<p>Tachiaigawa Station, on the Keikyu Line, opened in 1904. This is the shotengai (shopping street) just outside the station.</p>

Tachiaigawa Station, on the Keikyu Line, opened in 1904. This is the shotengai (shopping street) just outside the station. (Photo: Sandra Isaka)

Around Tokyo's Tachiaigawa Station

A fascinating time-slip into Japan's past

Sandra Isaka Jul 13, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>Tachiaigawa Station, on the Keikyu Line, opened in 1904. This is the shotengai (shopping street) just outside the station.</p>

<p>The bridge from which this photo was taken is nicknamed Namidabashi, or 'Bridge of Tears'. Criminals on their way to the Suzugamori execution grounds parted with their relatives here, as family was not allowed past this point.</p>

<p>This statue of Ryoma Sakamoto reminds passersby that he was stationed at a naval battery here when Commodore Perry's black ships sailed into Tokyo Bay in 1853. Seeing the ships is thought to have been an important event in his life.</p>

<p>Tachiaigawa Shotengai's mascot is a horse named Ryo-kun, chosen because the Oi Racecourse is nearby.</p>

<p>As with most Inari shrines, this one enshrines deities of rice, harvest, commerce, and industry.</p>

<p>This sculpture sits in a tiny park beside the shopping street. It is the Kokorozashi-no-Uma, or 'Horse of Ambition'.</p>

<p>One of the most popular reasons to visit nearby Tenso Suwa Shrine is to pray for the safe delivery and health of babies.</p>

<p>This shrine within the grounds of Tenso Suwa Jinja is dedicated to the deity of water.</p>

<p>The Yoshidaya is a fantastic soba restaurant that originally opened in 1856. It sits along the old Tokaido Highway, just around the corner from the shotengai.</p>

<p>Also along the old Tokaido Highway, at the end of the shopping street, Daikokuya is a shop selling tasty sembei (rice cracker).</p>

<p>On the other side of National Highway 1 from the station is the Tachiaigawa Nishi Shotengai.</p>

<p>Really quiet in the daytime, this retro arcade wakes up (a bit) in the evening.</p>

In Shinagawa, just off of the historic old Tokaido Highway, Tachiaigawa Station sits in a charming neighborhood reminiscent of yesteryear. There are no real sightseeing spots, but for those who like to feel as if they have been transported back in time, it is a suitable destination. Visit around lunch or dinner when the shopping street is the most lively. Wander around and explore the area before sitting down to a simple, tasty meal in one of the many 'Mom & Pop' establishments.

Sandra Isaka

Sandra Isaka @sandra.isaka

As an intercultural consultant & Japan travel specialist with 20 years in Japan, I love sharing my favorite places with others.