Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

On the west side of Ichiishibashi Minamizume, there is a "Ishishishirube", but at the bottom of this front, a "no"-shaped benchmark sign is engraved (arrows in the photo, round marks). It is difficult to see in the photo, but it can be read clearly in the real thing, so please check it. 

This is called the "ki-go benchmark" and is a British-style survey point conducted by the Ministry of Interior around 1876 (1876), where the shape of the sign is similar to a desk, it is said to have been called "desk = meticulous" because of its shape.

At that time, in addition to independent markings, the benchmark was engraved on permanent buildings or stone structures, similar to the word "non". According to the survey, the altitude was measured by applying a survey device to the horizontal bar. In English, it is called "Bench mark". As a reference point, the water level mark of Reiganjima was set to zero meters. 

These signs were installed in various places, but after that, the surveying method was changed and it was no longer used. However, there are still some traces of this history. Well-known places are located on the road side and lower sides of remain Ishigaki, Takanawa Okido, National Route 15 in Minato-ku. You need to be careful about passing cars because you can't see it unless you go on the road. 

This "Losting Stone Mark" is It is said that it was built in Designated Cultural Property, Tokyo in 1857 by a townspeople in Kawagishicho, Nipponbashinishi. The front of the pillar is engraved as "Mitsuyo Hiko no Shirube", the right side is "Shishi", and the left side is "Tazuru", and the upper part is hollow. . A message board that puts a paper describing the characteristics of a lost child or inquirer in a depression and informs the inquirer. It tells us that it was a place where people gathered with lots of traffic. Similar ones have "Kienhyojinseki" in Yushima Tenjin.

The current location where the monument is built is the outer moat edge, which was reclaimed after the war, so it used to be located on the east side of Minamizume, but it was relocated for highway construction.

The main pillar of Ichiishibashi beside the stone mark is a cultural property of the central inhabitant of the ward. It is a valuable modern Cultural Heritage.

On this day, it was sunny at 3:00 pm with a temperature of 30 ° C and a humidity of 60%, and it was under the scorching sun, but it felt like I felt a little relaxed because of the wind. More than 10 participants gathered at Sukiyabashi Park, the meeting place. Most of the participants were central residents, including visitors from other regions. At once, they are divided into two groups and go around the route.

Go to Yasuaki Elementary School along the expressway, which is the border between the former outer moat and now Chiyoda-ku. The school is home to Toruya, Fujimura and Toruya, and is Historic buildings, Tokyo. A long-established bar with the history of Ginza culture still stands in the back of the alley. The stylish Namiki-dori St. creates a Ginza-like atmosphere and stops at the Takuboku Monument. The Kojunsha building has changed its appearance, but some of the features of the past remain. The adjacent old building in the early Showa era is in the midst of demolition, and you can see it disappearing again from history.

It is the longest alley in Ginza. As I was surprised at the three automatic doors on the way, I will soon arrive at Inari Shrine. The history of Kinharu Street is condensed by the efforts of local volunteers, such as the Ginza Brick Street remain. To the east side of Chuo-dori, which was the Tokaido, there is no shortage of topics from Edo, such as the site of Shibakuchi Gomon, the site of Shiga Raki Chaya, and the site of Sanjumabori.

"Drinking Brazilian coffee in Ginza" sings "Silver Bra", crossing the coffee shop, walking along Chuo-dori from the site of the commercial law workshop, Owaricho was once. This is where three kimono shops in the Edo period lined the eaves. From Miharakoji, pass through the site of Mihara Bridge, which was Sanju-mobori, and go back 4-chome. Next to a building famous for bees in Ginza, I visited Inari.

Although it is a replica on the gas lamp street, there are four gas lamps, still turning on. The light that appeared next to the gas is a place where you can feel it because there is an electric light column of 15m on Chuo-dori. The gorgeous center of the Meiji modernization has been transformed into a symbol of contemporary Ginza, where overseas brand shops are competing in four corners today. Nearby is the birthplace of Ginza, which is the origin of Ginza. Here we finish walking around Ginza for about 2 hours.

Participants commented, "I saw a lot of things for the first time," "I didn't know the back road," "It was interesting and fun." The most happy thing was that with the cooperation of the participants, this town walk was excited. I would like to thank you for your unprecedented understanding, such as dialogue with people who are familiar with history.

There is "Sakamoto Elementary School in Chuo Ward" (upper photo) in Nihonbashikabutocho. Founded in 1873 (1873), it is the first school in the first junior high school district of the first university ward, so it has a long history as "one, one, one, one school" and is also known as a school from Junichirou Tanizaki. Next to it is "Sakamotocho Park" (pictured), which opened in 1889 (1889). As you noticed, there are two types of notations here, "Sakamoto" and "Sakamoto".

