SakurashinmachiStroll through the cherry blossom town with Sazae-san

"Wa Sanpo" provided by Japan Travel Samurai. This time, we went for a walk around Sakurashinmachi in Setagaya, Tokyo with Kei Tsukamoto, who is active as an actor and model.

What is Sakurashinmachi, the "town of Sazae-san"?

Sakurashinmachi in Setagaya, Tokyo, is known as "Sazae-san Town" because Machiko Hasegawa (hereafter referred to as "Sazae-san"), the original author of "Sazae-san", lived there during her lifetime. There are various motifs of the Sazae-san family in the town, including bronze statues and posters, and together with the Machiko Hasegawa Museum of Art, it is a sacred place for Sazae-san.

The name "Sakurashinmachi" comes from the fact that Tokyo Trust built the Shinmachi Subdivision, the first high-end residential area in the Kanto region, in 1913. When the subdivision was being developed, rows of Somei-Yoshino cherry trees were planted on both sides of the road, which became famous, and the area was later renamed from "Shinmachi" to "Sakurashinmachi." After that, cherry trees, including double-flowered cherry trees, were planted everywhere, and the area is still known today as a famous cherry blossom spot.

The nearest station is Sakurashinmachi Station on the Tokyu Denentoshi Line, the fourth station from Shibuya Station. It is also connected to the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, so it has good access to the city center. There are 12 bronze statues of Sazae-san characters in 4 locations around the station, which are great photo spots.

Search for Sazae-san characters on "Sazae-san Street"

Leaving the west exit of Sakurashinmachi Station, we headed first to Sakurashinmachi Shopping Street, commonly known as "Sazae-san Street," which runs from the front of the station to the Hasegawa Machiko Museum of Art. On the approximately 500m shopping street, many characters from Sazae-san are displayed on the eaves of shops and roadsides! Sazae-san, Katsuo-kun, and Wakame-chan also appear on the banners.

There are signs and posters related to Sazae-san all over the place, and you can't help but take photos while walking around the shopping street. Tsukamoto-san also said, "There are Sazae-san motifs, so I thought it was a really fun place to go on the way to the museum."

Hasegawa Machiko Art Museum and Memorial Museum

About a seven-minute walk from the station, turn right at the steel plate at the end of Sazae-san Street and you'll arrive at the Hasegawa Machiko Museum of Art. The museum opened in 1985 to exhibit art collected by Hasegawa Machiko, the original author of Sazae-san, and her sister, and has a collection of about 800 pieces, including Japanese and Western paintings, crafts, and sculptures.

The museum houses works by famous artists such as Yokoyama Taikan, Foujita Tsuguharu, Renoir, Chagall, and Picasso, and holds several exhibitions of the museum's collection each year. In commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the anime Sazae-san in 2024, the "Anime Sazae-san Exhibition: I'm Sazae!" will be held until November 24th. It's a must-see for fans of Sazae-san.

Furthermore, in July 2020, an annex called the Hasegawa Machiko Memorial Museum will open to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Hasegawa Machiko's birth. The permanent exhibition here features exhibits on her representative works "Sazae-san," "Ijiwaru Baa-san," and "Apron Oba-san," as well as exhibits on Hasegawa Machiko's life. The living room of the Showa era, familiar from Sazae-san, has also been recreated, and you can enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere with a cathode ray tube television and a low table.

I was impressed by the many areas that parents and children can enjoy together, such as a doodling corner using digital technology and a raised area with tatami mats where you can enjoy picture books and coloring books. There is also a museum shop and a cafe, where you can relax surrounded by the warmth of wood.

Don't forget to visit the Sakurashinmachi 1-chome Green Space behind the museum, commonly known as "Sazae-san Park." Here you'll find a bronze statue of the Sazae-san family, watching over the museum with kindness.

Sakura Shrine: A famous cherry blossom spot that continues to carry on ancient rituals

The setting for our walk is returning from the museum to Sakurashinmachi Station, and after about a three-minute walk from the north exit, greeted by the bronze statues of Katsuo-kun and Wakame-chan, we come into view at Sakura Jingu, a famous cherry blossom spot. In 1882 (Meiji 15), in order to revive the ancient Shinto tradition that had been passed down since the Age of the Gods, Yoshimura Masayoshi, the 65th head of the Onakatomi clan and the head priest of Ise Jingu, built the shrine in what is now Kanda, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. Yoshimura Masayoshi was also the founder of Shinshukyo, one of the thirteen sects of sect Shinto, and Sakura Jingu is its head temple.

In 1915, a divine oracle instructed the shrine to "immediately move to the west," and the shrine was moved to its current location between 1919 and 1922. As a result, the shrine was safe during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and escaped the flames of World War II.

The deities enshrined here are the three gods who represent the origin of all things, Ame-no-Minakanushi, Takamimusubi, and Kamimusubi, as well as Izanagi, Izanami, Amaterasu, etc. As it enshrines various gods who appear in Japanese mythology, it is said to grant benefits for various wishes.

At the shrine, ancient rituals such as the "Kamanari Shinto Ritual" in which a kettle is used to predict fortune and cleanse one's sins and impurities are still practiced. The way of worship is also unique, not the usual "two bows, two claps, one bow" but the same "two bows, four claps, one bow" as at Ise Grand Shrine. The shrine is also famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot, with beautiful Kawazu cherry blossoms and Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms blooming from February to spring. Also worth checking out are the limited edition goshuin stamps issued each month featuring seasonal flowers.

Tsukamoto-san had visited Sakura Jingu Shrine before and said, "Even though it's in the city center, it has a calm atmosphere and is a very comfortable and pleasant place to be."

Enjoy coffee at OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY Sakurashinmachi

This time, we visited OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY Sakurashinmachi, located behind Sakura Shrine, as a rest spot on our walk around Sakurashinmachi. This is the flagship store of Ogawa Coffee, a long-established coffee shop in Kyoto that has been in business since 1952, and opened in 2020. You can enjoy 21 types of coffee on offer at all times, as well as a biweekly specialty coffee.

After choosing the beans based on the flavor, you can choose from three brewing methods: espresso, pourover (hand drip), and aeropress. Of course, there are a variety of drinks available, including familiar menu items such as easy-to-drink house blend coffee and cafe au lait, as well as tea, mocktails, and smoothies.

This time, it was hot, so I ordered a caffe latte of the "House Blend Kyoto," which is characterized by its well-balanced sweetness. It comes with a "BEAN" card that lists the country of origin and farm of the beans, so you can enjoy the coffee even more.

The "Matcha and White Flower Bean Tiramisu" that we also ordered has a gentle Japanese-Western flavor that goes perfectly with the coffee. Tsukamoto-san gave it high praise, saying, "I never knew there was such a wonderful coffee shop in Sakurashinmachi!" He added, "I'd like to try their other coffees, and the desserts were so good that I'd like to try their lunch and dinner meals as well."

【Today's walking course】

Sakurashinmachi Station → Sazae-san Shopping Street → Hasegawa Machiko Museum & Memorial Hall → Sakura Shrine → OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY Sakurashinmachi

[Spots visited this time]

"Machiko Hasegawa Museum of Art" 1-30-6 Sakurashinmachi, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
"Sakura Shrine" 3-21-3 Shinmachi, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
"OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY Sakurashinmachi" 1F Sakurashinmachi, 3-23-8 Shinmachi, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo