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.