Dobuita Street [どぶ板通り]
Dobuita Street
Photo by Yokosuka City
American soldiers in Dobuita Street
Photo by Yokosuka City
Dobuita Street is a shopping street located in the west part of the central Yokosuka town.
The west entrance is at 150 meters northeast of Shioiri station of Keikyu Railway and the east entrance is at 600 meters noethwest of Yokosuka-chuo station.
The length of street is about 300 meters.
After World War II, United States Navy came to Yokosuka.
So, many shops in this street started a business for the soldiers.
As a result, this street had an unique atmosphere mixed with the U.S. and Japan.
There are about 150 shops and restaurants.
You can eat Navy Curry and Rice and Navy Burger which are Yokosuka specialties in some restaurants.
A restaurant of Navy Curry & Burger
Photo by Yokosuka City
A Sukajan shop in Dobuita Street
Photo by Yokosuka City
And this street is well known as the birthplace of Sukajan.
Sukajan is jacket with big embroidery of dragon, tiger, eagle or the emblem of corps.
After World War II, it was the first time that the soldiers of U.S.Navy ordered the embroidery in the tailors in this street.
So, there are some Sukajan shops in this street.
A shop in Dobuita Street
Photo by Yokosuka City
A takeout shop in Dobuita Street
Photo by Yokosuka City
By the way, there was a ditch in the middle of the street.
"Ditch" is "dobu" in Japanese.
Because it is an obstruction to traffic, it was covered with many boards of steel provided from Imperial Japanese Navy.
"Board" is "ita" in Japanese.
So the name of street became "Dobuita".
How to get here
About 150 meters walk from Shioiri station of Keikyu Railway.
About 600 meters walk from Yokosuka-chuo station.