Arakawa (荒川), Tokyo

Arakawa is one of Tokyo's most authentic and least touristy wards, located in the northeastern part of the city along the banks of the Arakawa River. It is a quiet, working-class district that has preserved much of the shitamachi (old downtown) character that has disappeared from more visited parts of Tokyo, offering a genuinely local experience far removed from the tourist circuits of Asakusa or Shinjuku.

The ward covers a relatively compact area of approximately 10.2 square kilometers, making it the second smallest ward in Tokyo by land area. Despite its modest size, it contains a remarkable density of local life, traditional craftsmanship, community festivals, and everyday urban authenticity that rewards curious and unhurried visitors.

The most celebrated attraction in Arakawa is the Tokyo Sakura Tram, officially known as the Toden Arakawa Line, the last surviving traditional tram line in Tokyo. The tram runs for approximately 12.2 kilometers through the northeastern wards of the city, passing through quiet residential streets, local shopping arcades, and community parks in a journey that feels entirely removed from the modern subway-dominated transit experience of central Tokyo.

The Tokyo Sakura Tram operates between Waseda in Shinjuku Ward and Minowabashi at the eastern end of Arakawa, stopping at 30 stations along its route. Riding the full length of the line is one of the most rewarding and atmospheric ways to experience the quieter, more residential side of Tokyo that most visitors never encounter.

The tram passes through the Arakawa Yuenchi (Arakawa Amusement Park), a small and endearingly old-fashioned public amusement park operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Founded in 1922, it is one of the oldest amusement parks in Japan and one of the last surviving examples of the traditional urban amusement parks that were once common throughout Japanese cities in the early 20th century.

Arakawa Yuenchi charges only a small entry fee and contains a mix of gentle rides, a small zoo, gardens, and open picnic areas that make it enormously popular with local families and young children. The pony rides, go-karts, and traditional carousel have remained largely unchanged for decades, giving the park an irresistibly nostalgic quality.

Nippori Fabric Town (Nippori Seni Gai), located at the western edge of Arakawa near Nippori Station, is one of the most remarkable specialty shopping destinations in Tokyo.

Approximately 90 fabric and textile shops are concentrated along a short stretch of street, selling an extraordinary range of fabrics, buttons, lace, thread, patterns, and sewing accessories at wholesale and retail prices.

Nippori Fabric Town draws professional fashion designers, costume makers, home sewers, and textile enthusiasts from across Japan and internationally. The sheer variety and competitive pricing available along this single street make it the best and most comprehensive destination for fabric shopping in the entire country.

The Yanaka district sits at the southwestern boundary of Arakawa, straddling the border with neighboring Bunkyo Ward. Although technically outside Arakawa proper, Yanaka is deeply connected to the character of the wider area and shares its commitment to preserving old Tokyo's residential and cultural fabric.

Yanaka Cemetery, one of Tokyo's oldest and most atmospheric graveyards, contains the graves of numerous historical figures, including the last Tokugawa shogun Yoshinobu. The cemetery's broad tree-lined avenues become one of Tokyo's most beautiful and uncrowded cherry blossom viewing spots every spring, beloved by residents who have been picnicking here for generations.

Yanaka Ginza, a short but lively traditional shopping street within the broader Yanaka area, is one of the best-preserved and most beloved shitamachi shopping streets in Tokyo. Its low-rise wooden shopfronts, family-run businesses, and relaxed community atmosphere offer a window into the everyday life of old Tokyo that has become increasingly rare elsewhere in the city.

The Arakawa River and Sumida River waterways bordering the ward have historically shaped the area's identity as a working waterfront district. The river embankments have been developed into pleasant walking and cycling paths, particularly beautiful during cherry blossom season and autumn foliage when the riverside trees create long corridors of seasonal color.

Several important temples and shrines are distributed throughout the ward, including Enjuji Temple and the historic Minowabashi area at the eastern terminus of the tram line, which contains a cluster of traditional establishments and old merchant buildings that have survived largely intact from the Meiji and Taisho eras.

Arakawa is served by multiple transport options including the Tokyo Sakura Tram, the JR Joban Line at Nippori Station, the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, and the Keisei Main Line. The ward's relatively compact size makes most of its attractions easily walkable from the tram stops or the handful of subway and overground stations distributed across its area.