Wednesday’s Ward – Arakawa

Arakawa Ward is situated the northern area of Tokyo and takes it’s name form the river that flows through the area.  It is bordered on the north by the Sumida River and to the south by Adachi, last Wednesday’s Ward, Kita, Katsushika and Taito wards.  Arakawa is a small ward covering only 10.2 square kilometers and with a population just under 200,000 people.

A Brief History

Arakawa-ku officially became a ward of Tokyo in 1932.  It was primarily an agricultural area during the Edo Era but with increased industrialization in the Meiji Era, the ward’s location on the banks of the Arakawa began to attract factories and the focus on agriculture lessened.

The main train stations in the Arakawa are Nishi Nippori and Nippori on the Yamanote Line.

The Sights

Take a ride on one of Tokyo’s last remaining streetcars and take in the more than 12,000 roses are planted along the Toden Arakawa Line between Minowabashi and Arakawa-shako-mae.  The roses are at their best in May and June but the streetcar ride can be enjoyed year-round.

Visit the Arakawa Amusement Park for some family fun or head back to your childhood with a visit to the Nurie Museum which is dedicated to coloring book art drawn by Kiichi Tsutaya, Japan’s premiere coloring picture artist.

Like most wards in Tokyo, Arakawa is home to a number of temples and shrines.  Located near the south exit of Minami-senju station you will find Enmeiji Temple and Eko’in Temple.

Trivia

Not often mentioned in guidebooks, the Kotsukappara execution grounds are located near Minami Senju Station in Arakawa and were in use from the mid-1600s to 1873.  Situated alongside Enmeiji Temple, be sure to visit “neck chop Jizo”, a 3.6 meter statue erected in 1741, that offered solace to the condemned and still stands today.

Next week we’ll talk about Bunkyo Ward, a largely residential area, but home to many universities and Tokyo Dome City.

Image Credit:  Flickr, Streetcar and Flowers