I walked in and around the Nihonbashi area today.
Nihonbashi was originally the name of a bridge, and was the starting point of five major roads (kaido) in the Edo period.
I also started here when I walked the kaido (Tokaido, Nakasendo, Koshu Kaido, Nikko Kaido, Oshu Kaido) since 2010. I started walking the Tokaido in September 2010, and have visited this area frequently since then.
Currently, redevelopment projects are underway in this area, and the scenery is changing rapidly.
In the southeast block of Nihonbashi, redevelopment is underway, centering on a 284-meter-high building. It is scheduled to be completed in 2026.
There are also several large-scale redevelopment projects underway near Tokyo Station on the west side of Nihonbashi.
The highways runs over Nihonbashi now. However, there are plans to move the expressways underground and remove the aboveground sections around 2040.
Kabutocho, on the east side of Nihonbashi, has been the center of Japan's securities business since the Meiji period. It is home to the Tokyo Stock Exchange and dozens of securities companies.
However, the number of securities company offices has decreased compared to the past due to the shift to online trading and the mergers of securities companies.
There are also many foreign tourists in the Nihonbashi area, and tourist buses for foreigners are noticeable.
Coincidentally, on this same day (July 16th), the Japan National Tourism Organization announced tourism statistics. The number of tourists visiting Japan from January to June 2025 is up 7.6% from the previous year, exceeding 20 million for the first time. This will be a pace of 40 million people per year.
