"Setagaya Line & Boroichi Street Market"

Every year, on December 15th & 16th and again on January 15th & 16th, the Boroichi Street Market is held in Setagaya. Being a large market and having a long history (about 430 years!), there is always a bit more on sale than the usual fare at street markets, so it's fun to walk around and see what you can discover. It's sensibly held during the driest period of the year (important for all the old things laid out in the open), but it's also the coldest period of the year. Having vivid memories of getting very cold several times before, I wore a thick sweater under a thick down coat and - helped by there not being much wind - actually wasn't very cold this time around.

The following videos are from my December 16th, 2009 trip out to Boroichi, including scenes on the Setagaya Line and at the market itself:

"Setagaya Line - Shimotakaido to Matsubara" (091216-1123)

Riding the Setagaya Line out to see the Boroichi street market held every year on December 15th & 16th and January 15th & 16th. The Setagaya Line is basically a street car line, but the tracks have their own right-of-way, so the street cars don't run on the street. Interestingly (or should I say "obviously"?), the street cars fall in the same category as buses for the fare system.

The recorded announcement says (in Japanese) "Thank you for using the Setagaya Line" and requests that people sitting in the "priority" seats give them up to pregnant women, old people, etc. The live announcement suggests that those passengers going to Boroichi get off at the fourth station, Kamimachi. (Recorded on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009, at 11:23 a.m.)

"Setagaya Line - Yamashita to Miyanosaka" (091216-1127)

Riding the Setagaya Line from Yamashita to Miyanosaka. The large concrete overpass seen just as the car leaves Yamashita is the Odakyu Line. At the Miyanosaka stop, I didn't go for a closer look, but it looks like they've got one of the older streetcars sitting there for historical reasons. (Recorded on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009, at 11:27 a.m.)

"Setagaya Line - Miyanosaka to Kamimachi" (091216-1129)

Riding the Setagaya Line from Miyanosaka to Kamimachi, where I got off to wander around the Boroichi street market. (Recorded on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009, at 11:29 a.m.)

"Boroichi Street Market - December 16th, 2009-1/5" (091216-1137)

First of five clips of walking around the Boroichi Street Market on December 16th, 2009, the second day of the two-day event, which is held every December 15th & 16th and January 15th & 16th. (Recorded on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009, at 11:37 a.m.)

"Boroichi Street Market - December 16th, 2009-2/5" (091216-1138)

Second of five clips of walking around the Boroichi Street Market on December 16th, 2009, the second day of the two-day event, which is held every year on December 15th & 16th and January 15th & 16th. (Recorded on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009, at 11:38 a.m.)

"Boroichi Street Market - December 16th, 2009-3/5" (091216-1210)

Third of five clips of walking around the Boroichi Street Market on December 16th, 2009, the second day of the two-day event, which is held every year on December 15th & 16th and January 15th & 16th. (Recorded on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009, at 12:10 p.m.) Walking (very slowly!) through a crowded food section of the event.

"Boroichi Street Market - December 16th, 2009-4/5" (091216-1244)

Fourth of five clips of walking around the Boroichi Street Market on December 16th, 2009, the second day of the two-day event, which is held every year on December 15th & 16th and January 15th & 16th. (Recorded on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009, at 12:44 p.m.)

"Boroichi Street Market - December 16th, 2009-5/5" (091216-1309)

Fifth of five clips of walking around the Boroichi Street Market on December 16th, 2009, the second day of the two-day event, which is held every year on December 15th & 16th and January 15th & 16th. (Recorded on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009, at 1:09 p.m.)

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon