Ameyoko Shopping Street Designated a Priority Area in Tokyo's Tourism Resource Preservation Support Program

Ameyoko Shopping Street, where more than 400 shops line up along roughly 500 meters between JR Ueno Station and Okachimachi Station, has been designated a priority area under the support program for the preservation of tourism resources run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Industry and Labor. It is an initiative for fiscal year Reiwa 6. Ameyoko traces its origins to the post-war black market, and has a history in which about 400 soldiers repatriated from Manchuria formed a federation and regulated the opening of stalls. It is one of the few shopping streets that still preserves the form it had back then. As for the origin of the name, one theory says there were many candy shops ("ameya"), while another says there were many imported goods from America. The year-end crowds are famous, but in reality it is a "department store laid on its side," where shops dealing in rare items and specialty goods gather. If you casually strike up a conversation with the shop staff, you'll be amazed at their wealth of knowledge. That said, go easy on pushing for unreasonable discounts. Travelers are also being encouraged to try "hands-free sightseeing," leaving their luggage behind and walking around unencumbered. It's an initiative that also helps ease congestion.

Source: www.ameyoko.net