Could you imagine Tokyo nearly 150 years ago? It was a time of immense change. Here stands the Shinagawa Station Establishment Memorial Stone. It silently commemorates a pivotal moment in Japan’s railway history.
Shinagawa Station is one of Japan’s oldest stations. The Shinagawa Station Establishment Memorial Stone marks the start of something truly special. It is a reminder of the country’s first railway. The railway ran between Shinagawa and Yokohama.
This Shinagawa Station Establishment Memorial Stone commemorates the 80th anniversary of the railway’s opening. It also celebrates the station’s reconstruction. The stone was erected in April 1953. The Shinagawa Station reconstruction celebration association built it.
The stone’s location is significant. It is near the Takanawa exit of Shinagawa Station. You can find it close to National Route 15.
Look closely at the front of the Shinagawa Station Establishment Memorial Stone. The inscription reads: “Meiji 5th Year, 5th Month, 7th Day, Shinagawa Station Establishment Memorial Stone, Shinagawa-Yokohama Railway Opening.” The calligraphy is by Tomoari Oono. He was a councilor at the time of the stone’s erection.
The back of the Shinagawa Station Establishment Memorial Stone shows a timetable and fares from the time of the provisional opening. The railway displayed this information at stations. It shows that a one-way trip took 35 minutes. There were two round trips per day. Back then, there were no途中の駅 on the Shinagawa-Yokohama line.
In October 2006, an explanatory board was installed. It explains the stone’s inscriptions. It offers historical context.
Shinagawa Station played a crucial role. It provisionally opened four months before the official opening. The official opening was between Shimbashi and Yokohama. Shinagawa and Yokohama became Japan’s first stations.
Yokohama Station was originally in today’s Sakuragicho. Shinagawa Station remains in its original location. This makes it one of Japan’s longest-serving stations.
Today, Shinagawa Station stands as a modern hub. It is hard to picture its humble beginnings. The Shinagawa Station Establishment Memorial Stone connects us to the past. It reminds us of Japan’s railway journey. It honors the visionaries who shaped the nation’s transportation.