【Chuo-ku, Ningyo-cho area information】 The history of Ningyo-cho

What do you think of when you hear the name Ningyo-cho?

Ningyo-cho is located in Nihonbashi, the center of old Edo, and it is a stylish place where history and tradition are still very much alive.

It is an area popular with the young and old alike.

This time, I will take you to tourist sites and gourmet restaurants near Ningyo-cho Station.

①Koami Shrine

Koami Shrine is so popular that it will show first when you search for tourist spots in Ningyo-cho.

One of the reasons for its popularity is its power to bring good fortune and protect from evil!

Anecdotal evidence of that power is presented on the shrine’s website:

・ During the Great Tokyo Air Raid, nearby buildings were damaged, but Koami Shrine was miraculously spared.
・ During World War II, all the soldiers who wore amulets from Koami Shrine returned home.

The many such anecdotes about the good fortune this place brings will definitely make you want to visit at least once.

I think it is no exaggeration to say that Koami Shrine is THE shrine to go to for good luck and protection from evil.

They also say that the shrine brochure alone brings the benefits of healing sickness, safe travel, improving fortune, and academic achievement.

It is thus very crowded on holidays. If you want to look around at a more leisurely pace, I recommend weekdays.

②Suitengu Shrine

Suitengu Shrine is probably as popular as Koami Shrine.

There are Shinto shrines named Suitengu all around Japan, and the head shrine is Kurume Suitengu in Fukushima Prefecture. In other words, Suitengu Shrine in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi is a branch shrine of Kurume Suitengu.

Suitengu Shrine is related to children and water, and because of this, it is said that it provides the benefits of “safe baby delivery”,  “protection from water accidents”, and “disease healing”, which makes it another very popular shrine.

Pregnant women and their families visit to pray for safe delivery, and the shrine is especially crowded on holidays!

The new main building completed in April 2016 is not only very beautiful but also employs universal design so it is easily accessible to anyone who wants to pray.

If you have a pregnant relative, this is the perfect place for a walk.

③Amazake Yokocho -Yanagiya-

If you get a bit hungry after seeing the shrines, Amazake Yokocho is the place to go to next!!

Amazake Yokocho is a lively tourist destination and a crowded shopping district about 400 meters long from Ningyo-cho Station to Meijiza Theatre.

There are many delicious gourmet options in Amazake Yokocho, but today I want to talk about “Yanagiya”, an old store established in 1916.

Yanagiya is one of the three most prestigious taiyaki (fish-shaped pancake filled with bean jam) stores in Tokyo.

Their taiyaki has a thin crust, crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy inside, in perfect harmony with the slightly sweet bean jam!!

At only 160 yen per piece, the price is reasonable, which means there is always a long line of customers in front of the store.

The main reason for its popularity is the fact that all the ingredients are freshly prepared that morning, and are used up that day. They use a mold made by a metal caster before the war, to bake each piece carefully.
Commitment must be the secret ingredient of the delicious taiyaki at Yanagiya.

I highly recommend you try it.

【Author’s message】

There are more places of interest that I would like to introduce, but I have focused on three today.
If you have read this article and want to learn more about Ningyo-cho, why not take a walk around the area in your spare time!

It will be a wonderful experience.

Thank you for reading!