Shimomikado Shopping Street is the southernmost of the shopping streets along Higashi-rokubo-oji Street of Heijō Palace. This street is the western border of the “Gangoji Temple complex” which originated from Hōkōji Temple in Asuka, with a Northwest gate, a Great Central gate, and a Southwest gate. It can be thought that “Shimomikado” (literally “below-gate”) was named for the Northwest gate located at the bottom of the hill, and “Takamikado” (literally “high-gate”) was named for the Great Cental gate located at the top of the hill, the area names being named topographically. It is said that in Nanto (literally “southern part of the capital”), there used be seven areas with names ending with “Mikado” (literally “gate”). Nishimikado and Higashimikado are the gates of Kohfukuji Temple, while Kitamikado and Nakamikado are those of Todaiji Temple, and Shimomikado, Takamikado, and Imamikado are those of Gangoji Temple. (The name Higashimikado does not exist.) In this town, there was a well called “Fukai,” and on top of its lid, “Tsubakimoto-jinja Shrine,” commonly called “Tsubakisan,” was placed. However, it was transferred to the residence of an official, and its annual festival is carried out every June at an arraigned venue. There used to be a red-light district in the Higashikitsuji area more than 500 meters to the south, and it is also said that this area bustled with passersby. Now it is bustling with tourists as one of the entrances for a stroll in “Naramachi” from Kintetsu Nara Station located to the north. Presently an eel (unagi) restaurant, the “former Miyashima residence” at the southern edge used to be a symbolic presence of the preservation of the Naramachi townscape. Shimomikado Shopping Street features a gentle slope throughout the whole street. Every summer, the Nagashi Somen (cold noodles in flowing water) Festival which uses the incline is held. The bamboo stand is set up running from one end of the arcade to the other at a total length of 80 meters, and nagashi somen can be enjoyed regardless of the weather. The nagashi somen of this sloping shopping street is becoming a new seasonal tradition in Nara.