noun
business street; merchant quarter
Refers to a street or district where many shops and businesses are concentrated. Often used in historical or tourist contexts.
この商人街は江戸時代から続いている。
This merchant quarter has been around since the Edo period.
観光客は古い商人街を散策するのが好きだ。
Tourists enjoy strolling through the old business streets.
Compound of 商人 (merchant) and 街 (street, district). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word likely emerged to describe areas where merchants gathered.