By umaaji Japan Walker

In this immersive 4K video walk, ummaji Japan Walker takes us through Yanagase Shopping Street (柳ケ瀬商店街), the main commercial promenade in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. The video starts at the eastern entrance of the arcade, showcasing a blend of contemporary businesses and aging architecture that hints at the area’s former boom era. Once a thriving downtown hub, Yanagase has suffered economic decline over recent decades but is undergoing efforts for revitalization.

Around the 14-minute mark, the atmosphere shifts as the walker explores the northern segment of Yanagase. This area reveals a more tranquil and nostalgic side, with older shops, narrow alleys, and fewer crowds—perfect for those interested in historical textures and Showa-era remnants within Japanese cities.

Continuing from around 25 minutes in, the video introduces viewers to 松竹小路 (Shochiku Alley), a charming backstreet with retro movie posters and boutique storefronts that retain the essence of a bygone era. Moving westward, the walker enters a livelier section believed to thrive more in the evening hours, with bars and eateries preparing for nighttime customers.

One striking highlight is the old theater and traditional cinema showcased at approximately the 45-minute mark. These nostalgic entertainment spots reflect Gifu's cultural past. Toward the end of the video, viewers pass an intriguing street lined with a coin laundry and abandoned snack bars—once-glamorous night entertainment spots, now haunting monuments of urban decay.

Overall, the video offers a rich, atmospheric journey through the shifting mood and layers of Gifu's main shopping street. It provides a vivid look into how local renewal projects coexist with ruins, portraying not just a location, but a story of resilience and transformation.