Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

When it comes to Kotohira Shrine, many people think of Kotohira Shrine in Toranomon, Minato-ku in Tokyo. This shrine was rebuilt in 2004 and has become a facility integrated with Toranomon Kotohira Tower.

The main shrine of Kotohira Shrine is a shrine in Kotohira-cho, Kagawa Prefecture. In the Edo period, ship distribution became popular, and Kotohira worship was spread throughout Japan by shipping companies and merchants, and branch offices were created throughout Japan.

One of them is Kotohira Shrine, which was founded in Yagenbori (now Higashi Nihonbashi 2-chome) in Tenmei 3 (1783). He was revered as a guardian deity of the sailors of the Sumida River, and after that, along with the development of the town, he gathered the religion of merchants, especially those who work in the food and beverage industry and entertainment.

At present, there are no shrines in Yagenbori, but it was transferred to the grounds of Kanda Myojin in 1929 and became the subsidiary shrine of Kanda Myojin. It is enshrined together with Mishuku Inari Shrine.

　

In addition, there is Suehiro Inari Shrine in the precincts of Kanda Myojin, which was also enshrined by a bonito wholesaler in Nihonbashikobunacho, but is now relocated as the subsidiary shrine of Kanda Myojin.

　
Until now, I have written that fish riverbank water shrine and Kobunamachi Yakumo Shrine are enshrined in Kanda Myojin. Kanda Myojin itself is Chiyoda-ku at its current address, but it is clear that there is a deep connection between Chuo-ku and Kanda Myojin, just as most towns on the north side of Nihonbashi River in Chuo-ku are still shrine parishioner in Kanda Myojin.

When I guided Nihonbashi earlier this month as a guide, I stopped by Eitaro Sohonbu, a Japanese confectionery, to talk about it.

I used to write a blog about the bridge between the Kanda River and Nihonbashi River that appeared in Keigo Higashino's novel "When the curtain of prayer falls", but I remember that it had been suspended for a while, This time, I will write it as a sequel to the neighborhood of "Nishikawabashi".
　

This area is currently the address of Nihonbashi Honishi-cho, Muromachi, and Yaesu along the Nihonbashi River, but in the Edo period, the west side of the river was called "Nishikawa Riverside", so it is named "Nishikawa Riverside Bridge".

It is famous as the stage of Kyoka Izumi's masterpiece "Nihonbashi", but it is a very plain bridge with no characteristics in the construction of the bridge itself. Until the middle of the Showa era, a metropolitan bus running from Tokyo Station to Koiwa Station ran across the bridge. When returning from Tokyo Station to the house in Tachibana-cho (now Higashi-Nihonbashi 3-chome), it is not the Nishi-Kashibashi Bridge, but I still remember that children thought, "I want you to go through Nihonbashi anyway."
　

That's why I don't write much about the bridge, so I write it along the neighborhood.
　

The Jizo Bodhisattva of "Nipponbashinishi Riverside Bridge Jizoji Church" is said to have been carved by Gyoki. In addition, when Shotaro Hanayagi plays the role of Sensei when performing Kyoka Izumi's "Nihonbashi", the dedicated "Ita-e Colored Sensei's figure" still exists.

On the wall of the Mizuho Trust Bank building at the intersection of Gofuku Bridge on Eidai-dori, a monument to the Minatoya Esogo store opened by Yumeji Takehisa is embedded.

Also, on the other side of Kiyosubashi-dori in Suitengu Shrine, opposite Meijiza in Hamacho, there is still the Minatoya Esoshi Paper Store. Here, we sell a lot of products related to Yumeji Takehisa side by side.

There is a delicious Japanese confectionery near the West Bank Bridge.

According to the explanation I heard at Eitaro Sohonten, during the Ansei period of the Edo period, when I put out a "Kintsuba" stall and sold it to customers coming to the Nihonbashi Fish Bank, it flourished, and it began to set up a store in this area That is.

Even today, Eitaro's Kintsuba is a featured product, and its feature is that it has a round shape like a sword brim.

URL:　http://www.eitaro.com/
　

　
In addition, there is "Rabbitya Nihonbashi Main Store" nearby (the Chuo-dori store is also located). The main store is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, but this is open on Saturday.) "Rabbitya" also has shops in Ueno (the birthplace of rabbits and rabbits) and Asagaya.

Dorayaki is famous, but I think it's very delicious here too.

URL:　http://www.wagashi.or.jp/tokyo_link/shop/0303.htm

It's a bit from Nihonbashi, but when you come to Mitsukoshi or Takashimaya, why don't you stop by?