From WATERS takeshiba, a new waterfront landmark that opened in 2020, take the futuristic Hydrogen Shuttle Bus and the New Transit Yurikamome to Shiodome Sio-Site, a huge, ultra-modern multifunctional city lined with skyscrapers. Walk inland from there, and you'll find yourself in the serene streets of Atago and Shiba, where historical sites from the Edo period still remain. Let's visit a famous temple and shrine and reminisce about the distant past. At the end of the walk, you can take in a panoramic view of today's Tokyo from the Top Deck of Tokyo Tower. Along the route, enjoy the future, past, and present look of Tokyo.
Start
Hamamatsucho Station North Exit （JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line）
After exiting Hamamatsucho Station North Exit
, turn right onto Takeshiba Street. The entrance to Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens is on your right. The first intersection is in front of Shiba Commercial High School. At the top, the Metropolitan Expressway Inner Circular Route crosses the street. Go straight ahead and at the end of the road, turn left at the traffic lights at the entrance to Takeshiba Pier and continue along next to the YURIKAMOME elevated tracks to WATERS takeshiba
Tower Building. If you continue further, you'll find the Theater Building across the plaza. After enjoying the waterfront scenery here, take the JR Takeshiba Hydrogen Shuttle Bus that leaves from in front of the Mesm Tokyo Hotel in the Tower Building to the neighboring Hinode Pier stop. From the bus stop, walk to the left following the Yurikamome elevated tracks and you'll soon arrive at Hinode Station
. Take the Yurikamome Line heading towards Shimbashi, get off at Shiodome Station, and exit through Exit 2B, which leads to a pedestrian deck surrounded by high-rise buildings. This is Shiodome Sio-Site
. After walking around the deck and looking at the skyscrapers, get off the pedestrian bridge in front of Shiodome Station and go straight ahead, with your back to Shiodome Station. Go through the tunnel under the JR tracks and take the diagonal path to the left. A little further on, you'll see the corner of a cobblestone street lined with European-style buildings. This is Italia Street. Turn right at the end of the street, cross the Hamamatsucho 1 intersection on Route 15 (Daiichi Keihin), turn right, and then turn left just before the pedestrian bridge. Continue straight ahead, passing the Shiba Post Office intersection and The Jikei University Hospital. After crossing the Atago-jinja Shrine intersection , turn right and you'll soon see the torii gate of Atago Shrine
on your left. Walk up the famous "stone steps to success" to pay your respects. After leaving the shrine, turn right and go straight down Atago Shita-dori Avenue. At the Nishi-Shimbashi 3-chome intersection, cross the pedestrian bridge over the street and turn left. At the next intersection (Onarimon), turn right onto Hibiya Street, and walk a short distance with the spacious grounds of Shiba Park on your right until you come to Le Pain Quotidien Shiba Koen
. Let's have lunch here today. After your meal, go right and you'll soon come to Zojoji Temple
with a deep connection to the Tokugawa Shogun family. After visiting the temple, exit from the right side of the main hall, turn left, cross the intersection in front of Tokyo Tower, and go up Tokyo Tower Street to the main entrance of Tokyo Tower
. Be sure to take the Top Deck Tour. After leaving Tokyo Tower, continue walking left along Tokyo Tower Street and down Nagai-zaka to the Iikura intersection. Turn right here and continue along Sakurada-dori Avenue, and you'll soon arrive at Kamiyacho Station Exit 1
.
Guide of Drop-in Spots
Symbols
見どころ・遊び場 highlight. Entertainment
レストラン・食事処 restaurant
カフェ・ドリンクスタンド cafe
買い物スポット shopping spot
宿泊施設 accommodations
見どころ・遊び場 highlight. Entertainment
レストラン・食事処 restaurant
カフェ・ドリンクスタンド cafe
買い物スポット shopping spot
宿泊施設 accommodations
Hamamatsucho Station North Exit
From North Exit of Hamamatsucho Station for JR Yamanote Line，Keihintohoku Line
This is the Shimbashi side exit. There's Takeshiba-dori Street with Shiba area on the left. Far ahead, you can see Tokyo Tower. To the right is Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden, which leads to the Takeshiba Pier ahead. Hamamatsucho Station is also connected to the Tokyo Monorail to Haneda Airport.
