I went to Omori Shell Mounds, which I have always wanted to visit.
The “first” person who discovered the Omori shell mound was Edward Morse, of course.
Kamata
I had some errands to run in Kamata, so I decided to take a walk while I was there.
It’s been a while since I’ve updated my blog, since I haven’t updated it for more than a year because I refrained from walking to prevent corona infection. By the way, I’ve had two vaccines.
Kamata Station
I started from Kamata Station.
The birthplace of Shochiku films seems to be close to here, so I would have taken a detour if I had noticed it on my walk, but I didn’t realize it until I came back.
A tiger puffer swimming in an aquarium
Found a tiger puffer swimming in an aquarium!
I’ve eaten fried and stewed blowfish before, but I’ve never had sashimi. I’d like to try it once.
Ayame Bridge
It’s a beautiful day after the typhoon. Typhoon No. 14 took a strange route, going all the way through the Japanese archipelago from Kyushu to Shikoku to the Kii Peninsula, but I’m glad that it didn’t affect Tokyo too much.
The lights on the pillars of the Ayame Bridge look like robots.
Heads of cattails in the garden of Kamata Elementary School
I found heads of cattails in the garden of Kamata (cattail field) Elementary School. I knew they were after it.
Toho Medical University Street
Today, I want to go see the Omori Shell Mounds, so I’m heading north. I chose a street that looked easy to understand and found it was called Toho Medical University Street.
Kamata Toriku Main Store
There was a line in front of a store called Torikyu. It looks like a bento shop.
Toho University Medical Center Omori Hospital
I could see the Toho University Medical Center Omori Hospital, which gave the road its name. It’s a big hospital.
Omori Daihachi Junior High School
After another 500 meters or so, I came in sight of Omori Daihachi Junior High School.
Looking at the school building, it seems a little strange, perhaps because the building starts right from the site? Since it is the south side that faces this way, there would normally be a ground in front of it.
Double fence at Omori Daihachi Junior High School
Another thing that seemed strange to me was that the fence outside was double-layered. What is the use of the space in between?
As a matter of fact, it seems that there used to be a factory of a Tabi Shoes manufacturing company called “Oni Tabi” in this place. These strange things may have originated from this history.
At that time, Toho Medical College Street was also called “Onitabi Street.
Omori
Sawada Intersection
It’s almost time to approach Omori Station, so I turn left at Sawada Intersection and enter Kannana Dori Avenue.
Sanno Sky Mansion
From the bridge over the Keihin-Tohoku Line, I spotted a building with hexagonal windows! It seems to be the Sanno Sky Mansion.
The Ikegami-dori shopping street
As I entered Ikegami-dori from Kannana-dori, a lively shopping street appeared.
There was digital signage above each store, and PR images were playing. I wondered about the initial cost and operational cost.
From here on, it’s uphill.
In the Jomon period, there was the Jomon sea advance, and the area around the elevation of 2 to 3 meters where I have been walking so far must have been under the sea. Therefore, the area where the shell mound is located must have been at a certain height. The fact that I were going uphill meant that the shell mounds were getting closer.
Omori Station
I arrived at Omori Station.
I started walking from Kamata, and it was 4km long. It’s been a while since I’ve taken a walk, so I’m pretty tired.
But I’m still halfway there since I plan to go to Oimachi Station today.
Stone monument of Omori Kaikyo on Ikegami Street
Not far from Omori Station, I found a stone monument labeled “Omori Kaikyo!”
This was the first time I had ever heard the term “Omori Kaikyo.”
Stairs leading down to Omori Kaikyo
From the left side of the monument, there is a path that leads into the direction of the railroad tracks, which soon becomes a downward staircase.
If the outcrop is on such a steep cliff, it is no wonder that it was visible from the train.
Stone Monument of Omori Kaikyo
This is a stone monument of Omori Kaikyo (Shell Ruins).
It was made up of different kinds of stones.
There was almost no space between the monument and the railroad fence, so I couldn’t take a picture from the front.
In front of the monument, you can see the words “144th Anniversary of the Discovery and Excavation of Omori Shell Mound.” The digging started on September 16, 1877, so it was 144 years and 3 days ago. Was it a calm day like today?
Mysterious Arch
Further north, I found a structure that looked like a time tunnel!
Is it a playground? Or did they want to make an arch of plants?
Zephyranthes candida
On my walk today, I saw a lot of Zephyranthes candida.
Omori Shell Mound Ruins Garden
Now I came to the Omori Shell Mound Ruins Garden.
The reason why there are similar facilities seems to be that they are competing with each other in Ota and Shinagawa wards.
Shell mound specimen
The main attraction of today’s walk was this shell mound specimen.
I thought shell mounds would have thicker layers, but it turned out to be much thinner than I expected.
According to this article, it is a reproduction specimen. However, it is worth a look because it is also the place where it was excavated.
Stone from the construction of Shinagawa Odaiba
I were told that the artifacts from the Omori Shell Mound were on display at the Shinagawa Historical Museum in Shinagawa Ward, so I visited the museum.
I thought I had taken a picture of the exterior of the museum, but I did not. Instead, I’ll show you a photo of the stone in front of the entrance that was used to build the Shinagawa Odaiba.
By the way, the entrance fee to the Shinagawa Historical Museum was 100 yen.
Of course there were artifacts from the Omori Shell Mound. It seems that wild boar bones and deer antlers were also excavated. There was also a puzzle of earthenware, which I enjoyed.
There was also an exhibition on the Shinagawa inn on the Tokaido highway. However, I could only find about one ancient document, and I wish there were more. I would have liked to see more of them displayed. However, I can only read about 30% of them.
There was also a garden, and for some reason, there was a stone lid of the first level point on display. There was no detailed explanation.
Oi-machi
Oi Mitumata intersection
The intersection is called Oi Mitsumata, but it is said to be a five-way intersection. It looked like it was more divided.
I couldn’t take a picture of the whole intersection at once, so I just took a picture of the road to Oimachi. This is the no-go road on the right.
Oimachi station
I finally arrived at Oimachi station.
I didn’t walk with my GPS today, so the measurement on the map was 6.1km.
I hadn’t walked in a long time, and since I visited a shell mound and a history museum, it seemed like I walked much more.
Walking data
Course：JR Keihin Tohoku Line Kamata Stn. -> JR Keihin Tohoku Line Omori Stn. -> Omori Shell Mound -> Omori Shell Mound Ruins Garden -> Shinagawa Ward Shinagawa Historical Museum -> JR Keihin Tohoku Line Oimachi Stn.
Distance: 6.1km
Time: 3h4m (including time to visit each place)
