Sangenjaya: Where Culture, History and Food Meet

Sangenjaya is a vibrant spot in the heart of Tokyo, Setagaya. It is known for its famous temples and is surrounded by restaurants, bars, and historical locations. Setagaya Park, only 20 minutes from Sangenjaya Station, is a nice place to relax and enjoy cherry blossoms during the Sakura season. The area is also known for its nightlife due to the abundance of bars, which attracts people who love to drink and socialize. Honestly, there isn’t much room to go wrong with this nooked-away neighborhood.

History

Sangenjaya is also known as “Sancha” and translates to “three tea houses” in Japanese, with the three tea houses that inspired the name of the neighborhood known as Shigaraki, the Kadoya, and the Tanakaya. Many temples and shrines located in the area were incredibly popular as pilgrimage locations in the Edo period, drawing in many tourists from throughout Tokyo. Sangenjaya always held a special place in the country’s heart, due to its location. The most famous of these shrines is Oyama, located on the mountain, and has two routes to arrive there. Both routes cross through Sangenjaya, and make it a popular spot for layovers to get food and tea.

Several historical locations in Sangenjaya immerse you in the culture and roots of the area. For example, the famous temple, Saishoji Temple, was built in the 19th century and attracted many people due to its importance. It is also known as Kyogakuin or Maeo Fudo and has a great atmosphere with a lot of history. Another historical place you should take into consideration when visiting the neighborhood is Shoin Shrine, located in Wakabayashi Park. This popular shrine is of great historical importance due to the fact that it was dedicated to the instigator of the Meiji Restoration, Yoshida Shoin.

Exploring Sangenjaya

Sangenjaya should definitely be on your to-visit list during your trip to Tokyo. If you are unsure about what activities to do there, we have collected several spots for you to explore so you know exactly where to go!

The Carrot Tower

If you are around Sangenjaya, the Carrot Tower is an absolute must-visit! It is the landmark of the area, standing 124 meters tall and rising above Sangenjaya station. To see the panorama of Tokyo, you can go to the top of Carrot Tower for free! Completed in November 1996, the building is a whopping 26 stories above ground and 5 basement levels below. But the real story is the origin of the name Carrot Tower, which came from being the winning entry in a local naming competition held for the children of the neighborhood. Don’t forget to visit the restaurant called Sky Carrot on the 26th floor for a beautiful view and delicious food!

Carrot Tower can be reached via the Tokyu-Den -Entoshi Line at Sangenjaya Station. The signs at the Sangenjaya Station will give directions towards the Carrot Tower.

Address: Carrot Tower, 4 Chome-1-1 Taishido, Setagaya City, Tokyo 154-0004

Website: https://www.t-build.com/property/carrottower/

Eat Gyoza!

If you are a Gyoza lover, Gyoza Shack is the best spot for you in Sangenjaya. Enjoy eating their creative dumplings and wine in a store-style restaurant. They serve a special sauce for each gyoza to enhance the flavor, priding themselves on serving dumplings you’re sure to never eat again. The gyoza shack will make you come back for their mouthwatering dumplings!

Address: GYOZA SHACK, 2 Chome-13-10 Sangenjaya, Setagaya City, Tokyo 154-0024

Website: https://gyoza-shack.jp/

Hours: 5 pm-12 am (Monday-Sunday)

Gasa Restaurant

If you are looking for a unique foodie adventure, make sure to visit Gasa restaurant. The restaurant serves “fugu”, the infamous Japanese dish made from the poisonous puffer fish. A popular option you should try is grilled “fugu” with hot sake at the restaurant. However, this unique delicacy can be deadly if not prepared and cooked properly. Of course, the chefs at GASA are specially trained and certified to make this dish, making it a lot safer than it sounds. But of course, if you want to impress your friends and prove just how brave you are, this is the restaurant to be!

Address: 2-chōme-14 Sangenjaya, Setagaya City, Tokyo 154-0024

Hours: 5 – 10 pm (Monday-Saturday)

Try horse meat at Umaebisu Restaurant

If you have never tried horsemeat, you must visit the Umaebisu restaurant. The restaurant specializes in and serves top-quality horse meat to their customers. You can enjoy the “horse yakiniku” (barbecue) at a reasonable price, and don’t forget to try the delicious sashimi when you visit. The idea of eating such abnormal meat might put you off, but trust us when we say that you will not regret going outside your comfort zone. There are not many restaurants that serve horse meat, so don’t miss out on the opportunity when you are around Sangenjaya!

Address: Umaebisu Sangenjaya, ラック三軒茶屋 B１F 1 Chome-36-5 Sangenjaya, Setagaya City, Tokyo 154-0024

Website: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1317/A131706/13159100/

Hours: 5 – 11 pm (Monday-Friday), 12 – 11 pm (Saturday) and 12 – 10 pm (Sunday)

Bar Cielo

For those who are looking to enjoy alcoholic beverages, Bar Ceilo is the place to go! Enjoy the craft gin bar on the 2nd floor, where they serve original cocktails made with fresh herbs and spices. You can also enjoy the finest malt whiskey on the 3rd floor of the bar. It is an amazing bar with a great atmosphere, making it the best place to spend the end of the day and just relax with friends. Bar Ceilo is the perfect spot if you are planning a fun night out in Sangenjaya.

Address: Cielo, 2F 3F 4 Chome-23-5 Taishido, Setagaya City, Tokyo 154-0004

Website: https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1317/A131706/13095467/

Hours: 6 pm-3 am (Monday-Sunday)

Three Interesting Facts You Should Know about Sangenjaya:

Now that we’ve discovered some of the top places you can visit when traveling through the streets fo Sangenjaya, let’s leave you with some fun facts about the area you might not know!

• The three tea houses were there to welcome pilgrims from Tokyo heading towards the temple in the West during the Edo period.
• Sangenjaya became famous for bars and snack shops during the Meiji period.
• Western soaps and cheap candies were sold here, which increased the popularity of the area during the Meiji period.

Sangenjaya is the perfect place for those seeking to experience Japanese culture and history and enjoy delicious food. Famous for its streets filled with bars and restaurants that are sure to leave you stuffed, this neighborhood is certainly the spot to spend a fabulous night out with your friends. But it’s not just all about food; there are plenty of cultural spots and historical locations that are sure to fill up your mind just as much as the food fills your belly. Make sure to add it to your bucket list when you visit Tokyo!

Featured image by James Stuart

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