Kagurazaka
Today I will walk along Loop Route 3 from Edogawabashi. But as I was looking at a map of the area, I realized that I have never been up that famous Kagurazaka.
Iidabashi Station
Then, I decided to visit Kagurazaka once, so I got off at Iidabashi.
Ruins of Ushigome-mitsuke
Just outside the station, the remains of Ushigome-mitsuke can still be seen.
During the Edo period, guards probably stood guard on this site.
If you look closely, you can see that the stones on the right side are piled up almost without gaps, while those on the left side have gaps. This kind of thing bothers me. I think there must have been a reason for this, but the explanation board did not say anything about it.
Kagurazakashita intersection
Finally, it was time to climb Kagurazaka.
A row of zelkova trees in Kagurazaka
Kagurazaka was lined with zelkova trees.
Looking at the shape of these trees, one of my long-standing questions was resolved.
That question is how to obtain zelkova post material.
Many zelkova trees have branches right from the base, and in such cases, the trees are not thick enough to be used for columns. But in reality, there are houses with thick zelkova pillars. That was a question I had been asking myself for many years. “Are those pillars really made of zelkova?” I always wondered.
Most zelkova trees in Kagurazaka are single and thick at the bottom, with branches splitting off a short time after they cross the height of a person’s head. This type of tree would be able to make a pillar.
Most zelkova trees in Kagurazaka are single and thick at the bottom, with branches splitting off a short time after they cross the height of a person’s head. This type of tree would be able to make a pillar.
As I walked by, I saw that the lower part of the tree had been pruned. Nah. So people add their hands to make pillar materials? That makes sense then.
I remember learning about the pruning of cedar and cypress in school. By analogy, it is natural to prune zelkova trees. But somehow, I had formed a stereotype that zelkova trees should not be pruned.
Zenkokuji Temple
There is a magnificent temple called Zenkokuji Temple, which I took a picture of because I wondered if it was related to the origin of Kagurazaka. But Kagura is dedicated to the gods, so it is different from Buddhism.
Edo bridge
Longitude and latitude marker
Turn right at the intersection of Ushigome-Benten-cho, go north, and a little before the intersection of Yamabuki-cho, you will find a longitude and latitude marker!
Turn right at the intersection of Ushigome-Benten-cho, go north, and a little before the intersection of Yamabuki-cho, you will find a longitude and latitude marker!
This longitude and latitude marker was installed to commemorate the construction of the Surveying Pension Hall. They have a public reference point on the roof of the hall. As longitude and latitude, 139 degrees 44 minutes 03 seconds 1904 east longitude and 35 degrees 42 minutes 12 seconds 3613 north latitude were listed. They were surveyed in March 1991, so the values are from the Japan Geodetic System. Incidentally, my GPS (World Geodetic System WGS-84) showed 139 degrees 43 minutes 52.5 seconds east longitude and 35 degrees 42 minutes 23.6 seconds north latitude.
Edogawabashi Intersection
I finally came to the Edogawabashi intersection. From here, I walk along Loop Route 3 (Shin-Mejiro-dori).
Tsurumaki-cho intersection
After 400 meters, you will come to the Tsurumaki-cho intersection, where you will turn left onto Gaien-Higashi Dori.
The road is a ring road, which seems to make a gradual turn, but here it is a right-angle left turn. This may have something to do with the fact that the Waseda exit of the Metropolitan Expressway is connected here.
Gaien East Street
Kusama Yayoi Art Museum
There was a museum of Kusama Yayoi.
The design is simple, with only white polka dots, but it is eye-catching. Reservations are required and there are no same-day tickets.
Belfry of Tamonin-in
I was shocked by the belfry of this Tamonin temple. It is made of concrete.
But when I think about it, I realize that in the past, shoji screens would have been used in shrines and temples, but nowadays glass is usually used. Perhaps the time will come when concrete bell towers will be accepted without hesitation.
The side not facing the road is a wall. It seems to take into account the volume of the bells.
Tomb of Seki Takakazu, Metropolitan Historic Site
As I was walking along, thinking that there are many temples in this area, I found a stone monument marked as the tomb of Seki Takakazu. Seki Takakazu was a Japanese arithmetician of the Edo period.
As I was walking along, thinking that there are many temples in this area, I found a stone monument marked as the tomb of Seki Takakazu. Seki Takakazu was a Japanese arithmetician of the Edo period.
I only knew his name because it was introduced in a new book (or maybe a paperback) by Toyama Hiraku or Yano Kentaro that I read in my high school days. For both authors, the book must have been written in an interesting way with a very simple mathematical approach, but I could not understand what it said at all. All I remember is the name of a mathematician named Seki Takakazu and the fact that there was a Japanese arithmetic called Hyakugo subtraction. Incidentally, I finally understood the meaning of Hyakugo subtraction after looking it up on the Internet this time.
The grave of the great mathematician was located at the far end of a temple called Jorinji.
Gaien East Avenue under construction
Gaien Higashi Dori is undergoing extensive construction. It seems that Loop Route 3 is steadily moving toward full opening.
Akebonobashi Bridge
Further on, I found Akebonobashi Bridge!
I passed under it just the other day when I walked the Olympic marathon course, and I had hoped to walk here someday, and I ended up walking here sooner than I had expected.
Yasukuni Street viewed from Akebonobashi Bridge
Yasukuni Dori can be seen clearly from Akebonobashi Bridge. Will you be able to cheer from here during the Olympics?
Min’on Music Museum and Shinanomachi Brick Museum
As you approach Shinanomachi, two large buildings stand side by side on the right.
In the front is the Min’on Music Museum and in the back is the Shinanomachi Brick Building.
The Min’on Music Museum moved to Shinanomachi in 1997, didn’t it? I did not know its existence until today. I will go there next time on a day when I cannot take a walk because of heavy rain.
Shinanomachi Station
Shinanomachi Station
I have arrived at Shinanomachi Station.
Since I have only been on the Jingu Gaien side of the station, the station building from this side looks fresh.
Walking data
Course: JR Chuo Line Iidabashi Station -> Loop Route 3 (Edogawabashi to Shinanomachi Station) -> JR Chuo Line Shinanomachi Station
Distance: 6.7 km
Time: 1h50m
