Where Japan’s Roads Begin — Walking Historic Nihonbashi, Tokyo

This morning, I walk through Nihonbashi — the historic starting point of Japan’s roads. The first bridge was built here in 1603. During the Edo period, Nihonbashi became the starting point of Japan’s Five Highways, connecting Edo with post towns and cities across the country. The bridge we see today was completed in 1911. Its bronze kirin statues, with their distinctive wing-like forms, have become symbols of Nihonbashi — a fitting image for a place where countless journeys began. But roads were only part of the story. Along the Nihonbashi River, boats once carried people and goods into the heart of Edo. The famous Uogashi fish market developed beside the bridge, filling the area with trade and everyday life. Utagawa Hiroshige captured this world in his ukiyo-e prints: crowded streets, busy waterways, merchants, travelers and a city constantly in motion. Today, the landscape is very different. In 1963, the Metropolitan Expressway opened directly above Nihonbashi. Boats once filled the river below. Today, cars cross the sky above it. And yet Nihonbashi has never stopped being a place defined by movement. Near the bridge stands the former Tokyo City Road Origin Marker, installed in 1911. The Japan Road Origin Marker now preserves Nihonbashi’s historic role as the starting point of Japan’s national road network. From Nihonbashi, I continue west along the river. Nishigashi Bridge recalls the commercial districts that once developed along these waterways. Farther ahead, Ichikoku Bridge stands near the former outer moat of Edo Castle. Eventually, I reach the remains of Tokiwabashi Gate, once one of the outer gates of Edo Castle. The gate buildings are gone, but sections of the massive stone walls still survive. Beside them stands Tokiwabashi. The Edo-period wooden bridge was replaced in 1877 by a Western-style stone arch bridge during the early Meiji era. Here, Edo and Meiji still stand side by side — the stone walls of the old castle gate beside a bridge built for a new age. From the Edo period to today, this part of Tokyo has continued to change with each new era. I think people are much the same. We should preserve what is worth keeping, while also learning to change with the world around us. But history can easily disappear if no one continues to tell its stories. So if you ever come to Japan, I hope you will take some time not only to see the famous sights, but also to discover the history and culture that still live within them. Thank you for walking with me. Morning Stories from Japan by K. One Morning. One Story. One Photograph. 📍 Places featured in this video Nihonbashi Kirin Statues of Nihonbashi Japan Road Origin Marker Former Tokyo City Road Origin Marker Nihonbashi Uogashi / Fish Market Monument Nihonbashi River Nishigashi Bridge Ichikoku Bridge Tokiwabashi Gate Ruins Tokiwabashi Stone Bridge Historical Images Nihonbashi Kita-Uchi-Kanda Ryogoku Hamacho Meisai Ezu — 1859 / Public Domain Utagawa Hiroshige, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: Nihonbashi Edobashi — National Diet Library Digital Collections / Public Domain Utagawa Hiroshige, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: Nihonbashi-dori Icchome — National Diet Library Digital Collections / Public Domain Utagawa Hiroshige, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: Nihonbashi Yukibare — National Diet Library Digital Collections / Public Domain Filming Equipment DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Photography Equipment OLYMPUS PEN Lite E-PL5 M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14–42mm F3.5–5.6 Filmed & photographed by K. If you enjoy discovering the people, history and culture hidden beneath the landscapes of Japan, subscribe to continue the journey. Walk Guides and more: Visit the link on my channel profile. 人の思いと粋を、世界へ。 #Tokyo #Nihonbashi #JapanHistory #JapaneseHistory #Edo #EdoTokyo #OldTokyo #Ukiyoe #Hiroshige #JapanCulture #HistoricTokyo #JapanTravel #TokyoHistory #MorningStoriesFromJapan