Totsukacho

Clutching your steaming cup of hot green tea, picture this: Totsukacho in the 1700s, a bustling hub on the Tokaido Road. Totsukacho wasn’t always a part of sprawling Yokohama. Back then, it thrived as Totsuka-juku, a vital post station connecting Edo (present-day Tokyo) with Kyoto. Imagine weary travelers on horseback, their kimonos dusted with the road’s grit, seeking respite at Totsuka-juku. Totsukacho’s significance traces back even further. Archaeological digs reveal Jomon period pottery shards and Kofun period tombs scattered throughout the area. One such tomb rests on the grounds of Tomizuka Hachimangu Shrine, the very shrine from which Totsukacho, or “Totsuka town,” derives its name. This area has been a crossroads of history for centuries, a vital link between east and west. During the Kamakura period, Totsukacho supported the nearby shogunate with its rich farmland. Later, in the Muromachi period, the area became a battleground, fiercely contested by various clans. The later Hojo clan eventually seized control, only to be defeated at the Battle of Odawara. After this turbulent era, Totsukacho fell under the direct rule of the Tokugawa shogunate. This era ushered in a period of peace and prosperity for Totsuka-juku. Fast forward to the Meiji Restoration. Totsuka-juku evolved into the capital of Kamakura District. The arrival of the Tokaido Main Line railway and Totsuka Station cemented its status as a major transport hub. Totsukacho continued to prosper, supplying meat to the growing foreign population in nearby Yokohama. In 1939, Totsukacho became a part of Yokohama, transforming into the Totsuka Ward we know today. Later, Seya, Izumi, and Sakae Wards were carved from the original Totsuka Ward, testament to the area’s continuous growth and evolution. So, as you stand here in modern Totsukacho, remember the echoes of ancient travelers, the clash of samurai swords, and the steady chug of the steam train. Totsukacho is more than just a neighborhood; it’s a living testament to Japan’s rich and layered history.