大和駅さんぽ｜巨大図書館シリウス・神社・純喫茶…歩いて巡る大和の魅力
Today we’ve come to Yamato Station in Yamato City, Kanagawa Prefecture! This station serves both the Odakyu Enoshima Line and the Sotetsu Main Line, and it’s about one hour from Tokyo Station. It’s a terminal station where two railway lines intersect. Yamato City is known as a “Library Castle Town” and has gained national attention as such. Particularly, the cultural creation center “Sirius” that opened in 2016 is a popular facility used by 3 million people annually, and it’s ranked number one in the “Libraries People Want to Use” ranking. Today we’ll thoroughly explore both the East Exit and West Exit areas of Yamato Station, discovering the city’s attractions! Let’s start our exploration from the East Exit of the station! When you turn left from the East Exit ticket gate, what spreads before you is a beautifully developed station plaza. It’s a spacious pedestrian-only area with an openness that’s hard to believe for a station front. There’s an interesting monument in the plaza. It’s a contemporary art piece shaped like a ring. It’s silver and shiny, quite eye-catching. It’s a stylish design with ellipses combined within circular forms. I wonder if it’s some kind of symbol of Yamato Station? Well then, let’s proceed straight down the road extending from this plaza. There’s a massive facility representing Yamato Station – Sirius is located there! From the station plaza to Sirius, there’s a pedestrian-only path called the East Side Promenade that continues. It’s a straight path about 200 meters long where no cars pass. Having such a wide pedestrian-only path at ground level in front of a station shows quite bold urban planning! It has stone-paved surfacing, and the path width seems easily 10 meters. There are only a cafe and supermarket on the right side. It’s such a relaxing space that feels great for strolling. The street lamp design is also classical, and I could feel they put effort into creating atmosphere. It’s just a road, but it feels like a small park. Having this kind of promenade makes you feel the city has breathing room. This kind of pedestrian-first urban development is really great! And what comes into view straight ahead is today’s main attraction, the Yamato Cultural Creation Center Sirius. The glass-covered futuristic exterior makes for a very impressive building. This Sirius opened in November 2016 as Yamato City’s cultural complex facility. It combines a library, lifelong learning center, arts and culture hall, and childcare support facilities all in one place, serving as a hub for knowledge and community exchange. The exterior is full of glass and greenery – it’s incredibly stylish! There are plantings on the terraces, and greenery is visible everywhere on the building. There’s a Starbucks on the right side of the entrance, and it was busy with customers from the morning. Despite being only about a 3-minute walk from the station, it has a very calm atmosphere. It’s completely different from the image of a typical library! This nationally renowned library is used by 3 million people annually, and it’s ranked number one in the “Libraries People Want to Use” ranking. It also holds the record of reaching 1 million visitors in just 135 days after opening! It’s incredibly popular! They seemed to be holding some event, and there were many families. What first surprises you when entering Sirius is the library’s vastness and openness. From the first floor to the upper floors, most of it is used as a library, and you can use it for various purposes, not just books. Every floor has table seating prepared, and the workspace facilities are incredibly extensive! Sirius was designed to change the traditional library image of “a quiet place to read books” with the concept of “people as the main focus.” This seems to be one of the reasons for its popularity. There are plenty of freely available tables and sofas, and it doesn’t feel like a library at all! The 4th and 6th floors have terrace seating, where you can spend time feeling the outdoor breeze. For reading, studying, or work, the environment is set up for free use, making even non-residents want to use it! The 6th floor was particularly impressive. About one-third of the floor is filled with tables and chairs. Being summer vacation, there were many students as well. Everyone was quietly concentrating, and the atmosphere was really nice. The 6th floor also has vending machines. It would be nice to buy drinks and relax on the terrace! By the way, beverages are allowed anywhere in the facility as long as they’re in containers with lids. This flexibility might also be a reason for its popularity. It feels like a space for people, not just books. Also, the 2nd floor has paid work booths that can be used for 100 yen per hour. It’s recommended for those who want to work on computers in a quiet space. When it’s crowded with students, the paid booths would be more peaceful. You can bring in coffee from Starbucks, and the seats are equipped with power outlets, LAN ports, and even desk lamps, perfect for those who want to do