《Shimura Ichirizuka》The third Ichirizuka mound on the Nakasendo Highway remains in the same location as it was in the past.

For more than 400 years, Shimura Ichirizuka has served as a beacon for travelers on the Nakasendo route, providing a shady place to rest and observe the times and people. There are only two such mounds still standing in Tokyo, and of the 135 such mounds along the Nakasendo route, only one in Gifu Prefecture and Shimura Ichirizuka remain. The rarity of the mounds remaining in pairs on both sides of the road also adds to their value, and in 1922 they were designated as a National Historic Site.

Shimura Branch of Sugamo Shinkin Bank: A modern landmark is a "rainbow mille-feuille.

The colorful building that catches the eye of anyone passing by on Nakasendo (National Route 17) and makes you wonder if it is a design company or an architectural firm is the Shimura branch of the Sugamo Shinkin Bank, which completed its reopening in 2011.

Designed by a French female architect, Emmanuelle Mouhot, the "rainbow mille-feuille" concept was created to please the customers who use the building and to brighten the community. Each layer is different in size and level, and shows different expressions depending on where you look. 12 colored layers overlap to form a harmonious whole, just like a mille-feuille of French pastries. The light and colorful image, which is typical of French designers, will make people's hearts flutter as they pass by.

The Museum of Candy Store Games: Lose track of time and lose yourself in the holy land of coin-operated games.

Itabashi Art Museum (The first public art museum in Tokyo's 23 wards!) The Itabashi Museum of Art is the first public art museum in 23 wards of Tokyo, and is the first public art museum in 23 wards of Tokyo.

Vintage video game consoles are lined up in a warehouse like a machine enthusiast's warehouse.

The store is crammed full of retro games from the old Showa-era candy storefronts, 48 in all (at the time of the interview). The warehouse holds an equal number of games, which are repaired and maintained and replaced with machines in the store, so that visitors never get bored of encountering new games, even if they visit many times.

The admission fee is 300 yen, and you will receive 10 coins at the reception desk. You can play games with these coins and exchange the winning ticket for a medal to play more games, or exchange it for your favorite candy from the candy corner in the store. You can also buy the candy directly from the store.

Everyone will be unintentionally hot!

You can also keep your medals. 300 yen is a sheer joy for ward residents to enjoy this much!

Tanaka Confectionary Shop: Still Close to Children and Families

An overwhelming assortment of products are neatly lined up in an orderly fashion.

The Tunnel Market Candy Store, as it is commonly called, has been in business for 74 years. The 94-year-old owner, Mr. Tanaka, is still going strong and running the store.

In the old days," he said, "children would gather together after school, clutching their coins, and the market would echo with the sound of their voices. Now there are not so many children. Nowadays, many people come with their children and their families. It's nice to hear a father say, 'I used to go to the market when I was your age, too.

We see many families who stop by for a moment before going out to pick out snacks with their children, and the children enjoy them and follow their fathers and mothers.

More and more adults are coming to these stores with nostalgia. Adults buy a lot of things, saying, 'Oh, there's that one, I miss that one, I used to have that one. I can't afford to be a blur when I have to do the math on the abacus, display the products, and stock them."

Stable and reliable izakaya that serves the "Iizuna" area.

Assorted Fresh Fish Sashimi" (for 1~2 persons

This famous restaurant has long been a favorite of the local community and is probably well-known to anyone who works in the Shimura area. The restaurant boasts fresh fish, and when it opens at 4:00 p.m. on weekday evenings, neighbors are eagerly waiting to visit the restaurant and ask what's good today. They are often seen asking what's good today while they first quench their thirst with a drink. Soon after, office workers begin to arrive, and before you know it, the restaurant is filled to capacity. This izakaya is a favorite of the local community, where you can feel that everyone is enjoying themselves without being self-conscious.

The "Fresh Fish Sashimi Assortment" is a to-go dish designed to make it easy for customers to enjoy sake at home, even during times when it is difficult to eat out. In addition to the eight carefully selected seasonal fish items, including kingfish from the fish pond, the red and white sashimi are colorfully arranged and garnished with tsumas to make the dish visually appealing as well.

Tebasaki Tsume Gyoza

Seasonal Cuisine and Soba Noodles

Seasonal special bento (2

This Japanese restaurant is known for its seasonal delicacies prepared by skillful chefs who select the most delicious ingredients of each season to bring out the best flavor of the ingredients. The restaurant also offers a wide selection of sake from all over Japan, handmade soba noodles and tempura, and is a must for sake drinkers and lovers of delicious food. The soba noodles are prepared every morning and are very popular at lunch time.

The "Seasonal Special Bento" is a popular bento that embodies the season and includes about 16 of the restaurant's most popular and prized dishes. (*Orders must be placed by 2:00 p.m. the day before.)

The bento of the day is a collection of winter delicacies, and the quality of the ingredients and the extravagance of the time and effort put into the preparation can be seen at first glance when the lid is removed. Please take a look at each dish as you imagine the flavor. (Clockwise from the top left square) Dashimaki Tamago (rolled egg), Ajarazuke (pickles, a Kyushu specialty), Roasted Duck, Braised Flounder with Brown Sugar, and Shrimp. Nobuta-maki (rolled sushi roll), daikon, pumpkin, sweet potato, rape blossoms, simmered prawns and shredded sea bream. Wagyu beef sukiyaki, and rice cooked with scallops.

With these dishes, your outings will surely become more gorgeous and luxurious.

Popular summer menu "Cold Kakesoba with Kamo Eggplant

Text and photographs by Tsutomu Ogasawara

The menus, prices, and other information in this article are current at the time of the interview. Please check each restaurant's website for details.

Special feature on Itabashi area is

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