Tachiaigawa, a familiar town full of history that you may know but may not be aware of.

  • Tokyo
  • JR East Travel Service Center
Do you know "Tachiaigawa"? It is also a station on the Keihin Electric Express Railway, isn't it? But what is "Tachiaigawa"? Actually, it is a real river! (Oh, did you know that? (lol) It is a second-class river with a total length of 7.4 km that flows through Meguro and Shinagawa wards and flows out into the Katsushima Canal in Tokyo Bay. There is no fixed theory on the origin of its name.
・The name "Tachiai River" was chosen because of skirmishes that took place across the river in the past.
The name "Tachiaigawa" came from the fact that it was the last place where the relatives and others concerned would see off (attend) the criminals sent to the Suzugamori Penitentiary.
The river was called Takima-gawa (Takima River) because it flowed through a place called Takima in Nakanobu, which was then changed to the present Tachiaigawa River.
There are various theories about the origin of the Tachiaigawa River. ("Tachiaigawa River," Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, last updated November 30, 2021)
However, its history is long, and it is said that the "Tenzo-Suwa Shrine," located a minute walk from Tachiaigawa Station, was founded around 1100 to 1190 AD! It is said to have been built between 1100 and 1190 AD! It is deeply moving to know that a shrine so casually located near the station actually has a history of nearly 1,000 years!

Tachiaigawa has such a long history. When I got off the train, I found it to be a very charming and interesting town! Here, I would like to introduce some of the things and people I encountered there!

☆ Do you know that the statue of Ryoma Sakamoto is in Tachiaigawa?　☆

Statue of Ryoma at Tachiaigawa. Ryoma statue at Tachiaigawa.

Shinagawa Ward Kitahamagawa Children's Park, a one-minute walk from Tachiaigawa Station. A bronze statue of the famous Ryoma Sakamoto stands quietly in this small park. This bronze statue is the second Ryoma statue and was erected by the Keihin Rotary Club in 2010. It is said to be a rare bronze statue of Ryoma wearing sandals in Japan.
Why is Ryoma Sakamoto here? In fact, a letter was found in which Ryoma Sakamoto is believed to have guarded the Shinagawa domain residence as a temporary official in 1853. To commemorate this event, a group of volunteers visited Kochi in 2004 and met with the mayor and members of the Ryoma-kai, and the city of Kochi donated the first bronze statue.

There is a banner in front of the station ticket gate.
Reflecting the state of the world, people wear masks and anti-fraud tuskies (lol).

☆ Go to Tachiaigawa to see flowers! Let's go to Hana Kaido at Katsushima Canal, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo!　☆ ☆

Shinagawa Flower Street Seawall
The "Shinagawa Hanakamichi Project" started its activities in 2002. It is a non-profit organization established mainly by volunteers from the Tachiaigawa and Samezu shopping districts in Shinagawa Ward. Under the slogan "Let's create a flower garden on the bank of the Katsushima Canal," the project aims to revitalize the local community by planting rape blossoms and cosmos along a 2-km stretch of the Katsushima Canal seawall and by cleaning the upper part of the seawall to create a recreational area where local residents can take a leisurely walk. During the cherry blossom season in spring, the area has become a tourist spot that attracts many visitors from far and wide.
On the day of our visit, the weather was fine and the area was being used by people who came for a stroll, walked their dogs, or went jogging! Boats are moored on the embankment, and it is a good place to take a leisurely stroll while enjoying the flowers, the view of the breakwater, and the sea breeze!
Various flowers are in full bloom depending on the season.
On the day of our visit, it was mid-March, and rape blossoms and lawn cherry trees were in bloom.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ A turret in such a place! A gun battery in Shinagawa Ward in an unexpected place.

Full-size replica of a 6-gun hoist gun
Right next to the aforementioned Shinagawa Hana Kaido is Shinhama River Park. It is a small park with whale playground equipment, a sandbox, and a rest area with an azumaya.

In this park, there is the "Cannon of Hamagawa Battery," which was restored in 2015. In 1853, Commodore Perry, who had pressed for the opening of Japan to the outside world, handed the Shogunate a letter of state and left Japan, promising to return next spring. When Perry's fleet returned to Japan the following year in 1854, the Tosa Clan built the Hamagawa Battery.

The "Cannon of Hamagawa Battery" is a full-scale reproduction (total length 3 meters, wheel diameter 1.8 meters) of one of the eight cannons installed in the battery, a 30-pound 6-piece whistle gun. With the cooperation of Shinagawa Ward, a restored model was installed in the Shinagawa Hanakai-do Waki Children's Park in November 2015, and the replica was donated to Shinagawa Ward and subsequently managed and administered by the Parks Division.

While strolling along the Shinagawa Hanakamichi Seawall, it might be a good idea to stop by while thinking about the 20-year-old Sakamoto Ryoma and the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate.



Cute whales attract the eye at "Shinhama River Park
Entrance to Shinhama River Park
During this research trip, I happened to get acquainted with Mr. Nagao of the secretariat of the NPO "Shinagawa Hanakamichi". Mr. Nagao is working to revitalize the area and was instrumental in the installation of the above-mentioned statue of Ryoma Sakamoto and the Hama River Gun Battery. He also publishes an information magazine called "Shinagawa Hanakamichi Historical Walk," which can be obtained at JR East Travel Service Center Shinagawa!
Mr. Nagao, who approached me at the Shinhama River Park
Detailed history of temples and historic sites along the old Tokaido Highway
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