UWAMACHI (上町) -- Yokosuka's "Upper Town"
Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture .... From the bustling Keikyu Yokosuka-Chuo Station, if you slowly climb a slope called "Hirasaka", you will find some nostalgic scenery that retains the atmosphere of the Showa era. That is the 'Uwamachi Shopping Street.'
-- What kind of place is it?
The Uwamachi area is not just a single street. Streets like 'Uwamachi Ginza' and 'Nakazato Street' are connected like siblings, forming one warm town together.
This place, located on a hill overlooking the station area (downtown), is a pleasant spot where the sea breeze passes through. The street that once had an arcade now has its roof removed, allowing the historic buildings to reveal their beautiful appearance under the open sky.
-- Looking up at the town's symbol, the "kanban architecture"
When you walk around this town, be sure to look up a little.
There, you will find many unique and wonderful buildings called kanban architecture.
-- What is a 'kanban architecture'?
In the past (after the Great Kanto Earthquake), this style became popular for making buildings more fire-resistant and visually attractive. The front of the building was made flat and decorated with copper plates or tiles as if it were a single signboard.
Over many years, the copper plates changed to a beautiful green color (verdigris).
This deep hue and solid atmosphere are treasures unique to Uwamachi that cannot be reproduced by modern buildings. Buildings that have been carefully preserved, including "Midoriya", are still actively operating as shops today.
-- Memories of "Uwamachi for the Army, Shitamachi for the Navy"
In the naval port city of Yokosuka, there used to be a saying:
"Uwamachi for the Army, Shitamachi for the Navy".
This area naturally developed into a town where shops gathered since the Meiji era.
In the past, it was also a residential district where many navy officers and their families lived. It is said that because they catered to discerning customers, Uwamachi has many shops that handle "truly good things".
-- A new breeze is blowing, the future of Uwamachi
While valuing its history, Uwamachi is now trying to be reborn anew.
A new bustle
Utilizing sites such as the former hospital, night markets with lanterns are being held, and people can stroll around the town as if it were a "museum." Exciting events are increasing.
Art and music
In the autumn, the "Uwamatsuri" festival is held, filling the town with music, art, and delicious gourmet food.
Places to be passed down
Retro buildings are being renovated, and young people are starting cafes, secondhand bookstores, and galleries. A pleasant atmosphere mixes nostalgia and newness.
Uwamachi in Yokosuka City developed as a historic town alongside the establishment of the naval district office during the Meiji era, serving as a residential area for naval officers and surrounding army facilities (such as the former army hospital).
Located on the hillside of Hirasaka-ue, it features a retro shopping street lined with signboard-style buildings and is still cherished today as a residential and commercial area that retains the Showa-era atmosphere.
History and Features of Uwamachi:
Residential Area in the Naval Port Town: In contrast to the seaside "Shimomachi" (commercial area), the hilltop "Uwamachi" developed as a residential district.
"Army Uwamachi": In the past, the area had many army hospitals and related facilities and was called "Army Uwamachi" within the naval city of Yokosuka.
Uwamachi Ginza Shopping Street: A shopping street with over 100 years of history, where many "signboard-style" buildings that became popular after the Great Kanto Earthquake still remain, creating a charming retro streetscape.
Historical Buildings: Modern architecture, such as the "Yokosuka Uwamachi Church and Megumi Kindergarten," registered as a national tangible cultural property in 2003, is scattered throughout the area.
Development: In 1950 (Showa 25), parts of the surrounding towns were reorganized, forming the current "Uwamachi." Today, it is known as a nostalgic yet fresh area where long-established shops coexist with new stores.
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