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

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Mita 三田
District
Mitsui Tsunamachi Club
Coordinates: 35°38′51″N 139°44′26″E
Country	Japan
City	Tokyo
Ward	Minato
Area	Shiba Area (1, 2, 3-chōme) Takanawa Area (4, 5-chōme)
Population  (January 1, 2016)
• Total	18,760
Time zone	UTC+9 (JST)
Area code	03

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 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 is headquartered 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:

• Akabanebashi Station on the Toei Ōedo Line
• Azabu-juban Station on the Toei Ōedo Line and Tokyo Metro Namboku Line
• Mita Station on the Toei Mita Line and Toei Asakusa Line
  • Despite its name, Mita Station is not located in Mita, but in the neighboring Shiba district
• Shirokane-takanawa Station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line and Toei Mita Line
• Tamachi Station on the Yamanote Line and Keihin-Tōhoku Line

Notable places in Mita

Embassies

Australian Embassy

Italian Embassy

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 「東海道」 road. As for the slope, the name changes from the top of Isarago zaka 「伊皿子坂」to the Nihon enoki dori 「二本榎通り」.

Gyoranzaka (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.

Katsurazaka (桂坂) is a hill road which lies between Takanawa 2-chōme and 3-chōme. A long time ago, ivy and vines 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.

Zakurozaka (石榴坂) is a hill road which crosses between Takanawa 3-chōme and 4-chōme. The area has many hotels. The street was probably named because there was a pomegranate tree (石榴, zakuro) in the middle of a slope a long time ago.

Hebizaka (蛇坂) is a slope which is in district four of Mita. Hebi means snake.

Anzenjizaka (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.

Horazaka (洞坂) is a hill road in Takanawa 3-chōme. The name means "cavernous slope," in Japanese. It is alternatively called Horazaka (法螺坂) or "conch shell slope" and Borazaka (鯔坂) or "herring slope."

Hiyoshizaka (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 Kuwaharazaka (桑原坂) to the south. The name originates from the Noh actor Hiyoshi Kahei who lived nearby.

• 
  柘榴坂
  Zakuro zaka
• 
  聖坂
  Hijiri zaka
• 
  「葭見坂」
  Yoshimi zaka
• 
  top of Hora zaka
• 
  Katsura zaka
• 
  Bottom of Hiyosi zaka

Shinto shrines and Temples

In the early stages of the Edo period, the Shōgun decided to extend Edo-Castle (江戸城) and ordered temples around there to move into here. From this reason, there were many temples on the hill, especially in the Mita (三田) named Tera machi (寺町), there were many temples. As for shrines, there are its ancestor can go back to the Asuka (飛鳥時代) or Heian (平安時代) period.

Tokyo is the city which the aspect changes to rapidly, but the scenery of here didn't change.

• 
  「丸山神社」
  Maruyama Jinja
• 
  「済海寺」
  Saikai-ji
• 
  「大信寺」
  Daishin-ji
• 
  高野山別院
  Koyasan Tokyo Betsuin
• 
  「三田八幡神社」
  Mita Hachiman Jinja
• 
  「高輪神社」
  Takanawa jinjya
• 
  「東禅寺」
  Tōzen-ji

Parks

In the Edo period, the daimyō's (大名) mansion ( most are non-Tokugawa daimyō (外様大名)) ranged on the whole hill. The mansion was sold as the mansion of the high-ranking official in the government (顕官), Kazoku (=華族nobleman), in Meiji era. At present, the vacant lot is opened to the citizen as the park. By such historic process, the Parks locate in wide area and have a fine scene.

• Mitadai Kouen　「三田台公園」
• Toyouka cho Jidou Yuuen「豊岡町児童遊園」. Its former name is Toyooka Kouen「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
  • Nearby station: Shirokane-takanawa 「白金高輪」 Subway station
  • Although a swing, sandbox, launching platform, box type swing, and drinking fountain place existed before, but it is removed now except drinking fountain place.

• 
  「亀塚公園」
  Kamezuka kōen

Universities

Keio University

Tertiary

• Tokai University Junior College

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). All of Mita (1-5 chōme) is zoned to Mita Junior High School (三田中学校).[3]

Full list of primary and secondary schools:

• Minato City Mita Junior High School (港区立三田中学校)
• Minato City Mita Elementary School (港区立御田小学校)
• Minato City Akabane Elementary School (赤羽小学校)
• Friends Girls Junior & Senior High School
• Tokai University Takanawadai Junior & Senior High School (東海大学付属高輪台高等学校・中等部)
• Takanawa Junior / Senior High School (高輪中学高等学校)
• Kindergarten Teacher Training College, Seitoku University (聖徳大学幼児教育専門学校)
• Laurus International School of Science Primary School

• 
  Mita Junior High School (港区立三田中学校)
• 
  Mita Elementary School (港区立御田小学校)
• 
  Akabane Elementary School (赤羽小学校)
• 
  「松坂児童公園」
  Mita Matsuzaka Children's Park (Matsuzaka Jido Kōen)　
• 
  「明治学院大学」
  Meiji Gakuin University
• 
  慶應義塾大学
  Keio University

See also

• Edo Meisho Zukai「江戸名所図解」
• Hasegawa Settan「長谷川雪旦」

References

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