【大船駅】活気ある商店街と映画の面影を感じる駅前ぶらり旅

【大船駅】活気ある商店街と映画の面影を感じる駅前ぶらり旅

Today we’ve come to Ofuna Station in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture! This station serves the JR Tokaido Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line, Yokosuka Line, Negishi Line (Keihin-Tohoku Line), and the Shonan Monorail – it’s a massive transportation hub! It takes about 45 minutes from Tokyo Station on the Tokaido Line, and about 35 minutes from Shinagawa. This historic station opened in the 21st year of Meiji (1888), and actually has more passengers than Kamakura Station – it’s the “gateway to Kamakura.” As a junction point for the Tokaido and Yokosuka lines, this area has long prospered as a major transportation hub. What’s more, this station sits right on the border between Kamakura and Yokohama, so the addresses actually differ on the east and west sides of the station. Depending on which exit you use, you could become either a Kamakura or Yokohama resident – what a unique place! And from 1936 to 2000, Ofuna was home to Shochiku Ofuna Studio, making it known as “a city of cinema.” Films by director Yasujiro Ozu and director Yoji Yamada’s “It’s Tough Being a Man” series were all filmed here. Now the city has transformed from a cinema town into a livable residential area. In 2021, the large commercial facility “GRAND SHIP” opened in front of the station, making it even more convenient. Today we’d like to explore the area around Ofuna Station, which is packed with both old and new attractions. Let’s start from the east exit! The area in front of the station is quite bustling. Let’s begin our exploration with the Ofuna Nakadori Shopping Street, also known as “Shonan’s Ameya-Yokocho”! Right after leaving the station, we arrive at Ofuna Nakadori Shopping Street. This historic shopping district has been around since the Meiji era – one of the most historic in the Shonan region. It’s affectionately nicknamed “Shonan’s Ameya-Yokocho.” But its history is actually much older than Tokyo’s Ameya-Yokocho. Ofuna Station opened in 1888 (21st year of Meiji). When the station was built, people began gathering here, and commerce naturally spread to the surrounding area. However, it becoming the bustling shopping district we see today happened a bit later. After the war, when street stalls began appearing as a black market, it gradually became more lively. During the Taisho period, there was something called the Ofuna Garden City Plan, but the Great Kanto Earthquake and Showa Depression caused the plan to collapse. However, that failure actually became a turning point. The land that became available when the plan collapsed was purchased by Shochiku in the 11th year of Showa, and they built a film studio there. That was Shochiku Ofuna Studio. Once this was established, the shopping district developed even further. Film industry people began coming through daily, and restaurants and food stores rapidly increased. The big stars of the time apparently used to shop in this very district. This shopping area actually consists of three connected shopping districts: Shoei-kai Shopping Street, Ekimae Shopping Street, and Nakadori Shopping Street – each with its own history. But when you walk through, you can’t tell where one ends and another begins – they flow together naturally. During the post-war economic boom, the number of stores increased even more. One of the shops that symbolizes Ofuna Nakadori Shopping Street is “Suzuki Suisan Ofuna Jumbo Market Store.” It has the atmosphere of a market supermarket, with fresh seafood lined up everywhere. There’s even a revolving sushi restaurant on the second floor where you can eat sushi made with fresh fish from the fish store. Going further, you’ll find “Suzuki Suisan Ofuna Store” and “Yutakaraya” facing each other. This street really has that authentic market atmosphere. The atmosphere here makes you feel like you’ve traveled back to the Showa era. When I think of Ofuna Nakadori Shopping Street, this is the image that comes to mind. Past this street, you’ll find “Ofuna Market.” Inside feels like a large greengrocer, with fresh vegetables and fruits piled high. This place also has that nice Showa-era atmosphere. Even though it’s a vegetable store, you want to linger – it’s a shop that evokes nostalgia. And this shopping district didn’t lose its vitality even when Shochiku Studio closed in 2000. Rather, it became an important place supporting daily life in Ofuna as it developed into a residential area. While new stores have opened, the atmosphere that evokes the Showa era still remains strong. We got tired from walking, so let’s take a little break. We’ve come to Village Cafe Ofuna Main Store. It’s a modern shop next to Yutakaraya. It’s like having the Reiwa era right next to the Showa era. We ordered Village Iced Coffee and cream puffs that looked delicious in the menu photos. It has a clean taste with just a hint of bitterness – well-balanced and easy to drink. I tried adding one packet of simple syrup, but it was better without it. For this coffee, I prefer it straight. The cream puffs look quite substantial from their appearance. When you pick them up, they have a hefty weight. The pastry is quite sweet. Rather than crispy, it has a soft, fluffy texture. The cream is cleaner and sweeter than expected, with good balance with the pastry. The sweet pastry and cream make a perfect combination. The interior is quiet, and we could rest peacefully in the calm atmosphere. Next, let’s head to the site of Shochiku Ofuna Studio that we’ve been talking about. