From Pre-Edo Villages to Temple Towns to Ultra Modern Shinjuku

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The Tokyo Promenade of History and Culture

Tokyo Walking Courses such as the Tokyo Promenade of History and Culture (aka 東京歴史と文化の散歩道) unveil the layers of Tokyo, from ancient echoes to vibrant modernity!

15.45 km in Total Length

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Stroll through the past and present in Shinjuku

Shinjuku Central Park to Higashi-Nakano Station

Cross Ome Kaido from Shinjuku Central Park, at the foot of the skyscraper district. At Naruko Tenjin Shrine, there is a stone stone that young people used to compete to show off their strength during festivals. The area around Kita-Shinjuku was once called Kashiwagi, and it is said that the residence of Kashiwagiemon, a samurai of the Heian Dynasty, from which the name came from, was located near Enshoji Temple. The “Emonzakura” at Enshoji Temple was planted by Kashiwagiemon and was a specialty of Edo. Cross the flow of Kanda Josui, which merges with the Zenpukuji River, and head towards Higashi-Nakano Station.

Walk around Teramachi Philosophy Hall

Higashi-Nakano Station – Nakano History and Folklore Museum

The area on the north side of Waseda Street from Higashi-Nakano Station is the temple town of Kamitakada. Most of them were relocated from the city due to urban planning from the Meiji period to the Taisho period, and famous ones include Gentsuji Temple, where the grave of Kawatake Mokuami is located, and Kotokuji Temple, where the grave of Arai Shiraishi is located. Traveling north through temple towns, we encountered the Myoshoji River. The river joined the Kanda Josui at the lower reaches of the river, and became the source of daily water for the citizens of Edo. After passing through Tetsugakudo Park, head to the Nakano History and Folklore Museum.

Nerima Suzushiro Road Walk

Nakano History and Folklore Museum – Nakamurabashi Station

Suzushiro is another name for radish. Nerima radish has been a specialty product of Nerima since the Genroku period. From the Nakano History and Folklore Museum, we visited the historic Tofuku-ji Temple, which was the dining hall of the Tokugawa Shogun, and Nanzo-in Temple, which is associated with the monk Soraben, before heading to Nakamurabashi Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line. Senkawa Street in front of the station is the former Nerima Daikon Road. It is said that farmers used this road along the old Senkawa Josui to transport vegetables to Edogawa Bridge in Edo City.

Higashi Koya Michi walk

Nakamurabashi Station – Shakujii Park

Proceed west from Nakamurabashi Station to Chomeiji Temple, which was nicknamed Higashi Koyasan as a sacred place for the common people of the Edo period. During the Edo period, the road leading to the temple was bustling with pilgrims, and was called the “Higashi Koya Road.” It was founded in 1613 (Keicho 18). It is an old temple that was built by the monk Keisan after the model of Mt. Koya in Kishu. From here, cross the Seibu Ikebukuro Line and head to Shakujii Park. Sanpoji Pond, which was born from spring water in Musashino, and the artificial Shakujii Pond are the water sources of the Shakujii River. Inside the park is the ruins of Shakujii Castle, which was the residence of the Toshima clan, a wealthy family in the Middle Ages.

Guy-aan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons