Minami-Senju Station
Today I walked counterclockwise on Loop Route 4 from the west end of Shirohagebashi Bridge, but before I got there, there were two things I wanted to see, so I got off at Minami Senju Station.
Sumidagawa Station
Freight station with numerous containers
The first of these is this station. It is a freight station.
I used to use the Joban Line everyday, but I did not know that there was such a vast freight station right near Minami-Senju. However, to make an excuse, the east side of Joban Line is blocked by Hibiya Line and is not visible.
Sumidagawa Station
The name of the freight station is Sumida River Station.
Indeed, the Sumida River flows around the station. However, it is less than 400 meters even in close proximity. And yet, Sumidagawa Station?
The reason for this was that this station was established as a collection point for coal and other rough cargoes brought in by the Sumida River. Zuiko-bashi Park is located on the east side of the station, and the Zuiko-bashi Bridge crosses over the remnants of the canal that used to run through the Sumida River station.
DE10 class diesel locomotive, EH200 class DC electric locomotive, EH500 class three power supply system AC (50Hz, 60Hz) direct current electric locomotive
The locomotives include a DE10 class diesel locomotive, an EH200 class DC electric locomotive, and an EH500 class three power supply system AC (50Hz, 60Hz) direct current electric locomotive. I’m not a railroad fan, so I don’t know much about it, but isn’t it a sight to be longed for by those who love it?
Freight station with an airfield-like atmosphere
It looks like an airfield with large letters on a spacious site.
Monument to the poetry of the Miyako Dori
Monument to the Song of Miyakodori (third from right)
The second thing I wanted to see was the third stone monument from the right in this photo.
It is a monument to the Miyakodori poet at Ishihama Shrine. It is said that the inscription reads, “The name of the bird is a sign of sorrow, and the bird is a sign of love. This poem was composed by Ariwara no Narihira in the vicinity of this shrine.
Speaking of Narihira Zaihara, he is the one who wrote “Chihayaburu kamiyo mo kikakunakazu Tatsuta-gawa karakuranaini ni mizu kukuru wa.” This poem has been made into a movie and a rakugo story, and is one of the most famous waka poems of all time. This is a monument to Narihira’s poem. When I came here at the end of the year, I could not find it because there was no explanation board.
The carved characters were so weathered that I could not read them well. Even if it had not been weathered, it was probably unreadable because the characters were written in a cursive style. However, I could understand the picture of a boat at the bottom.
Meijidori Avenue
Shirahigabashi Bridge Nishizume Intersection
Finally, walk on the Loop Route 4 from the west end of the Shirahigabashi Bridge.
Natural gas tanks
Walk around the three huge gas tanks to the right.
I see that the contents are natural gas. By the way, I heard that natural gas is odorless. I think the person who put the smell on the gas has a great sense. It’s a smell that you hardly ever smell, but it’s a smell that says it’s gas.
There was also a hydrogen station nearby. I heard that they are working on a hydrogen odorant, but I hope it will smell like hydrogen.
Namidabashi Bridge intersection
Walking about 800 meters to the west is the intersection of Namidabashi Bridge.
I passed by it when I walked along Nikko Kaido, but I did not know that the road intersecting it is the Loop Route 4 (Meiji-dori).
Road sign in front of Ozeki Yokocho intersection
A road sign announcing Route 4 appears. After this Ozeki-Yokomachi intersection, the name changes from Showa-dori to Nikko Kaido, right? But why is it not written on the road going straight ahead, even though it has the common name “Meiji-dori”?
Joban Line
It passes under the Joban Line.
Dokan-yama Dori
Miyachi Intersection
The Loop Route 4 splits off from Meiji Dori at the intersection of Miyaji and enters Doukanzan Dori.
Why does it have to turn at a forcibly steep angle when Meiji-dori is circular in nature to begin with? Was it a tribute to Ota Doukan?
Doukan-yama-dori
Moreover, Doukan-yama-dori is a one-lane street, much narrower than Meiji-dori. Is there a plan to widen it in the future?
Nipporido Railway Crossing
This crossing, which intersects the road at an angle, is the Nipporido crossing of the Joban Freight Line.
Freight trains carrying cargo from the Sumidagawa Station mentioned earlier seem to go through here toward the Tohoku area.
Keisei Line
This area has many intersections with railroads. This time it is the Keisei Line.
The retro look of the bridges and telephone poles reminds me of the Showa period.
By the way, a week ago, we heard that people in their 20s who were born in the Showa era had disappeared.
New adults in traditional Japanese dress at Nishi-Nippori station.
As I was walking along thinking that, I spotted a newcomer at Nishi-Nippori station dressed in a sunny kimono!
Congratulations! I am glad the weather is nice today.
Oh, well, that also means that by this time the year after next, there will be no more teenagers born in the 20th century.
Cut through by Nishi-Nippori Station
Climb up the cut road beside Nishi-Nippori Station. The slope is gentle, so it is not hard at all.
On your right is Kaisei Gakuen, where “the pen is mightier than the sword.” Sooner or later, the keyboard will be stronger than the sword…………………..
Doukan Yamashita Intersection
At the intersection of Doukan-yama-shita, I hit Shinobazu-dori Avenue.
This means that Doukanyama-dori ends here. The starting point is the Miyachi intersection, and the distance is about 1.5 km.
Turn right at the intersection of Doukan-yama-shita. It is complicated to turn right even though I am going counterclockwise around the ring road.
Fuji Shrine
Banner claiming “1 Fuji, 2 Taka, and 3 Nasubi”
Banners are everywhere, and it is said that Dozaka is the birthplace of “1 Fuji, 2 Taka, and 3 Nasubi”. According to an explanatory board of Bunkyo Ward nearby, Fuji stands for Fuji Shrine, Taka (hawk) for Takasho Yashiki (the current site of Komagome Hospital), and the field behind Fuji Shrine was famous for its Nasubi (eggplants).
I would like to visit Fuji Shrine.
Fuji Shrine
I arrived. This is the Fuji Shrine. I took a detour about 250 meters southeast from the Loop Route 4.
Large tree in japanese-torreya
There were many large trees in the precinct. One of the most eye-catching was this japanese-torreya tree. It was simply overwhelming.
Fuji Shrine was originally located at the current site of the University of Tokyo, which was moved to this location when it became the residence of the Kaga Maeda family. Therefore, the area around the University of Tokyo was called “Moto-Fuji-cho” before the residential rezoning. I remembered that the Moto-Fuji Police Station is located on the south side of Todai. Now I have one more story to tell.
Otsuka Station
Nekomata-zaka
The long slope toward the intersection of Sengoku 3-chome is Nekomata-zaka.
In the old days, the Senkawa River flowed under this slope, and a young monk was startled by a white beast and got stuck in the river. From this incident, the name of the bridge there came to be called Nekomatabashi (Cat-raccoon-dog Bridge), after the demon Nekomata, and furthermore, the name of the slope.
Sleeve stone of the main pillar of the Nekomata Bridge
And this is with the two sleeve stones of the bridge’s parent pillars. The Senkawa River is now culverted.
I went from Sengoku 3-chome to Otsuka station.
Otsuka Station
Otsuka Station has been beautifully renovated. When Kadoman was there, it was a small station with only a narrow passageway connecting the north and south exits.
Walking data
Course: JR Joban Line Minami Senju Station -> Loop Route 4 (Shrahigebashi Nishizume-Sengoku 3-chome) -> JR Yamanote Line Otsuka Station
Distance: 12.5 km
Time: 3h24m
