At the bustling Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, one statue stands as an eternal testament to loyalty and devotion – the beloved Hachiko Memorial. This Akita dog’s remarkable story has touched hearts worldwide, making his statue not just a popular meeting spot, but a symbol of unwavering faithfulness that continues to inspire millions of visitors each year.

The Story Behind the Legend

Hachiko’s story begins in 1924 when he was adopted by Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor at Tokyo Imperial University. Every day, the faithful dog would accompany his owner to Shibuya Station and return each evening to greet him. This daily routine continued until May 1925, when Professor Ueno unexpectedly passed away while at work.

Caede’s Personal Insight: 
“What moves me most about Hachiko’s story is his incredible perseverance. For nearly 10 years after his owner’s passing, he continued to return to Shibuya Station every single day, waiting patiently for Professor Ueno’s return. This wasn’t just a few months – it was almost a decade of unwavering hope and loyalty. When you visit the statue, take a moment to imagine how many sunsets and sunrises Hachiko witnessed there, always watching for his beloved owner.”

The Legacy Lives On

Hachiko’s devotion didn’t go unnoticed. In 1934, a bronze statue was erected at Shibuya Station with Hachiko himself present at the unveiling ceremony. Though the original statue was recycled for the war effort during World War II, a new statue was created and placed in the same location in 1948, where it remains today.

Caede’s Recommendation: 
“The best time to visit Hachiko’s statue is during the weekday mornings when it’s slightly less crowded. I love watching the diverse groups of people who come to pay their respects – from local office workers meeting friends to international tourists learning about this beautiful story for the first time. While you’re there, take a moment to explore the nearby Shibuya Scramble Square for incredible views of the famous crossing.”

Beyond the Statue: Hachiko’s Continuing Impact

Hachiko’s influence extends far beyond his statue:

• His preserved remains are displayed at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno
• The story has been featured in multiple films, including the 2009 Hollywood movie “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale”
• Annual ceremonies are held at the statue on April 8th, commemorating Hachiko
• He has become an unofficial symbol of the Akita dog breed’s loyalty and intelligence

Visitor Information

Location:
Shibuya Station, near the Hachiko Exit in Shibuya, Tokyo

Admission:
Free to visit 24/7

The Imperial Palace stands as a powerful symbol of Japan’s ability to honor its profound history while embracing the modern world. A visit here provides not just beautiful scenery and historical education, but a genuine understanding of the Japanese spirit.

Q&A: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Hachiko

Caede’s Final Thought: 
“Hachiko’s story transcends time and culture because it speaks to universal values we all cherish – loyalty, love, and hope. When you visit his statue, you’re not just seeing a tourist attraction; you’re connecting with a powerful human (and canine) story that continues to inspire generations. It’s a must-visit spot that perfectly captures the spirit of Tokyo – modern and bustling, yet deeply rooted in beautiful traditions and stories worth remembering.”

The Hachiko Memorial stands as a beautiful reminder that the simplest acts of devotion can create the most enduring legacies, making it an essential stop on any Tokyo itinerary.

Have you always wanted to understand Japanese history in a nutshell? Here is a simple, short overview of Japanese history from 14,000 BC to the modern time. Let’s learn about the rough Japanese history from 14,000 BC to the modern time. If you are planning to visit Japan, knowing a bit about the country’s unique history will help you understand a lot more about the culture as well!

Jomon Period (14,000 BC – 1,000 BC)

The Jomon Period is regarded as the new stone age. After the Ice Age (20,000 BC), the warming temperature changed the atmosphere dramatically. People started to use ground stoneware, bows, earthenware, and earthen dolls for ceremonies. ‘Jomon’ literally means ‘rope pattern’, which was found on the earthenware of that period. You can see this old earthenware at the Tokyo National Museum. The people made their living as hunter-gatherers and gradually started domiciliation, meaning that they started staying in one place.

Yayoi Period (1,000 BC – AD 300)

People started rice cropping in the Yayoi Period, which was introduced from the Eurasian Continent. They started to work collaboratively using wooden agricultural tools. They also started using metalware such as bronze swords, bronze spears, and bronze bell-shaped vessels for ceremonies. The people of that time lived in pit dwellings. Yayoi is the name of the town in Tokyo where the earthenware from this period was first found.

Kofun Period (3rd to 7th century)

A kofun is a burial mound. Many keyhole-shaped burial mounds for the powerful clans were made during this period. Human-shaped earthenware, harnesses, armor, and swords were also buried in the mounds. There was a central government at that time, the Yamato Imperial Court. It is said that the government was located in the area that is now Osaka. Buddhism, Confucianism, and Chinese characters were introduced from the Eurasian Continent during this period.

Asuka Period (592 – 710)

Asuka is the name of a city near Nara. The capital was set there at that time, which was dominated by a conflict between two powers about the introduction of Buddhism. Shotoku-Taishi became a regent and he made the first constitution. This new law ranked officials into 12 levels. He also built the Horyuji Temple which is the oldest existing Buddhist temple in Japan. The Akusa period is the time when the name Nihon or Japan was first used for the country. They also first started using a name for the eras. Emperor Jito moved the capital to Fujiwara and then to Nara, and the Asuka Period came to an end.

Nara Period (710 – 794)

The Nara period started when the capital was moved from Fujiwara to Nara by Emperor Jito. He designed the city inspired by the Chinese capital Changan. It was the first centralized government around the Emperor. They created a family registration system and imposed tax. To increase the number of rice fields, workers could now own land privately if they cultivate it by themselves. Powerful clans hereby increased their properties using farmers. Emperor Shomu built the Todaiji Temple which houses the Great Buddha. The first Japanese history books were written in this period.

Heian Period (794 – 1185)

Emperor Kanmu moved the capital from Nara to Kyoto to avoid the ever-growing power of Buddhist monks. The centralized government continued, but the power of the aristocrats, who gained power by increasing their properties, interfered with politics by strategic marriages with the Imperial Family. They armed themselves or hired guardsmen to protect their land. This was the beginning of the samurai warriors. The Taira and Minamoto clans became the strongest samurai clans in Japan. Esoteric Buddhism (Shingon Buddhism) started, which became very influential in Japanese Buddhism. Japanese characters and Japanese literature were created during the period.

