Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

 

The view downstream from Ryogoku Bridge.

A very pleasant season has come to enjoy the Sumida River.

 

Ryogoku Bridge is located at the uppermost stream of Chuo-ku as a bridge of the Sumida River, but historically it is the second traditional bridge built in the Sumida River during the Edo period, and has made various stories along with the river. Was.

 

 

Waseda-Keio Regatta, a spring tradition in which this area of the Sumida River is the stage of battle, is one of the battles between Waseda University and Keio University. This is the 85th traditional race this year, and will be held on April 17 (Sun).

 

Waseda-Keio Regatta has several races, of which the main race is called "anti-school Eight".

The starting point is scheduled to be near Hamacho Park in Chuo-ku, located between Shinohashi and Ryogoku Bridge upstream. From here, go up the river and reach Sakurabashi, a little further away from Asakusa, 3750m. It's a long battle.

 

Near Ryogoku Bridge, which is the beginning of the race. How do you enjoy the race itself in this place?

I thought it myself.

 

 

It seems normal for regatta competitions to be competed in straight lines, but the Waseda-Keio Regatta held on the Sumida River features a "winding" course setting.

In particular, the river line of the Sumida River around Ryogoku Bridge is curved greatly.

Immediately after the start of the race is this large curve of Ryogoku Bridge.

Due to the characteristics of the curve, in-course and out-course diagrams are created, so the starting position on the in-course side is slightly behind, isn't it one point in driving the race?

 

In the race, one cox (steer) who steer in the direction of travel and eight rowers who look opposite the direction of travel compete in the first arrival as a team.

(Waseda Boat heading to the starting point in 2014)

 

Somehow, if you advance the race ahead of the opponent, eight rowers can row while looking at the opponent, so I feel that you can advance the development ahead.

 

There is no such big curve ahead of Ryogoku Bridge.

Therefore, the highlight of the early race that I think without permission is how much the in-course boat catches the outcourse boat between the start and the vicinity of Ryogoku Bridge.

 

I hope you will watch the Waseda-Keio Regatta on April 17th (Sun) in a way that everyone enjoys it.

“Waseda-Keio Regatta” website ⇒ http://www.the-regatta.com/

(From the 2014 race, Ryogoku Hashigami. Keidai, on the front side of the outcourse, won.

 

 

The tradition of the Sumida River in spring is a traditional battle of Waseda-Keio Regatta. Another feature of the Sumida River is the "fireworks of Ryogoku" in summer.

(Fence of the sidewalk on Ryogoku Bridge in which fireworks were designed)

 

Previously, the launch site was near the Ryogoku Bridge, but now it has been moved to two upstream locations and is still handed down as the "Sumida River Fireworks Festival".

 

During the Edo period, Hashizume of this bridge was set up, but in particular, Hashizume on the current Chuo-ku side was called "Ryogoku Hirokoji", and it was one of Edo's leading entertainment districts where you can enjoy fireworks. That's right.

The Edo Tokyo Museum in Sumida-ku has a wonderful diorama that reproduces this place, and you can feel the liveliness of that time.

 

However, when I actually come to this Ryogoku Bridge now, it is very difficult to feel it.

 

As a way to feel the liveliness of the Edo period ... There is a way to look at the pictures drawn in this period.

 

It must have been a good view. There are countless pictures depicting this area, and among them, I like this picture is also displayed on Sumida River Terrace on the Sumida-ku side and JR Ryogoku Station. It was also used in the opening of the Taiga drama series Ryomaden.

<JRyogoku Station / Toto Ryogokubashi Summer Scenery (Sadahide Hashimoto)>

 

Big small and lively boats gather in the river.

The countless people who fill Hashigami.

A dazzling fireworks rising in the sky.

Mt. Tsukuba is far beyond the upstream.

 

These landscapes seen from the current Chuo-ku side are put into one in a square picture, and the liveliness of this place is well expressed.

 

 

The Chuo-ku side is "outside of the curve."

 

The outside of the curve can sometimes create a wonderful sight.

 

If you walk along the Chuo-ku side of the Sumida River Terrace and come around Ryogoku Bridge, this is the place where I will follow.

