The short story of Kanji pictures
Kunitachi is famously designated as a ‘Bunkyo Chiku’ (Educational District), the first of its kind in Tokyo established in 1952. To protect the educational environment for students, the law restricts businesses like gambling halls and bars from opening here. This is the true reason behind Kunitachi’s beautiful, calm, and high-class streetscapes
Near the main hall of Yaho Tenmangu sits ‘Fude-zuka,’ a monument dedicated to the God of education, a master of Japanese calligraphy. It is believed that tracing the letters on this stone helps improve your writing skills, and historically, schoolchildren buried their old brushes here.
Behind the hall, you will find a serene pond fed by the never-drying ‘Tokiwa no Shimizu’ spring. The pond features a tiny island with Itsukushima Shrine, where a sacred statue of Benzaiten is said to hold the handprint of the famous monk Kukai on its back.
Yaho is home to local pear gardens. In spring, the pear trees bloom with beautiful white flowers, and in autumn, they produce delicious fruit. The secret to their great taste is the high-quality water brought by the nearby Tama River.
The Tama River is steeped in ancient history, and ‘Tama’ stands as one of the oldest regional names in Japan. It is said that the word ‘Tama’ originally signifies the ‘human soul.’ Reflecting on this profound meaning, we can truly appreciate how deeply the people of ancient times revered this river—not just as water, but as the very lifeblood and spiritual soul of the community.
A modern facility stands where Daigaku Street meets Sakura Street, serving as a support center for people with disabilities. Built under Kunitachi City’s policy to provide excellent care in a rich environment, this center stands as a meaningful landmark of the community.
Aoyagi Inari is a charming shrine nestled in the Aoyagi area of Kunitachi. It is a wonderful place to visit if you want to explore and discover the beautiful, intricate details of traditional Japanese shrine architecture!
Situated to the west of Yaho, Yagawa is named after the small ‘Hake’ river that flows from west to east through Kunitachi City. To this day, the river’s water stays pure and clear, remaining a beloved nature spot for local residents.
The Chuo Expressway offers a smooth drive into Kunitachi City, accompanied by stunning night views along the way. In fact, a famous Japanese singer beautifully captures this magical scenery in a song, describing the night drive on the Chuo Expressway as ‘an airport runway that leads us straight to a starship…
Summer nights here feature the famous Tachikawa Fireworks Festival at Showa Kinen Park. From Yaho, you can enjoy a magical experience—watching fireworks burst simultaneously in the northern sky over Tachikawa and the southern sky over the Tama River!
In Tokyo, lines running north to south are rare, as most run east to west. The Nambu Line is one of these few unique routes, and Yaho is a station right on it. Riding this railway offers a wonderful scenic journey!