In 1698, the place surrounding the today’s Shinjuku Station (including the Shinjuku Gyoen park) was owned by a daimyo named Naitō. One of the 5 major roads from Nihonbashi, connecting Edo to Kofu, was passing right through this area and since the distance between Nihonbashi and the first station was too big, a new station was established on the property of the lord Naitō. So the new station received the name Naitō Shinjuku (from shin - new and shuku or juku - station) and later it grew to become a town.
Since the area was devastated in 1945, there was almost no structure left from that period, but the streets remained mostly on the same place, preserving the shape of the original Naitō Shinjuku.
Today Shinjuku hosts some of the most colorful shopping areas I have encountered, a place where I feel good every time I visit:
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Yesterday’s Japan Photo:Kannon from Ofuna, Travel Tip |
