This video guides viewers through the area surrounding Tsuchiura Station (土浦駅) in Ibaraki Prefecture, focusing on the city’s unique post-bubble landscape and its blend of nostalgia and urban challenges. The host begins at the Kawaguchi Shopping Center Mall 505 (川口ショッピングセンターモール505), a once-bustling retail complex that now displays the classic marks of a ‘shuttered shopping street,’ a phenomenon where many small businesses have closed their doors, reflecting economic trends seen in Japan’s regional cities.

A highlight of the tour is the Tsuchiura New Way (土浦ニューウェイ), an ambitious infrastructure project built during Japan’s economic bubble at the remarkable cost of 13.2 billion yen. Despite the massive investment, this elevated roadway is now seen by many as a symbol of overdevelopment from the bubble era, providing an interesting lens on Japan’s rapid post-war modernization and its aftermath.

The video also explores retro Showa-era arcades and showcases local spots like Okonomiyaki Katsura (お好み焼きかつら), an old-fashioned eatery serving savory Japanese pancakes, a specialty popular across Japan. The journey concludes with a look at the Tsuchiura Meiten-gai and Central Cinemas area, highlighting the nostalgic charm still present in smaller Japanese cities and shopping streets.

Tsuchiura is known for its lakeside location near Lake Kasumigaura, for historic cycling routes, and for local culinary specialties such as lotus root (renkon). For travelers interested in regional nostalgia, bubble-era relics, and urban renewal trends, Tsuchiura offers a compelling snapshot of Japan’s evolving cityscapes.