Ameyoko-shotengai (Ameyoko Shopping District)

"Ameyokocho" is a place name of Japan. It indicates the shopping district of Taito Ward of the Tokyo Prefecture, which stretches along the west side of the viaduct to the under-viaduct of the JR Yamanote Line between Okachimachi and Ueno Stations. Though its official name is "Ameyoko-shotengai-rengokai (Ameyoko Shopping District Association)," it is commonly known as "Ameya-yokocho," "Ameyoko," "Ueno-ameyoko," or "Ameyoko-shotengai." Several signboards of the shopping district also display "Ameyoko." There are two theories for the origin of the name. After the war, the district became a black market selling various things. And especially at the time, there were over 200 shops selling "ame (candy)." From this it is said to have become this name.

The other theory is that because there were many shops selling the released goods of the US ("Ame"rica) Occupation Army. Or is said that possibly both the theories. From this, it became to be called "Ameya-yokocho" and moreover abbreviated to "Ameyoko." Even today, along the Ameya-yokocho-tonyagai, there are shops that sell confectionaries such as candy. At present, shops concentrate by each industry type. For example, food (mainly seafood and dry provisions), clothing, general merchandise, and jewelry. Especially at the year-end, the district is crowded with people who have come to purchase perishable foods for the New Year. And usually it only takes about ten minutes to walk from end to end, but during this period, it appears to take over several tens of minutes to walk through the district.