I thought to myself, “I haven’t walked along the river very often,” so I took a walk along the reasonably long Nihonbashi River.
Ruins of Shibusawa Eiichi’s house and Sakuma Shozan’s gunnery school
Monzennakacho Station
To walk from downstream, I get off at Monzennakacho Station. This is my first time here.
If you go west along Eitai-dori for a while, you will see a sign on both sides of the Oshima River West Branch (Oshima-gawa Nishishigawa) indicating that a famous person lived there.
Site of Shibusawa Eiichi’s house
To the east is the site of Shibusawa Eiichi’s house.
Huh? In my memory, he must have lived in Asukayama in Oji. But I myself have moved many times, so it’s not surprising that Eiichi moved many times. Eiichi founded the Shibusawa Warehouse here, and later moved to Kabuto-cho and then to Oji.
Ruins of Sakuma Shozan Gunnery School
To the west is the site of the Sakuma Shozan School of Artillery.
I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t know Sakuma, as I don’t study history. However, I had visited the residence of Egawa Tarozaemon Hidetatu, a Western artillerist who built the Nirayama reverberatory furnace and Odaiba, when I traveled to Izu Province, and I had heard that Egawa had opened a private school in Edo. As I read the sign, I realized that Sakuma was one of Egawa’s students. But that disciple was also amazing. Sakuma’s disciple was Yoshida Shoin, and Shoin’s disciple was Ito Hirobumi. Were such private schools flourishing in those days?
Eitaibashi Bridge
We came to the Eitaibashi Bridge, famous for being crossed by the Ako Roshi. Of course, it was a wooden bridge back then, and must have been quite different from the current bridge.
Eitai Bridge, an underpass-type arch bridge
The sidewalk on the north side was under construction, so I was directed to the south side. Thanks to this, I was able to take a beautiful picture of the arch bridge.
The junction of the Sumida River and the Toyosu Canal
This photo was taken in the middle of the Eitaibashi Bridge, looking downstream. A small boat that happened to be passing by added a nice touch. If the light conditions were a little better, I could use it for a calendar.
On the right is the Sumida River. The Chuo Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge, can be seen, and the Toyosu Canal is on the left.
The mouth of the Nihombashi River
The mouth of the Nihombashi River
After crossing the Eitaibashi Bridge, you can see the mouth of the Nihonbashi River, or the point where it meets the Sumida River. You can see a small Tokyo Sky Tree.
Monument to the Founding Place of the Bank of Japan
Across the Nihombashi River at Toyomi Bridge, I found the place where the Bank of Japan was founded!
It seems that the bank was only located here for less than 14 years, from 1882 to 1896.
Looking at the reliefs, it seems to be a two-story building with a total of two floors and not a circle from above. It looks like a sturdy brick building, but now, 135 years later, there is no trace of it. What a waste.
The Nihonbashi River under the Metropolitan Expressway
Metropolitan Expressway No. 6 Mukojima Line
The Metropolitan Expressway No. 6 Mukojima Line comes from the right and covers the Nihombashi River. The Nihombashi River is underneath the expressway from here on.
View looking upstream from Kayaba Bridge
Looking upstream from Kayaba Bridge.
The bridge you can see is the Yoroi Bridge.
On the right is Kakigaracho, but there are no oysters in sight. If you go to Kasai Rinkai Park or Sanbanse, Tokyo Bay is really full of oysters. The pillars and embankments here must have been coated to prevent them from sticking.
On the surface of the river, the Nihonbashi cruise ship was coming and going.
Armor and helmet
Yoroi Bridge’s main pillar
I came to the Yoroi Bridge. The bridge was named after the legend that Taira no Masakado and Minamoto no Yoshiie put their armor and helmets on the bridge, and the place was named Kabuto-cho. The shape of the main pillar is also elaborate, like a helmet.
Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc.
Beside the Yoroi Bridge, there is the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Kabuto-cho. I remember visiting it once when I was a university student. At the time, the staff was giving out signs by hand. I thought, “I’ll just have to come back again,” so I just took a quick glance and left. However, I regretted that I should have taken a closer look at the market, as it soon became electronic trading.
