Ushigome

Even someone who lives in Tokyo may not be able to identify where Ushigome is, though probably most of them have heard that name.

Ushigome is located almost at the center of Yamanote Loop Line. Before Meiji restoration 150 years ago, this was a residential area for samurai warriors (actually samurai officers) . Then this area became high-class residential area and had many busy shopping arcades . That is why the ward around this area was named “Ushigome ward”. At that time there was no one in Tokyo who does not know where Ushigome was.

However, after WWII, 35 wards of Tokyo City was reorganized into 23 wards. At that time Ushigome ward was absorbed into Shinjuku ward, and the name Shinjuku eclipsed the status of Ushigome. But people in this area must be happy living in such a quiet and prestigious area.