“Could this unassuming slope really hold a story?” you might ask. Yes it does. This is the 出羽坂 Dewazaka.
Today, we explore the history of 出羽坂 Dewazaka. It’s a slope with a story that stretches back to the Meiji era. 出羽坂 Dewazaka is located in Shinjuku. You can find it in the 南元町 Minamimoto-machi area.
Let’s start at the bottom of 出羽坂 Dewazaka. Notice how it inclines towards the northeast. This slope follows the path of the JR Chuo Line.
The name 出羽坂 Dewazaka has interesting origins. After the Meiji Restoration, the Matsudaira family moved here. They were formerly the lords of the Matsue domain. Their residence sat atop this very slope. The locals began calling the area 出羽様のお屋敷 Dewa-sama no o-yashiki. This roughly translates to “the residence of Lord Dewa”. Over time, the slope itself became known as 出羽坂 Dewazaka.
Before the Matsudaira family arrived, the area had different owners. During the Edo period, the 永井金三郎 Nagai Kinzaburo family lived here. Following the Meiji Restoration, the Matsudaira family moved in. This was after they relocated from 神楽坂 Kagurazaka. This change marked a shift in the area’s identity. The path leading to the Nagai residence became the slope leading to the Matsudaira estate. So it became 出羽坂 Dewazaka.
出羽坂 Dewazaka connects to 若葉 Wakaba today. It is a vital route from Wakaba to 信濃町 Shinanomachi. However, this road wasn’t always there. It wasn’t until the Meiji 20s that the road came into existence.
You see these stone markers at the top and bottom of 出羽坂 Dewazaka. These were placed by the Shinjuku Board of Education. They tell the story of the slope’s name. They speak of the Matsudaira family and their influence.
The former Matsudaira residence once had a beautiful garden. It was called the Shūtoku-en. Sadly, the garden was lost after World War II.
The Matsudaira family also ran a hotel here for a short time. It was called the Matsudaira Hotel. It operated from 1946 to 1960. The hotel stood where the Ni葉 Nursery is now.
As you stand on 出羽坂 Dewazaka consider its past. From the lords of Matsue to a post-war hotel. From a private path to a public road. 出羽坂 Dewazaka is a testament to Tokyo’s evolving landscape. It is a place where history quietly resides beneath our feet.