Mita, Minato, Tokyo

Mita (三田) is a district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan, located near Akabanebashi Station on the Toei Ōedo Line, Tamachi Station on the Yamanote Line, and Mita Station on the Toei Mita Line.

Mita is home to Keio University, the Kuwait, Italy, Hungary, Papua New Guinea and Australian Embassy in Japan, and Mita Hachiman Jinja.

Notable places in Mita

Slopes

Many roads up to the Mita plateau have named slopes of historical significance. Each is marked by a wooden post which also explains the name.

Hijiri zaka 「聖坂」corresponds to the ancient Tōkaidō 「東海道」 road. As for the slope, the name changes from the top of Isarago zaka 「伊皿子坂」to the Nihon enoki dori 「二本榎通り」.

Gyoranzaka (魚藍坂) is a hill road in Mita 4-chome. It reaches the promontory from Gyoranzaka Crossing which results from the summit in Isaragozaka.

Katsurazaka (桂坂) is a hill road which lies between Takanawa 2-chome and 3-chome. A long time ago, ivy and vines covered the surface of this hill, though an alternate etymology says that a Buddhist priest who wore a wig (鬘 katsura) died along this slope suddenly on a return trip from Shinagawa.

Zakurozaka (石榴坂) is a hill road which crosses between Takanawa 3-chome and 4-chome. The area has many hotels. The street was probably named because there was a pomegranate tree (石榴 zakuro) in the middle of a slope a long time ago.

Hebizaka (蛇坂) is a slope which is in district four of Mita. Hebi means snake.

Anzenjizaka (安全寺坂) is a hill road crossing between Mita 3-chome and 4-chome. The temple of Anzenji was built here in the Edo era.

Horazaka is a hill road in Takanawa 3-chome. The name means "cavernous slope," in Japanese. It is alternatively called Horazaka (法螺坂) or "conch shell slope" and Borazaka (鯔坂坂) or "herring slope."

Hiyoshizaka (日吉坂) is a hill road which forms the border of Shirokane 2-chome and 4-chome. It goes from Meguro-dori in the southwest to Sakurada-dori in the northeast, and goes past the Kuwaharazaka (桑原坂) to the south. The name originates from the Noh actor Hiyoshi Kahei who lived nearby.

Shinto shrines and Temples

In the early stages of the Edo period, the Shogun decided to extend Edo-Castle (江戸城) and ordered temples around there to move into here. From such a reason, there were many temples on the hill.Specially in Mita (三田) named Tera machi (寺町), there were many temples. As for shrines, there are its ancestor can go back to the Asuka (飛鳥時代) or Heian (平安時代) period.
Tokyo is the city which the aspect changes to rapidly, but the scenery of here didn't change.

Parks

In the Edo period, the daimyo’s (大名) mansion ( most are non-Tokugawa daimyo (外様大名)) ranged on the whole hill. The mansion was sold as the mansion of the high-ranking official in the government (顕官), Kazoku (=華族nobleman), in Meiji era. At present, the vacant lot is opened to the citizen as the park. By such historic process, the Parks locate in wide area and have a fine scene.

Schools

See also

Coordinates: 35°38′51″N 139°44′26″E / 35.64750°N 139.74056°E