Thank you for the street trees in Ginza.
It is around this time that the harsh heat continues even in September. I've never felt the value of the street trees as I walked around the city as this summer. For the past two months, I would like to introduce the main street trees in Ginza, which have been very helpful, mainly in Chuo-dori.
Katsura @ Chuo-dori
"Chuo-dori" is one of the "100 Best Roads in Japan" established in 1986. From the Ginza Doriguchi intersection to the Ginza 8-chome intersection, it is nicknamed "Ginza Chuo-dori". In the past, weeping willow was a symbol of the street, but after that it changed to Sharinbai and Yew, and was replanted in wig toward the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
The wig is characterized by its heart-shaped leaves. Also, leaves that fall yellow and fall in autumn emit a sweet scent like vanilla and caramel. There seems to be a theory that the origin of the name "Katsura" is "Kazuru", which means "scenting". I think that the shape and aroma of the leaves are street trees that suit "Ginza Chuo-dori".
Zelkova @ Harumi-dori St.
"Harumi-dori St." crosses "Chuo-dori" at the Ginza 4-chome intersection, which can be said to be the "Heso" in Ginza. It connects Shinonome's Gulf Road from Uchibori-dori St. in Hibiya.
Zelkova is a very beautiful tree shape like a bamboo garden broom upside down, and the bark peels off on the scales. Wood is characterized by excellent water resistance and durability, and also beautiful grain. The origin of the name "zelkova" is "zelkova", which means "outside" and "outside". In Tokyo, the row of zelkova trees in Omotesando is famous, but even on Harumi-dori St., a large zelkova with branches creates shade.
Ginkgo @ Showa-dori
"Showa-dori" crosses the entire line of "Chuo-dori" along the east side and crosses at the start and end point. This road was planned and constructed as a reconstruction project following the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923), and was completed in 1928.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's National Research Institute "Street Trees in Japan IX (June 2023), ginkgo is the most commonly planted road greening tree (Takagi) in Japan (second place is a narrow margin). The third place is zelkova. Ginkgo is hard to burn because thick leaves contain a lot of water, and the effects of preventing the spread of fire have been confirmed in the Great Kanto Earthquake. Ginkgo can be said to be a street tree suitable for "Showa-dori", an earthquake reconstruction road.
By the way, the name "Ginkgo" is said to be derived from the fact that the leaf shape resembles a duck-watered foot, so it was called "Echao" in the Soong era.