On the stairs on the Sumida River terrace slightly downstream of Ryogoku Bridge, on the lower part of the Ryogoku Bridge.

Or on the pedestrian bridge that leads to Nihonbashi Junior High School from above.

 

If you look at the Sumida River from this with a sense of openness, the upstream and downstream of the river will enter a single view of 180 degrees.

In addition, it is a place where you can not only see the end of the river due to the characteristics of the outside of the curve, but also feel as if you were in the middle of the river.

 

I don't know if the picture I mentioned earlier was drawn with consideration of the curve of the Sumida River, but I don't know well.

When I think of what was drawn in this picture with a curve in front of me on the pedestrian bridge, I thought that the view when crossing Ryogoku Bridge from the Chuo-ku side would have been spectacular. You.

People were sucked in to Ryogoku Hirokoji, and it was somehow crowded, but I feel like I can see it.

  

 

Fireworks from both countries and Waseda-Keio Regatta have been "paused" after the war. The contamination of the Sumida River, which became a problem after high economic growth, seems to be one reason.

 

However, with the subsequent efforts, the river became beautiful, the traditions of these Sumida River have revived, and the enjoyment of citizens has returned.

 

The reason why Ryogoku Bridge was originally built was that after the Great Fire of the Meiryaku era in the Edo period, the Shogunate chose to build a bridge over the river without rebuilding the castle tower of Edo Castle.

Until then, I didn't build a bridge to protect the city of Edo from turbulence. The fact that the Shogunate built a bridge meant a "Declaration of Peace" that no turbulence would occur anymore.

 

Ryogoku Bridge is a symbol of peace. And you can do fireworks and races on the river, and it can be a peaceful sight for citizens to enjoy it.

 

 

The Sumida River flows through the city.

It will continue to change according to the trends of various times, but I hope that such a waterside scene will continue forever.

(This is the venue of Harumi, Tokyo Bay Fireworks Festival last year. It will not be held this year, but the word "pause" was used in the announcement from Chuo-ku in February.)

 

 

 

 

"Chuo-dori" passes through Nihonbashi, Kyobashi, and Ginza in Chuo-ku. Especially in the city of Ginza, it is commonly called "Ginza-dori", and it is a well-known central street in Japan.

What is the charm of Ginza Street?

The unique feeling of air early in the morning, the pleasure of a holiday in a pedestrian paradise, the dazzling light cityscape at night, etc.

I can't say it in a word, it's different.

 

However, the most attractive thing is that there are new discoveries every time you walk.

 

 

For example, the street tree on Ginza Street is such a tree, but this seems to be intentionally suppressing the height.

There may be some reason, but this is effective at night ... when I walked at night, I thought so.

 

Low-height street trees do not block the light of pillar-shaped streetlights and do not create shadows.

Therefore, the reason why "Ginza-dori at night" is unusually bright is due to the street trees that do not make shades.

 

 

At Christmas time, the street trees are further added and turned into illuminations, but even if it is not Christmas time, the city lights are very dazzling and light streets.

(2015/12/6, Winter Illumination "Hikari Michi")

 

When it rains on Ginza Street at night, the light reflected on the road surface brightens the city at night and increases the atmosphere.

（２０１５／１０／１６）

Even if it rains, it is Ginza Street at night that makes you want to walk on the contrary.

（２０１５／１０／１６）

 

 

Such an attractive "Night Ginza Street", I walked quite a bit in the fall of last year when it was still warm.

After walking many times, I have been able to enjoy the scenery of the city of Ginza.

 

When you want to walk around the city of Ginza, it may be good to use Ginza Station or Ginza 1-chome Station to get off the city of Ginza suddenly, but it is also a different way of enjoying yourself after getting off at the next station and walking into the city of Ginza.

 

 

For example, this is Ginza-dori at night seen from Yurikamome Shimbashi Station (Minato-ku).

（２０１５／１０／２３）

This street, which looks strangely bright from between the buildings, is truly a cityscape that makes you think Ginza. This is a view that makes you want to go into Ginza Street at night from Shimbashi.

 

 

And another way to enjoy the scenery of the city from the opposite direction of Chuo-dori. Get off at Kyobashi Station and take Exit 6 to Chuo-dori.

