Shotengai ] - a street which has a concentration of shops and restaurants which is usually located near a train station. A shotengai typically includes:-
Shotengai are a great place to visit to catch a slice of life in Japan. Shotengai are usually located around train stations near residential areas so the people you see would be folks going about their daily life - as opposed to seeing office wo/men grab lunch or dinner.
The first photo is taken in my hood - this is the Palm shopping arcade - the longest indoor shotengai in Tokyo. Get off at Musashikoyama station and you will be right at the entrance. Ping me on Twitter before 11:30 AM and if I'm free we can go for lunch ^^;