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A mysterious city where "old" and "now" merge
Kamitori is a shopping street with a total length of 600m and a width of 11m from Torichosuji to Namikizaka, the center of Kumamoto.A location overlooking Kumamoto Castle, which is undergoing reconstruction day by day, across the Tsuboi River.The surrounding area is dotted with cultural facilities such as the Prefectural Museum of Art, the Prefectural Museum of Traditional Crafts, and the Kumamoto City Museum of Contemporary Art.There are many stores such as galleries, halls, books, and second-hand books, and it is also the origin of Kumamoto's culture.
Stores with a unique atmosphere can be seen on the side streets and back streets that connect to Kamidori, and new chemical changes are occurring every day.While leaving the scent of a castle town in the place names and townscapes, young people gather and send out the "now" -a city where you can feel the fusion of the past and the present.
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"Ipe" that creates the joy of walking
One of the biggest features of Kamidori is the wood "Ipe" spread on the sidewalk.A wood deck material from South America, it is a popular lumber because of its warm texture and durability. It was newly installed with the arcade in 1998 (Heisei 10).
This was inspired by Kamitori's first laying of wooden bricks (wooden blocks) in Kumamoto in 1925 (Taisho 14).The dark brown ipe shines in the high-ceilinged white arcade, which is inspired by the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.The gentle "walking comfort" of wood creates the joy of walking.This design has won the "Kumamoto Landscape Encouragement Award" given to excellent buildings by Kumamoto Prefecture.
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Do not be afraid of change and continue to take on new challenges
While having a long history, Kamidori has inherited a spirit that is not afraid of challenges. In 2003 (Heisei 15), the introduction of electronic money "Edy" in a wide range for the first time in Japan is also a manifestation.Although it had been experimentally introduced all over the country until then, it was the first time for Kamidori to start as a whole shopping district.
In addition, the "Kamitsu Art Project", which displays art works in various parts of the shopping district, the "Kamitsu Standard University", which aims to improve the qualities of the shopping district through lectures by professionals by field, and the store staff as instructors, consumers. Planning and managing various projects such as "Machizemi" that conveys the knowledge unique to specialty stores. We are constantly making new efforts based on the appeal of Kamidori, the city of culture.