There is very popular Manikin Pis statue(a boy urinating) on the Shinagawa side of platforms 3 and 4 of Hamamatsucho Station. It's interesting that their appearance changes depending on the season.
At the north exits there's a meeting place in front of the statue of a young girl (Aoi no Shirabe).
The busy Takeshiba Street outside the north exit.
Looking back in the opposite direction of Takeshiba Street, you can see Tokyo Tower.
Hamamatsucho Station to WATERS takeshiba
Right next to Hamamatsucho Station is the Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden, a feudal garden from the early Edo period.
Pass under the Metropolitan Expressway and head towards the sea.
WATERS takeshiba
Centered on culture and art. A new spot taking advantage of the waterfront.
Opened in July 2020, this was redeveloped with the aim of creating a unique waterfront town. Atre Takeshiba, a commercial facility with numerous restaurants, is located in the Tower and Theater Buildings. Other facilities and stores focusing on culture and the arts include the hotel Mesm Tokyo and the JR East Shiki Theater,HARU/AKI. From the boat terminal, there are boat services to various parts of Tokyo via the Sumida River and Tokyo Bay. The possibility of using boats as a new means of getting around in Tokyo is being carefully considered. There's also the JR Takeshiba Fuel Hydrogen Shuttle Bus (free of charge) that circulates between Tokyo Station and the Takeshiba area.
Beyond the lawn area, the waterfront of the lower reaches of the Sumida River slowly spreads out.
You can also enjoy take-out food and drinks on the lawn.
The Theater Building, with the JR East Shiki Theater,HARU/AKI and the Atre Takeshiba shopping mall.
The upper floors of the tower building are home to the Mesm Tokyo, Autograph Collection hotel, which offers an excellent view. On the lower floors, there are a variety of restaurants in Atre Takeshiba.
The large staircase in the tower building is a great place to sit and enjoy the view of the waterfront.
A tidal flat has been built along the waterfront. The greenery in front is the Hamarikyu Gardens.
Cruises leave from the dock, as well as boats bound for Asakusa, Toyosu, Odaiba, Ryogoku and Kasai, and Haneda Airport (irregularly scheduled).
Seeing the outgoing water-bus.
WATERS takeshiba
Address
1-10-30 Kaigan Minato-ku
Hours
11:00～21:00(Some shops are different) ＊the time may be shortened for prevention of coronavirus infection
Access
7-minute walk from North Exit of JR Yamanote Line, Keihintohoku Line and TOKYO MONORAIL Hamamatsucho Station 3-minute walk from Yurikamome Line Takeshiba Station
Getting on the free Hydrogen Shuttle Bus, go to the Hinode Pier stop. A short walk from the bus stop to Hinode Station.
More information on the JR Takeshiba Hydrogen Shuttle Bus is available from News(https://tokyowalking.com/j/news/).
Riding YURIKAMOME (Hinode Station to Shiodome Station)
View of the waterfront
About 15 km long, the line connects Shinbashi and Toyosu. Ariake Station was opened in 1995. Running on a high track, the driverless train is a beautiful sight and a symbol of Tokyo's waterfront. From the windows you can see Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Sky Tree, Rainbow Bridge, and other symbolic buildings of the city.
Take the Yurikamome train from the attractive Hinode Station.
Running quite high, it creates a futuristic landscape. Between Hinode Station and Takeshiba Station. (Photo courtesy of Yurikamome Inc.)
The view from the train windows is also superb. If you take the train in the opposite direction, you cross Rainbow Bridge.
The Yurikamome Line is a major feature of the waterfront. Near Shiodome station. (Photo courtesy of Yurikamome Inc.)
