[Tokyo] Let's take a walk around Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku, where Sailor Moon was active!

Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo, was home to the mansions of feudal lords of the Sendai domain during the Edo period, and is now home to embassies of various countries. Sailor Moon manga artist Naoko Takeuchi lived here, and it was also the setting for Sailor Moon manga and anime. Let's take a stroll through Azabu-Juban, which is located in the heart of the city but still retains the vestiges of the Showa era.

Sendaizaka, where the mansion of the Sendai clan was located during the Edo period

Visit Hikawa Shrine, the guardian deity of Azabu

Hikawa Shrine entrance

Azabu Hikawa Shrine is located at the top of Sendai Hill. The slope called Sendai-zaka comes from the fact that during the Edo period, the lower residence of the Sendai clan was located on the south side of the slope. Azabu Hikawa Shrine is the shrine that appeared under the name Hikawa Shrine in ``Sailor Moon,'' and where the character of Sailor Mars, Rei Hino, worked as a shrine maiden.

Azabu Hikawa Shrine Main Hall

The red building is the main hall of the shrine. In the Sailor Moon anime, it appeared as a place where everyone gathered for incidents and daily life. It is also the place where Rei Hino used to clean fallen leaves from the ground with a shroud while dressed as a shrine maiden. During the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate also came to visit this shrine.

The storehouse where the shrine mikoshi is kept

Actual photo of shrine mikoshi

Azabu Hikawa Shrine houses one of the most magnificent mikoshi shrines of all the shrines in the Kanto region. It was paraded by two cows. The scene is preserved in the painting ``1933 Mikoshi Shincho Doujou Jikkyo''.

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Let's walk the slopes of Azabu

Ipponmatsuzaka

After visiting Azabu Hikawa Shrine, take a stroll along Azabu Hill. After leaving the shrine, go straight to the right on the street in front of you. You will come across the intersections of Ipponmatsuzaka, Yamazaka, and Daikokuzaka. The landmark is a large single pine tree. Ipponmatsuzaka is said to have been named because it is a slope with a single large pine tree.

darkness slope

Yamazaka got its name from the fact that the area was covered with trees, resembling a forest, and the slope was covered in darkness even during the day. For this reason, there are many legends about monsters and ghosts that remain on this slope. This area was also the place where the Tokugawa Shogun family visited for falconry during the Edo period. After strolling along the slope, head down Daikokuzaka which continues from Ipponmatsuzaka.

Meet Kimi-chan, the model for the children's song "Akai Kutsu"

Azabujuban area guide map

When you go down Daikokuzaka, you will see a plaza with 6 large zelkova trees in front of you. This is "Patio Juban". There are also several benches, making it a relaxing place in Azabujuban. Kimi-chan is here.

Patio Juban, a relaxing place in Azabu Juban

Kimi-chan statue

Kimi-chan is a statue of Kimi-chan. This statue depicts a girl who was the model for the song ``Akai Shoes'' created in 1922, and is also a symbol of Azabu-Juban. The girl's name is Kimi Iwasaki. The orphanage that took care of her in her final moments was Toriizaka Church in Azabu. Currently, Juban Inari Shrine is located where the church used to be.

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Visit long-established stores in Azabu Juban shopping street

Nagasaka Sarashina Nunoya Taihei

Azabu Juban Shopping District has appeared in anime and manga as the Jubancho Shopping District as the setting for Sailor Moon works. Indeed, this is the hometown of Tsukino Usagi and his friends. Access has become easier since Azabu-Juban Station on the Tokyo Metro and Toei Oedo Lines opened in 2000. Azabujuban shopping street has many long-established shops that were founded in the Edo and Meiji eras that are still open today. One of them is Nagasaka Sarashina Nunoya Taihei, a long-established soba restaurant that has been in business for 220 years. It all began in the Kanei era when a signboard reading ``Shinshu Sarashina Soba Shop Yatahei'' was put up in Nagasaka, Azabu, Edo.

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Naniwaya main store

The red noren curtain hanging at the entrance is Naniwaya Sohonten, a long-established taiyaki shop. Founded in 1909. They will package the freshly made ``Taiyaki'' so you can eat it while walking. It is also known as the restaurant that was the inspiration for the popular song ``Oyogetaiyaki-kun'' during the Showa era.

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Azabu Juban Tanuki rice crackers

The large raccoon at the entrance is the landmark for Azabu Juban Tanuki Senbei. Founded in 1928, it is a long-established store in Azabu that continues to focus on hand-baked rice crackers. In the past, many raccoon dogs lived in Azabu, and there are stories that they were turned into raccoons during the Edo and Meiji periods. Hand-baked tanuki rice crackers come in various sizes of senbei and rice crackers shaped like tanuki, such as ``large tanuki,'' ``small tanuki,'' and ``warabe tanuki.'' Recommended as a souvenir from Azabu.

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At the end of your walk, relax at Azabu's hot springs.

Azabu Kuromisui Onsen Takenoyu

Take-no-Yu was established in 1920 as a radium hot spring, and was a health land-style public bath, which was rare at the time. In December 2002, we received approval for the Azabu Kokubisui Onsen and hot springs. It was named after customers who said that their skin felt smooth when they soaked in the dark-brown hot water. You can enjoy hot springs for the price of a public bath. We also have rental towels, so you don't have to bring your own. A sauna is also available for an additional fee.

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How was it?

Azabu-Juban, the setting for Sailor Moon, is located in the heart of the city, yet has a calm landscape. When sightseeing in Tokyo, be sure to take a walk through Azabu Juban and Azabu Juban Shopping Street.

Azabujuban shopping street access map

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