 

When you leave the exit, look at the opposite side and back of the road. This place where you can see the Meijiya Kyobashi Building. After taking a picture, walk from the town of Kyobashi toward Ginza.

（２０１５／１０／２１）

If you walk a little, you will find Yoshinoya of beef bowl. On the other side of the road is the Tokyo Square Garden in Kyobashi, where you can see "Night Ginza Street" as you walk.

(Hereinafter: October 28, 2015)

I often walked after 22:00 on my way home from work. After 22:00, the streetlights in the city of Kyobashi fall and become slightly darker.

Moreover, when Tokyo Square Garden is not illuminated in winter, the surrounding area is not so bright, so the city of Ginza visible in the distance feels dazzling.

 

The Ginza seen from here looks like this. Under the place where the expressway runs above, "Kyobashi" used to be built in the past, and the road is a bit exciting.

The upper highway and the rising road below cut out the scenery of Ginza like a picture frame. It is a place where the "frame effect" where the glittering scenery stands out even more.

 

The picture frame effect means that if the scenery is surrounded by something like a window frame, the visible part is restricted, conversely, the scenery of the visible part is more emphasized and the gaze concentrates there It is an effect that improves the way you feel.

 

Moreover, the place where this Kyobashi was built is the "outside of the curve" on Chuo-dori.

Since you can't see the end of the city of Ginza, if you feel "I want to see the other side", you will be drawn to the top of the curve where the bridge was located.

As you approach the top of the curve of the road, you can gradually see the picture of Ginza in the picture frame as if it were moving.

 

The process of seeing the end of the city of Ginza gradually is very irresistible.

 

Depending on the person, you may feel excited as if you were entering Disneyland.

 

 

And the result of sucking ...

"Night Ginza Street" can be seen from a slightly elevated place where Kyobashi was built in the past. I think it's a beautiful city scenery.

This is the "outside of the curve", so it is a place where you can feel as if you were in the middle of Ginza Street.

 

 

A landscape where you can feel something like a suction power that seems to be sucked in.

 

The way to enjoy in the future is for each person, but it is a scenery where you feel that it is okay to be sucked into the point where you can see it as it is.

 

 

 

I got up early on Wednesday, March 30 and went to Harumi's passenger ship terminal for the first time in a long time before leaving the company.

 

I was looking forward to seeing a large cruise ship entering the port early in the morning today, but a little sleeper.

 

Apparently, the arrival of the port was about 30 minutes behind schedule, so I managed to make it in time.

Anyway, the cruise ship entering the port today is the largest ever at Harumi Wharf.

 

 

In the meantime, the ship came through the Rainbow Bridge.

 

Is it a coincidence?

 

 

Dekai!

 

The cruise liner "SEA PRINCESS".

This is a cruise ship operated by Prince Cruises in the United States.

It is 77,499 tons and 261.1 meters long.

If you change the length to a yard, you will find 285.5 yards.

This is a length comparable to the flight distance of a professional golf driver.

 

However, the feminine and elegant form that doesn't make you feel too long is impressive.

You can't see the inside of the ship, but it's sure there's a fascinating world.

 

 

I heard a welcome performance by wadaiko.

You can see the ship up close from the pick-up deck on the 3rd floor of the passenger ship terminal, but unfortunately this is so far today. I'll leave Harumi for help.

 

 

Sea Princess was seen from the side of Toyosu New Market. If you look from a distance like this, it's a big ship, and I think it's a neat.

 

 

At night, I went cramped in Tokyo Bay, turned right, and left for Australia.

It's quite easy to go through the Rainbow Bridge. It is surprising that there are dekai cruise ships in the world that cannot pass through the Rainbow Bridge or Yokohama Bay Bridge.

 

 

This spring, such passenger ships are scheduled to come to the Harumi Passenger Terminal.

http://www.kouwan.metro.tokyo.jp/kanko/cruise/nyukou.html

 

Most recently, there seems to be a ship coming to the port on April 3 (Sun).
The cherry blossoms in Harumi are about to become a good atmosphere now!
It might be a good idea to come to Harumi using the recently popular community cycle.