Walking tour in Akabane Japan: Tokyo Day Trip -

Описание: Walking tour in Akabane Japan: Tokyo Day Trip

This time, I walked from Jujo to Akabane in northern Tokyo—3.5 hours through two neighboring districts known for traditional shopping streets and dense drinking alleys. This Jujo and Akabane walking tour shows a side of Tokyo that functions for locals rather than tourists.

JUJO: TRADITIONAL SHOPPING STREETS

The walk begins at Jujo Station, starting with quiet residential streets and small neighborhood shrines before reaching Jujo's main commercial area. Jujo Shopping Street and Jujo Ginza form a long covered arcade—traditional shotengai (shopping street) filled with small shops selling groceries, prepared foods, household goods, and local specialties.

Jujo Ginza is particularly active—a covered street where vendors call out to shoppers, food stalls prepare treats in front of customers, and the atmosphere stays busy throughout the day. This is neighborhood retail that serves residents: affordable prices, practical goods, the kind of shopping street that exists in many Tokyo districts but gets less attention than central shopping areas.

The residential paths around Jujo show typical Tokyo residential character: narrow streets, single-family homes mixed with small apartment buildings, vending machines at corners, small shrines tucked between houses.

AKABANE: DRINKING DISTRICT & COMMERCIAL HUB

The walk transitions to Akabane, a larger district centered on Akabane Station. LaLa Garden is a covered shopping mall near the station—modern retail compared to Jujo's traditional shotengai. The station area is busier, serving as a transit hub for northern Tokyo commuters.

Akabane's main feature is its drinking district. Akabane Ichibangai is a famous concentration of izakaya (Japanese pubs) and standing bars—narrow alleys packed with small establishments, most seating fewer than 20 people. The district operates densely: you can walk a single block and pass dozens of drinking spots. Neon signs, lanterns, and establishment names crowd the visual space.

OK Yokocho is another drinking alley in Akabane—narrower, older, more tightly packed than Ichibangai. The buildings here date from post-war reconstruction, the layout organic rather than planned. Most bars are tiny: counters with stools, standing room only, the kind of spaces where strangers become temporarily close just by occupying the same few square meters.

These drinking districts operate mainly in evening hours. The walk captures both daytime (when most establishments are closed) and evening (when the district activates with crowds, noise, and neon light).

JUJO TO AKABANE: NORTHERN TOKYO'S LOCAL CHARACTER

This Tokyo walking tour shows how northern districts function differently from central Tokyo. Jujo preserves traditional shopping street character—covered arcades, small-scale retail, neighborhood atmosphere. Akabane concentrates on drinking culture—dense izakaya districts that serve after-work crowds.

Both districts exist primarily for locals rather than tourists. The prices are lower than central Tokyo. The scale is smaller—narrow streets, tight spaces, businesses that serve regular customers rather than passing traffic. Walking from Jujo to Akabane takes about 3.5 hours, covering the transition between traditional retail and modern drinking district, both representative of how outer Tokyo neighborhoods operate.

🕒 TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 — Highlights
00:01:00 — Jujo Station
00:09:50 — Residential paths & shrines
00:42:05 — Jujo Shopping Street
00:59:00 — Jujo Ginza arcade
01:35:30 — Transition to Akabane
01:55:15 — Akabane Station
02:01:35 — LaLa Garden mall
02:40:00 — Akabane Ichibangai (drinking district)
02:51:40 — OK Yokocho alley
03:22:30 — Akabane finale

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