What Shibuya is to Tokyo, Shimokitazawa is to Setagaya-Ku. Setagaya-Ku or Setagaya Special ward is one of the 23 special wards (Ku in Japanese) of central Tokyo area.
Shibuya is often referred as the throbbing place of younger generation of Tokyo. In that sense, Shimokitazawa is a relatively very small market area within Setagaya-Ku but has a similar fondness among younger lots. Located on interchange point b/w Odakyu Odawara line and Keio Inokashira line, it is the third station from Shibuya on Keio Inokashira line.
From Karaoke bars to Dance clubs, from shops of artefacts to souvenirs, From McDonald to mouthwatering Sushi cafes to smoking bakeries you can find everything here. Be it any time of the day, the shops are busy serving the customers of all age group.
The buildings are not competing against other to touch the sky and thus the sky space is clear and visually appealing, unlike Shibuya. Significantly cheaper and a laid-back market with no hustle and hurry it is a place where people and time reduce its own pace. You can find people not rushing through the market but strolling and savoring the company of friends and family. There are many cafe where you can sit outside in the open and relish your favorite dish or drink and savour the time.
It has number of clothing stores from high end stores to Used Clothing shops and others offering trendiest apparel at a discounted price. No doubt several people throng these shops to get a perfect fit for themselves at a significantly less price.
Narrow lanes and by lanes form the nerve of the market. They all culminate to a central area. The central open area is an open space for people to hangout which is in front of the Shimokitazawa Metro station. You will find people sitting here idly involving in friendly conversation among themselves to lighten their mood. If you go by bicycle, there is a free of cost parking spot as well, where you can park you bicycle and go on strolling around. Just beside the central area is a tall building which houses Daiso and Uniqlo. Near to which, below the railway bridge a number of aspiring musicians and artists play several musical instrument or sing songs. It is highly recommended to stand, watch and listen to these artists performance which are highly appreciable. On one occasion, I was lucky to observe a musician playing 'hand pan', an inverted metal pan, by his fingers and matching it with beats of ghungroo tied to his ankle. If you encounter such sonorous and novel music, your feet will by default tap to the tune of music beat.( follow the handpan musician on Instagram /hisatoyamamoto54)
A mention about Ozekii , a food super market, has to be made. It offers various varieties of fruits and vegetables which are much cheaper than those of family mart or other convenient stores. During close time, at around 8 PM, if you are lucky, you can lay your hand on vegetables at throw away prices.
There are certain days every month on which the open central area houses small tabletop road side counters where mainly souvenirs, home accessories and jewelry are sold during the day. You can find photographers selling their photographs snapped across the world, or a glass mold artist displays his treasure of curious glass works. The women and girls have multiple options in such stalls to buy sparkling and trendy jewelry.
As I passed by the lane dotted by these small shops a sweet innocent voice attracted me towards a counter.
" Yokkatara Minnasan Kitte Kudasai, accessory desu",(If its alright please come over, we have accesories) a girl of around 7 years was helping her mother grab the attention of 'Minna San' i.e everyone towards a small store selling stone jewelleries. And grab she did. Just to please her and to listen to her innocent voice repeatedly I bought a yellow stone ring at 300 Yen. In what ever japanese I could muster to recall, I asked her "Mo icchido itte kudasai". She smiled and repeated her call to everyone "Minn San Kitte Kudasai, accesory desu". With a nice ring and an image of her cute face I ventured back happily. I should have asked her, "O namaye wa nan desu ka" (What is your name). But then I thought I will better remember her as 'that sweet girl at Shimokitazawa'.
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