Kamakura Period (1185 – 1333)

samurai warrior Minamoto-no Yoritomo became the first Shogun, he was nominated by the Emperor and consequently placed his military government in Kamakura. He put a military governor in charge of each district to solidify his power. But the Minamoto family terminated within three generations when the third Shogun was assassinated. Then the Hojo family succeeded them, and they stayed in power until the end of Kamakura period. The Mongolians attacked Japan twice in the 13th century, but they didn’t manage to conquer Japan. Zen Buddhism became popular during this period.

Muromachi Period (1338 – 1573)

After Emperor Godaigo defeated the Hojo clan, Ashikaga Takauji became Shogun and settled his military government in Muromachi, Kyoto. It was the time of an Imperial Family feud, and the family split in the Northern and Southern Courts for more than 50 years. The Onin War in 1467 devastated Kyoto and lowered the power of the Shogunate. This is the beginning of the Warring State period. This period saw many clans fight each other, and the unity of Japan was still far off. Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji were built in this period. Guns and Christianity were brought by the Portuguese in the mid 16th century.

Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573 – 1603)

After the Warring State Period, Oda Nobunaga came to Kyoto to support the 15th Shogun. But Oda ended up banishing him and became the first unifier of Japan. He built a castle in Azuchi, Shiga. He was attacked by his vassal, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who then became the second unifier. Toyotomi built a castle in Momoyama, Kyoto. Under him, Sen-no Rikyu perfected ‘chanoyu’ ( tea ceremony). After the death of Hideyoshi, the great Battle of Sekigahara occurred that was won by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Tokugawa then became Shogun in Edo (now Tokyo), and a period of prolonged peace and unity in Japan started.

Edo Period (1603 – 1868)

Tokugawa Ieyasu finished the unification of Japan. His shogunate lasted for 15 generations over 260 years. He nominated 250 feudal lords to govern each district. It was a peaceful period without any big wars, but the shogunate lost its military power. Culture had a chance to flourish, and Kabuki, woodblock printing, sushi, and tempura originated in the period.

Japan closed its door in 1639, but in the mid 19th century, Western countries came to Japan to demand the Japanese to open up the country to trade with them. There was a movement “Respect the Emperor and expel the barbarians (Westerners)” from people who didn’t want this large change. But the shogunate could not resist the modernization and made treaties that favored the Westerners. Tokugawa gave back the power to the Emperor, which is why the new period is called the Meiji Restoration.

Meiji Period (1868 – 1912)

Emperor Meiji decided to move the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo. He moved into the former Shogun’s castle, which is now the Imperial Palace. The new government demolished the feudal domains and the social hierarchical system was abolished. A constitution was written and Japan became a constitutional monarchy. Japan tried to modernize the country by increasing wealth and military power, as well as by introducing Western culture. Japan won two wars during this time, the Japan-Sino War (1894-1895) and the Japan-Russo War (1904-0905).

Taisho Period (1912 – 1926)

This is the time of Emperor Taisho. He was not healthy and his reign lasted only 14 years. It was the time of so-called Taisho Democracy, which paved the way for full democracy after WW2. Political parties increased their power during this time. Around the time of WWI, Japan enjoyed an economic boom exporting textile, ships, steel, and chemical products. But after the war, Japan plunged into economic depression along with much of the rest of the world. Japan became a permanent member of the League of Nations. In 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred and 100,000 people died.

Showa Period (1926 – 1989)

The reign of Emperor Showa (known as Hirohito) lasted for 62 years. The power of the military became stronger and they interfered in politics. WW2 started in Europe and Japan made a tripartite pact with Germany and Italy. Japan involved itself in the war by attacking Pearl Harbor in 1941, and it lasted until two nuclear bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

The Allied Powers occupied Japan until 1952, but even after this period, US military still remains in Japan by the Japan-US Security Treaty. From the 1960s, Japan achieved a record high economic growth and became the second biggest economic power in the world. The Tokyo Olympics in 1964 stimulated the economy by being the accelerator for the construction of the Shinkansen and other infrastructure.

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour. We can include guides who can tell you all about Japanese history. Check out our group tours and private tours, or contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

Low Conquers High

What was happening is called Gekokuji (下剋上) which means “Low conquers High”. Japanese people love this period, and especially the last three decades when the three most powerful military leaders appeared. Many movies and dramas were made highlighting the major figures in this period; Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. This article is about the second one, Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Brief Biography of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Hideyoshi was born in 1537, three years after Oda Nobunaga. It is not certain, but it is said that he was born in a farmer’s family. When he was young, he called himself Kinoshita Tokichiro. He started to serve for some smaller warlords before serving Oda Nobunaga in Owari (Aichi Prefecture) in 1554.

He started at the lowest rank, but he was clever. One of his famous episodes happened when Nobunaga prepared to go out on a cold day, Hideyoshi gave him a pair of warm straw sandals. Nobunaga asked him how they were warm. Hideyoshi answered that he made them warm by holding them to his chest. This was the start of his promotion. In 1561, he got married to Nene.

In 1566, he had a big success when he was nominated as a castle construction manager. He created a competition for the workers by giving prizes to the fastest workers. And he finished the castle in a very short period. In 1568, Toyotomi went to Kyoto when Nobunaga brought shogun Yoshiaki to the capital and stayed there with another vassal, Akechi Mitsuhide. After having continuous success in battles against Nobunaga’s enemies, he finally received a castle in Nagahama in 1573.

Osaka Castle

In 1582, Nobunaga was attacked by his vassal Akechi Mitsuhide while he stayed at Honnoji Temple and killed himself. Hideyoshi was in Bicchu (Okayama Prefecture) at that time fighting with Mori, the strongest warlord in the west. He reconciled with Mori and came back to Kyoto at excessive speed. He defeated traitor Mitsuhide and his vassals completely and acquired control of Kyoto. At the meeting to choose the successor of Nobunaga, Hideyoshi recommended Nobunaga’s eldest son’s son Nobuhide who was only two years old. It meant that Hideyoshi would become the virtual lord. After that, he kept defeating his opponents one after another.

