No traveller likes crowds, but sometimes, crowded places can be a good thing as they enliven the atmosphere and make you excited.

Kamakura is a one-hour train ride from Tokyo, so it’s perfect for people who want to experience the charms of another prefecture. Komachi Street is a stone’s throw from Kamakura Station, so you can activate your shopping switch easily.

My wife went crazy at this section because she could enjoy all the delicacies she had seen so much on TV programs, including cheese katsu.

Other must-try foods included strawberry-and-grape candy and cheese dorayaki.

While enjoying the gastronomic feast, I also took in the authentic traditional architecture of these repurposed shophouses. They enhanced the nostalgic vibe of Komachi.

Thanks to my wife who wanted to buy some famous snacks at a fashionable store, I got to veer off the beaten path and explore some side alleys. Look at how intriguing and intricate some of these shops were.

All in all, I had a fantabulous time at Komachi Street and wholeheartedly recommend that you include it in your Japan itinerary!