Suzume no Oyado Green Park

Suzume means sparrow and Oyado means inn in Japanese.
This park's name means Sparrow Inn Green Park.

This area has good bamboo forests.
Many sparrow used to live here and flew away in the morning and came back in the evening.

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<The Nearest Station>

Toritsu Daigaku station on Tokyu Toyoko Line (from Shibuya)

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Salesio Church

Official name of "Salesio Church" is Catholic Himon-ya Church.
This church is consigned from Salesio Order in Italy.

Priest's house was built in 1948 and kindergarten was open in 1949.
This beautiful white cathedral was built in 1954.

There's a picture of Virgin Mary which was brought from Italy to Japan in 1708 by a missionary.

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<The Nearest Station>

Toritsu Daigaku station on Tokyu Toyoko Line (from Shibuya)

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En-yuji Temple

En-yuji Temple was established by Great Priest Jikaku Daishi in 853.
Name of the temple had been changed several times.
It's named En-yuji in 1698.

Shakado Hall was built in Muromachi Era, probably in 15th century.
This building is the oldest wooden building in Tokyo Metropolitan area.
It's designated as an important cultural property.

A pair of Statues of Niou, guardian gods in Niou gate were made in 1559.

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<The Nearest Station>

Toritsu Daigaku station on Tokyu Toyoko Line (from Shibuya)

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Mimeguri Shrine

Mimeguri Shrine deifies a guardian god of Mitsu family, founder of Mitsui financial group.

It's told that this shrine was established by the great priest Kobo Daishi.
If so, it must be in early 9th century.

When this shrine was rebuilt in 14th century, a white fox appeared to make a circle around the object of worship three times. This is the reason why this shrine was named Mimeguri Shrine.
Mimeguri means circle around three times.

There's a statue of lion which was in front of Mitsukoshi Department Store in Ikebukuro.

It's moved here after the store was closed.

There's also an unique torii gate here.

It's combined tree stone torii gates on the well.

Mitsui means three and well.

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<The Nearest Station>

Honjo Azumabashi station on Asakusa Line

(A19/Toei Subway)

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Honjo Matsuzakacho Park

This park is a ruin of Kira's house.
He's the enemy in the most famous revenge story in Edo era.

He was killed by attack of 47 samurais who's load was punished to death (Harakiri) since he attacked Kira in Edo castle. Kira was injured at that time, and it's prohibited to use swords in Edo castle.

In the story Kira is described as a bad guy, but real Kira was a good load.

There's a well.
The attackers cleaned Kira's head which was cut off using water from this well.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Ryogoku station on Subu Line
Ryogoku station on Oedo Line (E12/Toei Subway)

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Kaishu Katsu's Birth Place

Kaishu Katsu is a politician at Meiji Revolution.
He was a Samurai to serve the last Shogun.

At the revolution war, he negotiated to save the city of Edo.

He went to U.S.A. by the vessel operated by Japanese crew for the first time.
He's the founder of Japanese Navy.

His birth place has monument at the corner of the park.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Ryogoku station on Subu Line
Ryogoku station on Oedo Line (E12/Toei Subway)

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Sumida Hokusai Museum

Sumida Hokusai Museum just opened on November 22 in 2016.
Hokusai Katsushika, world-renowned ukiyo-e (woodblock printing) artist, was born in Sumida city and he spent most of his 90 years life around here.

He created a large number of masterpieces and surprisingly most of the famous ones were drawn after he got 70 years old.

Shiny aluminum walls seem to be closed building but if you get into the slits, open windows are inside of the building. Actually this museum has four separate buildings though it doesn't look so from the outside appearance.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Ryogoku station on Subu Line
Ryogoku station on Oedo Line (E12/Toei Subway)

<Admission>

400 yen : General Exhibition
Special Exhibition varies by each exhibition.

9:30 - 17:30    Closed on Mondays, Year End and New Year Holidays

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Otori Shrine

Otori Shrine was established in 806 when the spirit of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto came down here as a white swan. He's a prince of the Keiko Emperor and he came to Eastern part of Japan to conquer natives.

This shrine is on the oldest map of Edo (Tokyo) as Bird Shrine.
Only nine shrines are on this map.

Now we have 1500 shrines in Tokyo.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Meguro station on Yamanote Line
Meguro station on Mita Line (I01/Toei Subway) /
Namboku Line (N01/Tokyo Metro)

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Nemunoki Garden

Nemunoki means Silk tree.
There're flower beds in this garden.
There're roses which name is Princess Michiko.

This place used to be the house of Empress Michiko.
Her birth house was built in 1933 as the house of the president of Nissin flour milling.

It's payed inheritance tax in kind to Tokyo city when his father passed away.
It's pulled down in 2002 since it became too old to use.

This garden was named after Michiko's poem "Silk tree lullaby".
And her symbol tree, white birch is standing there, too.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Gotanda station on Yamanote Line
Gotanda station on Asakusa Line (A05/Toei Subway)

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