A Brief History

Adachi-ku was originally part of Kosuge Prefecture and was a marshy agricultural center with many rice fields in the Edo area (1600-1868).  It was also a convenient place to stop if you were traveling to Nikko during the same era.  In 1932, Tokyo’s boundaries were expanded and Adachi became a ward of Tokyo but it was not officially recognized as such until the late 1940’s.

The train lines that serve Adachi-ku are the Hibaya and Chiyoda Lines which began operations in 1962 and 1969 respectively.  In 2005, the Tsukuba Express, offering service to Ibaraki prefecture, began serving the area.  The main train station in Adachi-ku is Kita-senju.

The city emblems are the cherry tree and the tulip which bloom in the parks and gardens of the city each spring and summer. Events

The Adachi Fireworks Festival is held on the 4th Thursday of July each year along the banks of the Arakawa River between Senju Shinbashi and Nishi Araibashi bridges.  The event started in 1924 and has been presented annually since 1979.

In early October, the Adachi Citizens Festival is held along the banks of the Arakawa River and in other locations throughout the city.

The Issa Matsuri Festival at Entenji Temple is held each November to commemorate Issa Kobayashi, a famous Haiku poet who lived from 1763-1827.

The Festival of Light is held each December along the avenue of trees between the Motofuchie Park and the East exit of Takenotsuka Station on the Tobu Isesaki Line.  In the park you will find eight, 20 meter tall, Christmas trees illuminated with 10,000 twinkling lights that is the largest display of its kind in Japan.

The Sights

Nishiarai-Daishi Temple is a Buddhist temple that is one of the “Three Great Daishi of Kanto” and is a popular temple for New Years visits as it is believed to bring visitors longevity.

Belmont park was developed in 1984 and is a symbol of the sister relationship that the city has with Belmont, Australia with native plants and Black Swans that are the state bird of Western Australia.  The western style brick house in the park is open on weekends and holidays and displays Australian Handicrafts and household items.  The park is also home to the Adachi International Festival held each fall that

Toneri Park (PDF) has a number of athletic fields, a large pond and a splash pool that is popular in the summer (map).

Fun Facts & Trivia

Did you know that a large number of the Cherry Trees in Washington, D.C. came from Adachi Ward?  In December of 1910, over 3,000 scions were taken from cherry trees on the banks of the Arakawa River in Adachi and grafted onto trees from Hyogo Prefecture, in southern Japan, before being shipped to Washington.

For mor information on the Adachi ward, visit the Tokyo Tourism Information Adachi-ku page or the City of Adachi website in English which will provide additional details about the area and the events held there.

Image Credit:  Wikipedia, Adachi-ku & Flickr, 20060727DSC_0128

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler

The sign gives you a pretty good idea of the process visually but here are the steps in English.

1. In front of the main building of the shrine approach the offering box and bow to the altar twice
2. Then, clap your hands together twice.
3. Lastly, bow once again before you turn to leave.

Between steps one and two feel free to say a little prayer.  Even if you are not very religious I believe that it is important to be respectful and to keep in mind that a shrine is not just a sightseeing destination but a place of worship for many local people.  I am very mindful of this and have been known to drop a yen or two in the offering box to show my appreciation for being allowed to enjoy the beauty of the shrines in Tokyo and throughout Japan.

Photo Credit: Personal Collection

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler

The deities (spirits/souls) of the Emperor Meiji and His Consort Empress Shoken are enshrined at Meiji Jingu.  Empereor Meiji (1852-1912) led Japan out of isolation by promoting international ties and encouraging cultural pursuits.  His reign marked a very prosperous time in Japanese history.  Empress Shoken (1850-1914) was an advocate of education for women and was a contributor and supporter of the Japan Red Cross.  Both the Emperor and Empress were well loved by the people of Japan and the Meiji Jingu Shrine was built in thier honor.  It was completed in 1920 but was destroyed by fire during World War II and was rebuilt in 1958.

The gravel pathway to the shrine is demarcated by trees along each side and a number of torii (gates).  The otorii (grand shrine gate) is 12 meters high with a 17 meter cross piece made of Japanese cypress and is an impressive sight.

As you pass through the various tori and approach the shrine take note of the entrance to the inner garden.  For a small fee you can meander through a stunning garden that was created by the Emperor for the Empress long before the shrine was built.

The shrine itself is located in a courtyard which is accessed via an ornately carved gate guarded by paper lanterns on each side. This Shrine is one of the largest and most popular in Japan and is a pleasure to visit.  If you are lucky you might get to see a newly married couple in traditional bridal attire like my friends and I did on our last visit!

Meiji Jingu Shrine is located near the Harajuku and Meiji Jingumae Stations in central Tokyo.  It’s well worth a visit!

Photo Credit: Personal Collection

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler