Five magnificent zelkova trees are located at the south exit of Kami-Itabashi Station on the Tobu Tojo Line, passing through the shopping arcade, at the end of Kawagoe Kaido Road.

These five zelkova trees are a landmark of Kawagoe Kaido and Kami-Itabashi.

It looks like a small forest in the aerial photo. You can see that the Kawagoe Highway has widened the median only here, and the uphill lane is slightly larger than the downhill lane.

As part of the Edo/Tokyo reconstruction plan after the Great Kanto Earthquake, the Kawagoe Kaido Road was widened and straightened in the early Showa period, and Yajuro Iijima, then village mayor of Kami-Itabashi Village, offered the land of his house on condition that some of the zelkova trees in his estate forest be preserved.

Local volunteers have continued to protect the "five" zelkova trees by transplanting new young trees in place of those that had reached the end of their useful life, and this historic landmark continues to watch over people passing by today. (Designated as an "Important Landscape Tree" by the ward)

This modern building can be seen just a short walk from the north exit of Kamiitabashi Station. The Ward Education Science Museum is a theme park where you can play with science.

In addition to the permanent science-related hands-on exhibits, the museum has a planetarium, themed exhibitions, workshops, events, and much more to offer!

Moreover, with the exception of craft classes and the planetarium, use of the facilities is free of charge (for details, please refer to the website or contact the museum).

The science exhibition room in the basement is full of excitement, just like a game arcade!

There are more than 20 attractions where you can discover the mysteries of science while playing.

Except for special programs such as concerts, the planetarium offers inexpensive admission: 120 yen for high school students (free for children up to 2 years old) and 350 yen for adults.

The planetarium is located in Itabashi, a city of optics, so it uses an "optical" projector that boasts of the beautiful brilliance of the starry sky.

There are also many valuable exhibits unique to the optical city.

The Museum of Education & Science has many specialists in various fields such as geology, astronomy, physics, biology, and pedagogy, who are constantly researching to create more interesting exhibits.

Please take a look at the "Kyoiku Kagakukan News (quarterly)," which contains an overview of events hosted by the museum, the planetarium projection schedule, and a variety of topics about the Kyoiku Kagakukan.

It will make your time at the museum even more enjoyable.

"Education and Science Museum News" for more information

The Japan Calligraphy Museum is located at the north exit of Tokiwadai Station, a culturally rich area surrounded by elegant residential neighborhoods.

The museum was founded by the Japan Educational Calligraphy Association, which was established after World War II when calligraphy was excluded from school education in Japan, in order to keep the tradition of calligraphy alive.

The museum has a collection and exhibition of approximately 5,000 masterpieces, including important cultural properties dating back to the Heian period (794-1192), and includes fine works of calligraphy by representative modern and contemporary calligraphers.

What makes the museum even more special is its commitment to education for the proper transmission of calligraphy.

The museum offers a special course, "Calligraphy University," for the purpose of passing on calligraphy techniques and developing culture, and is developing two-year university, two-year graduate, and two-year major courses taught by top-notch instructors.

Admission is open to teachers of calligraphy classes and calligraphy educational institutions, as well as to the general public.

The school offers intensive classes once a month in the morning and afternoon, taught by leading instructors, and currently has about 100 students from all over Japan, some of whom have been enrolled in the major courses for more than 20 years.

Lecture on "Theory of Calligraphy" by Prof. Hirose Shoun (Musashino University)

The class is a full day of immersion in calligraphy: from 9:30 a.m. to noon, there is a lecture to deepen academic understanding of calligraphy, including calligraphy history, treatises, and Chinese poetry; after lunch, there is a theoretical explanation and practical skills until 4:00 p.m.

The students are looking intently at the red ink and corrections by calligrapher Mr. Tetsuyuki Yoshizawa.

In an age when people are less likely to hold a pen, let alone write with a brush, we continue to convey the beauty of writing, communicating, and expressing by hand.

Tokiwadai Residence, also known as "Johoku no Denenchofu," extends to the north exit of Tokiwadai Station.

The vast land was originally prepared as a railroad yard, but due to a change in plans, the land was developed into a suburban residential area.

Because the development of the residential area was integrated with the opening of Tokiwadai Station (Musashi Tokiwadai Station at that time) in 1935, a new town development plan with a high degree of freedom was possible.

In 2018

The Ministry of Home Affairs, which was directly in charge of urban planning in Tokyo at the time, and Tobu Railway worked together as a public-private partnership to design the Tokiwadai Residential Area, drawing on books and magazines on urban planning in the United States and Europe.

The design was eventually completed, and was unique in that the main roads radiated out from the current Tokiwadai Station. The large roundabout that appears in front of the station ticket gate has a police box, public toilets, a fountain, and large zelkova and ginkgo trees, making it look like a bit of a park.

From "Tokiwadai Strolling Map" Created by: Tokiwadai Landscape Preservation Association

Click here for details of the "Tokiwadai Stroll Map"

A large circular promenade also runs through the residential area, making it one of the leading examples of urban development with a graceful and peaceful atmosphere created by curves rather than the rationality and efficiency of straight, rhinoceros-shaped streets.



One of the elements that make up such a "curved town" is the "cul-de-sac.

Unlike roundabouts and rotary intersections, cars cannot pass through or change direction.

Only residents and public service vehicles are allowed to pass through, providing a safe and quiet environment. In many cases, the streets in a cul-de-sac have "footpaths," which are small enough for people to barely pass each other, for the convenience of human traffic and safety in case of emergency.

