Tako (octopus) for sale at one of the many merchant stalls dotting the Ame-yoko shopping street in Ueno, Tokyo.

Ameyoko (アメ横) is a busy market street along the Yamanote Line tracks between Okachimachi and Ueno Stations. The name "Ameyoko" is a short form for "Ameya Yokocho" (candy store alley), as candies were traditionally sold there. Alternatively, "Ame" also stands for "America", because a lot of American products used to be available there when the street was the site of a black market in the years following World War Two. Shops here sell everything imaginable--fish, foodstuffs, fruits and vegetables, clothing, fashion accessories, shoes, cosmetics, toys, housewares, heath goods and sports equipment. It's known as a good place to find rare and unusual stuff. There are also a plethora of food stalls serving everything from ramen to doner kebabs.

Likewise, Ameyoko is unlike most other Tokyo shopping districts in that merchants are very aggressive and willing to negotiate, which attracts bargain hunters from all over the city. You can often land incredibly low prices if you're willing to buy bulk (e.g., 10 identical pairs of shoes), which are usually one-time offers that resemble a auction. Opening hours and closing days depend on individual stores, but stores typically open around 10:00 and close around 19:00. Many stores remain closed on selected Wednesdays.