The lore of Shimokitazawa Tokyo

1923

Great Kantō earthquake survivors from downtown Tokyo move to farmland like Kitazawa. Setagaya grows from 40,000 in 1920 to 149,000 by 1930.

Setagaya CitySetagaya CityJapan TodayMeiji Gakuin University, Institute of Economic Research annual report

1927

The Odakyu railway opens from Shinjuku to Odawara, with a station among the rice paddies. Shops gather round it.

Hi-Life Research Institute (hilife.or.jp); author at Market Place OfficeOdakyu Electric RailwayMeiji Gakuin University, Institute of Economic Research annual report

1933

A second line, today's Keio Inokashira, opens from Shibuya and crosses the Odakyu. Shimokitazawa now has trains to both Shinjuku and Shibuya.

Keio CorporationMeiji Gakuin University, Institute of Economic Research annual report

1939

The Ichibangai shopkeepers form a shopping street association. From the start, it runs its own school to train shop staff.

Hi-Life Research Institute (hilife.or.jp); author at Market Place Office

c. 1945

Wartime bombing spares Shimokitazawa. A black market grows at the station's north exit and becomes known as Setagaya's food base.

Meiji Gakuin University, Institute of Economic Research annual reportTV Tokyo

1946

Japan's war rebuilding board plans a road up to 26 m wide north of the station. It is approved 60 years later.

Setagaya CitySetagaya CityMeiji Gakuin University, Institute of Economic Research annual report

1981

Kazuo Honda, a film actor who ran bars, opens The Suzunari theatre in a rehearsal room above the bars of Suzunari Yokochō.

All AboutWalkerplus

1982

Honda opens the 386-seat Honda Theatre. Ten theatres and halls now stand within 500 m, seven of them run by his group.

All AboutMeiji Gakuin University, Institute of Economic Research annual report

1990

Neighbourhood associations, shops and theatre people start the Shimokitazawa Theatre Festival, whose 36th edition runs through February 2026.

Setagaya City

2013

Odakyu trains move underground through Shimokitazawa in March, freeing about 1.7 km of old rail land above them.

Odakyu Electric RailwayOdakyu Electric RailwayOdakyu Electric Railway

2017

Redevelopment clears the north-exit market, which grew from the black market. Tanaka greengrocer, open since 1950, trades until just before demolition.

TV TokyoTV TokyoHi-Life Research Institute (hilife.or.jp); author at Market Place Office

2022

Shimokita Senrogai, 'track street', opens in full on the old rail land. Odakyu builds its 13 places to support the town.

Odakyu Electric RailwayOdakyu Electric Railway

OUR PICK2026

On Ichibangai, Bear Pond Espresso. Our pick for espresso in Tokyo. Come before 2 pm, when the espresso stops.

Time Out TokyoOpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Today

Today Shimokitazawa is famous for its vintage clothing, its live music and its curry.

Tokyo CheapoJapan Wonder Travel