What other travelers are saying about Mamedamachi Shopping Street
This is like Kyoto that hasn’t been discovered yet. A quaint little heritage town that hasn’t gotten its fame, but the simplicity of its style has huge potentials in future growths.
It's a small market but has enough shops to look around and shop. It was interesting to watch traditional drum performance which was unexpected. It's quite a long performance but end of that, you can join the session that allows you to participate to play the drum under the performance team's instruction which I missed out.
We went here for the festival with lanterns on November 11, 2023. The evening is not typical on most days and I believe shops are closed at 5-6 pm. However, the street is a heritage area though the town is not well known.
No, there is no admission fee to visit Mamedamachi Shopping Street. The historic district is open to the public and you can freely walk through the streets and explore the traditional architecture. However, individual shops, restaurants, museums, and attractions within the area may charge their own entrance fees or require purchases.
There are several parking facilities available near Mamedamachi Shopping Street. Most parking lots charge fees, typically ranging from 300-500 JPY for a few hours. The Mamedamachi Uwamachi Dori Parking offers 33 parking spaces and operates 24 hours with rates of 200 JPY per 60 minutes on weekdays (8:00-20:00) and a maximum daily charge of 900 JPY on weekends and holidays (8:00-20:00).
Popular souvenirs include traditional wooden geta clog shoes, which are a specialty of Hita and can be worn while strolling through the streets. Food specialties include the famous Sui cheesecake roll, Ginjo ice cream made with Japanese sake from local breweries, and products from the area's renowned sake breweries. The district is also known for traditional crafts and local delicacies that reflect the area's merchant heritage from the Edo period.
Mamedamachi is attractive year-round, but certain seasons offer special experiences. Spring (February-March) features the Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) with impressive doll displays and cherry blossoms. Summer brings the vibrant Hita Gion Festival with large decorative carriages. Autumn offers the Hita Tenryo Festival and beautiful fall foliage. Winter provides a quieter, more intimate experience of the historic streets. For special cultural experiences, you can rent kimonos or take rickshaw rides through the district.
From Fukuoka, take express buses from Hakata Station Bus Terminal or Tenjin Bus Terminal, which reach Hita in approximately 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take the JR Kyudai Line to Hita Station. Once you arrive at Hita Station, Mamedamachi is about a 15-minute walk. The area is also accessible by car, taking approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes from Hakata. Local tourist information is available at the station to help with directions and recommendations.
