【東京みち散歩物語】＃3 TOKYO street stroll story in Akasaka

この物語はフィクションで、生成AIによって生み出され、私が加筆修正したものです。

After my encounters and discoveries in Toranomon, I decided to go further and head to Akasaka. When I got off at Tokyo Station, I wanted to take a walk and look around as much as possible, but I thought that if I was too particular, I might miss out on a chance experience, so I got on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and surrendered myself to the swaying of the subway for just three minutes. When I got off at Akasaka-mitsuke Station, I felt like I had moved from a business-like town like Toranomon to a town with a slightly more secular atmosphere. Of course, there were buildings similar to Toranomon nearby, such as Akasaka Sacas and Akasaka Biz Tower, but perhaps because of the large number of historic restaurants and hidden bars, the scenery was unique.

From Akasaka-mitsuke Station, I walked along Hitotsugi-dori Street, past Akasaka Sacas in the center of Akasaka, and after a short walk, I saw Akasaka Hikawa Shrine. This shrine has a tranquility that makes you forget the hustle and bustle of the city, and its grounds seem like another world. I passed under the torii gate, walked along the approach to the shrine, soothed by the sound of the leaves rustling, and calmed my mind.

At that time, I met an elderly woman in a corner of the shrine. She was probably around 70 years old, wearing a kimono and with a gentle smile. I couldn't help but greet her, who had a nostalgic aura about her.

"Good morning. This is a very nice shrine."

She answered with a smile. "Good morning. Yes, this has been our spiritual home since ancient times."

After talking for a while, I realized that she knew a lot about the history of this shrine and the area. She said that she had lived in this area for a long time and had been watching over the changes in Akasaka.

"By the way, there is something I would like to show you," she said, and led me deeper into the shrine. She seemed to be related to the shrine. There was a small shrine, and an old scroll was kept inside it.

"This is a scroll that has been handed down to this shrine for generations." She carefully unfolded the scroll and showed it to me. It depicted the scenery of Akasaka in the Edo period, and vividly depicted the lives of the people and the festivals of that time.

"Thank you for showing me such a precious thing," I said, expressing my gratitude.

"Looking at this scroll, I feel that even though times change, people's hearts do not change. You came here to find something, didn't you?" she said gently.

Her words made me stop and think. That was exactly what I had felt throughout this walk. Even though times change, people's thoughts and wishes do not change and continue to live on in the city.

After leaving Hikawa Shrine, perhaps because I felt a sacred feeling, I headed to another famous spot in Akasaka, Hie Shrine. Facing the large, busy Sotobori-dori street, this shrine surrounded by greenery is like an oasis in the city. There is an escalator outside so that many people of all ages and genders can visit. But I didn't go there at first. I wanted to see the thousand torii gates of Sanno Inari Shrine, which I had heard about. Speaking of thousand torii gates, Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Takayama Inari in Tsugaru, Aomori, are famous, and I like the solemn atmosphere that cleanses my heart every time I pass through those torii gates. After passing through all the torii gates, I always feel like my body and mind are cleansed. Leaving the torii gates behind, I head home after paying my respects at the main hall of Hie Shrine, since I've come all the way here. It's almost evening, so I need to find a place to sleep for the night.

Visiting Akasaka Hikawa Shrine and Hie Shrine gave me a deeper understanding of the multifaceted charm of this city. The mysterious encounter in Akasaka and the subsequent tour of the shrines were an unforgettable experience for me, and I felt that I was part of the story woven by this city.

Leaving the city of Akasaka behind, I headed to my next destination with many memories etched in my heart.