Spellbound at Takamatsu's Shotengai

If I had known that Takamatsu has Japan's longest shotengai, over 2.7 kilometres long, I would
have stayed an extra day, just to wander around my favourite type of shopping venue.
Shotengai are old time alleys full of  shops and eating places.  Quirky and unpretentious,
a shotengai is  fun --  the original "we've got it all for you" shopping experience.  It beats any
uber modern mall, hands down.
We were in Takamatsu as part of our Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage so we were out of the city
most of the days, exploring temples in the other parts of the island.
The few hours that we were in the city  (usually early morning or dinnertime), were the few hours
I was able to spend exploring the shotengai.

Marugamemachi

We were lucky that the Daiwa Roynet Hotel we stayed in was right here in Marugamemachi.
The shotengai has been given a  facelift with big name brands anchoring the entrance to the shopping arcade.

There are  stylish shops and premium labels and small patisseries and cafes. 

Marugamemachi heads north,  all the way to the Takamatsu Castle grounds.  You cross a few streets but other than those areas, this is a covered shopping arcade which makes it a good way to spend time on a rainy day.  Don't be intimidated by the high end shops, walk further down and you'll find a wider selection of regular stores and small restaurants frequented by the locals. 

Minamishinmachi

Across the entrance to Marugamemachi is the south end of the shopping arcade, Minamishinmachi.

After 6 pm is rush hour at the shotengai with lots of locals passing through.  Look out for the bikes!

Minamishinmachi has a more laid back and folksy feel.   There are shops catering to what local residents need and chain restaurants for easy on the pocket meals.  There is also an events place called Olive Hall where you can watch local and foreign concerts. 

My heart skipped a beat when I saw my favourite Matsumoto Drugstore -- source of  interesting and unique skin and personal care products, all proudly made in Japan.  

Tamachi

The south end of Minamishinmachi is Tamachi.  If you've made it all this way, you are just a few hundred meters to the famous Ritsurin-koen, considered by many as one of Japan's best gardens.

A walk through the shotengai is a pleasant and convenient way to reach the park.

 

Lion-dori

This covered shopping arcade runs parallel to Marugamemachi.  Lion Dori or Lion Street 

has many small local shops plus izakayas and specialty restaurants.  Most are open only for dinnertime.

One of the places we found along Lion-Dori was a chinese dimsum place selling steamed buns (siopao) and dumplings (siomai).  The appetising aroma wafted all over the alley.

At night when the shops have closed, regulars flock to Lion Dori's many izakayas for an evening 

of  beer-y conviviality. 

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll have one for the road.  Cheers to the varied charms and attractions of Takamatsu's shotengai. 

Kanpai!