The "town of curves" with its kurdsacks and promenade still retains a modern Showa-era look, and is a place where people can enjoy a stroll in a friendly, calm, and relaxing atmosphere. The "curving town" with its crudosacs and promenade still retains a modern Showa era look.

A few minutes' walk from the north exit of Tokiwadai Station, "Calligraphy Classroom Youkumo" is located at the beginning of the Tokiwadai residential area promenade.

The school is run by Rian Ikura, a calligrapher and master calligrapher of the Japan Educational Calligraphy Art Institute.

Children, from elementary and junior high school students to adults, are taught in small classes, with each student being taught at his or her own pace.

On this day, classes range from kindergarteners to 2nd year junior high school students.

Apart from the adult class, we also offer hard writing practice, allowing students to immediately apply the results of their practice in their daily lives and academic work.

The first priority of the teacher's guidance is to help students find the points they want to write better and the points they want to correct. She does not red-letter them, but guides them with specific advice so that they will acquire the ability to notice and correct their own work.

Students will choose a piece of writing they want to keep from each week's class, and the following week they will create a piece of writing that surpasses it, steadily improving their writing skills.

In addition, their works are also recorded on their smart phones, which allows them to see their progress at a glance and communicate with their parents, which is useful for their daily learning, including at home.

The unique teaching method of the teacher, who says, "The shortcut to progress is to feel the joy of getting better! I want to change my handwriting! She is a teacher who teaches the joy of writing to everyone, from adults to children, who want to change their handwriting and make it more beautiful.

A thriving Japanese izakaya restaurant that has been voted a Bib Gourmand in the Japanese cuisine category of the Michelin Guide Tokyo. Its history dates back to more than 40 years ago, when the opening of Kotake Mukaihara Station was planned.

The owner's father, who was running a tofu store in Tokiwadai at the time, purchased the current site in the expectation that it would become busy with the opening of the subway line. Today, the restaurant attracts many customers every day, either on foot from Kotake Mukaihara Station, which is located in a quiet residential area with convenient access to two subway lines and the Seibu Line, or by cab from the suburbs, seeking the taste and atmosphere of the restaurant.

The two most popular dishes at the restaurant are the sashimi platter

which is the owner's specialty

The owner, who is always loved by regular customers for his energetic and cheerful character, is a skilled chef who trained at a ryotei restaurant in Kyoto for six years and at several kappo restaurants in Tokyo. The owner, who has always been a big fan of sashimi, carefully selects fresh seafood, all of which have a strong meaty flavor. His reliable procurement is based not only on his discerning eye but also on the trustworthy relationship he has cultivated with wholesalers over the years.

The "Ohitashi" is a seasonal vegetable dish that is enjoyed with seasonal vegetables, and is an irresistible gem with the flavor of bonito flakes in addition to the rich broth made from bonito flakes, which are both rich in mass and flavor. In spring, bracken and bamboo shoots are also added, making this a luxurious treat in itself.

The secret to the daily full house and the flood of reservations is not only the extremely honest food at Itabashi prices, but also the customer service.

Led by the cheerful and energetic owner, the employees in charge of the hall are all pleasant and helpful. The proprietress says she is grateful that the restaurant is blessed to have so many people in its staff, as many newcomers are introduced to the restaurant by current employees.

The restaurant is currently supported by four members of the family: the son, who has returned from his apprenticeship in Kansai, is also working in the kitchen, and the daughter, who plays an active role in assisting the chef and serving the customers, as well as the owner and his wife, all support the restaurant.

This homey sense of unity and security may be the most attractive point of Tarumi's.

Let's take a look at the lineup of ingredients for the kaisendon pictured here.



Raw tuna/Kochi

Shiraebi (white shrimp) from Toyama

Raw scallops/Hokkaido

Sea Robin/ Choshi

Raw Sea Urchin/Hokkaido

Raw Mackerel w/Sesame Sauce /Sanriku

Salmon Roe Salmon Roe Salmon Roe Salmon Roe Salmon Roe Salmon Roe Salmon Roe Salmon Roe

Toyama Salmon

Red Shellfish with String / Produced in Mie Prefecture



These are all 9 kinds. A jewel box! is exactly what it means.

(The items will change depending on the day's stock.)

We purchase shiny seafood from ports all over Japan with the discernment and pride of a fresh fish store that has been in business for 75 years.

Kaisen-don, available only on Wednesdays and Sundays for lunch, is a true feast with no compromise. Popular items such as tuna, sea urchin, and salmon roe are used as much as possible, and the freshest and most delicious fish is selected at the time of the dish.

On Friday and Saturday afternoons, two types of nigirizushi are available: "daily special 8-piece" and "6-piece tuna bowl", both of which are as popular as the seafood bowl.



In addition, we also offer homemade miso soup full of seafood aroma and flavor, such as Kagoshima yellowtail kama miso soup, Lake Shinji clam soup, and Hokkaido asari clam soup.

Kaisen-don available on Wednesdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m., limited to 30 servings.

　Large bowl of rice 1,180 yen, mini bowl 790 yen, large bowl of rice + 50 yen

　Homemade miso soup is 150 yen



Nigiri-zushi available on Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 to 18:00

　6 pieces of tuna sushi for 980 yen, 8 pieces of daily special sushi for 1,380 yen

　(All prices above include tax)



Kaisendon is available in limited quantities and may sell out before noon. Please call to make a reservation.

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.

Akatsuka area specials are

here

The Itabashi area feature is

here

Shimura area feature is

here