界隈: a neighborhood or an activity circle
Compare the physical area in 駅界隈 with the model-making field in 模型界隈, using the preceding noun and the surrounding sentence.
界隈 following a place
界隈 (かいわい) can refer to the area around a place. “駅界隈の細い道を歩いてみた。” says that the speaker tried walking along the narrow streets around the station.
駅 identifies a physical place, and 細い道を歩いてみた describes trying a walk along its surrounding streets. 界隈 alone does not specify a distance in meters from the station.
界隈 following an activity
In “模型界隈で話題になる技法を友人に教わった。”, a friend taught the speaker a technique discussed in the model-making field. 模型界隈 refers to that activity field rather than a physical neighborhood like the area around a station.
話題になる技法 identifies a technique being discussed in the field, while 友人に教わった states that the speaker learned it from a friend. Keep the learning event separate from the field in which the technique is discussed.
Connect the preceding noun with the rest of the sentence
駅界隈 connects a place with its surrounding streets; 模型界隈 connects an activity field with a topic discussed there. Read the streets or technique that follows as well as the preceding noun.
A field-related 界隈 does not establish an official classification or a registered organization. The scope here is a physical neighborhood versus a field connected by an activity, rather than someone’s immediate living environment.
Does 界隈 in “模型界隈で話題になる技法を友人に教わった。” mean the physical space around a model?
Show the answer and why
No. Here it refers to the model-making field. A friend taught the speaker a technique discussed in that field; a physical neighborhood appears instead in the 駅界隈 example.