Name Origins

There is quite a variety of origins for the different names of the slopes in Tokyo.

Often the names date back to the past when the surrounding area carried a different name, e.g. before land consolidation, or before being incorporated into the larger, more modern administrative area. Examples are Semizaka in Ota Ward, ...

Sometimes the names of a slope are hinting at the primary use for that particular road in the past, e.g. describing a major connecting trade route in Edo Period, a one-way street for horse carriages, etc. Such examples can be found in Tokyo's 23 inner wards (Ushinakizaka) as well as e.g. in Ota Ward (...).

Other slopes bear the names of famous citizens that used to live nearby and often contributed to that particular area in some form (Hiyoshizaka, Minato Ward).

Another frequently encountered type of name origin is connected to well-known institutions such as famous old Samurai residences (Tangozaka, Minato Ward), hotels, botanical gardens, etc. (Meikozaka, Yakuenzaka, both Minato Ward).

Occasionally the slopes' names would be of somewhat more peculiar origin. One such example is Ushinakizaka (Minato Ward). According to the official description, in the past the road surface was so bad that cattle pulling carts along the road would be screaming from the pain and exhaustion, hence the name screaming cattle slope.

References to plant and tree names are also not uncommon. Hinokizaka in today's Tokyo Midtown is one such example. Hinoki - or cypress - is a reference to one of the former Edo period samurai estates in this area, formerly called Akasaka Hinokicho, which boosted a large amount of Japanese cypress trees. The estate was later transformed into today's 10 acre Hinokicho Park.

Chiyoda Ward

(Sannouzaka)

Minato Ward

Minato Ward
Zakurozaka
Hiyoshizaka
(Meikouzaka)
(Tenjinzaka)
Yakuenzaka
(Ipponmatsuzaka)
(Kurayamizaka)
(Daikokuzaka)
Tangozaka
Ushinakizaka
Hinokizaka
(Kasumizaka)
(Inarizaka)
(Toriizaka)
(Hiyoshizaka)
(Nittouzaka)

Ota Ward
Kurumazaka
Roushizaka
Kyuzaka
Dorikonozaka
(Kounosuzaka)
(Usudazaka)
(Hachimanzaka)
(Fujimizaka)
(Inarizaka)
(Shinmeizaka)
(Miyamaezaka)
(Teragounozaka)
(Umazaka)
(Semizaka)

Meguro Ward

Besshozaka
Teppizaka
(Ishikozaka)

Bunkyo Ward

Shinzaka
Ushizaka

Chiyoda Ward (千代田区)

ADD:

Sannouzaka (山王坂) Nagatachou | Photos

Minato Ward (港区)

I came across the following set of slopes on one long walk with a friend that took us from JR Shinagawa station via Takanawadai and Shirokanedai, past Shirokanetakanawa, through Minamiazabu and Azabu to Kamiyacho.

Zakurozaka (石榴坂), Takanawa

This slope is located due west of Shinagawa station and starts right off the Daiichi-Keihin coastal road. It keeps to the left of the Grand Prince Hotel Shin-Takanawa premises, leading up to Nihonenoki-dori, which roughly follows a north-south ridge past Takanawadai and toward Shirokane-Takanawa, with Sakurada-dori to its left.

Per the pole inscription the origin of this slope's name is unknown; the name itself of course suggests that there were Pomegranate trees in the area.

In Edo period the road itself still had a hooked shape, but was straightened in Meiji period when the slope was called Shinzaka (新坂 ), or new slope.

PHOTO!

Hiyoshizaka (日吉坂), Shirokanedai

Hiyoshizaka is a slope on Meguro dori, leading down northeast from Shirokanedai, where it merges with Sakuradadori, or National Route 1. According to the explanation offered on the wooden pole, this slope got its name from former nearby resident and Noh actor Hiyoshi ...(能役者日吉喜兵衛).

The road itself as well as the sidewalks have been extended, and as a result Meguro dori, although boosting a lot of vehicle traffic, is easily walkable.

According to the pole inscription, the slope's name can also be read Hiyose, Hitose, or Hitomi.

Other nearby slopes are Meikouzaka (名光坂) and Tenjinzaka (天神坂)

Meikouzaka | no photos

Meikouzaka got its name from a former hotel; the name can also be read "Nakouzaka". The slope itself is rather gentle and easily goes unnoticed, leading down towards Shirokane-Takanawa station.

Tenjinzaka | no photos

Yakuenzaka (薬園坂), Minamiazabu

In early Edo period there used to be a medicinal herb garden owned by the Shogunate. This garden was actually the predecessor of today's Koishikawa Botanical Garden (小石川植物園) in Bunkyo ward.

Ipponmatsuzaka (一本松坂)

Kurayamizaka (暗闇坂)

Daikokuzaka (大黒坂)

-> all three on the same crossing in Minato Ward, Azabu (north of Yakuenzaka)

Akasaka (赤坂）

The district of Akasaka holds seven slopes that bear distinct names, hinting at what life in ancient Tokyo was like, but the total number of slopes in the Akasaka district is actually much higher. In fact the district name itself translates into red slope, and this part of Tokyo indeed has many literal ups and downs.

A long time ago the water of Tokyo Bay actually reached all the way to the elevated area of Akasaka, and middens have been found in this area, holding sea shells which – among other domestic waste – had been dumped here. Akasaka used to be a city or ward on its own from 1878 until 1947, and is now part of Minato-ku (Minato City).

Tangozaka (丹後坂)

Presumably opened in 1688 and one of Akasaka's oldest named slopes. At the time on the northeastern side was the Yonekura Tangonokami residence (米倉丹後守, also known as Nishio Tangonokami 西尾丹後守). Yonekura was a famous samurai and military commander from the 16th century, Japan's so-called Sengoku period (戦国時代), or Age of Warring States.

2018.11

List of Tokyo's Hills