In 1583, he built Osaka Castle which was reconstructed by the next leader Tokugawa about 30 years later. He tried to unify Japan by defeating warlords in the province. During his fight in Kyushu, he found out that the Portuguese sold Japanese people as slaves. Consequently, he expelled them.

Toyotomi became a court member and was nominated as a Regent in 1585. Then Emperor Ogimachi gave him the title of the Chancellor of the Realm in the following year. The Toyotomi Regime was confirmed. He invited next Emperor Goyozei to his new castle Jurakudai.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s Later Life

He finally unified the country by defeating one of his strongest enemies, the Hojo clan, in the east in 1590. He sent Tokugawa Ieyasu to Edo (Tokyo now) to protect the east. Though he became the second Tenkabito (天下人) or “Ruler of the Country”, he did not seem to be happy.

He gave the important post of tea master to Senno-Rikyu, the founder of the tea ceremony. Hideyoshi made him construct a golden tea room, which was against Rikyu’s policy. By counterargument, Hideyoshi killed Rikyu by seppuku suicide. He also killed his brother Hidetsugu because Hideyoshi thought Hidetsugu might betray him. And finally, he also committed seppuku himself.

In 1597, he killed 26 Christians who didn’t obey the ban on Christianity in Nagasaki. It was in the same period that he also failed in a battle against Korea twice in 1592 and 1597. His last days were not successful.

He got ill and died in 1598 at the age of 61. Before his death, he asked Tokugawa Ieyasu to look after his son Hideyori. Ieyasu agreed, but after Hideyoshi’s death, he broke that promise and became shogun himself in 1603 by winning the biggest civil war in history, the Battle of Sekigahara.

Hideyoshi’s Personality

Hideyoshi was very clever when he was young and he was a man of effort. He also had a happy married life with Nene. She always supported him mentally and financially. After his death, she built a beautiful temple for him, Kodaiji Temple in Kyoto.

But once he took the power, his administration didn’t work well. He probably wanted to show off his power by holding a big tea party, making a golden tea room, attacking a foreign country, and so on. But he failed at his policies in his later life. He became skeptical about his surroundings including his own brother.

Popularity

Many books have been written on the history and biography of the three big warlords who were active at the end of the Warring States Period. Many people like one of them. The following poem expresses their characteristics in very short form:

Oda Nobunaga: “If the cuckoo does not sing, kill it.”

Toyotomi Hideyoshi: “If the cuckoo does not sing, coax it.”

Tokugawa Ieyasu: “If the cuckoo does not sing, wait for it.”

Many people like Hideyoshi because he promoted from farmer to unifier. He was a man of effort and for a long time he was a very successful person.

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour. We can include guides who can tell you all about Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Warring States Period. The guide can take you to Toyotomi Hideyoshi-related places if you wish. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

Brief Biography of Oda Nobunaga

Nobunaga was born in 1534 which was in the middle of the Warring States Period that started in 1467. His father was a local warlord in Owari Province (a part of Aichi Prefecture now). Because of his strange behavior during his childhood, he was called ‘Outsuke’ or ‘great fool’. He became the lord of Nagoya Castle when he was still young and fought in a war at the age of 13 for the first time. At the age of 15, he got married to the daughter of Saito Dosan. This was arranged by his father as a sign of reconciliation because they had been enemies before that.

When he was 18 years old, his father died and Nobunaga succeeded him in 1552. Nobunaga had a lot of difficulties because enemies were not only outside. He had to fight with his relatives and brothers as well. His father-in-law Saito Dosan was killed by his son Yoshitatsu who then also became Nobunaga’s enemy.

In 1559, Nobunaga went to Kyoto and met Yoshiteru, the 13th Ashikaga Shogun. There was a menace of a crackdown by the order of the shogunate, and he wanted to see the reality by himself. In 1560, Nobunaga won his first big battle against Imagawa Yoshimoto. At that moment he partnered with Tokugawa Ieyasu who once served Imagawa.

In 1565, Shogun Yoshiteru was killed by the Miyoshi group. His brother Yoshiaki escaped from Yamato (Nara Prefecture) and asked for help from other warlords. Nobunaga answered him and fought against many warlords to prepare Yoshiaki’s proceeding to the capital. He started to use his seal at that time which said Tenka-Fubu (天下布武) meaning “Rule the Empire by force of arms”.

Nobunaga’s Later Life

In 1568, Nobunaga finally brought Yoshiaki to Kyoto and he became the 15th Ashikaga Shogun. Nobunaga built a big palace for him, but at the same time, he made a rule to limit the power of the shogun. That was the time when they no longer got along. He also tried to defeat warlords such as Azai and Asakura who did not obey him. Nobunaga even attacked the sacred temple town on the mountain Hieizan in 1571. He had strong vassals such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Akechi Mitsuhide at that time. He also had strong ties with Tokugawa Ieyasu.

In 1573, he finally expelled Shogun Yoshiaki. This was the end of the Ashikaga Shogunate which lasted more than 230 years. Yoshiaki was protected by one of the strongest warlords in the west, Mori Terumoto. In 1575, the Nagashino War, which was the battle between the Oda-Tokugawa Allies and Takeda occurred. It was the first battle in which guns were used. Guns were brought to Japan by the Portuguese in 1543.

Reconciliation between Nobunaga and the Honganji Temple also happened. He got the title of Gon-Dainagon, a counselor of the first rank in the Imperial Court, and Ukon-Konoe-Taisho, the chief guard of the Imperial Court from Emperor Ogimachi. Later he was nominated as Ju-Nii-Udaijin or second rank minister. He almost seemed to unify the country and was called Tenkabito (天下人) or “Ruler of the Country”. He built a gorgeous castle in Azuchi (Shiga Prefecture).

However, the anti-Nobunaga movement restarted. He had to fight against many enemies using his vassals. In 1582, when he stayed at the Honnoji Temple in Kyoto, he was attacked by the troops of his vassal Akechi Mitsuhide. Nobunaga did not see this coming, and he killed himself in the fire.

Nobunaga’s Personality

It is difficult to understand what was the real personality of Nobunaga. Some say he was a cruel atheist. For example, when he attacked the Hieizan temple town, he ordered to kill everyone even women and children. But on the other hand, he often prayed at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.

