Sugamo Jizo-dori Shopping Street (Toshima, Tokyo, Japan)

What makes this place special?

At a Glance

Sugamo Jizo-dori is a shopping street about 800 meters long in Sugamo, Tokyo. It follows the old Nakasendo road from Sugamo Station to the Koshinzuka tram stop and serves as the temple town of Kogan-ji. Sweet shops, eateries, wagashi sellers and clothing stores line the way, and the street is popular with older shoppers.

Two Jizo temples and Koshinzuka, a rest stop for Edo-period travelers on the Nakasendo, give the street its devotional character. Kogan-ji, a Soto temple that moved to Sugamo in 1891, enshrines the Togenuki Jizo as a hidden main image. Shinsho-ji holds one of the Edo Roku Jizo, placed at the entrances of Edo's six roads to look after travelers. Street fairs are held on days ending in 4: the 4th, 14th and 24th of each month.