Nezu
Tokyo Prefecture · Japan
Having miraculously avoided major damage during world wars and natural disasters, Yanaka and Nezu—two of the neighborhoods that make up shitamachi, Tokyo's old downtown—retain their last-century charm. You'll find historical sites such as Yanaka Cemetery and Nezu Shrine tucked away among shitamachi's narrow back alleys, traditional wooden houses, izakaya pubs, atmospheric coffee shops and retro stores selling old-style sweets and snacks. Here you can slip back in time to a slower-paced, more genteel Tokyo.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation1:30
Welcome to Nezu, a neighborhood that epitomizes the concept of 'Shitamachi,' or Tokyo's traditional 'downtown.' While the word 'downtown' often brings to mind the glass towers of Shibuya or Ginza, in the context of Tokyo’s…
Listen in the app2Nezu Shrine — The Legacy of the Tokugawa1:24
We begin at Nezu Shrine, an architectural marvel that is often cited as one of the oldest and most beautiful shrines in Tokyo. The current structures date back to 1706, commissioned by the fifth Tokugawa Shogun, Tsunayoshi. …
Listen in the app3The Senbon Torii — A Tunnel of Red1:14
Located within the grounds of Nezu Shrine is a feature that often surprises visitors: the Senbon Torii, or 'Thousand Torii Gates.' While much smaller than the famous gates at Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, these vibrant red paths offer…
Listen in the app4SCAI The Bathhouse — Art in a Cleansing Space1:21
Leaving the shrine, we walk toward a truly unique cultural landmark: SCAI The Bathhouse. As the name suggests, this contemporary art gallery is housed in a converted public bathhouse, or 'sento,' that served the neighborhood for…
Listen in the app5The Edo Period Sake Store — A Step Back in Time1:16
As we continue our exploration of the side streets, we stumble upon a building that looks like it has been plucked directly from a history book: an old Edo period sake store. This 'really old looking building' serves as a…
Listen in the app6Ueno Sakuragi Atari — A Compound of Tradition1:12
Next, we visit Ueno Sakuragi Atari, a 'cute collection of small traditional Japanese houses' that have been converted into a multifaceted community hub. Here, you will find a bakery called 'Think,' a craft beer hall, and shops…
Listen in the app7Yanaka Ginza — The Sunset Street Food Crawl1:12
Our final section brings us to the famous Yanaka Ginza shopping street, located just a short walk from the heart of Nezu. This is the ultimate destination for a 'food crawl.' The street is lined with stalls selling 'menchi katsu'…
Listen in the app8Closing1:12
As our tour of Nezu and its surroundings comes to a close, we hope you have gained a deeper understanding of why this 'Shitamachi' area is so beloved. We have journeyed from the sacred red gates of Nezu Shrine to the modern art…
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What is Nezu?
Nezu is a place in Tokyo Prefecture · Japan with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Tokyo Prefecture · Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Activity |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Total length | 10 min 21 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 35.7192, 139.7634 |
| Last updated |
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within a 5-minute walk
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