Shiodome is where Shinbashi Station used to be when Japan's first railway line opened in 1872. It later became a terminal station for cargo only. After it was discontinued in 1986, a vast site remained. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the private sector worked together to redevelop the area, and today it has been reborn as a huge urban complex with 13 high-rise buildings and four hotels competing in height. There are also the headquarters of many major corporations, making it a vibrant business district. You can tour the pedestrian deck and admire each of the unique and modern skyscrapers.
From left to right: Nittele (NTV) Tower, Shiodome Tower with Shiseido's Shiodome Office and Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Shiodome, and the Dentsu Headquarters Building.
The Tokyo Shiodome Building (center), with Conrad Tokyo, Hilton's most luxurious brand hotel on the upper floors, and the Shiodome Sumitomo Building facing Shiodome Station.
The Nittele Big Clock was designed by Hayao Miyazaki. The "karakuri" figures operate several times a day.
Shiodome City Center, between the Nittele Tower (left) and Shiodome Tower. The old Shinbashi train station has been restored on the site.
In Caretta Shiodome, there's also the Dentsu Shiki Theater "UMI". The illuminations are beautiful in winter.
The Yurikamome train passes overhead. It's truly a three-dimensional city.
Shiodome SIO-SITE
Access
0 minute walk from Yurikamome and Toei Oedo Line Shiodome Sta. 0 minute walk from Toei Asakusa Line Shinbashi Sta. 1 minute walk from JR Yamanote and Keihintohoku Line Hamamatsucho Sta. 2 minutes walk from JR and Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Shinbashi Sta.
The landowners of the Shiodome West District designed their commercial and residential buildings in an Italian style, centered around a triangular plaza where a railway turntable once stood. There are many Italian restaurants, and the streetscape is beautifully unified. And across the elevated tracks and road in Ward 3, there's a Tuscana-style Italian park donated by Italy.
Italia Street was built in the image of an Italian town with a plaza in the center.
The greenery and flowers go well with the classic Southern European-style buildings.
Large buildings such as the JRA's (Japan Racing Association) WINS Shiodome also feature impressive designs.
This stylish building is Shiba Fire Station.
Itaria Street
Area
Around 2-chome Higashi-shinbashi Minato-ku
Italia Street to Atago Shrine
After turning right at Daiichi Keihin, turn left at Family Mart in front of the pedestrian bridge.
At the Shiba Post Office intersection, go straight ahead with the post office on your left.
Pass through The Jikei University Hospital.
At the intersection of Atago Jinja Shrine, turn right. The other side of the tunnel leads to Toranomon and Kamiyacho.
Atago Jinja
The highest peak in Tokyo's 23 wards. The God of fire protection and desaster preventions at the top
In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered this historic shrine to be dedicated to the god of fire protection. It's located on top of Mt. Atago, which at about 26 meters high is the highest natural mountain in the 23 wards of Tokyo. The steep stone steps leading up to the shrine grounds, called "Otoko-zaka" (man's steps) are said to be the "stone steps to success" after the third shogun, Iemitsu, ordered his retainers to fetch plum blossoms from the shrine grounds on horseback. Everyone was afraid to do this except an unknown man, Magaki Heikurou who bravely tried and succeeded, for which he gained Iemitsu's praise, won fame and succeeded in the life. The plum blossoms still bloom at the place where it must have been in those days. In addition, there's a Benzaiten shrine, a subordinate shrine, and a teahouse where visitors can enjoy light meals.
There are 86 steps on the other side of the large torii gate facing Atago Shita Dori Avenue.
The steep steps are scary if you look back down. You have to work hard to get to the top.
There's a shrine behind the vermilion gate. The main enshrined deity is the god of fire, "Homusubi no Mikoto".
The beckoning stone in front of the shrine is said to bring good luck if you stroke it.
You can get a red seal (goshuin) at the shrine office from 9:00 to 16:00 for 300 yen.
And there's a pond with large carp. The shrine office also sells food for the carp.
Mt. Atago, where the shrine grounds are located, is 25.7 meters high, the highest point of a natural mountain in the 23 wards of Tokyo. There's a triangular mark on the right hand side of the stone staircase that proves this.