Some say that he did not listen to the voice of his vassals and that he was short-tempered and cruel. He was betrayed by his loyal vassal Akechi Mitsuhide. Akechi worked very hard for Nobunaga, but Nobunaga often shouted at him and beat him in front of other vassals. But others say that he did he take up the suggestions from his vassals.

He sometimes practiced martial art, but he was especially interested in the tea ceremony and he collected tea utensils.

Popularity

Many books have been written on the history and biography of the three big warlords who were active at the end of the Warring States Period. Many people like one of them. The following poem expresses their characteristics in very short form:

Oda Nobunaga: “If the cuckoo does not sing, kill it.”

Toyotomi Hideyoshi: “If the cuckoo does not sing, coax it.”

Tokugawa Ieyasu: “If the cuckoo does not sing, wait for it.”

Though Nobunaga is regarded as a cruel man, many people like his leadership and ability to make a hard decision.

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour. We can include guides who can tell you all about Oda Nobunaga and the Warring States Period. The guide can take you to Oda Nobunaga-related places if you wish. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

Hierarchy during the Warring States Period

At the top was always the Emperor. The first Emperor was enthroned in 660 B.C. The day of this enthronement is regarded as the National Foundation Day of Japan. The Emperor has nominated a shogun (military ruler) since the 12th century. He used the shogun to control all the provinces in Japan using his military power. So, the shogun worked under the Emperor. The shogunate often changed but the Imperial Family has never changed until today.

The Start of the Warring States Period

The warring states period started in 1467 when the Onin War occurred in Kyoto. At that time, the military leader was the Ashikaga Family. Takauji, the first shogun of Ashikaga was very strong. He became shogun purely by his military power. But his descendants gradually lost their military power. When Ashikaga Yoshimasa was the 8th shogun, the Onin War occurred. He was interested in culture, but he had no true interest in politics and the military. Yoshimasa built the famous Ginkakuji Temple in Kyoto, a place that shows his dedication to beauty. But he lost control of the feudal lords and a war that would continue for 10 years started.

Warlord 1: Oda Nobunaga (織田信長)

Oda was the first challenger to unify Japan. The shogun at this time was Ashikaga Yoshiteru, the 13th one. Yoshiteru was killed by a group of strong clans. Nobunaga supported his brother Yoshiaki and let him to be the 15th shogun. But behind the shogun, it was Nobunaga who controlled the shogunate. And later, he expelled the shogun from Kyoto. He seemed to be very successful, but he was killed by the betrayal of one of his vassals, Akechi Mitsuhide. It is said that Nobunaga was short-tempered and cruel and Mitsuhide could not stand him.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉)

Toyotomi was one of the vassals of Oda Nobunaga. He was born in a farmer’s family, but he was a clever man. Once he started to work for Nobunaga in a very low position, he was appraised for his great ability. When Nobunaga was killed by Mitsuhide, he was not in Kyoto. But he came back from the war site and attacked Mitsuhide, Oda’s killer. He became the second challenger to unify Japan.

He built Osaka Castle as one of his bases. There are several different ideas about when the Warring States Period finished, but the consensus is that it was in 1590 when Toyotomi defeated the strong Hojo clan. He received the title “Regent” from the Emperor. Just before his death, he asked one of the most powerful feudal lords of that time, Tokugawa Ieyasu, to look after his son who would be the next leader.

Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康)

After Hideyoshi died, Tokugawa did not look after his son, and instead, he tried to become the ruler himself. Many other feudal lords were against him, so the biggest civil war in Japanese history, the Sekigahara War, occurred in 1600. Ieyasu won and he was nominated as shogun by the Emperor in 1603.

Tokugawa created his base in Edo (former name of Tokyo). He attacked Osaka Castle, the base of Toyotomi’s son, in 1614 and 1615, and the Toyotomi Family was completely finished. Some say that this is the actual end of the Warring States Period. After that, no more big civil war happened in Japan, and the country became very peaceful for about 260 years.

Sayings About the Big Three Warlords

Many books have been written on the history and biographies of these big three warlords. I would like to show you a poem that describes their characteristics in a very short form.

Oda Nobunaga: “If the cuckoo does not sing, kill it.”

Toyotomi Hideyoshi: “If the cuckoo does not sing, coax it.”

Tokugawa Ieyasu: “If the cuckoo does not sing, wait for it.”

There is another poem, describing the long history of the three figures in just 31 syllables in Japanese. “Oda pounded the rice cake, Toyotomi kneaded it, and Tokugawa ate it while he was just sitting.”

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour. We can include guides who can tell you all about the warring states period and the history of big three warlords. The guide can take you to the related places of these history if you wish. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

Start of the Shogunate

When the Tokugawa shogunate started with the Edo period, Japan entered a golden age of culture and arts. This was brought about by the way the shogunate structured information flows to and from new capital Edo. There was a long period of peace. Almost entirely closed off from any foreign influences, a culture very specific to Japan started blooming.

You can read more about the first Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, in this article, but he was not the only shogun with a very interesting life. The third Tokugawa shogun was named Tokugawa Iemitsu, and his life is definitely the stuff of legends. Who was this man who was mainly responsible for closing Japan to nearly all foreigners for centuries?

Tokugawa Sibling Rivalry : Iemitsu vs Hidetada

Tokugawa Iemitsu was born in 1604, as the second son of the second shogun Tokugawa Hidetada. His older brother died young, so Iemitsu became the eldest son and heir to the position. He became a shogun in 1623 and ruled for 28 years. As a child, Iemitsu often felt a strong sibling rivalry because his parents seemed to strongly favor his younger brother. Favoritism was so strong that people who loved Iemitsu even feared that the younger brother would be appointed as the next shogun.

It was also for this reason that Iemitsu felt a strong connection to his grandfather, the first shogun. This love was immortalized in the form of the Toshogu shrine in Nikko. This was a great tribute to Tokugawa Ieyasu that was paid for completely by the shogunate. Iemitsu even made sure that he would be buried near his beloved grandfather in the Taiyuin in Nikko.

