姫路城の影で佇む裏名所を巡ってみたら…ディープでレトロで国宝級だった

姫路城の影で佇む裏名所を巡ってみたら…ディープでレトロで国宝級だった

[Music] Speaking of Himeji, the beauty of Himeji Castle, a national treasure and World Heritage Site, never ceases to captivate visitors. Meanwhile, the town is also home to traditional shopping streets and nostalgic scenery that draws you to pause for a moment. This time, we’ll focus on a famous supporting character nestled in the shadow of Himeji Castle, embarking on a journey to experience the good old days. Please enjoy this faint remnant of the past until the very end. [Music] So, we’ve arrived at JR Sanyo Main Line Himeji Station. As you’d expect from a station where the Shinkansen also stops, the rails are plentiful. Trains glide into the platform, moving left and right like a maze of omikuji. Speaking of Shinkansen trains, this cute train also arrives. The contrast is irresistible. While you could easily spend an hour just watching the trains coming , there’s one more thing to enjoy on this platform, so let’s head there. This is “Eki Soba.” Take a look. This cute restaurant. It’s a design that will make drunk people cry, thinking, “Oh, the train’s coming!” and getting on. This “eki soba” is Himeji’s soul food, known only to those in the know. I skipped breakfast today in anticipation of trying it. From the appealing lineup, I chose the new specialty?! Himeji-style Himeji Takoyaki Eki Soba. “New specialty?!” I’m a little worried about it not being fully cooked, but I’ll give it a try. Ta-da! The boldly tossed takoyaki is incredibly appetizing. The tonkatsu sauce makes it even more appealing. Professor Shinozawa would be amazed. And if you were imagining Japanese soba, you’ll probably be surprised by the color. It’s even more yellow than I’d like to admit, but the secret is actually Chinese noodles. It’s a mysterious combination of Chinese noodles and Japanese-style broth. Apparently, after the war, when eki soba first appeared, it became difficult to procure wheat flour, so after trial and error, they tried making noodles using other ingredients, and finally arrived at the Chinese noodles. It’s a miraculous combination. Once you try it, you ‘ll be hooked. It’s a flavor you won’t want to miss. Give it a try. It’ll leave you feeling full and satisfied. Now, let’s exit the ticket gate and head out into the city of Himeji. [Music] The first thing you should see when you arrive at Himeji Station is this view. Himeji Castle stands tall at the end of a straight road. The visuals are incredible. This magnificent street is Otemae-dori. It was built in 1955 as part of a war-damage reconstruction project. Originally 9 meters wide, it was expanded to an astounding 50 meters. It’s truly impressive. The reason it was made so wide was because the mayor at the time foresaw a future car-oriented society. However, at a time when cars were still sparse, some even joked, “Are they planning to build an airport?” In fact, when it was first completed, there were so few cars that it became a playground for children. However, the mayor ‘s foresight was spot on. Later, as car-oriented society took hold, this wide road truly came into its own. Another thing to note is the absence of power lines. To protect the view of Himeji Castle, the power lines were buried underground, a highly unusual initiative when the road was built in 1955. Otemae-dori, imbued with such sentiment, truly serves as a rite of passage to Himeji Castle. No matter how many times I visit, this view makes my heart beat faster. And for those whose memories of the old Himeji Station remain frozen, I ‘m sure you’ll be amazed by the refined surroundings. For a long time, the station has been constantly under construction as part of a long-running redevelopment project, but it’s finally complete. It has been reborn with a stylish new look. This ambitious plan, which began in 1988, cost a whopping 110 billion yen in total, including the major project of elevating the station. The reborn Himeji Station embodies the local government’s desire to create a space where people of all ages can visit Himeji by train and relax around the station without worrying about time . It looks set to become an important hub supporting Himeji in the future. [Music] Now, let’s introduce some of the supporting characters lingering in the shadow of Himeji Castle. First, there’s the Himeji Monorail. It’s just a pillar. Sadly, it was discontinued after only eight years, so all that remains is a pillar. I’ll explain exactly what the Himeji Rail is and show you the whole picture later, so please wait a moment. It was abolished in 1979, Showa 54, but the piers and rails remained intact for a long time after that. They’re still standing, even in the 21st century. Visible from the Shinkansen , its increasingly melancholic appearance is likely a familiar sight to many. Fascinated by the “decline” and “decline” of the rise and fall of things, I myself once came here just to see the abandoned railway tracks. Here’s a photo from that time. As expected, demolition has progressed and the remains are much reduced. The building with the monorail, which was the main attraction, has also been demolished. The building with the monorail stuck in it is Takao Apartments. This is it. I can see me in the bottom left, but ignore that. The monorail tracks cut through the third and fourth floors, and there was even a station inside. It’s crazy. There were commercial facilities on the lower floors and residential buildings above. I wonder what the noise and shaking were like. I wanted to go inside while it was still open. The