Arakawa River around Akabane
1. Today's Walking Course
I came to Akabane. Today, I will go to Arakawa River and cross the river to Zenkoji in the opposite side.
2. Today's Photographies
Now I am near Akabane Station. This shop is Iseya sweet shop. Daifuku, rice-cake with Azuki bean paste in this shop is very famous for the size.
It is so big and the price is just 120 yen. It’s so amazing!!
After getting Daifuku, I will head to Arakawa river. The shopping street in Akabane is really nice.
This toy shop also has nostalgic atmosphere! When I was a child, I often went to this kind of shop.
This road is the old road in Edo Era (from the 17th century to the 19th century).
This scenery is also very nice. The chimney is public bath’s. Although the number of public bath is decreasing in Tokyo, there are some pubic bathes are remaining around here.
There are also some shrines along the road. This road really has history.
Now I am on the bank of Arakawa river. The red old water gate is the stating point of Sumida river. Arakawa river and Sumida river are divided in this point.
I really love the scenery with Arakawa river. It’s so refreshing! Now, I will go to the bridge over there.
Now, I am on the bridge. I am heading to Zenkoji temple.
Look, that is Zenkoji!
Finally, I arrived at Zenkoji temple. This temple was built in the 12th century. Many people crossed the river to worship at this temple in Edo Era. I din’t know that this temple has such a long hisotory.
The school of Zenkoji temple is “Shingonshu”. The founder is “Kukai”. He was born in the 8th century and brought new Chinese Buddhism to Japan.
3. History
There was a road called “Nikko Onari Kaido” from Tokyo to Nikko city of Tochigi Prefecture in Edo Era (from the 17th century to the 19th century). The road is mainly used for Tokugawa ruler who worshiped at Nikko Toshogu Temple where the founder of Tokugawa dynasty, Ieyasu Tokugawa has been enshrined in. Iwabuchi, south part of Arakawa river and Kawaguchi, north part of the river are post towns of “Nikko Onari Kaido” road.
For the defense reason, there was no bridge around here. That is why people got on a ferryboat and crossed the river. The above picture is for Arakawa river close to Zenkoji temple in Edo Era. The most right on the picture is a ferryboat to cross the river. Zenkoji temple with read and dark blue colors was also depicted in the upper right. Many people got on the ferryboat to visit the temple at that time.
There were also some rafts on the painting. People cut trees around the upstream of Arakawa river and brought these trees down to Tokyo for construction by rafts.
4. Information
・Closest station to Iseya sweet shop is Akabane Station, JR Keihin Tohoku Line. The shop is open from 10:30am to 8pm everyday except for Tuesday. Daifuku is 120yen.
・Closest stations to Zenkoji temple are Kawaguchi Station, JR Keihin Tohoku Line or Kawaguchi-Motogo Station, Saitama Express Line.
