Photos by Takahiro Takiguchi ()
Zoshigaya District near Ikebukuro is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life without leaving town. The area has old town charm of a bygone era and is home to several Shinto and Buddhist sites and a cemetery where notable figures in Japanese history have been laid to rest.
To start your trip into the past, hop on the Toden, known as the Tokyo Sakura Tram. The Toden is the only streetcar still running in Tokyo’s city center. It has 30 stops spanning from Minowabashi to Waseda, allowing those on a leisure ride to enjoy the passing townscape comprised of old-fashioned downtowns, classic wooden buildings and many parks.
Hop off at the Kishibojimmae stop to start your stroll of Zoshigaya District.
Some of the notable spots to visit include Otori Jinja, a small but graceful Shinto shrine, and Kishimojindo, a large Buddhist temple which is also a power spot. The approach to Kishimojindo is lined with dozens of large gingko trees and traditional wooden houses.
There are many cafés and restaurants housed in some of the buildings where you can enjoy a nice break while exploring the area.
Kishimojindo was constructed in 1578 and enshrines Kishibojin, the goddess of childbirth and childcare. An old spooky legend says that Kishibojin was mother to many children but was catching other’s children to eat them. Buddha hid Kishibojin’s child, according to legend, to make her feel a mother’s suffering from losing a child. Kishibojin learned her lesson and instead became a guardian of children that to this day many pray to for help with childbirth and childrearing.
Near the shrine is Zoshigaya Cemetery, which will pique the interest of history buffs. The cemetery is the final resting place of some notable names in Japanese history like writers Natsume Soseki and Nagai Kafu, painter Takehisa Yumeji and former prime minister Tojo Hideki.
Spend a laidback afternoon enjoying the nostalgic air of Zoshigaya and its quaint Toden streetcar.
Zoshigaya Website
