From the Old Banshu Hayashida clan’s Mansion turned cemetery to a centuries old shopping street

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6.39 km in Total Length

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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!

A walk in places related to Somei Yoshino

3.0 km from Komagome Station to Koshinzuka Station

Tour the Somei area from Komagome Station. Somei Inari is the guardian deity of Somei Village. Somei Cemetery is the former site of the Banshu Hayashida clan’s mansion, and the place’s name comes from the fact that there was a famous water called Somei here. The well-drained soil is suitable for gardening, and Somei has long been known for its many gardeners. The Someiyoshino cherry tree, the flower of Tokyo, was born around the end of the Edo period. Cross Hakusan Dori and head towards the old Nakasendo. Koganji Temple, known for its thorny Jizo statue, has a festival on the 4th of every month. The shopping street along the approach to the shrine is bustling with shoppers who come to visit the shrine.

Walk around Itabashi Post Station

Koshinzuka Station – Itabashi Honmachi Station

Continue along the old Nakasendo from Koshinzuka Station on the Toden Arakawa Line. The seed shops along the road have been selling vegetable seeds to people passing by since the Edo period. The old-fashioned storefront is nostalgic. Once it intersects Hakusan-dori Street again and passes Toko-ji Temple, the road begins to take on more and more of the old road. This is the inn in Itabashi. Itabashi-juku consisted of three post offices: Hirao, Naka-juku, and Kamijuku, and its total length was said to be 1.7 km. Historical sites such as the Honjin Ruins and Waki Honjin Ruins remain along the long and narrow shopping street. The bridge that spanned the Shakujii River on the way was the origin of the name of Itabashi. The current bridge was built in 1972.

Photo thanks to Takayuki Miki @ Flickr.com