Skip Road is the name given to the main Nakanobu shopping street and covered arcade that starts just to the north of Nakanobu Station on the Tokyu Oimachi Line and to the west of the Asakusa Line station.

My Hands Shimizu hardware store
Want some smokes with your cleaning supplies? | Photo by Gregory Lane

From the start, the covered arcade runs for approximately 360 meters, ending just short of Ebara-Nakanobu Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line.

Sagamiya Senbei shop
Sagamiya has all the sembei flavors | Photo by Gregory Lane

Compared to the much larger Palm arcade in nearby Musashi Koyama, Skip Road is much quieter, with more shops being locally run and the clientele seem noticeably older.

Suggested Activity
Sumo Morning Practice Tour at Stable in Tokyo
Try this insider’s experience at a sumo wrestler morning practice session. Enjoy exclusive access to a sumo stable, watching as these massive athletes put themselves through their daily training regimen and go head-to-head.
Coffee House Sante Fe
Santa Fe—a Showa style coffee shop. | Photo by Gregory Lane

A number of shops, like the sembei (rice cracker) shop, and the Showa era coffee shop, look like they’ve been here since the roof was erected in 1969.

A family run rice shop
A family run rice shop | Photo by Gregory Lane

Although common in Osaka and regional cities throughout Japan, covered arcades such as Skip Road are relatively rare in Tokyo.