The name "Sakamotocho" is based on "Sakamoto" in guardian angel at Mt. Hiei Enryaku-ji Temple in Oomi country and "Sakamoto" in temple town in Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine. In the pictorial map of the late Edo period, it was located on the west side of the gate of Sanno resting place of portable shrines (Hie-jinja Shrine) and

"Sakamotocho Park" follows the historical place name from the Edo period, but why is "Sakamoto"?

As you know, there is a similar example. In the Edo period, Osaka was "Osaka", but now "Osaka". "Matsuzaka" in Ise country is described as "Matsusaka" in Mie Prefecture (the correct reading of the place name is "Matsusaka" and does not become cloudy).

There is such a theory.

1.   "Slope" is mischievous because it tilts and rolls down, so he changed it to "Osaka".

2.   "Slope" leads to "extinction" by "returning to the soil" and has a bad luck, so "Kozato" based on "fu", which means "hill, big, many, rich, prosperous" It was said that "Osaka" of "Hon" was hit.

3.   "Saka" was changed from "Saka" to "Saka" from "shi warping (bumurai rebellion)".
――And so on.

"Slope = bad luck" seems to be a common feature, but it is not clear whether it is a story or not. If you have any questions, please let me know. It seems that "Osaka" has been used since the Meiji period. In any case, this area is a place where "Slope" and "Saka" can be compared.

By the way, "Saka" is a common kanji and is a learning kanji learned in the third grade of elementary school. However, "Osaka" is not a common kanji but is considered to be an alien character of "Saka", but since it is currently under review, both "Sakamoto" and "Osaka" are likely to be a major player.

Among the 50th anniversary commemorative projects of the Chuo-ku Tourism Association, the “Town Walking Culture Course” (for details, on the Tourism Association website) has finally started on August 2 (Sun). It was planned to spread the word while walking through the city of Chuo-ku, which has history, culture, and tradition, and let them know the charm.

On this day, the first day, we were worried about what would happen in the afternoon due to considerable rain in the morning, but the blessings of the heavens or the cloudy sky at the time of gathering, the rain was a break, the sultry but the sunshine was saved.

About 20 participants gathered in front of the police box on the east side of Nihonbashi Minamizume, where the meeting place was held, and several children joined after the summer vacation. This guide was handled by four members of the "Chuo-ku Cultural Property Supporters Association". At 2:00 pm, the course explanation, precautions, etc. are completed, and they are divided into two sets and go to the course. (The photo shows the snapshot.)

The Nihonbashi course is a popular place for general town walks. Visit the footsteps that showed the busiestness in Edo. Walk from the south side of Edobashi Hirokoji, walk through the ruins of the famous water Shirakiya well, the former Shirakiya (Cored Nihonbashi), the west bank guardian of children and travelers, the land related to Yumeji Takehisa and Minatoya, and the stone mark of the news of Ichiishibashi lost child, head to the site of Tokiwa Hashikado.

In 1877 (1878), an old Ishibashi Tokiwa Bridge (not Tokiwa Bridge), you can hear exclamation in front of you at the cracks that entered here and there. In front of the main building of the main building of the Bank of Japan, 2016. Take a short tour and take a break at the Money Museum.

From Mitsui Main Building, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, former Mitsui Echigo-ya, to Muromachi Koji. There are many shops in this area, but there are many places that are closed on Sunday. For this reason, the crowded places are vacant on weekdays and it is easy to walk. After passing through the ruins of Anjin Miura Yashiki, go to the ruins of the Nihonbashi Fish Bank. Since the fish market, which has prospered since the early Edo period, has moved to Tsukiji Temple in Chuo-ku, an important historical and tourist spot for Chuo-ku. Knowing its history is an important part of tradition. It began to light rain from near the end. At Nihonbashi Hashigami, a nationally designated important cultural property, you will finish a two-hour walk while watching the road signs that were the starting point of the Gokaido and the decorations of Nihonbashi, which will soon be 100 years old.

A large number of participants this time Chuo-ku Everyone who lives. I've seen the main street, but it seems that there are few opportunities to learn slowly, such as side streets and historical sites, and some people said that they walked for the first time and knew it. One of the most impressive was elementary school children, who wrote down hard in notebooks and saw some ukiyo-e paintings drawn on store shutters, and said, "Why are Mount Fuji drawn on every picture?" And I am surprised at the sharp observation power of the children, and I am glad that I was curious.