After Iemitsu officially became shogun, his father still called most of the shots from behind the screen. Moreover, it wasn’t until after his father’s death that he could start his rule. Iemitsu quickly undid some of his father’s deeds like welcoming previously exiled enemies back. He also started the events that led to his hated younger brother’s death by seppuku, ritual suicide. This is not the only sordid death he was responsible for. Supposedly he also murdered his homosexual lover while they were taking a bath after falling out with him.

Iemitsu ‘s Character and Life

Shogun Iemitsu had a lively temperament and enjoyed hunting and martial arts. As a shogun, however, he was placed at the top of the shogunate’s political structure which was well-developed. This meant that he did not have much room to exercise his leadership in the shogunate government like his father’s. Rather, his personality was suppressed through his strict upbringing.

Many anecdotes about him as a great sovereign, tell us that his free will was restricted. His illness seems to have been a kind of neurosis resulting from the frustration of being restricted like this. Iemitsu was only able to relax with his wet nurse, who he loved like his mother and advised him on political matters as well, and Sawan Sopeng, who he had been in close contact with since he was pardoned and whose virtue he was attracted to, and more than anything else, his grandfather Ieyasu, who seemed to provide him with emotional support.

Stressful Time

Iemitsu has done a great deal to stabilize the Tokugawa shogunate’s rule in these early days. He intimidated the court in Kyoto with a large army and strengthened relationships with feudal lords (daimyo) from both the shogunate and outside of the shogunate. Iemitsu also put the daimyo in charge of their own military needs in their domains. He created more laws and regulations that contributed to political and community stability. For example, the monthly shift system for officials, council meetings for important matters, and litigation rules were his doing.

Iemitsu’s rule was not an easy one, he was physically not strong, and natural disasters led to the Great Famine that century. The stress that the famine caused, has also caused problems between classes in the caste system that made up the society of Japan during the Edo period.

Iemitsu was married to a woman named Takako, but they didn’t have any natural children. He had 1 daughter and 3 surviving sons, of which 2 became later shoguns, by his concubines. There were also 5 adopted daughters for strategic reasons. Tokugawa Iemitsu died aged 47, and he was the first shogun to not abdicate.

Isolation of Japan

In the 16th century, Japan was a trading partner of several European countries including Spain, Portugal, and England. From the mid-16th century, a Jesuit mission succeeded in converting almost 5% of the Japanese population to Christianity. It was also around that time that the Spanish made the Philippines into their colony, and some of the Japanese elite started to distrust the Europeans and their influence. This is why Japan began to ‘isolate’ itself during the Edo period.

Iemitsu’s work on the policy of national isolation was perhaps his biggest influence on Japanese history. He prohibited Japanese who lived overseas to return to Japan, Japanese ships were no longer allowed to go abroad, and the only foreigners who were still allowed to trade with Japan were the Dutch, who were restricted to a small island near Nagasaki and were not allowed out. Bonds with China, Korea, and Hokkaido (which didn’t belong to Japan at the time) were also still kept. The Portuguese, who had a strong trading relationship with Japan up until that point, were kicked out and Christians were persecuted.

Was there no cultural exchange at all during this period? There most certainly still was, Japan still had a great interest in the developments in the rest of the world, they just didn’t want to be a part of it and introduce Western-style modernizations into the mainstream in Japan. But many of the Japanese elite followed the news from outside of Japan through the few points of contact that they did have. But it was not until the revolutionary Meiji period in the late 19th century that Japan finally completely caught up with the West in terms of modern industry and society.

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Post-Tsunami Ghost Stories

Let’s start with some accounts of separate, spooky sightings that have really happened according to the taxi drivers that shared these stories. On March 11, 2011, a terrible triple disaster happens after one of the largest earthquakes in history rocks the seabed east of Japan. It doesn’t only cause great damage but it also produces an enormous tsunami that slammed into the northeastern coast of Japan, causing the meltdown of a Fukushima nuclear plant and killing many thousands of people, some of who have never been found.

In 2016, a sociology student wants to write a thesis about experiences in the area and heard strange stories from several taxi drivers who are still working there. After the disaster, there have been multiple incidences of people getting in a taxi and asking to go to areas that were destroyed in the tsunami or to areas that are supposed to be safe from the tsunami.

All passengers disappeared before they could pay their fares, most without saying anything and one while notably asking the driver if she had died. One of the most conspicuous things was that all ghost sightings were of young people, which is explained as younger victims of the disaster having a harder time processing that they are no longer a part of earthly life and the speed with which their deaths must have happened. There have also been other sightings of ghosts in that area, for example, lines of people waiting in front of shops that no longer existed and people having experiences that needed an exorcist to be resolved.

The Old Hag’s Pond

Near Asakusa’s Sensoji, there is a small park with some slides and swings called Hanakawado Park. Nothing special to look at if you go there in the daytime. The nighttime is already more spooky, especially if you know the story of what happened in that exact location a few hundred years ago. There is a small pond on the north side of the park with a shrine in the middle, and this is where the story is supposed to have happened.

In the 6th century, when Asakusa was not more than a quiet trail with one house, an old innkeeper lady lived in this house with her only daughter. Travelers could spend the night there, but many of them didn’t live to see the next day because the old lady first killed them by dropping a large stone on their head so she could rob them. The daughter hated this habit of her mom and tried to stop her, but the lady had no intention to give up.

The daughter then made the ultimate sacrifice by placing herself under the window from where the lady would drop the stone, in the hopes her mother would stop the killing. That wish came true, as the lady was inconsolable once she found out she killed her own daughter, and she committed suicide by drowning herself in this pond after throwing her daughter’s body in there. It is said that if you are sensitive to it, you will still be able to hear the cries of the old lady around the pond area at night.

The First Samurai’s Shrine

While many know the story of the last samurai thanks to Tom Cruise, the story of one of the first samurai is at least as interesting. His name was Taira no Masakado, he lived in the 10th century, and he was a fierce warrior who was little loved in capital Kyoto. He revolted against the government and had to pay the ultimate price; a bounty was put on his head, and he was killed and his head was brought to Kyoto by his killers.

It was put there on a stake to show everyone what happens to traitors of the government. This displeased the spirit of Masakado, and it is said that his head got so angry that it flew off its stake and made its way to a place that is now known as Otemachi in Tokyo. The villagers who found his head took care of it, and buried it under a mound and put a shrine there in Masakado’s honor. This pacified the spirit, and nothing much was heard from him for centuries although he did get the blame whenever something bad happened.

