Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

Smartphones and tablet devices are rapidly spreading. Under these circumstances, a dedicated application (free) has recently appeared in the Ginza town walking guide. In addition to text (text) and image information, it guides Ginza by voice, and has a convenient function that switches to commentary there when approaching the guide point (photos are from iPad screen). The silver bra with a smartphone seems to have some new discoveries.

The app released this time is an iPhone and iPad compatible version for Apple iOS. The Android version has already been released. Ginza Street has been offering free WiFi for free public wireless LAN in the Ginza area called "G Free" since the end of September this year, so if combined with this, the convenience of the Internet environment will be further enhanced.

There are two types of apps: "Ginza Guide" and "Kokosil Ginza" (both UC Technology). The "Ginza Guide" has a menu such as voice guides "Ginza Guide" and "Disc Jocky-style", as well as tour guides "Gallery Tour", "Back Road Crossing", and "Historic Site Tour". You can listen to the history and topics of Ginza in the audio guide "Ginza Guide" for about 20 minutes. In addition, it automatically switches when you approach the information points such as Matsuya, Mitsukoshi, Wako, etc., and it is an excellent thing that explains the facility. There are also photos and old maps on iPad.

In addition to searching for maps, reading QR codes, introducing events, "Kokosil Ginza" has a web magazine called "Ginza Ima ZINE" and a "word of mouth" corner where hot topics on street corners are transmitted.

The 14th special exhibition "Two Ginza Reconstruction - Civilization and enlightenment and Modern Culture" is being held at the Chuo Ward Local Tenmonkan (Time Dome Akashi). Overcoming the disasters of the Great Ginza Fire of 1872 (1872) and the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 (1923), special exhibition, which cut Ginza, which was reconstructed from the perspective of Civilization and enlightenment and modern culture, reveals the origins of today's Ginza development.

The exhibition will be closed on Monday until November 25, and special exhibition will be free to enter.

Ginza 140 years ago, the great fire of 1872 (1872) spread to Tsukiji and burned out 4,879 houses. The Ginza Brick Street was built in the reconstruction project. Newspapers and other companies have entered the non-combustible Ginza, which became a place for information dissemination. Precious newspapers from the time are on display. The waves of Civilization and enlightenment formed a modern Ginza. The photograph of the store show window of the Taisho era is interesting for its innovative design.

It is said that the cafe, which was born in the late Meiji era, gathered literary artists and painters to create a new culture of Ginza in a Western-style atmosphere. In 1921 (1921), Tokyo Mayor Shinpei Goto and others attended to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the reconstruction from the Great Ginza Fire.

Two years later, the Great Kanto Earthquake, which suddenly struck in September 1923 (1923), caused unprecedented damage. The photographs of the disaster at that time convey the disaster vividly. In Ginza, which stood up for reconstruction, a rosek architecture was built, and it was moving forward to reconstruction. The Imperial City Reconstruction Festival was held in March 1930, six years and six months after the disaster. At that time, department stores have advanced and stores have been converted into buildings, and some of these buildings still exist today.

After the earthquake, the customs of Mobo Moga became popular as modern Ginza. Many exhibits show that cafe culture, mannequin girls, etc. have progressed, and Ginza culture has spread from literature, magazines, publications, and popular songs.

Ginza, which suffered enormous damage in the subsequent Pacific War, has led to the development of today's "Ginza power", which has overcome many difficulties. special exhibition is made to think about such a thing. ●Akira Makibuchi

◇A related lecture will also be held. For more information, please visit the Local Tenmonkan website.　>>Here

Go along the five highways in Chuo-ku, the second one is Koshu Kaido. During the Edo period, it was on the way from Naito Shinjuku and Hachioji to Shimosuwa via Kofu. The current part of Chuo-ku overlaps National Route 1 and is only a short distance from Nihonbashi. So I would like to go a little further and walk to the junction of National Route 20, which inherits the old Koshu Kaido.

Departing from Nihonbashi, the starting point, walk south on Chuo-dori to Nihonbashi Intersection. So far it is the same as National Route 1, Tokaido, and the current National Route 15. When you turn west at the intersection toward Otemachi, National Route 1 is called Eitai-dori St. (upper left photo). Eventually, we will reach the Gofuku Bridge intersection. It is derived from the fact that there was Gofukumachi in the old days. On the north side, there was "Yumeji Takehisa / Minatoya Esoshi Paper Store" during the Meiji period.

The current Sotobori-dori St., which connects north and south, was built on the ruins of outer moat in Edo Castle, with the Gofuku Bridge on the west side. Take this Sotobori-dori St. toward Kanda to Ichiishibashi. It was the point where outer moat, Dosanbori and Nihonbashi River merged. It is depicted in the 100 views of Edo "Yatsumi no Hashi" and the famous spot event "Hachimibashi". At present, on the west side of Minamizume, there are "Ishiishibashi Lost Stone Marks" during the Ansei period (upper right in the photo) and "Ichiishibashi's main pillar" during the Taisho era, which is a cultural property of the inhabitants of the ward.

Move away from Chuo-ku at the point beyond the Gofuku Bridge intersection and enter Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku. On the back of the building on the south side is the ruins of magistrate's office Kitamachi (left photo). It can be seen that he ruled Edo City along with the ruins of Minamicho magistrate's office near JR Yurakucho Station. After walking for a while, you will hit the Otemachi intersection. Go straight to Ote-mon gate, and if you go south, National Route 1 will be Hibiya Street.

Walking south along the Uchibori, the Hiroshige Utagawa was born near the Meiji Seimeikan, an important cultural property of Baba Sanmon, near the "Jomon Fire Concentric House". This area was also called "Yatsushirosu Kishi" because of the Jan Jooss Tenyashiki, and in modern times it was Yaesumachi, Kojimachi-ku. Go ahead and you will see Hibiya intersection.

Turn right at the Hibiya Gomon site in Hibiya Park and head west. National Route 1 is Harumi-dori St. and you will reach the Sakuradamon intersection. If you turn left at the south, you will see Sakurada-dori St. on National Route 1 and 3 km from Nihonbashi. If you go straight, you can finally meet Koshu Kaido on National Route 20 (lower right photo). The road from Hanzomon to Shinjuku is now Shinjuku-dori St. ●Akira Makibuchi