Tokyo’s former name was “Edo”, which was the de facto capital of Japan during the Edo period (1603 – 1868).
With over 400 years of history as the capital, travelers may expect there to be an abundance of preserved historical districts remaining in Tokyo.
Unfortunately, the majority of Tokyo’s historical sites were lost in the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923 and the bombing of Tokyo during World War 2.
Nevertheless, there are still places you can go to get a taste of historical Tokyo.
A lot of guidebooks recommend visitors to go to “Asakusa”. The main attraction in Asakusa is Sensoji which is a very popular Buddhist temple. It’s always crowded with many tourists who want to experience the atmosphere of “Edo”.
But today, I want to introduce another location.
It’s one of the hidden gems of Tokyo.
It’s actually in Shibuya!
Most people think that Shibuya is a popular shopping and entertainment district where young people gather.
While that’s true, Shibuya features fascinating historical locations as well!
For example, Konnoh Hachimangu Shrine, only a 10min walk from Shibuya Station, has a long history.
It was constructed in the Gongen-Zukuri style, which is the same architectural style seen at the temple of Nikko Tosho-gu.
It is also known as the shrine for Sangaku.
Sangaku were wooden votive tablets given as a sign of devotion to a shrine. They featured math problems and puzzles and sought to entertain guests and other passers-by. Some also included the methods behind solving certain problems. They were most commonly gifted by mathematicians/math enthusiasts during the Edo period.

Math problem is illustrated.
Mathematicians would often gather to attempt to solve particularly difficult problems.
This custom of dedicating math problems/puzzles to a religious site is said to be a culture unique to Japan, with no parallel in the world.
By the way, there’s a movie called “The Samurai Astronomer” about these mathematical geniuses of the Edo period. If you’re interested, I recommend you check it out and learn more!
Just another 10-minute walk away from this shrine, you can find the oldest shrine in the Shibuya Ward, Shibuya Hikawa Shrine.
Within the temple grounds, there are the remains of the sumo arena of the Kinno Sumo, one of the three major sumo tournaments which took place in the suburbs of Edo. Sumo is not only a Japanese style of wrestling but also a Shinto ritual.
This is why some Japanese shrines feature a sumo ring, and the traditions have long been intertwined.
Kokugakuin University Museum is located next to the Shibuya Hikawa Shrine. This museum is free to enter.
If you visit this museum you can get a pretty good overview of Japanese history, ranging all the way from the first settlers called the Jōmon, right up to the modern era.
After enjoying the museum, you can even head on over to Ebisu station if you’re interested. Because the museum is right in the middle of Ebisu and Shibuya, it’s conveniently located.
Shibuya is generally considered an exciting city for younger people in their twenties, but adults in their thirties and older prefer Ebisu because it has a classy and sophisticated image.
There are an abundance of nice restaurants or izakaya(a kind of Japanese pub) for foodies looking for a bite to eat.
If you feel Shibuya is a bit too noisy and crowded, I recommend that you visit Ebisu.
What's Your Reaction?
Trip Planner Japan's Webmaster. love solo travel, photography, history, nature, foods, architecture, handcraft.
Thanks, I’ve recently been searching for information about this topic for a while and yours is the best I’ve came upon so far. However, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you sure concerning the supply?
I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…
It’s actually a great and helpful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
I really enjoy studying on this web site, it has got good blog posts. “Don’t put too fine a point to your wit for fear it should get blunted.” by Miguel de Cervantes.
I was recommended this website by means of my cousin. I am not positive whether this post is written via him as no one else recognise such detailed approximately my trouble. You are incredible! Thank you!
I got good info from your blog
Excellent website. Plenty of useful information here. I¦m sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious. And certainly, thank you in your sweat!
Throughout this great pattern of things you actually receive a B- just for effort and hard work. Where exactly you actually lost everybody ended up being in your facts. As they say, the devil is in the details… And that couldn’t be much more correct at this point. Having said that, let me say to you just what did work. Your text is certainly quite persuasive and this is probably the reason why I am taking an effort to comment. I do not make it a regular habit of doing that. 2nd, while I can certainly see a leaps in reason you make, I am not confident of just how you appear to connect the ideas that help to make the actual final result. For right now I will, no doubt subscribe to your issue however wish in the foreseeable future you connect the facts better.
Hiya very nice blog!! Guy .. Excellent .. Superb .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally?KI am satisfied to find a lot of useful info here within the post, we need work out extra techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
This actually answered my problem, thanks!
I believe other website owners should take this internet site as an model, very clean and good user pleasant design and style.
Nice post. I study something more challenging on completely different blogs everyday. It is going to always be stimulating to read content material from other writers and observe just a little one thing from their store. I’d favor to make use of some with the content material on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll provide you with a link in your internet blog. Thanks for sharing.
I?¦m no longer sure the place you are getting your information, however good topic. I must spend a while learning much more or understanding more. Thank you for fantastic information I used to be on the lookout for this information for my mission.
