping streets that cashed in on the name Ginza.  All the "shotengai" (shopping streets) are in decline now, with more people shopping at large discount stores, but some of the shotengai are still doing relatively well, with locals happy for the convenience of being able to shop a few minutes (on foot) from home.

This video was taken around 5:00 p.m., still a little early - it gets more crowded around 6:00 p.m.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF3xpEtrNb0

Under the Hachiko Plazza....  Department stores in Tokyo typically have a grocery store and/or food section on the B1 level underground (usually there is both a section selling prepared food and another section more like a regular grocery store).  Shibuya is "Tokyu Town" (spelled with a "u" on the end, not "Tokyo"), with Tokyu Department stores (plural), Tokyu Inn (hotel), Tokyu trains, Tokyu buses, Tokyu Taxis, etc.  So there's no surprise that the Department stores built over and around Shibuya Station are Tokyu department stores, and it's no surprise that they have food sections in the basement.  What surprised me (for what reason, I'm not sure), is that part of the food section is beneath (part of ) the Hachiko Plaza.  I guess I've visualized building basements as staying within the walls of the building above, but when you've got underground shopping malls and underground trains, it's easy enough to connect things underground.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K97NMsCTmDk

This video starts with a view of an old Tokyu train car that is now sitting in Hachiko Plaza not far from the famous Hachiko dog statue.  There is a brief view of a Yamanote Line train passing, some people waiting, leaning against one of the round sort-of-seats that are part of the large planters for the trees in the plaza, and then the trip through the crowd to the department store, down an escalator, and into the food section.  The last scene is back out on the street on the other side of the overhead(!) Ginza subway tracks.  (The Ginza Line runs below ground level everywhere but in Shibuya.)

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://uk.youtube.com/lylehsaxon

< Video Leaked from Dress Rehersal for End Of The World Show | Hugo Diary #7 >
"An Outside Market & the Market Under Hachiko" | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback
Which shop carries the cheapest Pokemon? by ammoniacal (2.00 / 0) #1 Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 10:13:47 PM EST
I'm looking to acquire a Snorlax, or perhaps a Mudkip, if the price is right.

It was an unholy union of text and pulped wood that the Ancients used to distribute their blogs.


Better off in Nakano for that maybe... by lylehsaxon (4.00 / 1) #2 Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 02:10:16 AM EST
There are a series of that sort of shop in Nakano I Know - not sure about Shibuya....

LHS

The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

"An Outside Market & the Market Under Hachiko" | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback