This is my 2nd post of "Tokyo subway network", covering the western side of
the subway route map, namely the terminals of Ikebukuro, Shinjyuku, Shibuya,
Shinagawa and the Olympic Stadium.
I think the eastern half area reported in the last post, Asakusa, Ueno, Ginza
plus Nihonbashi, seems to partly keep an atmosphere of "Edo Period", and may
be more fascinating foreign guests, while this west part filled with many
high rise buildings, maybe more modern, business-like and in a sense, "dreary"
and changing. The middle of the Tokyo station and the Imperial Palace may be
between those two cultures, though this is just my personal opinion.
東京の地下鉄網の第二回目です。 先の東側、浅草・上野・銀座は、
日本橋を加えると、一つの文化圏を形成するように感じます。
このエリアは江戸以来の日本文化をより濃く残している地域に思えます。
一方、今日ご説明する、西側、池袋・新宿・渋谷に品川を加えた
ターミナル地域は、よりモダンでビジネス中心、ある意味では”殺風景”で、
いつも変化している部分かと思はれます。
東京駅ー皇居は中間的かもしれません、単なる私見ですが・・・。
東京地下鉄網図
1)Olympic Stadium
First, the stadium is located inside the Yamate Line and the nearest station
is either "Sendagaya" station of Central Line or "National Stadium station"
of subway "Ooedo" station.
The construction of the stadium was redesigned causing delay of the building
schedule, however I believe that the stadium is completed in time for the
opening of the Olympic in 2020, not to lose face in the international society.
１）オリンピック会場
先ず話題の2020年の東京オリンピック主会場は、山手線の内部で、最寄りの
駅は中央線の”千駄ヶ谷駅”か地下鉄大江戸線の”国立競技場駅”です。
基本のデザインで問題があり、工期が遅れているようですが、新国立競技場は
ｵﾘﾝﾋﾟｯｸの開催には間に合うでしょう。
2)Ikebukuro
3rd heaviest traffic of over 2.6 million passengers a day.
From the Tokyo station, the easiest way is to use either subway "Marunouchi"
or "Yuurakucho" line, though the Yamate line takes you to Ikebukuro.
There are both Seibu and Toubu departments in the station, which is also the
terminal of both Seibu Ikebukuro line and Toubu ToujyoubLine.
Nearby the station are "Sunshine Center", "Toritu Art Theater", "Ikebukuro
Engeijyo" and so forth. Recently, Ikebukuro is hot and gathers especially
young girls as the "Anime" center, called "Otome(Maiden) Road".
3)Shinjyuku
This area was developed in the "Edo Period" as the "Shukuba (Post-town)", whose
mark is shown at the "Shinjyuku Gyoen".
Now Shinjyuku is the busiest terminal in Japan as daily passengers is over 3.4
million, where are also the terminals of the "Odakyu", "Keiou" and "Seibu
Shinjyuku" Lines.
From the Tokyo station, the best way is to ride the "Rapid" train of the Central
Line but you can also use the subway line as "Marunouchi" or "Shinjyuku".
Nearby area is also busy business and activity center, where are the "Tochou
(Tokyo Government office)" and "Shinjyuku Gyoen" . Hi-rise buildings in front
of the west exit of the station are spectacle, however "Kabukicho" or "Golden
town" in the east side area are somewhat peculiar and I do not recommend you
to walk alone in such places at night.
３）新宿
江戸期、ここは内藤新宿の名の宿場町として栄えたが、現在でも、日本で一番
混む駅として知られる、交通の要衝の要で乗降客数は一日340万人と言われ、
小田急線・京王線・西武線・東横線のターミナルでもある。
東京駅からは中央線の快速が一番早いと思われるが、地下鉄”丸の内線”や
”新宿線”等も利用出来る。
周辺に都庁、新宿御苑があり、西口駅前からの高層ビル群は壮観だが、歌舞伎町
やゴールデン街といった、夜の一人歩きはお薦めしないような地域もある。
4)Shibuya
Shibuya is famous as the "Town of Youngsters" and now under the fundamental
and big remodeling of the entire area as the plan of this Century.
"Hikarie" and the station of JR and "Touyoko" line are the center of the
plan and when completed, Shibuya will be the super and most modern, next-
generation area.
The subway lines of "Ginza" and "Hanzoumon" take you to Shibuya and the
"Scramble Crossing" at "Hachi-kou" exit is the "Sight to see" when busy.
In 15 minutes walk up the "Dougenzaka" hill, there are NHK (National Broad-
casting Center) and on the way, "BunkaMura" operated by Toukyu.
If you do not mind to walk 1.5km some 20 minutes to the east side, you can
reach "OmoteSandou", famous shopping street as Ginza, and the approach to
the "Meiji Shrine"though you can ride one stop to "OmoteSandou" by Ginza
Line and to "Meiji Shrine" by Yamate Line at "Harajyuku" station respectively.
４）渋谷
若者の街として知られる渋谷は、現在渋谷駅‐”ヒカリエ”を中心に街全体の
大改造中で、10年後には見違える都市景観となると言われている。
東京駅からは地下鉄の”銀座線”或いは”半蔵門線”が便利です。
ハチ公から道元坂を上って、東急の文化村やNHKセンターがポイントとなるが、
東口からの”ヒカリエ”更に少し歩くと表参道に行けます。 そこからは
有名店が軒を並べる商店街であり、明治神宮への参道です。
5)Shinagawa
Another "Shukuba (PostTown" of Tokaidou from Edo to Kyoto in "Edo period".
Also the 1st station of Tokaidou Line in "Meiji period", which is sung
in a school song. Shinagawa is already decided the terminal of the "New
Linear Bullet Train" in 2027.
"Bullet Train" and "Tokaido Line" stop at Shinagawa and it is also the
terminal of "Keikyuu" line.
"Tokyo Tower" and "Rainbow Bridge" are near from Shinagawa station and also
"Odaiba" is easy to access from here, which is a "date-spot" of youngsters.
５）品川
品川も現在、品川駅～計画中山手線新駅～田町駅、一帯を総合的に改造する計画
が進んでいる。 元来、品川は新宿と並んで、江戸期から東海道の宿場町として
栄え、現在の東海道線の初駅として唱歌にも歌われ、更に2027年の”リニア中央
新幹線”の発駅となる事も決まっている、交通の要衝である。
東海道線（新幹線）・山手線でも近いし、更に南の場合、京阪急行が川崎・横浜
に品川をターミナルとしている。
周辺には東京タワーやレインボーブリッジがあり、更に若者に人気の”お台場”への
アクセスも良い。
In the following issue, I would like to briefly touch "Edo atmosphere" remained
in Tokyo. Please see the next post.
次回は東京に残る”江戸情緒”について書いてみたいと思っています。 お楽しみに。