serious work. This is more of a workspace than a library! Having a library of this scale near the station is truly enviable. Not just for reading books, but as a place for learning and work – the quality is too high! With Starbucks and plenty of free seating, if this were in my neighborhood, I’d come here every day! Having such a user-friendly library as a city facility is truly amazing. I felt Yamato City’s serious commitment. Going around to the right from the front of Sirius, there’s a slope leading from outside to the 2nd floor. Going up the slope, on the left side is É PRONTO YAMATO Bunka-mori Store. The name is a bit long, but it’s a PRONTO cafe chain. It has a bright, glass-walled interior with direct entry from outside. You can’t access it from inside Sirius. While the first-floor Starbucks was crowded, this place was surprisingly empty. It feels like only people in the know come here, giving it a hidden gem atmosphere. And when you continue further back, you can see a shrine torii gate. There’s a shrine right behind the library! This is Yamato Tenmangu Shrine. It’s a shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of learning, and it’s a little-known “shrine attached to a library.” A library and shrine combination is quite rare! Originally, this shrine was established in 1945, and with the Sirius development in 2016, it was relocated to this 2nd floor deck. As a symbol of post-war reconstruction, it has a history of being built with the hope of “becoming a beacon for Japan’s recovery.” A shrine close to the sky feels somehow special. Since it’s the deity of learning, it’s perfectly fine to pray before studying or reading! The torii gate, purification font, and main hall are all properly maintained, making it a small but proper shrine. Having a place like this is somehow calming. Being surrounded by buildings and apartments gives a very strange sensation. Our next destination is Fukami Shrine. We’ll head east from Sirius and walk along the railway for a while to get there. Here too, a pedestrian-only promenade continues. Since it’s in the opposite direction from the station, it feels like a walking path through residential areas. On the map, it didn’t look very far, but when actually walking, it was quite a distance! Moreover, this day was just before noon in midsummer. With the reflection from the asphalt, I almost started regretting it midway… You could feel the heat draining your energy away. After walking for a while, the promenade ended and became a regular road. From here, we go down the road along the railway tracks. You can see the Sotetsu Line tracks on the right. It was less than a 10-minute walk, but I was relieved when I saw the entrance. The wooden torii gate has a nice, elegant appearance. The approach is also beautifully maintained. The shrine grounds are surprisingly spacious! I felt glad that I came. Fukami Shrine is a venerable shrine said to have been founded about 1,500 years ago. It’s listed in the Engishiki Jinmyocho from 927 as an Engishiki shrine, making it one of the 13 prestigious shrines of Sagami Province. 1,500 years ago is unimaginably ancient! Unlike Sirius, this is a place with incredible history. Engishiki shrines are prestigious shrines officially recognized by the imperial court in the Heian period. Minamoto no Yoritomo, Ota Dokan, and Takeda Shingen – military commanders throughout history also worshipped here. It’s amazing that such famous military leaders also came here to pray! You can feel the romance of history. The current shrine buildings were reconstructed in 1941. They were destroyed by fire in the Meiji period, but were magnificently restored. The enshrined deities are Takemikazuchi-no-kami, Takeminakata-no-kami, and Kuraokami-no-kami, worshipped respectively as deities governing military fortune, wind, and rain. Ancient blessings of rain, protection in battle, and circulation of wind – these three deities continue to watch over Yamato City today. And this large tree is a 500-year-old Japanese elm sacred tree. It’s designated as a city natural monument, and was once called the “mystery tree.” It’s an incredibly large tree! Thinking it’s been here for 500 years, this also makes you feel the history. The shrine grounds have several auxiliary shrines. On the left side with many red banners is Okura Inari Shrine. The area where Okura Inari Shrine stands is where Fukami Shrine’s worship hall was originally placed – essentially the “original place of worship.” It’s beloved as a shrine for bountiful harvests, business prosperity, and matchmaking – various prayers and wishes are believed to be answered here. And on the right side is Yasukuni-sha. Yasukuni-sha was originally “Atsugi-ku Shrine” located at Atsugi Naval Air Base, moved here after the war. As a shrine dedicated to those who died in war, it continues to be carefully maintained today. The innovation of Sirius and the history of Fukami Shrine – Yamato is an interesting city where new and old coexist! Although the walk from the station was long, it was a shrine worth visiting. We could truly feel the weight