Neil Duckett

This week on the 29 stops of the JR Yamanote Line i visited Gotanda, this was the first time i’d been to Gotanda and exactly the reason behind visiting all 29 stops, to go to places i ordinarily wouldn’t have thought to visit.

Gotanda (五反田, Gotanda) is described as a busy but unfashionable neighborhood in the Shinagawa ward of Tokyo, Japan. The name “Gotanda” can be literally translated as “a (rice) paddy of half-hectare’s size”. The district straddles the Meguro river, and is located between the Meguro and Ōsaki stations on the JR Yamanote Line.

“The JR loop severs the neighbourhood into two districts. Higashi (East) Gotanda lies inside the Yamanote loop, while Nishi (West) Gotanda is outside the loop. Nishi-Gotanda is largely residential, with moderately-sized apartment buildings close to the JR station and quiet leafy streets in the outlying reaches.

Higashi-Gotanda is home to Seisen University, NTT East Kanto Hospital, several temples and shrines and as many office towers like a mid-sized North American city.

Higashi-Gotanda also has a substantial number of hotels, including some of the famed capsule hotel style. Some of the buildings making up the sprawling world headquarters of Sony are found along the eastern edge of Higashi-Gotanda.”

Gotanda on first impression would be what i would describe as very Japanese, lots of small bars and restaurants big enough for only a handful of people, something that has vanished from many other areas. Gotanda lacked the big name brand stores otehr places i’ve been in Japan have had but there were still plenty of shopping opportunities, miso paste and obscure Japanese knives being some of the more unique items available.

Much to my amazements i found out about one business that would be unimaginable in other countries, which was a ”puppy rental” store that will rent you a young dog to walk for an hour or two, as hard as i try i never did find it.

Being located on the river i’m sure there are many hanami festivities planned over the coming weeks, unfortunately i was a few weeks early so i had to amused myself wandering around the streets on what was a fantastic and sunny 16 degrees.

Straight out of the station and off for a look around.

A near by walk way gave me a good view back of the station that’s having a considerable amount of work done. 

And back down the road to what was a prett quiet Sunday in Gotanda.

Gotanda is divided by a body of water.

A large scale shopping centre.

A couple walking and watering a dog, their dog? I don’t know i didn’t ask.

You don’t have to walk far in Gotanda to find old and traditional Japanese sights.

Restaurants are plentiful in Gotanda, this one specialises in Beef and other meat products, my kind of restaurant.

Beer is readily available in vending machines here in Japan, great for those hot days walking about the place.

Once again, bikes as far as the eye can see.

Those pesky park benches with the divider to pursuade the homeless from sleeping on them.

The Tokyo Design Center is in Gotanda.

A sizeable, skinny legged horse at the Tokyo Design Center.

The Tokyo Oyster Bar, not my thing but i’m sure it’s very nice for those partial to a few Osyters.

After the Osyters kick in you may want to catch a show.

Or stop in for a massage.

I always see one of these bikes near work, i still find it strange to see these as road registered bikes.

Not too many big brand names but plenty of place to do some shopping.

I will be back to Gotanda to try out the Steak Kitchen Factory.

After your steak there’s plenty of Karaoke to be found.

As always, in close proximity to the Pachinko is the T.U.C Shop for cashing in the worthless prizes for some cash.

There were quite a few parks in Gotanda.

But observe the rules, no yanking flowers, no kicking rubbish, no throwing things ar others, no pets and most importantly no offering lollies to children.

The supermarkets get bigger the further out you get from mainstream Tokyo.

The highlight for me, when i was on my return to the station was this standing Sushi Bar.

A great way to finish of the days expedition was with some sushi and a cold beer.

Back to the station it was a last look to the left and a last look to the right and i was off home again.

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