Translation guide
The primary road in a town or city, often lined with shops and businesses. Japanese has several words for this, depending on context and nuance.
The main road where shops, restaurants, and businesses are concentrated; often the busiest street in a town or city.
General term for a main street or boulevard. Can be used for any wide, important road in a city.
この大通りにはたくさんの店があります。
There are many shops on this main street.
Loanword from English, often used for a specific named main street, especially in tourist areas or as a proper noun.
観光客はメインストリートを歩いていた。
Tourists were walking along the main street.
Literally 'main street', often used in street names or to refer to the central shopping street in a district.
本通りは週末になると歩行者天国になります。
The main street becomes a pedestrian zone on weekends.
A major thoroughfare, not necessarily commercial, but wide and heavily trafficked.
Same as above; the most versatile term for a main road.
大通りを渡るときは気をつけてください。
Please be careful when crossing the main street.
The central street in a neighborhood, often with a name like '~ Main Street'.
Pattern: [place] + の + メインストリート. Used to say 'the main street of [place]'.
この町のメインストリートは駅から続いている。
This town's main street continues from the station.
A prominent, bustling street; often implies a showy or fashionable main street. Somewhat literary.
銀座の目抜き通りを歩く。
Walk along Ginza's main street.
大通り is the most common and neutral term for any wide main road. 本通り often appears in proper names (e.g., 〇〇本通り) and implies a traditional shopping street. メインストリート is a direct loanword and feels modern or tourist-oriented.
大通りをまっすぐ行ってください。
Go straight along the main street.
この本通りには古い店が多い。
This main street has many old shops.
メインストリートにはカフェが並んでいる。
Cafes line the main street.
Arterial road; a major traffic route. More technical and used in urban planning or traffic reports.
その事故で幹線道路が渋滞した。
The accident caused a traffic jam on the main road.