Kanda-Ogawamachi Sports Goods District
Tokyo Area Guide: Kanda Ogawamachi Sports Goods District 神田小川町
Ogawamachi Intersection, Tokyo
Kanda-ogawamachi in Chiyoda ward, Tokyo, is known for its numerous sporting goods stores, and occupies the 400 m stretch of Yasukuni-dori Avenue between Surugadaishita and Ogawamachi intersections.
The sporting goods available at Ogawamachi (as it is usually referred to) cover a wide range, including ball games, skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, cycling and golf. Most prominent in recent years are the snowboarding and skateboarding related stores, as both sports, especially snowboarding, continue to attract new young devotees - many of whom attend the nearby universities of Ochanomizu.
The area has also been helped by the rise of personal fitness regimes - not least among the older generation of Japanese - and the move of sportswear into mainstream fashion.
Victoria Sport, Ogawamachi, Tokyo
Spazio surf & snow store, Ogawamachi, Tokyo
History
Ogawamachi's sporting roots go back several centuries to when, quite coincidentally, the area (then with a different name) was used for breeding and training falcons for hunting. The name changed to Ogawamachi ("Brook Town") in 1693 when the fifth Shogun, Tsunayoshi, banned falconing in 1693 on compassionate grounds.
Ogawamachi flourished with the advent of Japan's modernization in the Meiji Period, with a variety of stores, including proto-department stores, book stores, billiard halls, and schools teaching the skills needed for modernization, meaning it teemed with students.
The nearby Ochanomizu district became the main center of institutions of learning in Tokyo, and with Japan's explosive growth from the mid-1950s, students had more money to spend on pastimes, including sports, and sporting stores grew up here to cater to that demand.
Students at the universities in nearby Ochanomizu continue to support the many sports and musical instrument stores in Kanda-ogawamachi - whose reputation as a sporting goods town now attracts sports enthusiasts from all over Tokyo looking for unrivaled product lineup and bargains.
Kanda-Ogawamachi Map
Sports goods stores in Kanda-Ogawamachi
There are dozens of stores catering to all types of sports in Kanda-ogawamachi. They range in style and scale from practical mom-and-pop, to specialist boutique, to discount outlet, to all-inclusive mega-store. The following is a selection.
One Make
One Make deals in dozens of brands of snowboard, and snowboard-related gear such as footwear and clothing.
Hours: 11 am-7 pm April-August, 11 am-7.30 pm in September, 11 am-8 pm in October, 11.30 am-8.30 pm on November weekdays, 10.30 am-8.30 pm on November weekends, 11.30 am-8.30 pm on November-February weekdays, 10.30 am-8.30 pm on November-February weekends, 11.30 am-8 pm in March.
Open every day August-March, closed Wednesdays April-July.
2-4-5 Kanda-ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0052
Tel 03 5282 2477
L-Breath Bike Ochanomizu
L-Breath Bike deals in road bikes and their many accessories, including riders' gear. L-Breath Bike is under the umbrella of the Victoria sports company that dominates the area.
Hours: 11 am-8 pm Mon-Sat, 10.30 am-7.30 pm Sun & public holidays
1F Shinko Bldg., 3-6-8 Kanda-ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0052
Tel. 03-3518-0255
Spazio Morispo
Spazio Morispo is a "surf & snowshop" catering to the fashionistas of those sports with an extensive line-up of very good-looking surfing and skiiboarding gear for men and women in one of the area's best-looking stores.
Hours: 11 am-8 pm every day
2-3-6 Kanda-ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0052
Tel. 03 3296 3700
London Sports Kanda
London Sports Kanda Branch is the Kanda-Ogawamachi branch of a ski, snowboard and outdoor outlet chain. London Sports has a huge range of goods and is the place for discounted gear - the first stop for sportswear bargain hunters.
Hours: 10 am-8 pm every day
1F/2F Matsuoka Ogawamachi Building, 2-3 Kanda-ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0052
Tel. 03 3292 0333
London Sports, Kanda-Ogawamachi
Murasaki Sports, Kanda-Ogawamachi
Murasaki Sports
Murasaki Sports is the Kanda Ogawamachi branch of a chain dealing in surfboards and bodyboards, both new and used.
Hours: 11 am-8.30 pm, 7 days a week.
2-4-8 Kanda-ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0052
Tel 03 3295 7676
S'Port Mizuno
S'Port Mizuno calls itself "Mizuno's largest flagship store in East Japan" and stocks gear and wear for dozens of different sports and activities, including running, walking, baseball, softball, golf, football, racket sports, swimming and martial arts.
Hours: 11 am-8 pm every day
3-1, Kandaogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0052
Tel. 03 3233 7000
Victoria Golf
Victoria Golf, Ochanomizu Branch has seven floors of everything golf-related, and includes a Junior Corner on the B1 floor, a Practice Corner on the 2F, and separate floors dedicated to men's and women's golf wear.
