Ya i remember going to shimo kitazawa a lot back in the 2009 to 2012 and it had a lot of good flavor still. I do not remember the last time i went there, but it was still under construction. It was deppressing to see the modernization of the station and i feel like it losts its flavor. I still live in Japan in the Kanto area, but i feel like its not a place i would visit anymore as it feels like any station you see in a nice neighborhood.