When you go down, it’s recommended taking the Onnazaka (“women's slope”) which is less steep.
Atago Jinja
Address
1-5-3 Atago Minato-ku
Tel
03-3431-0327
Hours
All Day
Access
5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Kamiyacho Station 5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Toranomon Hills Station
Head to the right along Atago-shita-dori in front of the Atago Shrine's torii gate.
Cross the pedestrian bridge diagonally at the Nishi-Shimbashi 3 intersection.
At the Onarimon intersection, turn right onto Hibiya Street.
On the right side of Hibiya Street, you'll see the dazzling greenery of Shiba Park.
LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN Shibakoen
The simple taste of organic bread and quality ingredients
Located on the premises of the Tokyo Prince Hotel, this bakery restaurant originated in Belgium. Its name means "daily bread" in French. Bread is baked in the restaurant every day using traditional methods to retain the rich, original flavor of wheat in a variety of breads. Organic wheat bread and croissants are popular. You can enjoy tartines (open sandwiches) and other dishes using them. All of them are healthy and made with simple cooking methods using high-quality seasonal ingredients. The restaurant opens early in the morning, so many people stop by for breakfast.
In the grounds of the Tokyo Prince Hotel in Shiba Park, surrounded by greenery.
When you enter the store, you are greeted by an array of freshly baked breads. Next to the bakery, you can see the bakers hard at work.
There's a large wooden center table and window seats offering a view of Tokyo Tower.
Butcher's Brunch for 2,190 yen (tax not included). Roast beef and ham with gruyere cheese. Salmon and serrano ham are also available.
Choose from a variety of jams and spreads at the jam bar.
There are terrace seats facing the street, where you can enjoy a cool breeze.
LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN Shibakoen
Address
3-3-1 Shibakoen Minato-ku
Tel
03-6430-4157
Closed
No Holiday
Hours
7:30-21:00(20:00L.O.) ＊the time may be shortened for prevention of coronavirus infection
Access
2-minute walk from Toei Mita Line Onarimon Station
After leaving the restaurant, turn right. Walk along Hibiya Street and you'll soon reach Zojoji Temple.
You can see Tokyo Tower slightly hidden on the right.
Zojoji
The family temple of the Tokugawa shoguns for over 600 years
Daihonzan Zojoji Temple was founded in 1393 and has a history of more than 600 years. After Tokugawa Ieyasu came to rule the Kanto region, it was chosen as the family temple of the Tokugawa family along with Kan-eiji Temple in Ueno. When Ieyasu died, he left a will stating that his funeral was to be held there. A total of 38 people are buried in the Tokugawa shogun family cemetery, including six shoguns, their wives, mistresses and children. After the war, Ankokuden served as the temporary main shrine until the main shrine was rebuilt following its destruction by fire during the war. There's a statue of Amida Nyorai here callfed the "Kurohonzon", which is said to be the principal image that Ieyasu worshiped and even held up in battle. Many people still believe it's a Buddhist image that brings good luck and prevents misfortune. Various events are held here, including a sermon in the main hall from 9:00 a.m. on Sundays.
Built in the early Edo period, the Sangedatsumon (Main Gate) is one of the largest gates in eastern Japan, and is an Important Cultural Property. People passing through this gate are said to be cleansed of the three worldly afflictions of greed, anger, and ignorance.
The gate of the former hojo (abbot's chamber) of Zojoji Temple, donated by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun. It's also called the Black Gate because the whole gate was covered with black lacquer. It's now a service entrance.
Ceremonies and Buddhist memorial services are held in the main hall, and in the basement there's the Treasures Gallery. In 2021, the roof tiles are undergoing repair, but you can still go inside (photo courtesy of Zojoji).
The Ankoku-den Hall, where "Kurohonzon", (a statue of Amida Nyorai) is enshrined, is open to the public on New Year's Day and the 15th of May and September. A portrait of Ieyasu and black wooden tablets with the posthumous Buddhist names of successive shoguns are also enshrined here.
