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Location
Okubo, Akebonobashi,
Yotsuya-sanchome, Iidabashi,
Ushigome-Kagurazaka,
Nakai, Shinjuku-gyoen, Ushigome-Yanagicho,
all in Shinjuku-ku, inside of JR Yamanote line heart of the city.
It is so cool to have an address of
Shinjuku-ku.
Such a nice experience to live in the heart of
the city. |
Area
guide:
■ /Ushigome-Kagurazaka/Iidabashi■
In front of Emperor's outside canal,There were 300 geishas in this area 70 years ago.
Nowadays only 30 are working. The whole town is so sophisticated,
high cultural geisha related feeling with traditional and historical atmosphere. Many good restaurants and purely Japanese shops.
If you sit in a French restaurant named Maison de Bourgogne, you will hear traditional instrument play from the Geisha Institute just in front of this French restaurant.
During the day time geisha girls go there to practice their skill
in the plain kimono then appear in the evening in silk kimono with full make-up.
You might happen to see Geisha in the behind street as they
never walk in the main street. The small paths are still the same as Edo time.
Many Frenchs are living in this area as they think it is similar to their Montmartre.
Kagurazaka is probably the most attractive spot in Tokyo to feel real Edo life.
There are 65 small slopes with traditional names in this area including Kagurazaka (saka/zaka means a slope) since Edo Era (Shogun time). Attractive date
spot: Canal Cafe
■ Akebonobashi/Ichigaya
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This area was developed with the channel
8 since long time however now without this TV station,
there is Ministry of Defense, printing factory of
Japanese \ & museum( entrance free of
charge, they let you touch 100 million yen cash (!) but
not give), colleges, very quite nice residential
area.
The most famous Aikido Dojo center and Shorinji
Kenpo Dojo are near, .
Akebonobashi and
Ushigome-Yanagicho are near, walking distance.
The
place where the first Western influenced drama was born
is here in this area by Shoyo Tsuboushi, Toson Shimazaki, Sumako matsui.
As this
area is very traditional and historical we still use 65
old area names of Edo era some like Saiku-machi,
Tansu-machi, Nando-machi, Yarai-machi, Tsukudo-hachiman,
etc. strongly supported by the residents while most of
part of Tokyo are now using new names given by the
government after the World War 2nd but not this whole
area near the Emperor's outside canal
from Ichibaya
to Iidabashi.
■
/Ushigome-Yanagicho/Ichigaya■
Yakuoji
means temple dedicated to medicine.
There is a big
university hospital, around it there are numerous of old
tempels for medicine because the priests knew the
sicience about natural herb and mineral water, used to
be almost like doctors who hielt people.
You will be
amazed to see so many farmacies in this area.
It is
near to Emperor's
outside canal, ministry of
defense, central
police army facility and
Japanese Yen printing factory and the famous Aikido school Hombudojo.
Riding on
the bicycle for 25 minutes straight from this house, you
can reach Tokyo Tower.
Ushigome Castle ruin, Soseki
Park (cat monument in it), famous literatures of Meiji
Era, Soseki Natsume, Koyo
Ozaki and Hakushu Kitahara used to live in this
area.
Soseki (famous for the roman "I am a cat", was
born 1867 in Ushigome. His family was local gverner of
this area. His birth house is in Kikui-cho
1. |
A traditional restaurant in
Kagurazaka.
This is 1500 yen lunch set.
Delicious!
Quantity is really a lot.
At the end
comes a cute desert something
sweat like ice
cream.
Even for lunch time all customers are
served by waitress in kimono, nowhere
else but
in Kagurazaka!
The temple in Kagurazaka is so beautiful
especially wisteria season.
Yann used to live in Kagurazaka.
Click the picture to Yann's
calligraphy! |
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