The short story of Kanji pictures
Yaho Park No. 4 is locally known as “Gorilla Park” because of its popular gorilla-shaped play monument. It is always bustling with children enjoying the various playground equipment. Thanks to its beautiful scenery, the park, along with the nearby Kunitachi City Hall, is frequently used as a filming location for movies and TV dramas.
Tami Seki (1919–2010) was a hat designer who supported her husband, Gantei Seki, throughout her life. She opened her own hat atelier here in Kunitachi in 1967, which continues to be run by her students today. This atelier is also famous for inspiring the hat shop featured in Studio Ghibli’s movie Howl’s Moving Castle!
| 名称 | Atelier Seki／アトリエ関 |
| 所在地 | 東京都国立市中２−２−１ |
| Homepage | https://atelierseki.jimdofree.com/ |
Hakujuji is a traditional confectionery and coffee shop that has been a landmark of Kunitachi City since 1955. It is such an iconic symbol of the city that it has appeared in films like “Summer blooms” and “Wolf Children” just as it is.
| 名称 | 洋菓子店 白十字 |
| 所在地 | 東京都 国立市中１-９-４３ くにたちさくらビル１階 |
| HomePage | https://sakuracake.jp/ |
The Main Building of Takinogawa Gakuen was built in Yaho in 1928 specifically for the education of children with intellectual disabilities.
Following a tragic fire eight years prior, Fudeko and her husband, Ryoichi, designed this facility with safety and ease of evacuation in mind—featuring wide corridors, low-step slopes with rubber guards, and large windows.
Today, this Main Building is registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property.
| 名称 | 滝乃川学園 本館（石井亮一・筆子記念館） |
| 所在地 | 〒186-0015 東京都国立市矢川３丁目16番地の１ |
| Homepage | https://www.takinogawagakuen.jp/ |
Kunitachi City, home to Yaho, adopted the plum flower as its emblem in honor of Yaho Tenmangu Shrine’s famous plum garden. As you can see, the city emblem depicts a plum blossom. This symbol was designed by Seki Gantei , a local artist who lived here in Yaho.
Opened in 1958, ‘Hatono-yu’ is currently the only public bath (sento) remaining in Kunitachi City, having been completely renovated in 2020.
The main bathroom features a traditional Japanese wall painting of Mount Fuji, beautifully crafted by the master sento artist, Kiyoto Maruyama.
Loved by local residents, Hatono-yu is also famous for its appearance in the movie ‘Summer Blooms,’ where the lead actress, Aki Asakura, is seen taking a relaxing bath!
| 名称 | 鳩の湯 |
| 所在地 | 〒186-0002 東京都国立市東２丁目８−１９ |
| Homepage | http://hatonoyu.jp/index.html |
Every Japanese school neighborhood seems to have that one legendary general store, and for Yaho, it is Takayanagi Shouten. Founded all the way back in 1934, this neighborhood institution has spent generations supporting the daily lives of local residents. They sell everything from cheap nostalgic sweets (Dagashi) and school stationery for children, to a carefully curated selection of fine Japanese Sake for adults.
Located right on the northeastern corner of Kunitachi Dai-ichi (First) Elementary School, this historic shop is affectionately known by everyone in the neighborhood as “Kado-mise”—which literally means “The Corner Store.” It remains a warm, living piece of Yaho’s community history.
| 名称 | 高柳商店（かど店） |
| 所在地 | 〒186-0011 東京都国立市谷保５９４８ |
| Homepage | https://kadomise.amebaownd.com/ |
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.
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…
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!