Today, I’m going to walk all the way to the loop route 5.
Around Harajuku
Harajuku Station
I got off at Harajuku station.
There were not so many people on the platform, but when I left the station, there were many people.
The Harajuku station building is the oldest wooden building in Tokyo. If you ask me, it’s very atmospheric.
Takeshita-dori
It was hot today, so I thought there would be few people on Takeshita-dori. But as you can see, that’s not the case.
As expected, I don’t want to walk through all this, so I decide to take the long way around.
Takeshita Dori was a street built on the bottom of a valley
I walked about 100 meters north along Harajuku station and looked back at Takeshita-dori and realized. Takeshita-dori is a street that was built on the bottom of a valley.
It seems to have flowed out from the south pond of Yoyogi Park in the west, passed under the station, through Takeshita Street, and emptied into the Onden River (Shibuya River) that flowed around Cat Street in the east.
Court Platform
In the distance, you can see the Court Platform. You can’ t visit it even if you go near it, so turn to the northeast and head for Meiji-dori.
Sendagaya Elementary School intersection
Walk along the continuation of Loop Route 5 from the Sendagaya Elementary School intersection.
Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Japan
The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Japan was located along Meiji-dori, right?
I have a friend who went there on a trip and seemed to enjoy it, so it is one of the countries I would like to visit if I have the chance.
Shibuya
Olympic Flag Tower
The Olympic flag tower that I wrote about almost two years ago did not look any different. With less than a year to go until the Olympics, it seems unlikely that the flag tower will be used again, as it is still surrounded by trees.
Jingu Dori Park
I found Jingu-dori Park at the closest point to the Yamanote Line!
It’s not a very big park, but on a hot day like today, the cool shade of the trees is delightful.
Near Shibuya Station
Shibuya has an image of being full of people. However, the east side of the station is not as crowded as you might think.
Cars passing under the Ginza Line
This is what makes you think that Shibuya is at the bottom of a valley, isn’t it?
The Ginza line, which used to run underground, couldn’t keep up with the change in elevation, and not only did it unintentionally show its face above ground, but cars even drove underneath it.
Found the remains of a tram depot (Hiroo Tramway Office)!
Hiroo Stroll Street
Meiji-dori Avenue from here continues almost along the Shibuya River.
It is lined with cherry blossom trees and is called Hiroo Stroll Street.
As the name suggests, it was a pleasant stroll even on a hot day. There are also various stores lining the street, which is fun. However, there were hardly any people. I guess it’s because it’s hot after all.
Former Tram Depot
Just before the Tengenji Bridge, I found the remains of a tram depot (Hiroo Tramway Office) on the left!
It had been turned into a slightly larger park (Hiroo Park).
The first tram line between Shinanomachi and Tengenji opened in 1906, and the line between Shibuya and Tengenji opened in 1924. However, as it gradually became a cause of traffic congestion, it was discontinued between 1967 and 1969. That’s more than 50 years ago.
Tengenji Bridge
I arrived at Tengenji Bridge. This is the starting and ending point of the Loop Route 5.
However, Meiji-dori continues on beyond this point.
Gaien Nishi Dori coming from the left is also Loop Route 4. This is also the starting and ending point of Loop Route 4.
Loop Route 5 seen from the pedestrian bridge at the Tengenji Bridge intersection.
I got on top of the pedestrian bridge and looked back at the path I had taken.
The road is full of greenery. The particularly green area on the right is the remains of the tram depot I saw earlier.
I decided to go back from Ebisu.
Shibuya River
This is what the Shibuya River looks like today. From Shibuya, upstream, to here is the Shibuya River.
The whole area of the Shibuya River looks like this, with a convex cross section turned upside down.
At the Tengenji Bridge, the river meets the Kougai River coming from the north, and the river downstream is called the Furukawa River.
Ebisu Station
I lost my concentration and walked around without taking any pictures, and found myself at Ebisu Station.
Walking data
Course: JR Yamanote Line Harajuku Station -> Loop Route 5 (Sendagaya Elementary School – Tengenji Bridge) -> JR Yamanote Line Ebisu Station
Distance: 9.0km
Time: 1h58m
