Okachimachi district Taito

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. Famous Places and Power spots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
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Okachimachi 御徒町 Okachimachi district
Taito ward, Okachimachi , 御徒町一丁目 - 三丁目 Okachimachi first to third sub-district
仲御徒町 Nakaokachimachi 一丁目 - 仲御徒町四丁目 first to fourth sub-district.
After 1964, the area was re-distributed and is now part of
台東区台東 Taito and 東上野 Higashi-Ueno.

The name refers to the foot guards of the Shogun,
okachigumi, o-kachi-gumi 御徒組 / okachigata 御徒方.

The kachi 徒 were very low-ranking Samurai.
Their living quarters were here.
They had to look after the safety of the road when the Shogun was going out.
Many had a low income and had to work at other jobs to make ends meet.

The O-Kachi samurai were divided in various groups:
本丸15組 15 groups for the Honmaru part of Edo castle.
西ノ丸5組 5 groups for Nishi no Maru.
Each group had two leaders and about 28 members.

okachi 御徒 is also spelled 徒士.

goyoogeikoo 御用稽古 "official training" of the Ssamurai of Edo castle.
Swimming was especially taught to the elite of the groups.

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... a 徒 kachi is one of the lowest ranking samurai of the Edo Period. They were not permitted to ride horses. Until the 1800’s, they were not allowed to wear clothes with a family crest as their families were not considered successive clans. Some people draw a parallel between this rank of samurai and low level salarymen and low level management of Tōkyō – the analogy being in the type of housing and accessible neighborhoods according to their salary. This isn’t a good analogy, in my opinion, in that the samurai ranks were highly regulated by the Tokugawa Bakufu and a modern worker can marry “out of his station” or just move to the suburbs and get a bigger place. ...
... Even though these kachi were direct retainers of the shōgun, they were a kind of non-commissioned officer. They were expected to live in barracks. In many cases they wouldn’t be granted permission to live with their wives and children. In times of war, they were forbidden from marching in the vanguard. In times of peace, they were basically the white trash of Japan. They were supposedly privileged, but in reality, they were just commoners. The commoners had to show deference to them, but the rest of the samurai elite probably shat on them. ...
... the whole area from O-kachimachi to Ueno is considered the low town today. ...
- source : japanthis - Marky Star

- Other Samurai in service of Edo castle:
oobangumi 大番組　Obangumi, castle guards
onandogumi 御納戸組　keepers of the Shogun's personal stores.
Their living quarters were the
kumiyashiki 組屋敷　group residence

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Okachimachi
is an area on the JR Yamanote Line, just south of the major Ueno Station. It is one of the areas of Tokyo that is well known for its shopping and excellent range of foodie options. Expect lots of fashionable youngsters here and crowds of hungry shoppers.
- - What to eat and drink in Okachimachi
There is a shopping street in the Okachimachi area called Taito-ku’s Torigoe. This is where you must go for eating and drinking. The street features around 230 shops that sell a huge range of groceries, ready-made meals and the very traditional and well-loved okazu (sides). This is Japan, so eating on the street and walking is frowned upon, but luckily street-snacking is more than welcome here as there is a small designated rest area with tables and chairs, which is found near the middle of the street. Eat away friends. Do note that most of the shops are closed on a Sunday.
There is of course sushi
to be had in this area. Head to Ginzo Sushi for some tasty options. The atmosphere of the restaurant is relaxing with piano jazz playing and there are also smoking and non-smoking seats, which can be rare to find in Tokyo. Go for the Sakura Nigiri Set for 790 yen, which includes 8 pieces of sushi, chawanmushi (a type of savory egg custard and prawn) and a delicious miso soup. Lunch sushi sets will cost you from 790 yen up to 2,600 yen. If you’re not a sushi fan, they also have a good range of other sets which include udon, grilled fish, tempura and donburi. Great value and great choice here.
- - - What to do in Okachimachi
Ameyokocho is said to be Japan’s last black market. This little number is great for both food and shopping. It really is just a random selection of stalls here. You can see heaps of clothes racks filled with shoes and coats. At another place will see you okonomiyaki, another monja, some French and Italian cuisine here, and other types of Asian restaurants there. You can find running shoes, perfumes, toys, watched, lychees, kebabs and shaved ices all in the same vicinity—the possibilities really are endless. Go here for an interesting and ever-ending browse.
Let’s get some shoes.
Told you this area was a fashion hub. With heaps of options at this shoe haven of an area, your feet will feel fabulous at any of these Okachimachi finds. Hit AbAb for a very good summer sale with pairs of shoes being reduced from 7,000 to as a little as 1,000 yen—bargain! (Do be warned though, if you have a larger size of feet for a woman, you may struggle to find a shoe that fits in Japan!)
Located near Okachimachi Station
lies the Shitamatchi Museum. The museum displays the history and life of shitamachi (downtown). The first floor showcases the living space of shitamachi such as a merchant’s house and a row of tenement house flats. The second floor shows a range of materials that detail the history of the shitamatchi area and there is even an area where visitors can see olden-day toys.
- source : tokyocheapo ... -

. Ameyoko あめよこ (アメ横) shopping in Ueno .

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キムチ横丁 Kimchi Yokocho alley.
Near Ueno station east of Showa-dori Street is the oldest “Korean Town” in Tokyo called Kimchi Yokocho.
There are many Korean restaurants, yakiniku restaurants, and stores selling Korean food products like kimchi here. The area developed after World War II, when a number of restaurants, butcher shops, and stores selling traditional clothes opened here.
- source : authentic-tokyo .. -

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station Naka-Okachimachi eki 仲御徒町駅
This station was built in 1961.

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Edo - the EDOPEDIA -

5/20/2019

Okachimachi district Taito

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