The road to the Tokugawa Shogun family's cemetery is lined with many thousands of "Jizo" Japanese Buddhist statues.
Before the war, the 'Inukimon" gate in front of the Shogun's cemetery, which used to be the inner gate of Ienobu, the 6th shogun, was made of bronze. It bears the crests of hollyhock, and ascending and descending dragons.
The second shogun, Hidetada and his wife Ogo are buried at the back of the cemetery.
The tombs of the fourteenth shogun, Iemochi, and his lawful wife Kazunomiya. Before the war, the mausoleum stood on either side of the main hall and was designated as a national treasure, but it was destroyed by fire during the war. It was reinterred in the present location.
The large precincts. The "Grant pine" just inside the Sangedatsumon Gate was planted by General Grant, the 18th president of the United States, when he visited the temple as a state guest in 1879.
The large bell in the bell tower hall was contributed by the fourth shogun Ietsuna in 1673. At three meters high and weighing about 15 tons, it's one of the three most famous bells from the Edo period.
Zojoji
Address
4-7-35 Shibakoen Minato-ku
Tel
03-3432-1431
Closed
Mausoleum of Tokugawa Shoguns and Zojoji Treasures Gallery close on Tuesday
Hours
Daiden 6:00-17:00 Ankokuden 9:00-17:00 Mausoleum of Tokugawa Shoguns and Zojoji Treasures Gallery 11:00-15:00(10:00-16:00 on holiday ) ＊the time may be shortened for prevention of coronavirus infection
Exit Zojoji Temple in front of Ankoku-den and turn left.
Cross the Tokyo Tower intersection and go on"Tokyo Tower-dori Street".
Tokyo Tower
A breathtaking view of Tokyo from the 250-meter Top Deck
Built in 1958, Tokyo Tower is a communications and observation tower with a height of 333m. It has been and still is a symbol of Tokyo. You can take the elevator to the main deck, or use the outside stairs. Be sure to take the glass-walled elevator to the 250-meter high Top Deck. You'll be amazed at how Tokyo looks compared to the view from the 150-meter high main deck. Reservations are required for the Top Deck tour, which takes at least 30 minutes. There's no limit to the time you can stay on the Top Deck. An audio guide service is available in 13 languages. A welcome drink, photo card service and other services are ready to make your visit here even more unforgettable. "Foot Town" on the lower floors offers a wide variety of stores and restaurants, including official stores.
The Top Deck Tour requires prior reservations. Go to the Top Deck lane at the reserved time. You can also buy a ticket at the counter if there is an opening.
The view from below is also stunning. The round part near the tip is the Top Deck.
Tokyo Tower
Address
4-2-8 Shibakoen Minato-ku
Tel
03-3433-5111
Closed
No Holidays
Hours
Main Deck 9:00～Last admission 22:30 Top Deck Tour 9:00～Last Tour 22:00 Stairs to the Main Deck 9:00～20:00 ＊The above schedule and business hours may change. Please check the official website for updated information.
Admission
Main Deck 1200yen Top Deck Tour 2800yen(advance reservations in Web) 3000yen(a day ticket)
Access
5-minute walk from Akabanbashi Exit of Toei Oedo Line Akabanebashi Station 6-munite walk from A1 Exit of Toei Mita Line Onarimon Station 7-munite walk from 1 Exit of Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Kamiyacho Station
Go down Nagai-zaka on Tokyo Tower Street, and turn right at the Iikura intersection.
Holland Hills with the Embassy of the Netherlands on the right.
Kamiyacho Station Exit1
Use Exit 1 of Kamiyacho Station for Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
Kamiyacho is a station on the Hibiya Line located between Roppongi Station and Toranomon Hills Station, and it connects to the Tobu-Isesaki Line from Kitasenju Station. Kamiyacho was the name of the area when the station first opened in 1964, but that name is no longer used.
Kamiyacho station has several exits along Sakurada-dori.
