Heiwa-dōri

Heiwa Dōri (平和通り, Peace Street) is a covered shopping arcade and tourist attraction in Naha, Okinawa. The entrance to the arcade is on Kokusai Street, opposite Mitsubishi departmeant store.^[1] The name Heiwa Dōri was chosen in a public competition in 1951, and is linked to the Heiwa-kan cinema which use to be located in the mouth of the arcade.^[2]

In the early 2000s Heiwa Dōri had become dated, with few customers, and many empty shops. More recently though, the Naha Ichiba market association and a new generation of younger shop owners have worked to revitalise the arcade. An influx of bars and restaurants has created a dining and nightlife scene, while also causing some issues due to the number of inebriated patrons.^[3]

The street features many gift shops selling Okinawan products that range from stone Shisa dogs - traditional statues placed on the roofs of many Okinawan homes, Awamori, a traditional Okinawan alcohol,^[4] various foods, colored Ryukyu glassware, Kariyushi shirts (similar to Hawaiian shirts) and geta clogs.^[2]

The Heiwa Dōri arcade is open from 10am to 8:30pm every day.^[5]

26°12′55″N 127°41′19″E / 26.2154°N 127.6886°E / 26.2154; 127.6886

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