of 1,500 years of history. Leaving Fukami Shrine behind, we’ve returned to Sirius again. Next, let’s walk along “Ginza Street” on the way back to the station. It’s the road extending straight from the front of Sirius. It’s the road behind the East Exit Promenade we walked earlier. The street is called “Ginza Street,” but officially it seems to be called “Yamato Ginza Shopping District.” There are apparently 11 shopping districts around Yamato Station, and this Ginza Street is one of them. Restaurant signs are quite prominent. I got the impression there are many yakitori shops and izakaya. Since it’s lunchtime, most shops seem to be pre-opening. At night, this street probably has a completely different character. Being in front of the station, it’ll likely bustle with people coming home from work. Getting closer to the station, there were Matsuya and Ohsho restaurants. Having chain stores gives a bit of reassurance! The shopping district is quiet during the day, but this Ginza Street looks interesting for enjoying nighttime Yamato. We’re back at the station plaza! This time, for lunch and a break, we’re visiting Pure Coffee Shop Florida. You can see it from the East Exit plaza – that particularly striking yellow building! It’s a long-established coffee shop that’s been running for over 50 years. It was even featured on Fuji TV’s “Falling in Love with Pure Coffee Shops” program. But the entrance stairs are… somehow dim and require courage to enter! I wondered if it was okay to go up these stairs. The stairs had quite an atmosphere. If I hadn’t researched it beforehand, I might have turned back. At the top of the stairs there’s a door, and here too you wonder “is it okay to enter?” But when you muster the courage to open the door, there’s a calm space packed with Showa-era atmosphere! Purple and green colorful sofas, walls covered with photos everywhere, and well-worn manga lined up in rows. It’s like wandering into a Showa retro world! The interior is surprisingly spacious with lots of seating. It was apparently renovated from a building that was originally a dance hall. Most customers seemed to be here alone. I ordered a Napolitan pasta and iced coffee lunch set. 900 yen with a drink included is a good deal! The Napolitan, both in taste and appearance, was exactly “old-fashioned Napolitan!” Thick noodles with a strong ketchup flavor – the nostalgic taste I expected. I chose table seating with a good view of the interior, but next time the window seats would also be nice. The lighting is subdued, perfect for quietly reading books. Unlike convenience stores with strong air conditioning, sitting here, it properly cooled down. The unique atmosphere of the interior makes this a precious shop. I think it’s a hidden gem of Yamato City. Before leaving Florida, let’s also check out this shopping district. This is the “Minamitengai Kyoeikai” shopping district. There’s a bento shop at the entrance, and I saw customers making purchases. But all the other shops… have their shutters down. It has a roof, but quite a dim atmosphere. It continues deep inside, but most of it has become a shuttered shopping street. Maybe it’s a shopping district that comes alive at night? Being in front of the station… I wonder. It somehow makes you feel like you’ve wandered into a back alley. Next, we’re heading toward the west exit of Yamato Station. Coming out the west exit, there’s also a wide pedestrian space developed here. The west exit plaza is called “Nadeshiko Plaza.” And the pedestrian-only road extending from this plaza is “Nadeshiko Road.” Pink flags say “Nadeshiko Road.” It has a different atmosphere from the east exit. Actually, Yamato City is known as a “women’s soccer town,” and has produced many players who were active in Nadeshiko Japan, including Nahomi Kawasumi. Kawasumi is from Yamato City and was a member of the 2011 World Cup winning team! In 2013, to honor the achievements of Kawasumi, Shinobu Ohno, Megumi Kamionobe, Shiho Onodera, and other women’s soccer players connected to Yamato City, this west exit plaza was named “Yamato Nadeshiko Plaza.” I missed filming it, but there was apparently also a handprint monument. Bronze handprints of the four players are installed. If the east exit is a cultural space centered on Sirius, the west exit focuses on sports, particularly women’s soccer, in its urban development. We’ll walk along this “Nadeshiko Road” to our next destination, Fureai no Mori. Walking straight along Nadeshiko Road for about 10 minutes, we arrived at Fureai no Mori! It’s a comprehensive park on the west side of Yamato Station themed around water, greenery, and flowers. It’s one of Yamato City’s representative parks. Before coming, I imagined a forest park for children, but actually visiting, it feels like walking trails through a forest. There are certainly open areas and playground equipment, but most of it consists of walking paths. Children can really run around only in the central area called “Fureai Plaza.” It really feels like a forest, true to its “Fureai no Mori” name. It was past noon, but perhaps due