A shōtengai () is a style of Japanese

commercial district A commercial district or commercial zone is any part of a city or town in which the primary land use is Commerce, commercial activities (Retailing, shops, offices, Theater (structure), theaters, restaurants and so on), as opposed to a residential ...

, typically in the form of a local market street that is closed to car traffic. Local shōtengai cater to the needs of nearby residents with a diverse mix of small specialty shops and few large retailers. In many older neighborhoods, these streets serve as cultural gathering spaces, holding seasonal festivals, processions, and other events throughout the year. Many older shōtengai developed along roads leading to large shrines or temples; Nakamise-dōri to Sensō-ji,

Asakusa is a district in Taitō, Tokyo, Japan. It is known as the location of the Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. There are several other temples in Asakusa, as well as various festivals, such as the . History The ...

is a typical example. More modern shōtengai often connect to the nearest train or subway station, or other public gathering points such as large parks or landmarks. Most suburbs and towns of Japan have shōtengai of varying size, and larger shōtengai may take the form of covered arcades that are accessible only by foot or bicycle.

Commercial features

A neighborhood shōtengai may be anchored by one or two large retailers (such as a grocery store or drug store), however the majority of retailers are typically small shops that specialize in specific products such as fruits, vegetables, meats, books, clothing, drugs, furniture, housewares, stationery; or specific services such as barber shops, printing shops, tailors, or cleaners. Restaurants and prepared foods within shōtengai commonly include

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shops. Public services located within or adjacent to shōtengai often include a

post office A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...

or neighborhood

kōban A is a small neighborhood police station found in Japan. The term also refers to the smallest organizational unit in a modern Japanese Prefectural police department. Small kōban buildings, staffed by uniformed officers at around 6,000 locatio ...

police substation. In larger cities, more centrally located shōtengai often include a larger percentage of chain retailers, as well as hotels,

convenience store A convenience store, convenience shop, corner store or corner shop is a small retail business that stocks a range of everyday items such as coffee, groceries, snack foods, confectionery, soft drinks, ice creams, tobacco products, lottery ticket ...

s, or pachinko parlors.

Cultural functions

Beyond their practical role as commercial districts, shōtengai serve as vital social spaces for Japanese neighborhoods, creating cohesion in a neighborhood through shop owner associations, and hosting seasonal festivals and events together with neighbors. An uncommon feature of most other urban commercial districts, the shop proprietors within shōtengai often own the buildings where their shops operate, rather than leasing space from a single landlord or development firm. This gives shōtengai shop owners more freedom to relate to and serve the social needs of their neighborhood, rather than being forced to focus solely on economic utility.

References

Japanese business terms {{Japan-culture-stub

Commercial features

Cultural functions

See also

References