I genuinely prize your piece of work, Great post.
I’m curious to find out what blog platform you happen to be using? I’m having some small security problems with my latest site and I would like to find something more risk-free. Do you have any recommendations?
Very interesting subject, thankyou for putting up. “If you have both feet planted on level ground, then the university has failed you.” by Robert F. Goheen.
I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one nowadays..
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.
We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our entire community will be thankful to you.
Fantastic site. A lot of helpful info here. I am sending it to some pals ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks for your effort!
so much excellent info on here, : D.
Very interesting details you have mentioned, regards for putting up. “Jive Lady Just hang loose blood. She gonna handa your rebound on the med side.” by Airplane.
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Cheers!
You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
I am perpetually thought about this, thanks for posting.
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?
I’ve learn several excellent stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you place to make this type of fantastic informative site.
I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this hike.
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. cheers
As a Newbie, I am constantly browsing online for articles that can help me. Thank you
Hey this is somewhat of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
I admire your piece of work, thankyou for all the great posts.
Incredible! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a completely different subject but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Excellent choice of colors!
I am not sure where you are getting your info, however great topic. I must spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic info I was looking for this information for my mission.
I like examining and I think this website got some genuinely useful stuff on it! .
I love it when people come together and share opinions, great blog, keep it up.
Outstanding post, I conceive website owners should acquire a lot from this web blog its rattling user genial.
Someone essentially help to make critically articles I would state. That is the first time I frequented your website page and to this point? I amazed with the analysis you made to create this actual post extraordinary. Excellent job!
I together with my guys have been viewing the best helpful hints from your site while all of a sudden I had a horrible suspicion I had not expressed respect to you for those secrets. Those guys are already for that reason stimulated to read through them and have unquestionably been tapping into those things. I appreciate you for getting quite thoughtful and for deciding upon some good ideas millions of individuals are really desperate to be informed on. My very own sincere apologies for not saying thanks to earlier.
I genuinely enjoy reading on this website , it has good content.
I was studying some of your posts on this website and I believe this site is real instructive! Retain posting.
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually know what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Please also visit my website =). We could have a link exchange arrangement between us!
Howdy very nice web site!! Man .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also?KI’m satisfied to find a lot of useful info here in the put up, we’d like work out more techniques in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me.
Good day very cool web site!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds also?KI am satisfied to search out numerous useful information right here within the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
That is really fascinating, You are a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and stay up for in search of more of your great post. Additionally, I have shared your site in my social networks!
Thank you for sharing with us, I believe this website genuinely stands out : D.
Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I’m getting fed up of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at options for another platform. I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this superb blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group. Talk soon!
Hello there, I found your web site by means of Google whilst searching for a related subject, your website got here up, it appears to be like great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
I believe you have noted some very interesting points, thankyou for the post.
It¦s actually a cool and useful piece of information. I am happy that you shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.
Heya this is somewhat of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding expertise so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
he blog was how do i say it… relevant, finally something that helped me. Thanks
I’m not sure where you’re getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic info I was looking for this info for my mission.
Some truly nice stuff on this internet site, I like it.
Hello there! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I genuinely enjoy reading through your posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same topics? Thanks!
Its good as your other articles : D, thanks for posting.
I have not checked in here for some time since I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your post seem to be running off the screen in Internet explorer. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The layout look great though! Hope you get the problem solved soon. Many thanks
What i do not realize is in reality how you’re not actually a lot more neatly-favored than you may be now. You’re so intelligent. You realize therefore significantly in terms of this subject, made me in my opinion consider it from so many various angles. Its like women and men don’t seem to be interested until it’s something to do with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs nice. At all times take care of it up!
Hi my friend! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include almost all important infos. I would like to see more posts like this.
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You clearly know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?
I must show some appreciation to you for rescuing me from such a instance. As a result of exploring throughout the the web and finding techniques that were not helpful, I assumed my entire life was well over. Existing minus the answers to the issues you’ve fixed all through this review is a crucial case, and those that could have in a negative way damaged my career if I had not discovered your web blog. Your personal understanding and kindness in maneuvering everything was very helpful. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I had not discovered such a subject like this. It’s possible to at this point relish my future. Thank you so much for your reliable and amazing help. I will not be reluctant to recommend your web site to any person who needs to have tips about this issue.
Terrific work! That is the type of information that are meant to be shared around the internet. Disgrace on the seek engines for not positioning this submit upper! Come on over and visit my web site . Thanks =)
Hey would you mind stating which blog platform you’re using? I’m going to start my own blog soon but I’m having a hard time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique. P.S Sorry for being off-topic but I had to ask!
Valuable information. Lucky me I found your website by accident, and I am shocked why this accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
hello!,I like your writing very a lot! proportion we be in contact extra approximately your article on AOL? I require an expert in this house to solve my problem. Maybe that is you! Looking ahead to peer you.