The Akiba Local - in Koshomachi, Yamagata

This time, I’ve left Akihabara behind and traveled to Yamagata. Yamagata City once had a Yukaku — a licensed pleasure district in old Japan. The word Yukaku may sound familiar if you’ve watched Demon Slayer and its Entertainment District Arc. But what does a real former pleasure district look like more than 100 years later? I walked through Koshomachi, a quiet neighborhood where traces of the past can still be found in old buildings, walls, narrow alleys, and the atmosphere of the streets. There are no demons here, of course. Just an ordinary neighborhood — but knowing its history makes you see it a little differently. Walking through modern Yamagata gave me a chance to imagine another side of Japan, one that existed generations ago. Japan isn’t only Tokyo, Kyoto, temples, and famous tourist destinations. Sometimes, simply walking through a quiet neighborhood can reveal a completely different side of the country. I hope this video gives you another glimpse of the Japan you don’t usually see. See you again on The Akiba Local.