When samurai rose to prominence during the Edo period, Fast forward to the late 19th century, and a bustling city sprung up around the area that was formerly just a sleepy village. The place where Masakado’s shrine was located was prime real estate, so the authorities decided to raze the shrine and build a government building on top of it. This was of course a bad idea.

Strange Incidents in Otemachi

The first building burned down after a lightning strike. Then when they were constructing the replacement building, incident after incident happened, people got strange and unexplainable injuries on their legs, and when an unexpected sickness and subsequent death even hit the minister that had his seat there, the shrine was hastily restored to its former glory. They forgot to put back one of the most important stones, though, the one that had inscriptions of prayers that should keep the angry spirit in check, and another lightning strike incident happened which burned down several neighboring buildings.

That wasn’t the end of it. After WW2 ended, the Americans didn’t listen when the Japanese asked them to leave that piece of land alone when they took their seat in Tokyo. They still came with a bulldozer to turn the shrine area into a parking lot, the bulldozer flipped killing the driver, and the grave was left in peace once again. When a financer tried to sell off mining rights to the land, of course, they were punished by going bankrupt. And this is why today you can still see the shrine on its rightful spot amidst Tokyo’s tall financial district buildings. Any salaryman or office lady working in one of the neighboring buildings still makes sure not to turn their chairs’ backs towards the shrine in fear of retribution from Masakado’s spirit.

Floating Hitodama

One of the most haunted spots in Tokyo is in Shinjuku, near the campus of Waseda University. Mount Hakone in Toyama park is a place where students come to relax these days, but if you come at night you are in for a very different experience. This was the spot of horrors during WW2 when the building that was in this area functioned as a research facility for bodies and body parts of prisoners of war from China who were used for terrible medical experiments that were on a par with torture. Mount Hakone was used as a mass grave where these bodies and parts were disposed of without any kind of ceremony.

If you go to this area at night, you might be able to see hitodama, floating balls of light that are said to be spirits of people that have left their bodies but have not moved on to the next realm yet. They can especially turn up in photographs if you take pictures in spiritually active areas at night. Some people have also reported that they can hear a man wail here at night, so it is definitely a scary place that is not for the faint of heart to visit at night.

Ghost Stories of theTokyo Execution Grounds

During the Edo period, anyone who displeased the Shogun or other high officials could be handed the death penalty. If you were poor, even a relatively small crime like theft could land you on death row. This meant that the execution grounds of Edo were quite busy, and hundreds of thousands of people have met their ends here. Naturally, the areas that used to be execution grounds are spiritually active and ghost hunters like to visit these places.

Execution grounds were usually placed outside the central city because people didn’t want to be near these ‘unclean’ places. The Suzugamori execution ground is near Shinagawa station, this was one of the 3 Edo execution grounds and it is the easiest one to find. It used to be a quiet place in the fields with the ocean nearby. This place of capital punishment employed different execution methods, some of which were quite gruesome like burning at the stake, crucifixion, boiling alive, and the most ‘humane’ and most common, decapitation.

Today you can still see remnants of the grounds, like the well that was used for washing the heads after they were cut off and before they went on display, the stones in which the stakes for burning and crucifixion went, and the so-called Bridge of Tears, which is the place where the family had the option to say goodbye to the condemned for the last time. With so many horrible things that went on in this location, it can’t be anything but a paranormally active place, and those who are sensitive to it will have a hard time in a place like this. There have been many reports of spiritual activity, especially in photographs that were taken at the cleaning well at night.

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History of Japanese Architecture

In today’s Kyoto, the structure of the old city is still visible in the layout of the city and the many artisanal neighborhoods. There is an enormous wealth of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines built using traditional designs, that it is hard to choose where to go.

Like so many parts of Japanese ancient historical culture, Japanese architecture has developed under the influence of the Korean Peninsula and China. The Asuka-Nara period was when architectural techniques were introduced from the Korean Peninsula and China. After the introduction of Buddhism in the 6th century, temple buildings began to be built in Japan. According to records, in 577, Buddhist builders and temple builders were invited from the area that is now Korea, and after that, the Soga clan built Asuka Temple (Hokokuji) in what is now Nara, and Shitennoji (Tennoji) Temple in what is now Osaka. The original buildings don’t exist anymore, but the temples are still sitting in the same area.

The oldest surviving structures in Japan are the Saiin Garan of Horyuji Temple and the three-story pagoda of Hokkiji Temple (both in Nara Prefecture). The Saiin Garan of Horyuji Temple is thought to have been rebuilt in the late 7th or early 8th century after the fire of 670. The three-story pagoda of Hokkiji Temple was built in the early 8th century. It has been pointed out that the layout of the temple and the techniques used in its construction have some similarities with those of ancient Korea. During the reign of the Sui and Tang envoys, the influence of Chinese architectural styles became stronger.

Development of Architecture in Kyoto in the Heian Period

During the Heian period (794-1185) and the period of the nationalist culture, the architectural style became more Japanese, with thin columns and low ceilings, and a preference for peaceful spaces. From the Heian period onward, this style of architecture developed as a distinctly Japanese style. From the mid-10th century onward, events and ceremonies at the imperial court and at temples and shrines gradually began to be held at night. At the same time, the increased use of nighttime lighting caused fires and eventually led to large-scale construction.

This led to a decline in tax revenues, a deterioration in central and local finances, and the creation of a new financial system such as national and local government finance, as well as the transfer of skills and experience to the craftsmen’s organizations in the field of architecture, mainly through the transfer of skills and experience to the repairers and woodworkers and the large temples such as Todai-ji, which led to the development of a new system that would be used by future generations.

This was the origin of the apprenticeship system for carpenters and craftsmen. In addition, carpenters and craftsmen were mobilized from all over Japan to construct buildings, and they brought back their superior construction techniques from the center of Japan to be used in the construction of their respective regions. On the other hand, however, some people point out that such a succession of buildings led to environmental destruction, such as the destruction of the mountain forests (soma) caused by the felling of timber, and was a factor in the creation of new natural disasters, famine, and social problems such as the worsening of security in the first half of the Kamakura period.

