Near Minamisunamachi Station where construction is in full swing
Following the 3rd Ring Road, I decided to walk counterclockwise on the 4th Ring Road.
Minamisunamachi Station with cracks in the station name sign
First, get off at Minamisunacho Station.
The area in front of the station is under construction, and perhaps due to heavy machinery hitting it, the signboard is cracked and the tiles at the entrance are peeling.
Passageway near Minamisunacho Station where construction framework continues
The framework continues until it reaches Maruhachi-dori (= Loop Route 4).
It looks empty, but there are security guards here and there, making it difficult to calm down and take pictures.
Cranes in operation
The Loop Route 4 seems to start from Eitai Dori. But the road extends 100 meters beyond its southern end, and when I went there, I found several cranes in operation.
Near the beginning and end of the Fourth Ring Road, where it is hard to find anything unusual.
Minami-Sunamachi Station Entrance Intersection, the beginning and end of the Loop Route 4
Once again, return to the entrance of Minamisunacho Station. This is the beginning of the Loop Route 4.
Since the winter solstice has just passed, there are long shadows even though it is midday.
Sunamachi Ginza
After walking for about 30 minutes, the duct shape of a building in Sunamachi Ginza seemed a bit unusual.
Onagi River
Cross the Onagi River. There are no boats in sight.
ITO EN Tokyo East Branch
As you approach the Tatekawa Ohashi Bridge, you will see a “Oi Ocha” monument on the right! This is Ito En’s eastern Tokyo branch. Is a lot of tea picked and piled inside the large building?
The culverted Tatekawa River taken from the Tatekawa Bridge
In the past, there were only about six bridges on the Tate River. Now there are many, and the Tatekawa Bridge is located between the Gono and Rokuno bridges.
The Tatekawa River is culverted in this area.
Kameido Central Park
I crossed the Sobu Line before I could take many pictures. This is Kameido Chuo Park, built where the Kameido Works of Hitachi, Ltd. used to be.
This is also where I found a strong-motion earthquake observation facility (K-NET) during a walk a year and a half ago.
Temporary Ohara Bridge and the new bridge above it
The Obara Bridge over the Kitajukken River was in the process of being replaced and was a temporary bridge. The new bridge is directly above the temporary bridge.The bridge replacement work is expected to take six years, and we are currently in the third year of the work.
Rusty pillar sign
There was a rusted pillar sign. I think it should be maintained at any cost. Is it strong enough?
Discover the mysterious barrier
East Azuma Station
It is a great station name. East Azuma station. Not “Azuma Azuma,” but “Higashi Azuma.” It’s like ”classified into classes” or ”merge together.”
Higashi Aduma Elementary School
I recognized the name of the elementary school. It was “Higashi Aduma.”
Aduma bridge crosses the nearby Sumida River, and although the characters are different, they both seem to mean my wife. If that is the case, why not “Higashi Aduma”?
Bicycle Rear Car
Yes, Maruhachi-dori Avenue had a half-dozen bicycle rear-decker trucks. Courier companies were also delivering their goods by bicycle rear-drawn carts.
This photo shows one with electric power assist.
Intersection of Meiji St. and Yotsumedori St.
Huh? Maruhachi Dori has somehow become Meiji Dori.
Meiji-dori itself has the image of a ring road, but on the east side, it begins between Loop Routes 3 and 4, becoming Loop Route 4 in the process.
Mysterious barrier in front of the entrance
It is a mystery.
This is the entrance to the NTT Mukojima Building. Why is a barrier necessary? Defense against attack? But as for the direction, it looks like they are stopping some kind of outflow from inside the building.
Mukojima Hyakkaen Wall
Mukojima Hyakkaen is a nationally designated scenic and historic site. I did not know that.
It is winter and the entrance seems to be on the opposite side, so I refrained from entering.
Seiko Museum
Found the Seiko museum!
I remember coming here about 15 years ago when I was longing for a mechanical watch.
The museum staff was very kind.
Watchmakers wear loupes on their eyes, right? I asked him if he needed a metal fixture or belt for mounting, and he said that some people use such a thing, but that a single unit can be placed between the eyes normally. He actually lent me one and I was able to fit it over my eye. I was convinced that this was the reason why Lupin, the thief, wears one pair of glasses.
Birthplace of modern cinema
Looking at a map on the side of the road, I found the birthplace of modern movies on the grounds of Sakurazutsumi Junior High School, which is located on the banks of the Sumida River. You can see the sign in the black fence. A large glass stage (a studio with a glass roof) was built here in 1913, and 760 movies were shot there before it was destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923.
East Shirahige Strong-Motion Seismic Observatory
A little ahead of the junior high school is Higashi Shirahige Park, where I found a strong-motion earthquake observation facility (K-NET) on its premises. There are approximately 1,000 K-NETs nationwide, and they are located approximately every 20 km. But it is only 4 km away from Kameido Chuo Park as mentioned earlier. Is Tokyo an intensively monitored area?
Shirahige Bridge
The Sumida River is crossed by the Shirahige (Whitebeard) Bridge.
Tokyo Sky Tree as if in a frame
The Tokyo Sky Tree was a bit like a picture in a frame.
Today’s walk along Loop Route 4 was limited to the intersection at the west end of Shirahige Bridge.
There are many places of interest from the west end of Shirohage Bridge to Minami Senju Station
Ishihama Shrine
So I decided to visit Ishihama Shrine, which I had been interested in for some time.
The deities of the main shrine were Amaterasu Omikami and Toyoukehimenokami. They are the deities of the Inner and Outer Shrines of Ise Jingu.
Therefore, it is said that in the Middle Ages, people used to visit the shrine instead of making a pilgrimage to Ise.
Fuji Yohaijo
Found the Fuji Yohaijo (places to worship from afar) in the precincts of the temple!
The mound appears to be made of lava from Mt. Fuji.
But it is strange. The current time is close to 15:00, so the sun is tilting to the west. Therefore, the shadow extends to the east. In other words, if we head for the mound from here, we will be worshipping far to the east. Why is Mt. Fuji to the west? Should we go around to the back of the mound and worship there?
There is also a poem monument in the precincts of the shrine, which is said to contain the poem “Nanishiohaba Isa Kototohan Miyako Dori Waga Omou Hito ha Ariya Nashiya to: If you are a bird worthy of having the word capital in your name, now let me ask you, capital bird. Is that person whom I hold dear doing well or not so well?” written by Ariwara no Narihira, but I could not find it.
Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology Arakawa Campus
Heading toward Minami-Senju, I spotted a distinctive building jutting out on three sides! It was the Arakawa Campus of Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology. This is the old Tokyo Metropolitan National College of Aviation Technology. The Science and Technology Exhibition Hall is open to the public several times a year, and the collection of aircraft and other exhibits can be viewed. I would love to visit there.
Sumidagawa Station
Then I found a large piece of land.
It was a freight station called Sumida River Station.
It was on the other side of the road, so I would like to take a closer look next time I come back.
Minami Senju, a major commercial city
The area between Sumidagawa Station and Minami-Senju Station was a major commercial city, with LaLa Terrace Minami-Senju being located there. I am ashamed to say that I had no idea it was so prosperous.
Minami-Senju Station
Walking data
Course: Tokyo Metro Tozai Line Minami-Sunamachi Station -> Loop Route 4 (Minami-Sunamachi Station Entrance to Shirahigebashi Bridge Nishi-zume) -> JR Joban Line Minami-Senju Station
Distance: 11.8 km
Time: 2h58m