Himeji Monorail seems insane. It piques your interest, doesn’t it? Let’s head there, where you can see the real thing. It’s so hot I feel like I’m going to collapse, so I’ll take refuge in an air-conditioned space. [Music] [Music] [Music] We’ve arrived at the Himeji City Aquarium. No, it’s the Tegarayama Exchange Station Monorail Exhibition Room, located in the same building. The aquarium is so popular that the monorail exhibition room is barely visible, but don’t worry, it’s just up ahead. We ‘ve arrived safely. First, let’s take a look at the real thing. This is it. (In-car announcement) [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [ Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Hmm, so cute. If it was for sale, I’d buy it immediately, even if it meant taking out a loan. The Himeji Monorail ran 1.6 km from Himeji Station to Tegarayama Station . Its official name is the Himeji City Transportation Bureau Monorail Line. It’s publicly operated. It was introduced to address urban problems like traffic congestion and to provide a new form of transportation connecting the city and suburbs. You might wonder, “Could a mere 1.6km really solve this problem?” Apparently, there was a plan to extend the line north and south. But there was another important purpose, which I’d like to introduce. This reason seems to have been more prominent. It was to transport visitors to the Himeji Grand Exposition. While the excitement surrounding the Osaka-Kansai Expo was building, this one goes back even further. It was established in 1966, Showa 41, with two purposes: to commemorate the completion of the major Showa-era repairs to Himeji Castle and to showcase the growth of Himeji. The Himeji Monorail was essentially just another exhibit. It was even considered a major attraction and extremely popular. Apparently, it was incredibly busy. However, after the Expo ended, ridership dropped significantly, and the business deteriorated. Plans to use it as a means of transportation within the city and to extend it were scrapped. After all, a bus fare of 100 yen was a tough fare to live up to, even if people were spending more during the festival season. While it was a pioneering initiative, it was also considered an unrealistic plan. So, this is the actual Tegarayama Station of the Himeji Monorail, which was located at the Expo site . It has been turned into an exhibition room. The carriages and station platform are the same as they were back then. It’s exciting. You can even go inside the carriages, and even the accessories are all retro. There’s so much to see, and you can tell they put a lot of effort into making it. The excitement of the adults was unbelievable, as proof of this. Of course, I did too. I spent well over an hour in this small space. I wanted to spend some money as a token of my gratitude, since admission was free after all. I decided to try my hand at the gachapon machine. I’ll go and hope to get this. All right. Winner! The one I wanted the most! I was thrilled to have found the one I had been looking for. Excited, I headed to the next place. A few minutes’ walk from the monorail exhibit, I came across a building with a rather strange shape. The design is likely to divide opinion – “Future station?” or “Fortress of evil?” But what on earth is this place? The name of the facility is “Remains of the Tegarayama Rotating Observatory” , and as the name suggests, it was a rotating observation deck, but since there are remains of it, it is unfortunately no longer in operation. It was erected as a symbol of the Himeji Grand Exposition, which we mentioned earlier. The rotating section was the glass-walled section of the fourth-floor coffee shop, “Tegara Port.” It took 14 minutes for a leisurely rotation. It was a dreamlike space, where you could savor meals and desserts while enjoying a 360-degree panorama. I’m proud to say I’ve been there myself. Rotating restaurants and coffee shops are quite rare, aren’t they? The only one in my area is the Cosmos Revolving Observatory in Suma . Do you still have any around you? Now, this design. I absolutely adore it, and fell in love with it at first sight. After researching, I found out it was modeled after the Theme Building at Los Angeles International Airport. It’s quite a bold and striking resemblance. Thus, a futuristic building had arrived in Himeji, but unfortunately, it closed in 2018 due to aging. I was heartbroken when I heard the news that it would be demolished. However, after many voices lamenting its demolition, it was decided to preserve it as a monument. Am I the only one hoping, “If it can be preserved, perhaps it can remain open?” Thank you for entertaining us for 52 years . A sudden turnaround, a desperate revival. I’m looking forward to the day that slowly rotating floor starts moving again. [Music] I’m starving from all that walking. So, I headed back towards Himeji Station for lunch. There were tons of restaurants around the station, so I was debating where to go, but I ended up at Shinseiken, a very long-established ramen shop established in 1960, just a short walk from Himeji Station. Apparently, it’s a famous restaurant known to all locals . The store’s appearance is so insane. It was impossible to pass it by without stopping in. I ordered my favorite wonton noodles. The clear, salt-flavored ramen and wontons were a perfect match. And the menu was refreshingly simple, which was a blessing for someone as indecisive as me. This is a restaurant I’ll want to keep coming back to. I’m jealous of the neighbors. [Music] I left the shop full