Yokogawa

Historically, Yokogawa is the old Shitamachi and before the second world war was Hiroshima’s commercial business district. The post-war reconstruction shifted most commercial and retail activity to Naka -ku (ward) area of central Hiroshima. Today, some of the businesses in Yokogawa remain much as they were after the immediate reconstruction. Recently the Shōtengai, or shopping district, around Yokogawa has become an intersect of old and new and a wonderful mix of Showa Era shops of all kinds; eateries, bars – and let’s not forget Yokogawa Cinema – along with alternative places that don’t fit the mainstream. The cinema, a bastion of Japanese independent film and often hosts music events,  was itself refurbished a while back. At night the air is replete with the delicious smells of food cooking and laughter floating from the eateries. The “new” are the many refurbished spaces in the area immediately around the station, the old stores and eateries and bars below the rail line that have all had a complete facelift. The first phase of stores on the north side of the station immediately below the station platform area is renewed, reoccupied, and open for business: Amongst that Bakudanya Hiroshima Tsukemen (spicy hot or cold…