Mita, Minato, Tokyo

Mita (三田) is a district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It was once home to grand estates of several daimyo, and now is one of Tokyo's most expensive upscale residential districts; it is home to many artists, CEOs, and celebrities.[1]

Mita
三田
District
Mitsui Tsunamachi Club, in Mita
Mitsui Tsunamachi Club, in Mita
Mita is located in Special wards of Tokyo
Mita
Mita
Location of Mita in Minato ward, Tokyo
Coordinates: 35°38′51″N 139°44′26″E
CountryJapan
CityTokyo
WardMinato
AreaShiba Area (1, 2, 3-chōme)
Takanawa Area (4, 5-chōme)
Population
 (January 1, 2016)
 • Total18,760
Time zoneUTC+9 (JST)
Area code03

Mita is bordered by Higashi-Azabu on the north, Azabu-Jūban and Minami-Azabu to the west, and Shirokane and Takanawa to the south.

Mita is home to Keio University, Mita Hachiman Jinja, and the diplomatic missions of Kuwait, Italy, Hungary, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.

Geography

Mita consists of five chōme:

  • Mita 1-chōme and 5-chōme are low lands by Furu River and consist of a mix of both residential and commercial areas.
  • Mita 2-chōme, once known as Mita Tsunamachi (三田綱町), is on high, elevated land and is a historically wealthy part of Mita, once home to grand estates of several Daimyo. Some of these estates remain to this day: the Tsunamachi Mitsui Club, Australian Embassy, and Italian Embassy are all on former Daimyo estates.
  • Mita 3-chōme mostly consists of commercial buildings.
  • Mita 4-chōme consists of many historic temples.

Economy

The Yazaki Group has its corporate headquarters in the Mita-Kokusai Building (三田国際ビル, Mita Kokusai Biru) in Mita.[2]

Transportation

As a historically quiet, upscale, residential area, Mita does not have any train or subway stations within its borders. However, it is located near:

Notable places in Mita

Slopes

Many roads up to the Mita plateau have named slopes of historical significance. Each is marked by a wooden post which explains the name.

  • Hijiri zaka (聖坂) corresponds to the ancient Tōkaidō road (東海道). The slope's name changes between the top of Isarago zaka (伊皿子坂) and the Nihon enoki dori (二本榎通り).
  • Gyoran zaka (魚藍坂) is a hill road in Mita 4-chōme. It reaches the promontory from Gyoranzaka Crossing which results from the summit in Isaragozaka.
  • Katsura zaka (桂坂) (from katsura (桂, lit. 'katsura tree')) is a hill road which lies between Takanawa 2-chōme and 3-chōme. Its name possibly originates from the fact that ivy and vines historically covered the surface of this hill, though an alternate etymology says that a Buddhist priest who wore a wig (鬘, katsura) died along this slope suddenly on a return trip from Shinagawa.
  • Zakuro zaka (石榴坂) is a hill road which crosses between Takanawa 3-chōme and 4-chōme. The street was probably named because there was a pomegranate tree (石榴, zakuro) in the middle of a slope a long time ago. The area has many hotels.
  • Hebi zaka (蛇坂) (from hebi (蛇, lit. 'snake')) is a slope which is in Mita 4-chōme.
  • Anzenji zaka (安全寺坂) is a hill road crossing between Mita 3-chōme and 4-chōme. The temple of Anzenji was built here in the Edo era.
  • Hora zaka (洞坂, lit. 'cavernous slope') is a hill road in Takanawa 3-chōme. It is alternatively called Hora zaka (法螺坂, lit. 'conch shell slope')) and Bora zaka (鯔坂, lit. 'herring slope').
  • Hiyoshi zaka (日吉坂) is a hill road which forms the border of Shirokane 2-chōme and 4-chōme. It goes from Meguro-dori in the southwest to Sakurada-dori in the northeast, and goes past the Kuwahara zaka (桑原坂) to the south. The name originates from the Noh actor Hiyoshi Kahei who lived nearby.

Shinto shrines and temples

In the early stages of the Edo period, the shōgun decided to extend Edo Castle and ordered temples around the castle to move to Mita. From this reason, there were many temples on the hill, especially in area named Tera machi (寺町). Shrines in the district date back to the Asuka period or Heian period.

Parks
Kamezuka Kōen (亀塚公園)

In the Edo period, Mita was home to the estates of daimyō (most were tozama daimyō (外様大名, lit. 'non-Tokugawa daimyō')). During the Meiji era, the estates were sold to high-ranking government officials (顕官, kenkan) and nobility (華族, kazoku). Today, some estates have been converted into public parks.

  • Mitadai Kōen (三田台公園)
  • Toyouka-cho Jidou Yuuen (豊岡町児童遊園). Its former name is Toyooka Kōen (豊岡公園).
    • Children's park which exists in Mita 5-11-6 Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Its former name is Toyooka Kōen (豊岡公園).
    • Area: 191 m2 (2,060 sq ft)
    • Nearby subway station: Shirokane-takanawa (白金高輪)
    • Although a swing, sandbox, launching platform, box type swing, and drinking fountain once existed here, all except the drinking fountain have been removed.

Embassies
  • Australian embassy
  • Italian embassy

Universities

Tertiary schools

Primary and secondary schools

Minato City Board of Education operates public elementary and junior high schools.

Mita 1–2 chōme are zoned to Akabane Elementary School (赤羽小学校), while Mita 3–5 chōme are zoned to Mita Elementary School (御田小学校). The entire district (1–5 chōme) is zoned to Mita Junior High School (三田中学校).[3]

Full list of primary and secondary schools:

Public libraries

Minato City Library operates Mita Library in nearby Shiba.[4]

See also


References
  1. Inc, ITmedia (2020-12-01). "【2020年最新版】社長の住む街ランキングTOP10". ねとらぼ調査隊 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-03. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. "Japan." Yazaki. Retrieved on June 18, 2015. "Headquarters 17th Floor, Mita-Kokusai Bldg., 4-28 Mita 1-chōme, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8333 Japan" - Japanese address: "本 社 〒108-8333　東京都港区三田1-4-28　三田国際ビル17F"
  3. "港区立小・中学校通学区域一覧表（令和4年4月以降）" (PDF). City of Minato. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  4. "Mita Library". Minato City Library. Retrieved 2023-01-18. Fudanotsuji Square 5-36-4 Shiba, Minato City, Tokyo 108-0014
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