Nihonbashi Post Office, the birthplace of the postal service
Exterior view of the Nihonbashi post office on the banks of the Edo Bridge.
I found the Nihonbashi Post Office, the birthplace of postal service! It’s big, so anyone can find it.
The entrance to the Nihonbashi Post Office, where there is a monument telling that Maejima Mitsuru was here
The new postal system was inaugurated on the lunar calendar, March 1, 1871 (April 20, 1871).
The description says, “Ekitei-shi was established. I think it would have been easier to understand if the explanation had been broken down into something like, “Maejima Hisoka, who is depicted on the 1 yen stamp, started his business here.
The 150th anniversary is coming up in four years. Will there be any events? I’m sure there will be a commemorative stamp. By the way, the nearest bridge is Edobashi. Even the Edobashi post office has a fine name, but the Nihonbashi post office. After all, the brand power must be different.
Nihonbashi area
A view near Nihonbashi showing the aging of the expressway
You know Nihonbashi. The expressway that passes over it is getting old and decrepit. There have been talks of moving it underground. If it is moved underground, it will certainly improve the scenery.
By the way, there are stone pavements only under the highway. This is the first time I noticed it. I wonder if it is for the purpose of creating a sense of dignity?
Current Bank of Japan
The current Bank of Japan appeared.
It is also located on the left bank of the Nihombashi River, just like the original location. It is about 1.7 km away from the current location, and if it were to be relocated again, it would be around Kyoritsu Women’s School.
A disaster-response gas station equipped with solar panels that look like the face of a mantis
I found a solar panel that looks like a praying mantis face in front of the JR guard. What exactly is it?
The answer is a disaster-response gas station. Even if the power supply from the electric power system is cut off, they can continue their fueling operations using solar panels and storage batteries. Do they use that power even during normal times? Will the surplus be used to supply electricity to electric vehicles?
Hitotsubashi
The bridge under the highway is the Hitotsubashi
Hitotsubashi Bridge, the origin of the name of Hitotsubashi University.
At the right rear (not in the photo) is Josui Kaikan, owned by the Hitotsubashi University supporters’ association. It was named after Eiichi Shibusawa, mentioned above.
Eiichi is associated with rivers and water because his surname has “sawa” in it, he was born in Chiaraijima Village in Musashino Province, he lived by the west branch of the Oshima River, his name appears many times in the vicinity of the Nihonbashi River, he named the Josui-kai, and he started a paper company using the Senkawa Josui (Oji Branch). In other words, he seems to have had a connection with rivers and water, and to have cherished them. In other words, he was always thinking of ways to maximize the use of the waterways and water energy available at that time.
Main pillar of Kijibashi Bridge
I could see the distinctive main pillar of the Kijibashi bridge. I wanted to get closer to it, but my next errand was almost due, so I hurried on.
The junction of the Nihombashi River and the Kanda River
I finally came to the junction of the Nihonbashi River and the Kanda River. This photo was taken from Koishikawa Bridge. To the left is the Kanda River, and to the right is the Nihombashi River. The right bank of the Nihombashi River was not in the picture. Too bad.
I had never been aware that the starting point of the Nihombashi River was here, even though it was so close that I could see it from the Chuo Line. I guess that’s how vaguely I’m riding the train.
Iidabashi Station
I reached the Iidabashi station.
The station is famous for the awful distance between the platform and the train.
I thought about the reason for this. Ota Doukan started the flood control of the Hirakawa River (Kanda River). The Edo shogunate built an outer moat to follow the flow of the river. Since Iidabashi station was built near Ushigome Mitsuke, the curve around Iidabashi station became steeper, and the space between the platform and the train became wider. In other words, the reason for the wide space between the platform and the train at Iidabashi may be due to Ota Doukan.
Walking data
Course: Tokyo Metro Tozai Line Monzen-Nakacho Station -> Nihonbashi River -> JR Chuo Line Iidabashi Station
Distance : 7.6km
Time : 1h31m
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