23 Yushima／湯島

Yushima Tenjin Shrine is nationally known as a place where many students pray for their successes on entrance examinations.  More than 300,000 people (many of them are students) come to the shrine on new year holidays (January 1-3) every year.

On the north of Yushima Tenjin Shrine is the former residence of Iwasaki family (the founder of Mitsubishi Group) which was built in 1896.  After the WWII, this place was used as Legal Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court until 1994 and candidates for judges, prosecutors and attorneys studied in the building and enjoyed football in the garden.

On the east of the former residence of Iwasaki Family is Shinobazu Pond.  In the Edo period, this pond is 1.7 times larger than the current size with incoming and outgoing rivers.  In 1884, a part of the pond and rivers were reclaimed and 1600m horse racing course was made around the pond for upper class society.  Horse racing in this place discontinued in 1892 due to financial difficulties.  People enjoy boating on the north side of the pond.  The south side is a large lotus pond.

On the south side of Shinobazu Pond is an area crowded with wide variety of small bars and restaurants, including traditional authentic bars, Japanese-style Izakaya bars, karaoke bars and hostess bars.

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