Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

Hello. This is a new correspondent, Hanes.
Continuing from the last time, I would like to focus on Chuo-ku that Sidmore saw!

■Impression of Edo (p. 75)
This section describes the scenery of Tokyo, where the remnants of Edo remain.
The frank and honest impression from overseas people at that time is spelled out.

"The scenery of Tokyo, which I see for the first time, disappointing travelers, just like the first scenery of Yokohama. Ginza, the main street in this commercial district begins with a bridge on the opposite side of the Shimbashi railway station and extends straight to Nihonbashi, the northern end of the Tokaido. Nihonbashi is the starting point of transportation for national distance measurement. In the Oita part of the road, moon-like buildings, curbs, and green shades are lined up based on foreign countries, but the railway carriage [carriage iron] echoes the pop-up sound, and the light carriage runs rattles. , The scenery of the city is quite inconsistent. This is not Oedo, which tourists dreamed, but is not a big city of the East. The plaster walls, wooden cylindricals, glamorous windows of the shops, and the stupid mountains of imitation, all the tourists face the way."



When I first read it, "I don't have to say so much."..."I felt somewhat sad,"
For those who are familiar with foreign landscapes, such harsh impressions may be appropriate.
And again, when we eat ramen and sushi overseas, we eat ramen and sushi.
"I'm sorry that the noodles are spreading...."The vinegared rice part is dry and hard to eat...."I feel like
Finding Chinese elements in buildings and gardens that are Japanese style or Japanese style.
"That's something different from the image....I think this feeling is something that I experienced with Sidmore.
Shedmore continued to say a word after this.

"But there are a lot of secret places unique to big cities, unforeseen excavations that are unrelated to the changing times, and you can get pure Japanese treasures that are enough to compensate for your initial disappointment."


(Okuno Building, a luxury designer condominium completed in 1932)

In other words, there are many immutable pure Japanese places, even as they change overseas (especially European countries) as examples.
From today's point of view, Japan's unique Historic buildings is located a little far from behind alleys and main streets.
I think it's an attractive place that can be called a "secluded gem" known to those who know it.
In addition, there may be wonderful scenery "I couldn't see it unless I got lost."
It can be said that such unexpected excavations are the real pleasure of walking around the town.


(Miyakawa poultry eggs, selected by Historic buildings, completed in 1929)

Sidmore's comment introduced this time is what modern tourists visiting Japan are looking for from Japan.
And I feel that it leads to what Japanese people who travel abroad are looking for.

It's a good idea to go around the sights of the royal road listed in the guidebook.
The popularity of traditional culture experience tours and "traveling like living" type trips is also increasing.
Also, rather than buying beautifully packaged souvenirs at shops like "The Souvenir Shop"
People have come to hear from locals that they want to buy something that has a reputation.
In that sense, it is necessary to consider what tourists visiting Japan are looking for.Sidmore's comments may be helpful.

"Sidmore Japan Journey" also describes the state of the army and Tsukiji foreign settlements at that time.
There is a record from the perspective of overseas people.
I'm sorry that there is no collection in the Chuo City Library, but it's a book worth reading.
Next time, I will take up the Shintomiza seen by Sidmore!

[References]
Eliza R. Sidmore (author) / Katsuhisa Tonosaki (translation) "Sidmore Japan Journey" (Kodansha, 2002).