to the intense heat, there were hardly any people. There was just one family group. The park includes a Green-up Center providing information about flowers and greenery. There’s also a model garden maintained for enjoying flowers and trees throughout the seasons. Since we’re here, let’s visit Kumano Shrine adjacent to Fureai no Mori! From inside Fureai no Mori, despite getting lost toward Hikiji River, we managed to reach Kumano Shrine! It was a journey where the heat drained our energy, but we finally made it! This is the entrance to Kumano Shrine. There’s a stone torii gate and on the right stands a magnificent stone marker reading “Kumano Shrine.” The shrine is up these stairs. There aren’t many steps, so just a little more to reach it! Climbing the stairs, you can see the grounds surrounded by greenery. It’s a very atmospheric shrine nestled quietly in the forest. The main hall is more impressive than expected! Kumano Shrine enshrines Susanoo-no-mikoto, Hayatama-no-o, Izanagi-no-mikoto, and Kotosaka-no-o as its four main deities. While the founding date is unknown, it has a history of being rebuilt in the early Edo period. It’s an old shrine from the Edo period! As the community’s main shrine, it has been beloved as a guardian deity for abundant harvests, matchmaking, and traffic safety. The current shrine buildings were reconstructed in 1978 through the combined efforts of local parishioners. In September, there’s an annual festival that brings the local community together. Usually it’s very quiet, and the sacred atmosphere surrounded by forest is soothing. Being able to visit it as a set with Fureai no Mori is also appealing. Despite the difficult journey in midsummer, it was a place I’m glad I visited. Escaping the forest and walking through residential areas to our next destination. Changing completely from Kumano Shrine and Fureai no Mori, we walked through residential areas to arrive at “Cafe Chaika.” It’s read as “Chaika” – a coffee shop with quite an unusual name. This building is really impressive! The distinctive triangular silhouette really catches your eye. It’s a long-established coffee specialty shop that’s been in business for about 50 years. It’s a shop that prides itself on home roasting and siphon coffee! Entering the shop, completely different from the exterior impression, it has a calm atmosphere like an old farmhouse. The ceiling shows wooden beams with chic, warm interior design. It seems to be run by an elderly couple. This shop’s specialty is roasting beans after receiving orders and carefully brewing each cup using the siphon method. Attracted by “this week’s fresh roast,” I ordered hot Guatemalan coffee despite the heat! I also ordered a hot sandwich single with minced meat. What’s in this small dish is milk. It had become fluffy like cream. The coffee has richness with a slight bitterness – it’s very delicious! I was unsure about adding milk, but when I tried it, it became quite to my taste. The hot sandwich also had fluffy bread, and the meat inside had sweetness – it was very delicious. The bread’s grilling was also perfect – crispy outside, fluffy inside. Since they brew each cup individually using the siphon method, it truly feels like “coffee just for me,” giving it a special quality. After relaxing at Chaika, we’re returning to Yamato Station via Shinbashi Street. Walking through Shinbashi Street Shopping District, the banners hanging from street lamps are quite noticeable. They read “Yamato Awa Odori Birthplace – Shinbashi Street Shopping District.” Actually, Yamato City holds a big festival every July called “Kanagawa Yamato Awa Odori.” In 1977, it originated from this Shinbashi Shopping District. 2025 marks the 49th anniversary of this historic festival. It began with the first Yamato Awa Odori held on scorching Shinbashi Street, and has become Yamato’s summer tradition that continues to this day. We did quite a lot of walking today! We started from the station plaza and ended up going through forests all the way to Kumano Shrine. We got lost along the way and got exhausted by the midsummer heat, but because of that, each place we visited left a solid impression. The Sirius library alone could keep you occupied for an entire day! Plus, both coffee shops were long-established with distinct personalities – it was enjoyable. Each shrine also had its own different atmosphere and was perfect for quiet strolling. Next time I’d like to visit during Awa Odori season! Then I’d also like to walk through the shopping districts at night. Yamato Station seems to have many more attractions! Well, that’s all for this video. Thank you for watching until the end! If you enjoyed it, please subscribe to our channel and give us a thumbs up! It really encourages us in our video making!
神奈川県大和市の駅周辺を散策してきました！
「大和駅」をスタートし、東口・西口の見どころをぐるっと巡ってきました。
東口では全国的にも注目される文化複合施設「大和市文化創造拠点シリウス」や、大和天満宮・深見神社など歴史あるスポットを訪問。
西口では自然豊かな「ふれあいの森」や熊野神社を歩き、最後は昭和レトロな雰囲気の純喫茶「フロリダ」と「茶居珈」で一息。
駅から徒歩で楽しめる、大和の多彩な魅力を感じました！
🎬チャンネル登録・高評価よろしくお願いします！
#大和駅 #神奈川散歩 #街歩き #純喫茶 #神社巡り
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