Tokyo’s ”Shitamachi”: An opposite landscape from the busy and lively metropolis.
What does "Shitamachi" even mean?
Tokyo is frequently pictured as a bustling, energetic metropolis. Tall skyscrapers and contemporary structures are nearby.
But even within this modern city, there are traces of the past that revive the settings from earlier periods. The term "Shitamachi" is used to describe these places, which used to be the heart of Old Edo but lagged behind the city's rapid modernisation.
There, time seems to move considerably more slowly, giving visitors a unique glimpse of a totally other Tokyo.
Locals and visitors are attracted to the nostalgic, almost mystical allure of the shitamachi neighborhoods, but what exactly are they attracted to?
As was already established, the term "shitamachi" dates back to a time when Tokyo was still known as Edo and is written using the kanji for "down下" and "town町."
People primarily resided close to the city's waterways and the sea back then. Due to their proximity to Edo Castle, Nihonbashi and the banks of the Sumida River serve as famous examples of wealthy communities. The neighboring water supply was used by local workers, craftspeople, and traders for generations.
A Trip about knowing "shitamachi" Tokyo.
Start your tour by meeting your guide at Monzen-Nakacho Station.
From there make your way to Fukagawa Fudodo, an esoteric Buddhist temple. Experience its famous Goma fire ritual and lined up Buddhist statues carved from wood. Originally the temple was established in the 18th century and the former main hall still exists as part of the temple complex. What is striking about this temple is that the current main hall is extremely modern, resembling a fashionable storefront in popular Tokyo shopping districts.
After experiencing the fire ritual and exploring the temple, head to Tomioka Hachimangu.
This shrine is the biggest Hachiman shrine in Tokyo and has a close relationship with sumo wrestling. It is known as the birthplace of Kanjin-zumo, public sumo tournaments.
At last make a stop at Kiyosumi Teien, a beautiful Japanese garden, and relax while strolling through the garden's grounds. From the "Iso-watari", the stepping stone pathway across the pond, observe the Koi and turtles residing in the water.
Tokyo's Shitamachi - a place that will grab your feelings.
To enjoy Tokyo's historic downtown areas, you don't have to be a history buff. Your heart will be instantly won over by the distinctly warm environment, which is filled with the sincere smiles and small talk of the locals, and it won't let go again. You might desire for the shitamachi, the city's sluggish beat, as you stand among Tokyo's skyscrapers and opulent department stores.
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