辺房谷橋

Originally a wooden bridge built in 1603 Nihonbashi served as the starting point for five major roads. It’s also the point from which all distances in Japan are measured. The current stone bridge dates back to 1911. A replica of the original wooden bridge can be seen at the Edo-Tokyo Museum. The area near Nihonbashi was once Tokyo’s original fish market. It was relocated to Tsukiji after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Since 2011 boats have docked near Nihonbashi. They pick up passengers instead of unloading fish. You can explore Tokyo’s waterways by boat or kayak. An overhead expressway mars the view. Plans are underway to move it underground. Nihonbashi is a shopper’s delight. Mitsukoshi and Takashimaya department stores dominate the area. Mitsukoshi opened in 1904 the first department store in Japan. Takashimaya’s building from 1933 is an Important Cultural Property. The Coredo Muromachi complex with three skyscrapers revitalized the area. You can find businesses with long histories like Kuriya knife makers since 1792 or Ninben bonito flake makers since 1699. Other long-established businesses include Buyodo map specialists since 1897 and Saruya the only toothpick store in Japan since 1704. Nihonbashi was also home to the first official Pokemon Center in 1998. The new Pokemon Center Tokyo DX + Cafe is the largest. It features themed food and drinks like Pikachu pancakes. Reservations are needed to ensure a seat. The Fukutoku Shrine in a plaza between Coredo skyscrapers is a peaceful spot. Suigian an Edo theater-themed restaurant is nearby. It’s designed by Hidetomo Kimura the artist for the Eco Edo Nihonbashi Art Aquarium. The restaurant features a 5.5-meter square stage. Enjoy kyogen and traditional dance performances. Indulge in sushi from Sushiei Japan’s oldest Edo-style sushi restaurant. The Mitsukoshi Theater inside the department store offers performances. The Mitsui Honkan Building houses the Mitsui Memorial Museum. The museum contains important historical Japanese artifacts. There’s also a small Kite Museum showcasing antique kites. Across from Tokiwabashi-mon a gate from Edo Castle’s moat is the Bank of Japan. The Old Building from 1896 the New Building and the Annex Building make up the BOJ. The Currency Museum in the Annex Building is free. It contains coins and notes from different eras. Free English guides are available for the Old Building with reservations. The Tokyo Stock Exchange is also nearby. While informative don’t expect much trading activity. The days of the raucous trading floor are long gone. The small Koami Shrine nearby has been a place for prayers for wealth and health for over 1000 years. Nihonbashi is a place where history and modernity meet. It’s a vibrant cultural hub in Tokyo.