and in high spirits. I was so hungry I couldn’t even think about it, but this area is so lovely. [Music] Himeji is home to numerous shopping streets, ranging from quaint, cozy streets like this one to massive ones, all of which liven up the castle town leading to Himeji Castle. While they may seem like a minor attraction compared to Himeji Castle, a National Treasure and World Heritage Site, I personally consider them the main attraction. I often stay overnight just to stroll through the shopping streets. Introducing them all would be a huge undertaking, so let’s pick out a few. Let’s start with the most famous, Miyuki-dori Shopping Street. According to the official website, it ‘s 650 meters long, with a wide street and arcade. It’s an impressive sight, with rows of shops stretching from the station all the way to Himeji Castle, and no matter how many times I visit, it always feels fresh and enjoyable. Furthermore, there are other shopping streets stretching out to the right and left, making it difficult to move forward. [Music] [Music] [Music] As I stray from the main streets, the foot traffic thins out, but the number of independent shops increases, and the area becomes even more charming. An adventure down a side street that will transport me back to the Showa era. I highly recommend it. [Music] [Music] Here, I was drawn in by the wonderful aroma of coffee. Hamamoto Coffee, located next door in Miyuki-dori Shopping Street, also has a Showa-era feel, but I’d like to grow my hair out a bit longer, so I’ll stick with coffee this time. [Music] Stepping inside the store, I was instantly transported to the Showa era. Not only did the store’s appearance take me back to those days, but the upright service also brought me back to those days. The coffee was carefully brewed using a siphon. Their specialty almond toast was amazing. I’m also envious of the neighbors. Satisfied, I left the store and spotted this sign: Yes, this is the former location of Yamatoyashiki, a department store that is arguably the face of Himeji. The restaurant closed in 2018 after struggling financially . The site’s use struggled to be decided, and there was even talk of turning it into a hotel. It seems to have been converted into an apartment building. It looks like this now. Even so, an apartment building suddenly appeared in the middle of a shopping street. It’s common to see them in any neighborhood these days. It’s a bit confusing, but I guess it can’t be helped. The intersection’s name also changed from “Yamatoyashiki Northwest” to “Nikaimachi East-West.” The Yamatoyashiki vibe is slowly disappearing. I wish they’d included “Yamatoyashiki” in the apartment building’s name… It’s a shame, considering the “yashiki” (house) is a good match. I’ll leave a little here, but there’s another interesting shopping street just north of Himeji Castle, so please bear with me. Nozato Ginza Shopping Street and Nozato Shopping Street. While the arcade has been demolished and the number of shops has decreased, the area seems to have changed since its heyday , but its charming atmosphere still remains. [Music] Now, the final boss, a supporting character standing in the shadow of Himeji Castle, is Jusco City Meitengai. It is a shopping center with the now-defunct Jusco Shikama store as its anchor tenant. I walk around while thinking about the bustle of the area in its heyday. What a great logo. This is Jusco. It’s 250 yen forever. It’s written there. Lol. Oh , there’s a street here too. Closing Notice. 2017. [Music] [Music] [ Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [ Music] [ Music] [Music] [Music] [ Music] [Music] It’s been nearly 20 years since the Jusco Shikama store closed in 2006 , but it still stands quietly here. “See you at Jusco.” That’s a dream that will never come true, but I was overwhelmed with emotion to see even a glimpse of it. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] I toured the city of Himeji, accompanied by some of its famous supporting characters. It truly is a historic town. Filled with tasteful scenery, it transported me to the good old days. I hope this video makes you want to explore Himeji. A journey in search of these famous supporting characters. I highly recommend it. Thank you for watching until the end. If you enjoyed it, please support me by subscribing and liking my channel. See you in the next video. [Music] [Music] I discovered a great spot to take a great photo of the castle. “It looked like a castle!” “I stumbled!” I want to pat myself on the back for running up the stairs in the scorching heat for 15 takes until I got the best shot .

昭和時代を中心に、古き良き時代に思いを馳せ、なつかしい風景を記録しています。

今回は、“姫路城の影で佇む名脇役”にスポットをあてて、
古き良き時代を感じる旅へと繰り出します。

姫路といえば、国宝にして世界遺産の姫路城。
その美しさは、訪れる人々を魅了してやみません。

その一方で、
街には昔ながらの商店街や、
思わず足を止めたくなるような、懐かしい風景がそっと息づいています。

かすかな面影に触れるひととき、最後までごゆっくりお楽しみください。

▼今回訪れた場所▼
えきそば
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pyHX27FQrQiuhebNA

手柄山交流ステーション モノレール展示室
https://share.google/7SvFYVRNWvPtpLS9J

手柄山回転展望台
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bXfqdXNRt78fFpRU9

新生軒
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3QyZFCRVreHo65vi9

はまもとコーヒー
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nc6wacYQ1BPyQcar6

姫路城の撮影スポット（城見台公園）
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SGsHh9PtRiegtnN27

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https://www.youtube.com/@showa_retro_tanbo

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ここが神戸!?謎路線に乗って謎の終着駅【和田岬】へ行ってみた

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#昭和レトロ #姫路 #ディープスポット