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Ofuna Station. This road leading to the former studio site is called Sunaoshi River Promenade. It’s a riverside walkway with beautiful paving. Street trees line the path, making it a pleasant road to walk on. Cherry blossoms bloom here in spring, so it would be nice to take a walk while viewing the cherry blossoms. On the right side are Ofuna Post Office and Ito-Yokado. And here we are! This is the “Shochiku Ofuna Studio Site.” The studio has been completely removed, leaving only this small stone monument. Looking at it, it’s just a stone monument. It sits there inconspicuously, so you might pass by without noticing it. Actually, we did walk right past it and got lost. Even searching on Google Maps doesn’t give you the exact location… Here it is. It’s behind Ito-Yokado, where the walking paths intersect. This was the center of Japanese cinema for 64 years, from the 11th year of Showa to 2000. Director Yoji Yamada’s “It’s Tough Being a Man” series was also filmed here. Old Ofuna was known as a cinema town. The shopping district in front of the station was supported by the bustle of that era. When talking about Ofuna, the existence of this studio cannot be overlooked. Most of the land where Ofuna Studio stood was sold to Kamakura Women’s University and is now used as the Ofuna Campus. Next, we came to “Kamakura Arts Center.” It was just a short walk from the former studio site. Kamakura Women’s University is next to the monument, and Kamakura Arts Center is right across from it. This facility opened in 1993 as Kamakura City’s cultural and arts center. The large hall seats about 1,500, and the small hall seats 600. At the time, it was built on borrowed land from Shochiku Ofuna Studio. It’s used for classical concerts, theater, local performances, and various other events. We’re back at Ofuna Station. What you can see straight ahead from Ofuna Station’s Kasama Exit is GRAND SHIP. This new commercial facility opened in 2021. True to its name, the entire building is designed to look like a ship. When viewed from the front, it really does look like a ship’s bow – quite stylish! Inside are Yamada Denki electronics store, cafes, drug stores, and general goods stores, making it convenient for daily use. There’s a supermarket, nursery school, cram school, and clinic. Despite the futuristic exterior, it houses unexpectedly community-focused tenants. Perhaps because it’s directly connected to Branz Tower Ofuna apartment complex? It’s connected to JR’s Kasama Exit by a walkway, so access from the station is excellent. Recently, more apartments have been built in this area, and it’s becoming the new face of the neighborhood. Next we’ll head toward Ofuna Kannon, but first let’s make a little detour. Let’s go see the Shonan Monorail. It’s right next to JR Ofuna Station’s east exit. Shonan Monorail is one of Japan’s few suspension-type monorails. It takes about 14 minutes from Ofuna to Enoshima. It zooms along elevated tracks like an aerial stroll. It’s famous for being called “like a roller coaster” because of its dramatic ups and downs. There’s a rest area behind the ticket gates, from where you can clearly see Ofuna Kannon. Well then, let’s head toward that Kannon statue next. About a 5-minute walk west from Ofuna Station, here’s the entrance to the approach to “Ofuna Kannon.” From here to the main hall, it’s quite a steep uphill path. The distance is short, but because of the angle, it might be tough for elderly people. When viewing it from the Shonan Monorail, I thought it was positioned quite high up. There are no elevators or escalators. But once you pass through the mountain gate, it opens into a spacious area that’s very quiet. The grounds aren’t very large, but they’re beautifully maintained and create a pleasant atmosphere. Climb the stairs and you arrive – this is Ofuna Kannon. It’s about 25 meters tall. A white Kannon statue with a gentle expression. Though conceived before the war, construction was interrupted by the war, and it was completed in the 35th year of Showa (1960). Though it’s only the upper body, it’s larger and more impressive than expected. Originally it was planned to be a standing statue nearly twice the size of Nara’s Great Buddha. However, later surveys revealed problems with the ground, so it became a bust. Even so, it’s quite impressive. There’s a place to offer incense, so we put our hands together and prayed. You can also enter inside the Kannon statue. Inside are a 1/20th scale model and displays about the construction history. Ofuna Kannon Temple is said to bring good health, fertility, and safe childbirth. The view from the grounds is also wonderful. You can see all of Ofuna town, and sometimes even Mount Fuji in the distance. Finally, let’s eat at Ofuna’s famous restaurant, Kannon Shokudo. The official name is “Katsugyo Ryori Kannon.” It’s located just a 1-minute walk from Ofuna Station’s east exit. Though it was completely destroyed in a fire in January 2022, it reopened in May 2023. It’s an established restaurant founded in 1961. We arrived before 4 PM, but it was already full. Luckily, several customers were leaving, so we got in without waiting. Reservations start at 5 PM, so it’s quite a popular place. The clientele seemed to be mostly groups of elderly men. Since it was just rebuilt, the interior is very clean despite being an established restaurant. Looking at the menu, I was a bit torn, but decided on the seemingly standard “Sashimi Set Meal.” The sashimi set meal was very delicious. Everything was fresh with generous portions. Overall there was a lot of food – it felt like about 1.2 times the usual volume. This restaurant prides itself on dishes made with fresh fish. Having recovered from the fire, it’s once again beloved by locals. Not just groups, but also elderly men and women dining alone, some having lunch drinks, others just eating – you could really feel that it’s become a local gathering place. Today we explored the area around Ofuna Station. From historic shopping streets to the latest commercial facilities, it’s a town packed with both old and new attractions. The station area has many convenient commercial facilities and the traditional shopping district is still thriving. Plus there are cultural facilities and the Kannon statue – it’s a town with many faces. The transportation is convenient, shopping is easy, and you can feel the history. It’s convenient as a base for Kamakura sightseeing, and Ofuna alone offers plenty to enjoy. So that’s all for today’s video. Thank you for watching until the end. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe and give us a thumbs up! It really encourages us to make more videos.

神奈川県の「大船駅」をふらり散策してきました！
JR東海道線・横須賀線・京浜東北線、湘南モノレールが乗り入れる巨大ターミナル駅。
昭和の薫りが残る活気ある商店街を歩きながら、映画の街としての面影、大船のシンボル大船観音のある落ち着いたエリアまでを巡ります。

🎬チャンネル登録・高評価よろしくお願いします！

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