Minami-Oi, Tokyo: history and charm

This area of Tokyo is part of the Shinagawa ward and has a great deal of charm as well as an interesting history.

Within easy reach of the Omori and Oimachi JR stations, and Omorikaigan and Tachiaigawa on the Keikyu Line, Minami-oi is centrally placed yet still has some quiet neighbourhood charm.“For me,’ says Alfie, ‘the location is great. It’s close to the centre of the city, near to some charming areas - such as the Kyu-tokaido - and despite our flat being on the main road [Route 15], around the back there are quiet streets with good local, independent shops, a few nice bars, three schools, several good parks for the kids and - so I can occasionally feel like I am at home - a local butcher who can order in a whole chicken for me at 24hrs notice. Perfect for a British sunday roast! We are also within five minutes walk of Ito Yokado for the supermarket shopping when we need to do it.

History: from pre-historic sites to former execution grounds

If you dig a little to find it and Minami-oi has its fair share of history too. The Omori Shell Mounds Park and Shinagawa Historical Museum have fascinating displays of items that relate to the history of the area all the way through from pre-history.

A slightly more gruesome local historical site is the Suzugamori Execution Grounds. The Suzugamori execution grounds were one of the three sites in the vicinity of Edo (the forerunner of present-day Tokyo, Japan) where the Tokugawa shogunate executed criminals in the Edo period. The grounds were established in 1651 and operated until 1871. During this 220 year time period, an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people were executed at Suzugamori.

“The marker for where the execution grounds once stood is visible from our balcony,’ remarks Alfie, ‘not perhaps the nicest thing to have across the road but you it just proves that there is all kinds of history on your doorstep!

“I have heard that property prices across the road are cheaper because people are worried about the ghosts.”

Links and Photos

• For an amazing shot of Suzagamori in 1899 click here.
• More info on the execution grounds is here.
• For more information about Shinagawa-ku click here.

Minami-oi in Photos by Alfie Goodrich

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