Re-introduction of Chinese-style Architecture

In the Kamakura period (1192-1333), trade with China became more active, and Chinese architectural styles were introduced again. The first style to enter was the one used in the rebuilding of Todaiji Temple. The Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji, built during the Tenpyo Period, was burned down during the Genpei War in the late Heian Period. In 1185, the Daibutsu was rebuilt. The architectural style of the Daibutsuden and other structures rebuilt by Chong Yuan is very unique and is said to be similar to the architectural style of the Fujian province of China (Song Dynasty) at the time.

Its rational structure and bold design were appropriate for the Big Buddha Hall, but it was incompatible with the serene space favored by the Japanese. The craftsmen involved in the rebuilding of the Great Buddha Hall moved to various locations, and the Japanese style, which was influenced by the Great Buddha, was born. Later, as Zen monks came and went, Chinese temple architecture was introduced. This style is often used in Zen Buddhist temples for their Buddha halls (Zen or Tang style).

Reunification of Japan

In the Middle Ages, the so-an, a simple building in which ordained monks and recluses lived in secluded areas, appeared and is depicted in Kamono Chomei’s Hojoki and other scrolls. During the late Heian and Kamakura periods, religious figures used the so-an as a base for their activities.

The Momoyama period in the late 16th-early 17th century was a time of unification, castle architecture was developed and the castle tower, a symbol of power, was built, and the main area where the lord lived was decorated with ornate wall paintings. The tea ceremony that has its roots in the 14th century was popularized, and the tea house genre was born.

The Edo period was an era in which the culture of the common people flourished in general as opposed to the culture of the court and nobility, but the trend toward secularization was also evident in the architecture. Examples include the sukiya-zukuri style, which incorporated tea ceremony rooms into houses, and theatrical and brothel buildings for urban entertainment. Some private homes also incorporated elements of the shoin-zukuri style and gradually developed. Temple buildings, such as Zenkoji and Sensoji, were built to accommodate large numbers of commoner believers.

6th-17th Century Architecture Kyoto Itinerary

Take a tour through Japan’s architectural history by visiting these 8 sites in Kyoto and Nara. The buildings are put in chronological order from the oldest type of architecture to the most modern type.

1. Nara Period Architecture: Todaiji Temple. Built during the Nara period, the Hokkedo is the oldest building at Todaiji, and is said to be the remains of Geumjosa Temple, the predecessor to Todaiji. It is also known as the Sangatsudo Hall. The main hall in front of the temple was added during the Kamakura period (1192-1333), and the two halls are beautifully harmonized to create a uniform appearance. Inside the hall is a treasure trove of Tenpyo sculptures, including a standing statue of the Amapasa Kannon (a national treasure), a statue of Brahma and Teishakuten (a national treasure) standing on either side of the Sumida platform, and a standing statue of the Four Heavenly Kings (a national treasure) protecting the main deity at the four corners of the inner sanctuary. Among them, the standing statue of the Vajra God is famous as the most secret of the hidden Buddhas because the door is opened only on December 16.
2. Heian Period Architecture: Daigoji 5-story pagoda. Daigoji Temple is located in Daigo-yama (Mt. Daigo) and the temple is located at the foot of the mountain.  Daigoji is a huge temple complex, and the pagoda was the brainchild of Emperor Suzaku. It was built for his father, Emperor Daigo. Construction started in 935, and it took 17 years to perfect. There have been many fires in Daigoji Temple, during the Onin War a large part of the complex was burnt to ashes, but only the five-story pagoda survived. The pagoda is the oldest surviving wooden structure.
3. Medieval Architecture: Silver Pavilion. Officially called Jishoji Temple, the Silver Pavillion (or Ginkakuji) is the head temple of the Rinzai sect’s Shokokuji School. The Kannon-den (Ginkaku) building, a national treasure, still retains the elegant appearance of the temple’s original construction. Tonguidou’s Dojinsai is the oldest surviving room of its kind in the shoin-zukuri style. The garden, with its white sand called Ginsadan and trapezoidal Kogetsudai, is famous for its moonlight garden and has been designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Special Historic Site by the government. The interiors of the main hall, Dongku-do, and Floating Pavilion are open to the public in spring and autumn. It has been registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
4. Late Medieval Architecture: Katsura Rikyu Imperial Villa Shokin-tei. Katsura Rikyu is a typical mountain villa from the early Edo period, and its foundation was laid by Prince Toshihito (1579 – 1629), the first of the Hachijo family. After WW2, it was administered by the Imperial Household Agency. The Katsura Rikyu Garden and its architecture from the early Edo period (1603-1868) is a reminder of the dynastic culture of that time. In 1933, the architect Bruno Taut, who defected from Germany, “rediscovered” the beauty of the Katsura Rikyu. The strolling garden, which Taut praised as “so beautiful it makes me want to cry,” features a pond fed by Katsura River, teahouses, a tsukiyama (artificial hill), a small beach, a bridge, and stone lanterns. There are four teahouses as well as a Buddhist temple, Ondorindo. It was awarded three stars in the tourist guidebook published by Michelin.

