Page 83 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Tokyo

THREE GUIDED W ALKS  81

A 45-Minute Walk from the
High City to the Low City

The walk follows the slopes of the Yamanote, or High City,
down to the flat, river lands of the Shitamachi, the Low
City. Starting from Yushima Tenjin (Yushima Tenman-gu),
the great shrine of learning, this route includes Kanda
Myojin, one of the foremost places of worship in the city,
and a rare Confucian temple sitting on a bluff above the
Kanda River. It takes in a Russian Orthodox Cathedral,
before ending at the lively streets of Ochanomizu.
8 The Archeological Museum
(The Bridge of the Sages). of Meiji University
Pause here to peer west along
the river for a good view of the
19-story Century Tower 5, one K A S U G A - D O R I
of Tokyo’s impressive office Yushima
buildings; the twin towers Uenohirokoji
boast innovative air-condi-
tioning strips, and a 19-floor
atrium that allows extra light
to pour in. Cross the C H U O - D O R I
Key bridge to reach the
YUSHIMA
Walk route
2 Torii (gate) at the entrance to Kanda
K U R A M A E B A S H I - D O R I
Myojin shrine
Suehirocho
Start at Yushima Tenjin shrine K a n d a
YU S HIMA -ZAKA
1, dedicated to a 9th-century R i v e r Ochanomizu SHOHEIBASHI- DORI
scholar deified as Tenjin, the
patron of learning. Walk down K A E D E - D O R I
the gentle slope south of the A I O I - Z A K A
shrine, crossing Kuramaebashi- Ochanomizu AKIHABARA
dori. A copper-plated torii (gate) M E I D A I - D O R I
set at the foot of a slight incline
Shin-
Northern Tokyo off Hongo-dori announces the ochanomizu
entrance to Kanda Myojin JIMBOCHO
shrine 2, the site of the Kanda
Matsuri (see p30), one of the KANDA
city’s grandest festivals. Just Ogawamachi
across the road is the Yushima Y A S U K U N I - D O R I Awajicho
Seido temple 3, dedicated to
the spirit of the Chinese sage
Western Tokyo Central Tokyo
Confucius. Shady temple
gardens are situated at the Russian Orthodox Nikolai out the university’s Criminal
base of a bluff above the Cathedral 6, with its deep Museum 9. Casals Hall 0 on
banks of the Kanda River 4. green onion dome looming the left is a smart auditorium
Walk down to the river and the over the Ochanomizu cityscape. designed by world-famous
stone ramparts of Hijiribashi It is just a few blocks east from Japanese architect Arata Isozaki.
here to Kanda Yabu Soba (see Turn right at the end of Meidai-
Tips for Walkers p132) 7, a legendary buck- dori into Yasukuni-dori and the
wheat noodle restaurant just heart of the famous Kanda-
Starting point: Yushima Tenjin off Shoheibashi-dori. Walk Jimbocho book store district q.
shrine. directly west from here to The walk ends on this street
Length: 2.5 km (1.5 miles). Ochanomizu’s main street, near Jimbocho subway station.
Getting there: The start of this Meidai-dori. The Archeological
walk is the Yushima metro station Museum of Meiji University 8 0 meters 400
on the Chiyoda Line. appears on the right. It has
Stopping-off points: A tea stop one of the best collections of 0 yards 400
at the entrance to Kanda Myojin
shrine; lunch at Kanda Yabu Soba, ancient objects and artifacts Key
a local institution. found on digs around Japan.
In the same building, check Walk route
For keys to symbols see back flap
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