【A Walk Through History and Culture】Strolling the Ueno and Okachimachi Area in Taito Ward｜Shiki, Saigo, Shinobazu Pond, Shrines

📜【A Walk Through History and Culture】Strolling the Ueno and Okachimachi Area in Taito Ward｜Shiki, Saigo, Shinobazu Pond, Shrines 🚶♂️Course Overview Start: Okachimachi Station → Ueno Onshi Park → Shinobazu Pond → Kiyomizu Kannon-do → Shiki Baseball Stadium → Saigo Takamori Statue → Ueno Toshogu Shrine → Yushima Tenmangu / Shinobazu Pond Bentendo → Goal: Ueno Hirokoji ⸻ 🗾1. Shinobazu Pond A scenic spot known since the Edo period. The pond in summer, blooming with lotus flowers, is spectacular, with Bentendo Shrine seemingly floating in the center of the pond. In the past, cormorant fishing and boat rides were held here, and even after the Tokyo air raids, it remained a beloved symbol of recovery. 📸 Photo ideas: Lotus flowers, Bentendo Shrine across the pond, boat dock ⸻ 🏟️2. Masaoka Shiki Memorial Baseball Stadium (Former Shinobazu Pond Baseball Field Site) A small stadium within the park named to commemorate Shiki’s contribution to popularizing baseball in Japan. It is said that Shiki and others played games here in Ueno during the Meiji era, making it a fusion spot of literature and baseball. 📸 Shiki’s monument, stadium plaque, nearby amateur baseball scenes ⸻ 🗿3. Saigo Takamori Statue (Ueno Park Entrance) Erected in 1898 following the Seinan War to honor Saigo. The statue, depicting him with a dog in a familiar, approachable manner, is well-loved. Climbing the stairs behind leads toward the Tokyo National Museum and Ueno Zoo. 📸 Saigo statue against the blue sky, angle from behind the statue ⸻ 🛕4. Ueno Toshogu Shrine and Five-Story Pagoda A lavish shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu. The karamon gate, adorned with abundant gold leaf, is a must-see. The old Kaneiji Temple five-story pagoda stands quietly within the grounds, as if time in Edo has stopped. 📸 Front of Toshogu Shrine, karamon gate, five-story pagoda with trees ⸻ ⛩️5. Kiyomizu Kannon-do (Stage-Style Temple) Part of Kaneiji Temple, built in the style of Kyoto’s Kiyomizu Temple with a stage-like structure. From the cliff, you can overlook Shinobazu Pond, and it is also famous as a historic matchmaking Kannon. 📸 Overlook view from Kannon-do, pond seen over the railing ⸻ 🎓6. Yushima Tenmangu Shrine (Within Walking Distance) If you extend your walk to Yushima Tenmangu Shrine, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning, you’ll find ema plaques lined up in the precincts for exam takers. It is also a famous plum blossom spot since the Edo period. 📸 Ema plaques, torii gate, stone steps scenery ⸻ 🏘️7. Okachimachi Area Streetscape The town’s roots lie in the residence of the Tokugawa shogunate’s “Okachimachi troops.” Behind the bustling Ameyoko market, small alleys remain, along with long-established shoe stores, Japanese confectionery shops, and sushi restaurants, where traces of Edo atmosphere linger. 📸 Retro signs, back alleys of Ameyoko Yokocho, downtown-style drinking streets ⸻ 【A Historical Walk in Ueno and Okachimachi】Half-Day Course Walking Shiki, Saigo, Lotus Pond, and Shrines “The area around Ueno Onshi Park in Tokyo is not just a tourist spot. Starting from the waterside of Shinobazu Pond, the site of the baseball field associated with Masaoka Shiki, the father of baseball literature, the Saigo Takamori statue, Toshogu Shrine, and Kiyomizu Kannon-do, it is a rich spot where Edo and Meiji history overlap. Extending your walk to Okachimachi reveals the traces of the shogunate retainers’ town. The lotus-filled pond, the shrine’s karamon gate, and literary monuments are perfect for photos. This historical walking course offers both tranquility and liveliness, fulfilling the heart.” Toshogu Shrine #TripMoments #LiteratureAndTravel Travel Strategy