Imagine a farming village transforming into a bustling part of Edo. That’s Yotsuya Honshiocho for you. It’s a neighborhood with a past. A past intertwined with castles, temples, and even ninja.
Yotsuya Honshiocho sits in Shinjuku. It was once a ward of Tokyo. That was before the city’s reorganization in 1947. Today, it’s a vibrant area west of Yotsuya Station.
Let’s step back to 1634. The digging of the outer moat around Edo Castle changed Yotsuya Honshiocho. Temples and shrines moved here. A watchtower rose near today’s Yotsuya Station. This brought workers and settlements. After the Meireki fire, more people sought refuge here. Yotsuya Honshiocho gradually became part of Edo.
Now picture 1695. Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi ordered a vast kennel built. This kennel was outside the Yotsuya Gate. It housed stray dogs. This showed mercy to animals. The facility sprawled across 66,000 square meters.
Yotsuya Honshiocho developed fast because of its location. In 1894, the Kobu Railway expanded. It connected Shinjuku and Tachikawa to Ushigome. Yotsuya and Shinanomachi stations opened. This railway enabled easy transport. Pencil, tobacco and other industries thrived. Yotsuya Honshiocho saw rapid industrial growth.
Many historic temples and graves reside in Yotsuya Honshiocho. Sainen-ji Temple is one example. Ninja Hattori Hanzo’s grave is there. His lance is also interred there.
The Korea Center calls Yotsuya Honshiocho home. The Korea Education Institution is here too. It is affiliated with the Embassy of South Korea.
Yotsuya Elementary School serves the area. It is located in Yotsuya. Yotsuya Junior High School is nearby. It sits in Yotsuya.
Prime Minister Saito Makoto once lived in Yotsuya Honshiocho. He was assassinated at his home during the February 26 Incident. Author Futabatei Shimei also resided here. Writer Sanyuutei Enchoo was another notable resident.
Yotsuya Honshiocho appears in fiction too. The kabuki play “Yotsuya Kaidan” took place here. The novel “Teisoo Mondoo” by Kan Kikuchi is set here too. Haruki Murakami’s “Norwegian Wood” features Yotsuya Honshiocho.
Today, Yotsuya Honshiocho offers modern conveniences. Atlas Yotsuya Honshiocho is an apartment building here. It has auto-locking entry and video intercom. Security cameras watch over the residents. Parcel lockers provide convenience. The Marunouchi Line serves Yotsuya Station. The Namboku Line is also close. The JR Chuo/Soubu Line runs through Yotsuya Station.
As you leave Yotsuya Honshiocho, remember its layers of history. From farming village to industrial hub. From ninja graves to modern apartments. Yotsuya Honshiocho is a place where the past and present meet.