Hours: 11 am-8 pm weekdays, 10.30 am-7.30 pm weekends & public holidays.
2-5 Kanda-ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0052
Tel. 03 3219 2781
The Suns
The Suns, Kanda-Ogawamachi Branch is a surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding megastore run by Murasaki Sports. The Suns sells both boards and clothing, with an impressive range of gear for all types of boarders.
Hours: 11 am-8 pm every day (until 8.30 pm during winter)
2-5-17 Kanda-ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0052
Tel. 03 5282 3911
Ski Shop Vail
Ski Shop Vail is two floors of skiing-related goods from hundreds of brands, including skis, poles, boots, clothing and accessories and is staffed by skiing enthusiasts.
April-July: 11.30 am-7 pm every day, but closed Wednesday
August: 11.30 am-7 pm every day
September: 11.30 am-7.30 pm every day
October: 11.30 am-8 pm weekdays, 11 am-8 pm weekends & public holidays
November-February: 11.30 am-8.30 pm weekdays, 10.30 am-8.30 pm weekends & public holidays
March 1-20: 11.30 am-8 pm weekdays, 11.30 am-8 pm weekends & public holidays
March 21-31: 11.30 am-7.30 pm weekdays, 11.30 am-7.30 pm weekends & public holidays
1F Kimura Building, 2-1 Kanda-ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0052
Tel. 03 5577 6411
ici club Kanda
ici club (pronounced ee-shee) is 7 floors of outdoor-related gear and clothing, with each floor dedicated to a different brand, and having its own phone number!: Earth Plaza, Marmot (tel.03 5280 1128), Columbia (tel. 03 3518 2741), Phenix (tel. 03 3518 0760), Millet (tel. 03 5577 6626), Arc'teryx (tel. 03 5577 6217), Mammut (tel.03 3518 0650), The North Face (tel.03 3291 0770), b.c.map (tel. 03 3259 0080), Salomon (tel.03 5577 6922) and Suunto. ici club has several branches throughout Japan.
Hours: 11 am-8 pm every day, but closed Wednesday (except when Wednesday falls on a national holiday)
3-6 Kanda-ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0052
Victoria Wardrobe
Victoria Wardrobe is a clothing megastore for numerous sports: running, walking, swimming, baseball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, badminton, table tennis, winter sports and track and field. 1 hour free parking for purchases over 5,000 yen, 2 hours for over 10,000 yen.
Hours: 11 am-8 pm Monday-Saturday, 10.30 am-7.30 pm Sundays & public holidays
3-6 Kanda-ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0052
Tel. 03 3233 1861
L-Breath Bicycle store, Ogawamachi, Tokyo
Accommodation in Kanda-Ogawamachi
Kanda-Ogawamachi and nearby offers, first of all, great location to the visitor to Tokyo, being just a short distance from both the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station. The accommodation available here is a mix of medium-budget and luxury. The following is a selection of hotels in Kanda-Ogawamachi.
APA Hotel Kanda Jimbocho Ekihigashi on Yasukuni-dori Avenue features the distinctive modern-classical styling of the APA Hotel chain of hotels. This very clean, fairly recent addition to the district is less than 5 minutes' walk from Jinbocho Station. Room amenities include nightwear and free green tea. There is a simple in-house restaurant.
Ochanomizu Hotel Shoryukan offers either a Western or Japanese-type stay, with its tatami-room option. The Japanese atmosphere extends to the public bath for guest use (although with a bathroom in each guest room too), a Japanese-style breakfast - and even a small jazz bar!
The b Ochanomizu, just 2 minutes' walk from Awajicho Subway Station, is a well-appointed hotel that, although reasonably priced, cuts no corners in terms of cleanliness and comfort. Smart rooms, a good breakfast, and a staff renowned for being helpful.
The luxury Hotel Ryumeikan Ochanomizu Honten is for the discerning guest who wants to savor the classic, traditional atmosphere of the learned, cultured Ochanomizu area. This recently refurbished century-old hotel with only 9 elegant, spacious guest rooms offers the best of refined Japanese hospitality, infinitely personalized. Right near Shin-Ochanomizu Station.
Access to Kanda-Ogawamachi
Kanda-Ogawamachi is accessed by Ogawamachi Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line, Awajicho Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Shin-Ochanomizu Station (exits B4 or B5) on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, and Jinbocho Station (exits A5 or A7) on the Toei Mita Line and the Toei Shinjuku Line.
Nearby Kanda-Ogawamachi
The old Orthodox Christian church, the Nikolai-do, is five minutes walk north of Ogawamachi intersection. Tokyo's number one booktown, Jinbocho, is a little west of Kanda-ogawamachi along Yasukuni-dori Avenue.
Book Hotel Accommodation in Japan
Books on Japan
Kanda-Ogawamachi in Tokyo covers a stretch of Yasukuni-dori Avenue that is lined with stores selling sporting goods and attire.
