[Tokyo] A tourist spot from the Edo period! Stroll around Oji, Kita Ward

Toden Arakawa Line train passing in front of Asukayama Park

Oji in Kita Ward has been a popular tourist destination since the Edo period for its scenic beauty, including Asukayama, where the 8th Shogun Yoshimune planted cherry trees. It was also used as a filming location for a TV special drama, featuring the hometown of Mitsuhiko Asami from Yasuo Uchida's detective novel series, "Mitsuhiko Asami." Let's take a stroll around the town of Mitsuhiko Asami, visiting places like Asukayama Park, Nanushi Falls, and Hiratsuka Shrine

Otonashigawa Water Park, visited by Mitsuhiko Asami

Otonashigawa Water Park is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in spring

Otonashigawa Waterside Park is located right next to JR Oji Station, on the opposite side of the rotary. It is also one of the "100 Best Urban Parks of Japan." During cherry blossom season, the 21 Somei-Yoshino cherry trees make a beautiful spot for cherry blossom viewing. The Otonashigawa River flows through the center of the photo. This is where Azami Mitsuhiko often came to play as a child, and it has frequently appeared in the drama "Azami Mitsuhiko Series." It was also the filming location for the special drama series "Okashina Keiji," which originally aired on Saturday Wide Theater and is now aired on Sunday Wide. This series, starring Ito Shiro and Haneda Michiko, is also set in Oji

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Ogiya's tamagoyaki, a specialty of Oji

If you visit Otonashigawa Waterfront Park, you should definitely try Ogiya's tamagoyaki, located on the first floor of the Shin-Ogiya Building adjacent to the park. We visited before opening time, so the photo shows the shop in the middle of preparation. The stall's opening hours and other information are posted, written in beautiful calligraphy. This shop has been committed to hand-baked tamagoyaki since 1648. One of the most recommended dishes is the "Kamayaki Tamago," a recipe passed down from father to son since the Edo period. Advance reservations are required, so please call first to inquire

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Otonashi Bridge, a familiar sight from the TV drama "The Strange Detective"

If you recognize the combination of the arch of the bridge in front and the tree-lined road, you are a big fan of Mitsuhiko Asami and "The Strange Detective." Otonashi Bridge casually appears in the walking conversation scene. Of course, scenes of people walking on the bridge also frequently appear in the drama

Stroll around Oji Shrine and Oji Inari Shrine

Oji Shrine, associated with Tokugawa Yoshimune

Oji Shrine is located very close to the right of the Otonashi Bridge we saw earlier. This shrine was designated as a place of prayer for the Shogun family by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1591. It was protected by successive Shoguns, but the eighth Shogun, Yoshimune, especially endeared it to him as it was a shrine associated with his hometown of Kishu (present-day Wakayama Prefecture)

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The approach to Oji Inari Shrine is made up of stone steps

Oji Inari Shrine is the most prestigious of the 33 Inari shrines in the eastern part of Japan. It's said that on New Year's Eve, all the Inari gods in the Kanto and eastern Japan send their fox messengers to make their first visit of the year. In 1993, following this legend, the "Oji Fox Procession" was held, where people don fox makeup and parade to Oji Inari Shrine on New Year's Eve. This has now become a year-end tradition. Incidentally, due to the presence of a kindergarten on the Oji Inari Shrine grounds, this approach to the shrine is only open on weekends. On weekdays, this area is used as a playground for kindergarten children. The kindergarten is located just to the left of the stone steps. Weekday visitors use a different approach to the shrine

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Nanushinotaki Park is a relaxing space in the heart of the city

Beyond the elegant gate is a quiet garden

The refreshing Otaki waterfall

Nanushinotaki Park was originally the residence of the village headman of Oji Village during the Edo period. It began as a garden with a waterfall that was opened to the public as a summer resort. Currently, Kita Ward provides free access. Incidentally, Nanushinotaki is a collective name for four waterfalls: Odaki, a rare eight-meter drop in Tokyo, Medaki, Dokkonotaki, and Yugyokunotaki. Making good use of the slopes, the park is a strolling garden with mountains, ponds, and rivers, allowing visitors to enjoy forest bathing

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Asukayama has been a popular tourist destination since the Edo period

Free ride on Ascargo

Asuka Park Rail is a monorail that opened in Asukayama Park in July 2009. The vehicle in the photo is the Ascargo, which travels back and forth to the summit, and is free to ride. It operates from 10am to 4pm and has six seats. Although the ride is only a few minutes, there is a guide narration by Oji-born actress Baisho Chieko, who talks about Asukayama and Oji with love for the area. Be sure to give it a try

View of the area around Oji Station from Asukayama

When you reach the top of the mountain on the Ascargo, you can see the Oji Station area. Directly in front of you are the elevated Tohoku, Joetsu, and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines. You can look down on not only the Shinkansen but also various other trains, such as the Keihin-Tohoku Line, so it's a popular spot for families to watch the trains

Asukayama Park, a famous cherry blossom spot in spring

Asukayama Park has been known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot since the Edo period. It began when the 8th Shogun, Yoshimune, had cherry trees brought from Yoshino in Nara planted in the Asuka mountains. Currently, there are 600 cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino and Satozakura. In spring, the entire mountain is covered in cherry blossoms, creating a truly spectacular sight

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Enjoy the dumplings from the Mitsuhiko Asami series

Hiratsukatei, a restaurant known only to those in the know

Hiratsukatei Tsuruoka, located on the approach to Hiratsuka Shrine, is a famous restaurant among fans of Asami Mitsuhiko. The dumplings here have appeared countless times in novels and TV dramas as they are the favorite food of Asami Mitsuhiko's mother. The popular items are the grilled dumplings with soy sauce and the sweet dumplings with bean paste. This restaurant also appears in almost every episode of "The Strange Detective." Inside the restaurant, there are exhibits of photos from the filming of the Asami Mitsuhiko series

A familiar view from "The Mad Detective"

This is also Hiratsukatei. This is a view from the left side of the shrine's approach. This is the Hiratsukatei that appears in "The Strange Detective." In the drama, red umbrellas were set up to provide shade, and several benches covered with red felt carpets were lined up, where Ito Shiro and Hada Michiko ate tea and dumplings. In reality, this restaurant only offers takeout

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Oji in Kita Ward is a place where you can enjoy plenty of nature in the heart of the city. What's more, admission to Otonashigawa Waterside Park, Nanushinotaki Park, and Asukayama Park is free. Bring a packed lunch and you're sure to have a relaxing time. Why not take a stroll? You're sure to enjoy it

Jun Nambara

Author, scriptwriter, and animation producer. He wrote and directed the drama CD "The Rose of Versailles" supervised by Riyoko Ikeda, and has published many books, including "Onmyoji Abe no Seimei" (Futami Shobo). He is also attracting attention as a travel writer who works as a tour conductor on weekends. His hobby is pilgrimages to sacred sites of anime, dramas, and movies