01. Tomb of Yanase Bychu
Kyosho-ji Temple, 1 chome 2-5, Ikenohata
02. Former Iwasaki Residence
Important Cultural Properties
1 chome 3-45, Ikenohata
The former residence of Iwasaki Hisaya, who was an industrialist from the Meiji to the Showa Periods. Constructed in 1896.
Designed by English architect Josiah Conder. He played a leading role in introducing 19th Century European architecture into Japan and contributing to the development of modern architecture in Japan by designing many structures such as the Museum (present the Tokyo National Museum), Rokumeikan, and various government buildings.
The palatial home which consists of the Western wing for social events and the Japanese wing for living space was based on a style that began in about 1887. The Iwasaki residence was typical of this style and is an important example of Meiji architecture.
The Western wing and the poolroom were designated as important cultural assets in 1961. And in 1969 also designated were the grand hall of the Japanese wing and another section of the Western wing.
03. Sakaiinari Shrine and Benkei Kagami Well
1 chome 6-13, Ikenohata
Sakaiinari Shrine is a legendary shrine that is believed by many residents today that have been first built in the mid 15th century and burnt down and rebuilt time and time again.
Toward the north side of the shrine is a well which was founded by Benkei who is a follower of a famous Samurai Minamoto no Yoshitsune in the late 12th century and passed down through him from generation to generation. This well has been long known to its delicious water, and during the big air raid in 1945, the well was a great savior providing water to drink for many victims of fire.
04. Tomb of Torii Kiyonobu
Myoken-ji Temple, 2 chome 4-19, Ikenohata
Torii Kiyonobu was a painter of Ukiyo-e in the middle period of Edo and was the founder of the Torii school. He was born in Osaka in 1664 as a son of Torii Kiyomoto, a Ukiyo-e painter.
The father and son moved to Edo in 1687. He first learned painting technique from his father. Later he privately learned from Hishikawa Moronobu and was greatly affected by him. Then he created his own painting style.
Since his father draw billboard pictures for Kabuki plays in Edo, Kiyonobu also drew pictures of Kabuki players and at last completed the Torii school's original picture style of Kabuki players.
Thereafter, the Torii school was deeply rooted as one of the schools for Kabuki pictures in Edo.
05. Tomb of Kawaji Toshiakira
Daisho-ji Temple, 2 chome 1-21, Ikenohata
Kawaji Toshiakira was born on April 25, 1801 in Bungo-no-kuni (present Oita Prefecture). From 1818 he held successive important posts in the Shogunate Government at Edo. In 1852 he was appointed Chief Treasurer and at the same time was ordered to supervise the coastal defenses.
He built Daiba (forts) off the shore of Shinagawa as a defense against foreign warships, which visited Japan to force the government in to opening its ports to foreign shipping. He negotiated with a Russian mission as a representative of the Government and insisted that the area south of North Latitude 50 of Sakhalin and Iturup of the Kuril Islands be annexed to Japan. In 1863 he filled the post of the Magistrate of Foreign Affairs, but soon became ill and retired.
He committed suicide on March 15, 1868 when the Shogunate Government at Edo collapsed.
06. Tomb of Kitamura Kigin
Metropolitan Historic Site
Shokei-ji Temple, 2 chome 4-22, Ikenohata
07. Remains of the Former Residence of Mori Ougai
3 chome 3-21, Ikenohata
Mori Ougai (1862-1922) is one of the most famous modern writers in Japan. In March of 1889 he married Akamatsu Toshiko, and from the summer of that same year lived at this site. This house still stands in the inner garden of a hotel. In October of 1889 he published the literary review "Shigarami zōshi". In January of the following year he wrote his first novel "Maihime (Dancing Girl)", With the completion of these and other early works, this spot should be remembered as the site where he began his literary career. However, his domestic life was not so fortunate and in September of 1890 he divorced Toshiko and moved to a new place the following month.
08. The Grave of Priest Jogon
Taito City Historic Site
Myogoku-in Temple, 2 chome 5-30, Ikenohata
A representative Shingon sect priest of the Edo Period (1600-1868).
Born in 1639 in present-day Osaka. At the age of 8 he entered the priesthood and as well as studying the Shingon religion he was also skilled in prose and poetry, art and calligraphy. In 1667, concerned about the fact that there was nobody in Japan who could decipher Sanskrit, the ancient written language of India, he turned his hand to Sanskrit studies, thus leaving his mark on the history of Japanese Sanskrit studies.
In 1698 he was given this land by the Shogun's government and in November he built the main temple as the place where he would be laid to rest when he died. He died in 1702 at the age of 64.