A Walk around Ekoda / 江古田の散歩

This is the first neighborhood walk post for 2011. I thought I would start fresh and do one every week, but as you can tell, that's not happening. For one thing, this walk was taken sometime in January. For another thing, this wasn't my first time walking around this neighborhood. I've been here before some ten or more years ago. This area is known for having Tokyo's only Israeli restaurant which I had been to before. I thought I would have lunch there again knowing it was still in business. But as always, I will save the restaurant post for another time.

２０１１年初の近所散歩ネタです。舞台は江古田。本当は毎週どっか行こうと思いましたが、もう二月も終わってるのに、ここに散歩したのは一月でした。ここに来るのは初めてではない。十年前位に来た覚えがある。なぜと言いましたと、ここに東京で唯一のイスラエル料理店がある。そのにまた凄い久しぶりにランチでも食べようと思って、江古田まで来ました。でもその店はまた別のネタで紹介します。

Of course I had lunch before walking around the neighborhood. The first place I walked around was was the Ekoda Ginza Shopping Street. Unfortunately, I didn't take as many pictures as I should have as this area was reminiscent of Showa era Japan. One area looked like a miniature version of Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market. I also came across a miso shop that featured over 20 different kinds on display.

散歩する前は昼飯。そのあとはやっぱり江古田銀座の商店街。残念ながら、良い風景なのに、あんまり写真撮ってなかった。江古田銀座の商店街は本当に昭和時代な匂いと感じがした。ある場所は築地の市場みたいな所もあって、駄菓子屋とかあって、ほかに昔ながらの味噌の専門店もありました。その店の前に２０種類異常の味噌が並べてました。

The first point of interest I discovered was the Sengen Shrine located right near the station.

最初に気になったところは駅の近くにあった浅間神社 （せんげんじんじゃ）。

Sengen Shrine / 浅間神社

What was more interesting was the small mountain called Ekoda Fuji that was located behind the shrine. Unfortunately, it is only opened to the public three times a year - January 1 - 3, July 1st, and the second Saturday and Sunday of September. July 1st is a Friday, so I won't be able to walk up Ekoda Fuji until September of this year.

浅間神社よりもっと興味あっとのは、神社の裏にある江古田富士塚。年に三回しか公開してません。一月一日から三日、七月一日と九月第二土曜日曜日だけ。今年の七月一日は金曜日なので、自分が実際江古田富士塚を登山出来るのは九月になるでしょう。

Entrance to Ekoda Fuji / 江古田富士塚の入り口

This architecture of this building caught my attention as well. On a closer look, I discovered this to be the Nihon University College of Art.

こちらの建造物も気になって、調べてみたら、ここは日本大学藝術学部。

There wasn't much else of interest around Ekoda aside from other ethnic restaurants, so I called it a day and headed home.

他のエスニック料理店以外に面白そうな所もなかったので、散歩終了。