Hanashiba Shopping Street is located in the northernmost area of the shopping streets along Heijō-kyo Higashi-rokubo-oji Street. It is said that the name “Hanashiba” came from a flower patch which used to be around here where flowers used as offerings for Kohfukuji Temple were grown. At the east and west ends of the street, traces of Heijō-kyo Nijo-oji Street remain. Heading east, one will reach the site of the Nishidaimon Gate, which acted as the original main entrance of Todaiji Temple. Going west, one will reach the Suzakumon Gate of Heijō Palace. It is said that the Emperor Shōmu went to the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple via this street. In the Edo Period, the Nara magistrate’s office (currently Nara Women’s University) was built on the north side of Nijo-oji Street, and the area located directly west of Hanashiba-cho is called “Boyashiki-cho,” said to be named after “Nakabo-yashiki,” the residence of “Nakabo Hidemasa,” the first magistrate. To the north, there is “Shukuin-cho,” (literally lodging-temple-town) where a collective of sculptors of Buddhist statues lived. Directly to the east of it, there is “Nabeya-cho” (literally pot-house-town) where cast metal ware, pots and pans were sold. Feel the history around this neighborhood. “Jippuku Jizoson” are stone statues of Jizo which the people of Hanashiba guard with great care, and they are worshipped at small shrines built into the　hollowed walls of stores. Recently, new street lights were also built with custom-made Jizo motifs. (There is a round place in the center part of the ring, representing the pose of Jizo putting his hands together). Stores like a grocery store, book store and hardware store make you remember Japan’s good old days while fashionable stores like a boutique and a concert venue are mixed in, giving this 100-meter small yet quite diverse shopping street a special characteristic.