Nihonbashi: July 16, 2025

 

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.

 

Kanda River Walk 2022 (4) Iidabashi-Sumida River, May 5, 2022

I had the 4^th and final day of my Kanda River Walk in 2022. The course was from Iidabashi to Yanagibashi, where Kanda River flows into Sumida River.

The JR Chuo Line meets Kanda River at Iidabashi. The river and railroad go eastward together.

Similar scene was found at Suidobashi. (See the 2nd photo)

 

I moved to the Ochanomizu district. There are university hospitals as well as other academic institutes in the area.

A construction work was under way in the river. 

The subway crosses Kandagawa at Ochanomizu.

 

There remains a closed old station (old Mansei Station) at Mansei Bridge, which locate between Ochanomizu and Akihabara.

 

There are many electronics stores in the Akihabara area.

 

I had another 1km walk and arrived at Yanagibashi. Kanda River flows into Sumida River here.

 

There are many boats floating in the river. People enjoy cruising and dining with the boats. People also hire the boats for fishing.

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It was 24km from Inokashira Park to Sumida River.

I found many changes since 2010, when I had a walk of the same course last time. The changes include: redevelopments of areas such as Shinjuku’s Yodobashi area, more local community activities including carp streamers displays, reconstruction of facilities in the riverside walks, flights of airplanes over central Tokyo area, which was not allowed 12 years ago, and many others.

It is interesting to see such changes.

 

 

Street scenes and skyscrapers in Shibuya and Roppongi: March 12, 2022

 

The season is turning to spring in Tokyo.

The days are getting warmer and brighter.

The ume (Japanese apricot) blossom is over and other spring flowers began to open.

 

I walked in Shibuya. 

There was an open-air market in front of the UN University in Shibuya area.

I moved to Roppongi area in downtown Tokyo.

People enjoyed walks in a sunny day.

I found new skyscrapers under construction in Roppongi area. The project is organized by Mori Building Co. and plans to build three skyscrapers, including a 330-meter-high building. It will be the highest building in Japan when it is open in 2023.

The construction site is not far from the Tokyo Tower. The tower is 333 meter high. (See also the 2nd photo)

 

The landscape of Tokyo is changing drastically even when the economy is gloomy in the COVID-19 pandemic.

I looked at Roppongi area from the Aoyama cemetery. The Roppongi Hills and other skyscrapers, as well as the Tokyo Tower, were in the sight. (See also the top photo)

Nikko Kaido Walk (1) Nihonbashi-Senju: May 16, 2018

Five most important roads in Japan were defined by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu at the beginning of the Edo period (1603-1867). 

They were:

- Tokaido (Edo (Tokyo) -Kyoto through coastal areas)

- Nakasendo (Edo-Kyoto through mountainous areas)

- Koshu Kaido (Edo- Shimosuwa in Nagano Prefecture)

- Nikko Kaido (Edo-Nikko in Tochigi Predecture)

- Oshu Kaido (Edo-Shirakawa in Fukushima Prefecture)

* Nikko Kaiso and Oshu Kaiso were on the same route from Edo to Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. Then, they branched into two roads.

I started my Nikko Kaido/Oshu Kaido walk following my Tokaido, Nakasendo and Koshu Kaido walks.

Nikko/Oshu Kaido had 17 shukuba stations between Nihonbashi and Utsunomiya, the branch point of the two roads.

All major five roads started from Nihonbashi. I began my Tokaido walk t eight years ago in 2010. There have been some changes during the period.

A new tourist office opened in 2017. It stands at the side of the Nihonbashi bridge.

It was announced that the motor highways, which run over the Nihonbashi bridge would be taken away and new underground roads would be built instead. The works are expected to begin in the 2020s.

Nihonbashi is now a busy shopping area. The headquarters of Mitsukoshi department store and other shops are there.

Nikko/Oshu Kaido goes through the areas near Nihonbashi, where many clothing wholesalers gather.

The road passes Kandagawa River, which goes into Sumida River, one of the city’s main rivers in the Edo era. I found many houseboats staying along the riversides.

I walked into Asakusabashi area, where many doll shops open their shops.

I walked about four kilometers before arriving in Asakusa area.

It is one of the most popular places for tourists in Tokyo. Many foreign visitors gathered at Kaminari-mon gate, where a big paper lantern hangs. Stuff members of tourist agents were moving rikisha carts for tourists.

Sumida River flows at the side of Asakusa. Tokyo Sky Tree stands over the river.

The road goes north along Sumida River (The road is now called Yoshino Street). 

I entered an area where many cheap hotels are. They began operating cheap inns in the Edo era. They were used by day-laborers in the Maiji (1867-1910), Taisho (1910-25) and Showa (1925-89) eras. Various labor troubles happened there.

Many hotels have been converted to the facilities for foreign backpackers after the 2000s. I found some hotels showing their information in English at the entrances.

I moved to Minami Senju area. The road goes over the rail lines. 

There existed an execution field in the Edo era. A sculpture of jizo or Ksitigarbha was built to console the sprits of the executed. It now sits at the side of railways. (See the second photo from the top).

The road crosses Sumida River with Senju Ohashi bridge. 

The riverside areas were redeveloped in the last 30 years. Many tall apartment buildings stand there.

Famous haiku poet Matsuo Basho started his Oku no hosomich walks in 1689 (in the Edo period). He walked through Tohoku and Hokuriku districts to Ogaki in Gifu Prefecture in his six months tour. He produced many masterpieces of haiku.

A picture of his departure scene is painted on the wall of Sumida River at the foot of Senju Ohashi bridge.

I entered Senju shukuba station, the first station from Nihonbashi.

Various kinds of monuments are preserved.

Former trader’s working place is now converted into a public space. A complex of community center and residential apartment was built behind the place.

Nikko/ Oshu Kaido is now converted into a shopping street in Senju. There are shopping and business facilities on and around Kita Senju railway stations of JR, Tobu and subways.

Azalea Festival @ Nezu Shrine: April 22, 2018

Where is the best place to see azalea blooming in Tokyo? Nezu Shrine in Bunkyo ward is probably one of the places to be answered.

I visited the shrine.

There are about 3000 azalea shrubs in the shrine. They include about 100 kinds of azalea.

The flowers are pink, red, white, orange, yellow, purple and many others.

There were many visitors, including foreign tourists, there.

The azalea garden was first developed about 300 years ago in the Edo era.

The flowers opened earlier this year than usual because of warm spring. What I enjoyed today were late-open flowers. Early-open flowers were already over.

Hozuki Market@ Asakusa: July 10, 2017

It is summer.　

The weather has been irregular in Japan this month. While we have had heavy rains in Kyushu and in other some parts of Japan, we have had very hot days in Tokyo.

I visited Asakusa to enjoy Hozuki (Chinese lantern plant) market.

The area was crowded with many foreign tourists.

Visitors were taking pictures at Kaminari (Thunder) Gate.

They enjoyed walking Nakamise shopping street.

The sunshine was strong and it was so hot. Some girls are in the traditional yukata costume.