Let’s walk down Onari shopping street

This article introduces the atmosphere and stores on Onari shopping street in Kamakura.

What is Onari shopping street?
1. Let’s walk down Onari shopping street
2. 【Youtube】Walk down Onari shopping street in Kamakura

What is Onari shopping street?

Onari shopping street seems to have been named after the existence of the Kamakura Imperial Villa, which the Emperor Meiji had built for his imperial daughter. It is a 350 meter road that runs in a north-south direction from the west exit of Kamakura station until Onari Street ends at Yuigahama Street.

This time, I walked from the west exit of Kamakura Station toward Yuigahama Street.

Let’s walk down Onari shopping street

Onari shopping street crosses through the town of Onari-cho.

The Onari-cho district, which remains as a place name in the area west of Kamakura Station, was once known as an exclusive villa area where noble people gathered. The Imperial Villa was built in the area where the present Onari Elementary School and Kamakura City Hall are located, and the name was given to the area because of the royal family’s visits.

Onsei shopping street Entrance

There was a magnificent arched gate at the entrance to Onari shopping street, but it was knocked down by a typhoon in 2019. It was used for 25 years after its installation. Therefor, the arch gate has not been rebuilt at this time due to the cost of re-installing it. In the photo on the left below, you can see the gate as it once was.

The arched gate is gone, but there is a “Kamakura Onari Shopping Street Guide Map” at the entrance. The building behind the map is a real estate office.

Real estate information is available in the storefront, and you can learn about the real estate market in the Kamakura area.

Street Characteristics

The pavement on Onari shopping street is tile. Unlike asphalt pavement, I feel that tile pavement creates a sense of familiarity and softness in the space. The street is closed to vehicular traffic for a limited time. General vehicles can pass through outside of the time limit, but because of the tile pavement, there is an atmosphere of priority for pedestrians, and few cars pass through.

Tile pavers are difficult to install even though they are known to improve the atmosphere because they require a lot of maintenance. The tiles are less likely to be damaged due to low vehicle traffic, which may be a factor in the retention of tile pavement.

Onari shopping street is located in a landscape district (commercial area around Wakamiya-oji Avenue). Therefore, policies and standards for urban landscape formation have been established, such as not using bright colors for keynote colors and glittering designs for building fronts and such. There are no tall buildings along the street, creating a sense of openness.

Stores on Onari shipping street

Onari shopping street is lined with a wide variety of businesses, including restaurants, cafes, pastry stores, pharmacies, liquor stores, beauty salons, clothing stores, and lodging. Pachinko parlors were also present in the past. Old stores and newly opened stores coexist in the area, and many unique stores can be seen.

There are many stores in Onari shipping street. I will introduce one new store and one old store.

On the right side of the building with a brick exterior wall, about 100 meters from the entrance on Onari shipping street, is the French pastry store “Regalez Vous”, which opened in September 2019 . I will recommended for those who like western pastries made with butter. Prices are high due to the recent rise in butter and flour prices, but the carefully made pastries and breads are very tasty, and the cookies make good little souvenirs. You can also enjoy some very elaborate desserts in the cafe.

About 100 meters from the five-way intersection described below is the ””Takasakiya Honten liquor store, which was established in 1948. The storefront is neatly lined with products and retains its old-fashioned atmosphere. As a souvenir, you can buy “Kamakura Ume Cider” made with Kamakura wine. Below is the liquor store.

Onari shopping street is connected to several stores, but there is also vacant land. Because of height restrictions, high-rise buildings cannot be built. As a result, the total floor area is not as large as expected, and it is expected that new construction will be difficult without raising rental rates. I feel that high rental rates will lead to more national chain stores rather than small, locally-oriented stores, and little by little, the local character of Kamakura will be lost.

五差路の交差点

In the foreground of the photo below is a five-way intersection. The road goes directly north-south to Onari shopping street, and there is one more narrow road, making it a five-way intersection. At the five-way intersection, a restaurant, a sweets shop, and a historical building (the former Anbo Pediatric Clinic) face the street. The sweets shop ”Kamakura Ogawaken” is famous for its raisinwiches.

Near the old “Kuronuma”

It is almost the end of Onari shopping street.

On the right side of the photo, there is an under construction area where there was a paper store called “Kuronuma”. Although it was a paper store, it was a fun place for children to buy water guns, soap bubble liquid, and colorful plastic toys. In summer, many kinds of fireworks were sold.

I am very curious to see what kind of building will be constructed.

The gate of Onari shopping street is now in sight. Passing through this gate, you can get out to Yuigahama Street. Until it was broken by a typhoon, a gate similar in design to this one (the gate at the west exit was wider) was also erected on the west exit side of Kamakura Station.