Around since the 1950s, the Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street (谷中銀座商店街) feels like a page out of the Tokyo of decades gone by.
Yanaka Ginza plays host to around 60 shops, many of which line the central street on both sides. Near the northern side of the street, is the Yūyake Dandan (夕やけだんだん) a seemingly simple set of stairs. However, the view from the top of these steps, let’s you oversee the stairs, the gate marking the entrance of the shopping street, and over the entirety of the street, and this is one of the most iconic photo spots depicting retro Tokyo.
Along the main street, you can find many local street foods, of which the most popular is probably the menchi katsu (メンチカツ, Minced meat cutlet), a minced pork cutlet. Apart from the main street, there are two major side streets that are packed with cool cafes, and a great place to sit down, read a book over a nice hot cup of coffee.
