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  ON THE TRIP

  An audio guide app that enhances your travel experience

  Similar to a museum audio guide, ON THE TRIP provides on-the-spot audio guidance at shrines, temples, spectacular views, and various sightseeing spots at any travel destination. Download the app and turn your smartphone into your own personal travel guide!

Audio Time Travel is an article that allows you to enjoy your trip to Osaka while listening to a guide. In this article, you can enjoy a portion of the audio guide. You can experience the entire audio on the ON THE TRIP app.

03 | Sakaemachi Shopping Street (formerly Tanakamachi Shopping Street)

The Beginning of Department Stores

Sakaemachi Shopping Street stretches north from Ikeda Station and serves as a link to the station.

Long before Kobayashi Ichizo built his Muromachi Residence, Ikeda flourished as a castle town. Beyond the shopping street lies the Nose Kaido, which connects the Tanba region to Osaka, allowing for the transportation of agricultural products and other local goods to the city. This influx of people contributed to a vibrant and prosperous atmosphere.

In the Meiji Era, Tanakamachi Shopping Street emerged as a link between Ikeda Station and the bustling castle town surrounding it. With the train line’s opening, more customers began to flow in from the suburbs, and business continued to grow. As a result, the town was renamed Sakaemachi, and the shopping street became known as Sakaemachi Shopping Street.

The first department store in Hokusetsu, the Itoya Department Store, was established during the early Showa Period. This three-story brick building was among the first to adopt a modern Western architectural style. Today, it’s preserved as the former Ikeda Telegraph and Telephone Office, allowing a glimpse into that era through the tiles adorning its walls.

This guide was created based on documents and interviews and includes some interpretation done by us at ON THE TRIP. Theories differ between experts, so try to find out what really happened on your travels!

*The information listed is current as of February 2025. Please check the website of each store or facility for the latest opening hours.