SHIBUYA TRAIL #02

It’s been a while, I’m Sahoshi Matsukura of 404 Not Found. This time, I had already walked the streets about two months ago, but I was too late to write.
This is a series of articles at my own pace, just walking the streets of Shibuya with camera in hand and observing the city. I started this without thinking, but if you look at it calmly, there are a considerable amount of streets in Shibuya Ward. Please keep a long eye on it.

Let me reiterate the rules of this walk…
Only 1/2 of the number of steps you walk shall be money you are free to spend that day.
If you walk 10,000 steps, you can spend 5,000 yen. After all, it’s from my allowance, but it’s a DIY reward rule. I added the rule to stock up when the amount of money I could not spend from my walk in the slapstick this time. I mean, I walked too much.
So let’s go for a walk.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

渋谷区と目黒区の境目

I checked out of the hotel and unfolded a map, wondering where I would go for a walk this time.
By chance, I found myself between Shibuya and Meguro wards. Wow, I am on the border. So I decided to start from here, starting from Shinsen-cho, Shibuya-ku. The name “Shinsen-cho” sounds like a place where water gushes out, but there seems to be no origin to the name.

At the starting point, I immediately looked at Misawa, a restaurant where everything is available. I would like to go in there again.

We head north, picking our way through the ward boundaries as we go.
There are parks with beautiful sunlight filtering through the trees here and there, and it is a cozy area. There are also many bars.

As you head north to Shinsen-cho, the hustle and bustle of Shibuya seems to gradually leave the area.
There are some very cute invitations.

Some children sprout strongly.

There are some jizo that make you do all kinds of things. I don’t think it’s wasps by any stretch of the imagination, me.

I looked up at the balcony, suddenly thinking that the building had a very coquettish air.

I found myself passing through Shinsencho and entering the Shoto district.

The distinctive name “Shoto” (松濤).
It seems that this area used to be a tea plantation, and the name “Shotoen” has a history of being used as the name of the place. It seems that it was a famous high-class tea in Tokyo. I wanted to try it.
Now it is a well-known high-class residential area.

There is a park and a museum. A cultural spot.
I headed to take a peek to see if there were any exhibits going on.

I was lucky enough to see Junichi Nakahara’s exhibit! (It is now closed.)
Photography is not allowed inside the museum, so I don’t have any photos, but I stayed for almost an hour because of the overwhelming amount of things on display.

Shoto Museum of Art, which I entered on a whim and enjoyed. It was a very cozy place.
As I continued strolling through the upscale residential area, I saw
Nabeshima Shoto Park.

I’ve seen the bizarre toilets in movies. Still, it is a mysterious spot where time passes in a leisurely manner. I sat on a bench and looked at the pond. I wondered if I was in Kanazawa. It is a space that does not feel like Shibuya.

I heard there is a snapping turtle. I looked for it, but could not find it.

I found a small shrine.
I wondered if there was some kind of god.

After passing through the park, I continued north on Shoto.

I found an acrobatic staircase. I don’t dislike it. I try to pass it in vain.

Passing by is a statue of a parent dog protecting its pups. They look good.

I found myself entering Kamiyama-cho.

I thought, “Oh, there’s a raccoon,” and when I approached it, I saw it was a frog. You have a nice face too.

Some sofas fled their homes.

There are ads in every city with nothing but anxiety. Never call them. I am warned, but my curiosity is growing. Who will it lead to and what will happen?

It was a hyper midsummer day. I guess it’s not a good idea to go for a walk on such a day, but Shibuya is an interesting place to visit.

I look up at what looks like a mysterious antenna. Does it have a function? I don’t know the answer.
I find myself in Tomigaya. Is this Tomigaya? Was this a valley, too? It was indeed a place with a great difference in elevation.

There is a solid park. However, it looks like no one uses it anymore. Everyone must have grown up. And also because you normally shouldn’t play on a day like this under the blazing sun. I straddled the lonely-looking playground equipment with my uncle alone.

Weeds living hard in the concrete jungle. It’s cool.

See. A house with a gush of plastic bottles. I don’t know if it’s because they don’t like cats or if they are sloppy, but the amount of intention I sense. When I find something like this, my heart throbs.

“Oh, it’s Moi!” Mark said out loud. It’s so moi.

I found myself in Uehara. I’m getting hungry. Uehara in Yoyogi Uehara? This is the first time I’ve learned that there is a district just for Uehara.

Sometimes I see this huge white tower sticking out of the ground. I was curious what it was and went close to it but couldn’t figure it out. If any readers know what this is, please let me know.

Ah! It’s something Shinjuku-like! Is it pretty close?

I was so hungry that I slurped buckwheat noodles. I want to try eating all the soba in Shibuya.

I found a public bathhouse, but it is closed today. I need somewhere to work up a sweat. There seemed to be several public bathhouses in this neighborhood. Let’s go soak again.

Good cats. Especially that cat in the brown hollow. He’s smiling. The face of the cat above is also very nice.
As we silently walk on…

Ah! That’s the restroom in the movie “PERFECT DAYS”!
Everyone was taking pictures. After taking my own picture, I wondered what everyone was doing taking pictures of the toilets.

I suddenly noticed the amount of greenery in the back and knew it was Yoyogi Park.

It is a wonder that there is a park of this size in such a city. It is very comfortable.
We took a rest in the shade and strolled around the park.
Then…

There is something.

Dried plums. Seriously, they are dried. I see. Dried plums become dried plums. In Yoyogi Park? That’s too aggressive. I looked at the dried plums with my family, who I didn’t know.

We left the park, and I saw a building that I had seen before.

Oh yeah, it was connected to this place.

A street sign that is slowly moving away from nature. I found this guy who was hiding.

Mizunashi Bridge. There was really no water. What was flowing was a train. Was there once a river?
The cool building “Coop Olympia” that came out after the bridge.

I wanted to sneak inside, but it was impossible. I was curious about this building.
Walking silently with Olympia by my side…

Harajuku. I took a strange route to Harajuku. It took more than an hour to travel just one station.

Enter the Kosugi Yubara Inn in the basement of Harakado. There is no sauna, but the temperature of the boiling water and the water bath are exquisite. It is strange to think that I am now in a public bath in Harajuku.

With a refreshed body, I headed for Shibuya station. I’m sure this is the right road… I stubbornly don’t look at the map.

There is a lot to see off the larger streets.

I proceeded, not knowing if I was on the right road or not.
Oh, it seems to be right.

It’s a big city, isn’t it?
I’ve been in the park and in the bathhouse for a while now, and my senses are bugging me.
I went back to 404 Not Found and drank a beer.
End of my walk this time.

I’m home, Sakura.

The number of steps was “23,070 steps” and half of this “11,535 yen” was the reward money this time.
I walked too much. I can’t spend it all, so I will put it into stock.
I think I’ll put it in my walking shoes savings account.

I will see you on my next walk!