Takaido Higashi

Slipping through time, let’s unravel the story of Takaido Higashi in Tokyo. Takaido Higashi wasn’t always the bustling neighborhood you see today. Originally, Takaido was a quiet, rural area. It housed the Takai clan, who served as priests at a temple, likely called Takai-dō. This temple, possibly a funerary hall, played a central role in the community. The name Takaido itself, meaning “high well,” might refer to a well on a hill, essential for the clan’s survival. Takaido’s transformation began in the 1600s. With the arrival of Tokugawa Ieyasu in Edo, Takaido became the second post town on the Kōshu Kaidō Highway. It combined two villages: Kami-Takaido (Upper Takaido) and Shimo-Takaido (Lower Takaido). Unlike other post towns, Takaido didn’t initially host major feudal lords. It mainly catered to merchants and pilgrims. However, a modest honjin (inn) in Lower Takaido could accommodate officials if needed. Takaido Higashi, part of modern Suginami Ward, carries echoes of this vibrant past. Suginami, meaning “rows of cedar trees,” speaks to the Tokugawa Shogunate’s policy of planting trees for shade along the highways. These trees, sadly lost to modernization, once defined the area’s landscape. Today, Takaido Higashi blends its rich history with modern life, a testament to the enduring spirit of this Tokyo neighborhood.