Kagurazaka 神楽坂: Tokyo's French quarter. Thanks to the presence of French schools nearby, the fashionable district has a high concentration of French restaurants in addition to Japanese cafes and restaurants. its name means "God Music Slope". It refers to Kagura, the spiritual music played for Shinto gods. Kagurazaka used to be located at the outer edge of Edo Castle, and then music could be heart from the Imperial Court. Today, this is one of the few remaining areas of Tokyo where you’ll find exclusive geisha houses. In Kagurazaka you can discover small alleys as Kakurenbo yokocho, Atamiyukaidan and Oguri yokocho.
You may start your visit at Iidabashi station. Outside you’ll find the Canal Cafe, wher you get an Italian meal.
The terrace of Canal Cafe is one of Tokyo’s best, situated on the old moat of Edo Castle. You can rent a row-boat.
Waseda dori, t he main road in Kagurazaka is a car-free zone from 12-1 pm every day and 12-7 pm on Sundays and public holidays. When walking up the street you pass many stores, from fast-food outlets to traditional Japanese sweet vendors, game arcades and kimono shops.
If you’re looking for Chinese food, you will find steamed buns at the Kagurazaka branch of Gojuban.
Now we turn into one of the narrow cobblestone alleys.
We discover the Cafe-Creperie Le Bretagne. This was the first creperie to ever open in Japan.
By continueing our path along the cobblestone alley we arrive at Wakana Ryokan 旅館-和可菜. Opened in 1954 its has been a famous writers’ retreat for decades also film director Yoji Yamada.
Next door is Kagurazaka Oishinbo 神楽坂 おいしんぼ, a Kaiseki restaurant:
Back at the main street we pass French bakery Paul.
Further up the hill, there’s Akagi Jinja, an unusual shrine designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
Just around the corner you find Mojo Cafe:
Now we go back down the hill to Honda Yokocho, an alley with over fifty restaurants. Very popular is Hajime no Ippo, one of Tokyo’s original garlic restaurants,
Hajime no Ippo
Read also: An afternoon in Kagurazaka, Tokyo’s French Quarter
Geisha Shindo:
Zenkokuji
Public bath called "Atamiyu 熱海湯
la kagu, lifestyle shop designed by architect Kuma Kengo
Hide and seek alley
Read also:
Kagurazaka Area Guide
Wandering through Kagurazaka
