2012年06月28日

City Center Renewal

As some of you may have noticed, I am quite curious about the redevelopment of Takamatsu's central shotengai (shopping street), the 'longest covered arcade' in Japan. (See http://cathy.ashita-sanuki.jp/d2010-12.html and http://cathy.ashita-sanuki.jp/d2011-12.html ) This major project was launched over 20 years ago in 1988 when the shop owners banded together to save the commercial and social heart of the city from the steady encroachment of major shopping malls and chain stores. Last month marked the much-anticipated opening of the last, and biggest, section of the Marugamemachi shopping district redevelopment project.

City Center Renewal

Of course, I went down to take a look and to ask people how it's going. I found that this particular section has a very different feel from the redeveloped north end. Although covered, it almost doesn't seem like it.

City Center Renewal

The roof is several stories up and transparent, and covers a large plaza complete with trees.

City Center Renewal

Whereas the north end still retains the feel of individual, and even family run shops, this area leans more towards trendy shops imported from large urban centers in Japan and elsewhere.

Like Floresta Doughnuts
City Center Renewal

Jupiter Import Foods
City Center Renewal

Tower Records
City Center Renewal

and John Masters Organics
City Center Renewal

Some local shops have actually moved in from other parts of Takamatsu, like one of the city's famed bakeshops, Lowe.
City Center Renewal

The redevelopment concept for this section was inspired by a shop owner's trip to Shanghai, where he experienced an urban shopping street with shoppers relaxing at outdoor cafes. Mori Urban Planning Corporation (think, Roppongi Hills, Omotesando Hills, Shanghai World Financial Center) was brought in to make this vision a reality. The idea is to have a steady flow of customers passing from one end of the arcade to the other and enjoying the differences in style and atmosphere.

Not sure what Spiderman had to do with all this
City Center Renewal

but he was there at the opening.
City Center Renewal

One sign that suggests the concept is succeeding, at least for now, is that there are far more people in the arcade these days than I ever remember seeing.

City Center Renewal

Furthermore, the crowds include lots of young people and families with young children.

City Center Renewal

City Center Renewal

Malls on the outskirts of town usually draw young families because they have large parking lots. I'm hoping that these families are learning to ride public transit but am guessing the arcade's new parking lot has something to do with this. I do, however, really like the new rule banning bikes from the arcade and the new bicycle parking lot that supports it just outside the arcade entrance.

Here's the bike parking entrance so you'll know what to look for.
City Center Renewal

City Center Renewal

The arcade is actually really nice to stroll through, which as far as I'm concerned a mall is not.

City Center Renewal



My Profile
Cathy Hirano キャシー ヒラノ
I've lived in Japan since 1978. After graduating from a Japanese university with a BA in cultural anthropology in 1983, I worked as a translator in a Japanese consulting engineering firm in Tokyo for several years. My Japanese husband and I moved to Takamatsu in 1987 to raise our two children in a slower-paced environment away from the big city pressures. We've never regretted it. I work as a freelance translator and interpreter and am involved in a lot of community work, including volunteering for Second Hand, a local NGO that supports educational and vocational training initiatives in Cambodia, and for the Takamatsu International Association. I love living in Takamatsu.

この記事へのコメント
I fully agree with you, I love just strolling down Marugamemachi (I hate spending more than 5 minutes in a mall), and while I was a bit disappointed by the presence of so many chain stores in "Green" I guess they're a small price to pay to have people coming, especially the younger generations.
Posted by David at 2012年06月28日 12:04
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