17th-19th Century Architecture Kyoto Itinerary

1. Late Medieval Architecture Castle: Nijo Castle. Constructed in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, Nijo Castle has been the setting for many historical events and was enlarged by third shogun Iemitsu to its present size in 1626. The castle is surrounded by a moat with a fortress extending about 600 meters east to west and 400 meters north to south. There are many highlights, including the massive East Ote-mon Gate (Important Cultural Property), the Kara-mon Gate (Important Cultural Property) with colorful carvings such as “Pine, Bamboo, and Plum Cranes” and “Chinese Lion”, the Ninomaru Garden (Special Cultural Property) and the Honmaru Palace (Important Cultural Property, currently under repair). At the Ninomaru Palace (a national treasure), where the restoration of the Imperial rule took place, the greenish-backed corridor and the wall paintings by the Kano School painters are a must-see.
2. Edo Period Architecture Temple: Kiyomizu-dera. Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Higashiyama, famous for the veranda with the beautiful view, is the head temple of the Hokuso sect of Buddhism. It is said that Sei Shonagon once paid a visit to this temple. The grounds of the temple are spread out along the foothills of Mount Otowa, with beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring and red leaves in the fall. The main hall, in which the stage is located, is a national treasure and is built on a rare cliff protruding from the edge of the mountain. The statue of the eleven-faced, thousand-armed, thousand-eyed goddess of mercy, which is the main deity of the temple, is only opened to the public once every 33 years. Starting with the Otoha Waterfall, there are many highlights in the mountain, such as the Niomon Gate, horse parking, the three-storied pagoda, and the Kaizando. The temple has been registered as a world cultural heritage site.
3. Edo Period Architecture House: Nijo-Jinya. This house was used as a camp for feudal lords who went to Nijo Castle and Kyoto, as well as an official residence for the magistrate’s office. This means that it was not just a house, but also had a special structure and equipment, and was designed to prevent fires. The building was built in a sukiya style with very delicate and elegant design and is considered to be of great architectural value. In 1944, it was designated as a National Treasure under the National Treasure Preservation Act for three reasons: as a fireproof building, as a Jinya-style building, and as a sukiya building.
4. Edo Period Architecture Machiya: Machiya Kamiumeya. A little different from the other architectural gems listed above, this structure is currently used as a hotel. Machiya are traditional Kyoto townhouses that mainly used to house artisans and merchants, and are currently used as regular housing, small-scale hotels, shops, and restaurants. They tend to be long and narrow in design, as they used to often feature a shop front, a back area where artisans did their work or merchants stored their wares, and a living quarter. Where Tokyo lost nearly all of its wooden machiya during WW2, many more in Kyoto have survived and are still there today. Machiya Kamiumeya is a beautiful combination of the original architecture with modern elements.

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Area Map

Japan’s Edo Period Feudal System

During the Edo period from 1603-1868, society was divided strictly into social classes, not unlike the medieval feudal system in Europe. The country was ruled by a shogun, who was the highest up in the military of that time. The first shogun of the Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu, was appointed shogun in 1603 by the Emperor.

One of the most important acts of the Tokugawa regime in its quest to achieve total control of the county was to implement the ‘sankin kotai’ system. This system demanded that all daimyo (feudal lords) in Japan spend at least one year out of two in Edo. Their wives and children were to remain in Edo while the daimyo was back in his territory. This dislocating ransom policy made it difficult for overly ambitious daimyo to usurp the Tokugawa family.

Society was hierarchically arranged. Top of the crop was the nobility, that had nominal power (the daimyo and their samurai warriors). Then came the farmers, the artists, and the merchants. The way you dressed, what kind of living quarters you had and even your manner of speech were all strictly codified. Furthermore, any interclass movement was prohibited.

Death of Ieyasu : First Shogun

When Ieyasu died in 1616, his ashes were interred in Chubu first. After that, they were moved to Nikko where they still are today. Generations of Tokugawa family members made improvements to this shrine called Toshogu. All that work transformed it into one of the grandest in all Japan.

Christianity and the Shogun

In 1638, concerned that Christian missionaries were gaining too much power in the south, Ieyasu’s grandson Tokugawa Iemitsu massacred a number of Christians in Kyushu. He also closed the country to almost all foreign trade from that point on. This radical isolation policy, also known as ‘sakoku’, has removed Japan from the world stage for nearly three centuries. This sudden change led to the rapid growth of the small town of Edo. By the 17th century, the population had grown to more than one million. At that time, Edo was one of the largest cities in the world.

Samurai

Samurai were the knights, police, and military of Japan before the modern times arrived at the islands in 1868. They were either working for a lord or literal freelancers or mercenaries. By far most samurai were born into the profession, but there are known instances of people who made it into the profession by pure will and skill. This is also the reason that there were a few foreign samurai. There were a few female samurai too, although they were a very small minority.

The Prime Duty of Samurai

The prime duty of a samurai was to give faithful service to his lord or daimyo. In fact, the origin of the term ‘samurai’  is linked to the word that means ‘to serve’. This overlap can be seen in the Chinese character that is used to write the word. Over the centuries, the samurai class has established a code of conduct that came to be known as ‘Bushido’ meaning ‘the way of the warrior’.

This code was inspired by Confucianism, Shintoism, and Buddhism. Confucianism required a samurai to show loyalty to his lord. Toward the subjects, the samurai was expected to show benevolence and exercise justice. A real samurai had endless endurance and total self-control, and he spoke only truth and displayed no emotion.

Since his honor was his life, disgrace and shame were too avoided above all else, and all insults were to be avenged. Ritual suicide, harakiri or seppuku, was a practice to which Japanese Buddhism conveniently turned a blind eye and it was an accepted means of avoiding dishonor.

Ritual suicide required the samurai to ritually disembowel himself, watched by an aide, who then drew his own sword and lopped off the samurai’s head to end the suffering swiftly. One reason for this ritual was the requirement that a samurai should never surrender but always go down fighting. Since surrender was considered a disgrace, prisoners received scant mercy.

WW2

During WW2, this attitude was reflected in the Japanese treatment of prisoners of war. Nowadays, the number of suicides is still high in Japan compared to most of the West, and one of the more common reasons is avoiding dishonor. Complete loyalty to your company is also still expected in Japan’s most traditional large and smaller companies.

Yamanote and Shitamachi

Meanwhile, the social codes imposed by the Tokugawa shoguns divided Edo into a high city, Yamanote, region, and a low city, Shitamachi, region. The Yamanote area was home to daimyo lords and their samurai. The lower orders of Edo society like farmers and merchants, on the other hand, were forced into the lower-lying Shitamachi area. Shitamachi residents often lived in squalid conditions in flimsy wooden structures with earthen floors. Also, large fires often swept across their shantytowns. These fires were known to locals as Edo-no-Hana or flowers of Edo.

Another curiosity of Edo that had left its mark on today’s Tokyo was the division of the city into towns according to their inhabitants’ professions. Even today it is possible to see small pockets in the city where shops are all specialized in one particular type of good or service. Good examples are Jinbocho the book shop area and Kappabashi the kitchen supply area. Asakusabashi with the toy shops and Akihabara which in the 70s transformed into the mecca of the electric shops also have their roots in this phenomenon.

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