Otemachi — Masakado's Forgotten Oath

Your quest begins at Masakado Kubizuka in Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, the burial mound erected in the 11th century for the head of Taira no Masakado. This site, designated a historical site by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, is the legendary resting place of the warrior's head after his defeat in the Jōhei-Tengyo Rebellion (938-940). Annual memorial services are held here, honoring Masakado as a kami, a tutelary deity of the district. Here, the first puzzles reveal the secrets of his fall and the omens that led to his worship.

Continue your journey to Kanda Myōjin Shrine in Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, about 1 km from the Kubizuka. Founded in 730, this shrine has revered Taira no Masakado as a protector against calamities and rebellions since his death in 940. Rebuilt several times after earthquakes and fires, it is a testament to Tokyo's resilience. The Kanda Matsuri, an annual festival dating back to the 16th century, is celebrated here, one of Tokyo's three great festivals. Here, you will discover how the rebel was transformed into a deity, a crucial turning point in Tokyo's history.

Your route then leads you to Nihonbashi, the historic bridge built in 1603 during the Edo period, crossing the Nihonbashi River, Chuo-ku. Located about 800 m from the Kubizuka, this bridge marks the starting point of Japan's five major feudal roads, the Gokaidō, and is Japan's Kilometer Zero. The current stone bridge, rebuilt in 1911, symbolizes the administrative centrality of Edo-Tokyo. This site invites you to understand how Masakado's legend has endured through the centuries, even in the heart of urbanization, as the city expanded from this vital crossroads.

Explore Tokyo's financial district by heading to the Mitsui Main Building in Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, facing Masakado Kubizuka. This historic building, erected in 1929 in a Neo-Renaissance style, is the headquarters of the Mitsui trading house, one of Japan's oldest zaibatsu, founded in 1673. Although the building is from a more recent era, its presence facing Masakado's mound creates a dialogue between the ancient and the modern, between Tokyo's mythical foundations and its economic rise. The architecture of the Mitsui Main Building, preserved as heritage, integrates elements of Western and Japanese design, reflecting the metropolis's evolution.

Your investigation concludes on Marunouchi Naka-dōri, a historic avenue in the Marunouchi district, Chiyoda-ku, parallel to Tokyo Station and about 1.3 km from Masakado Kubizuka. Developed from 1890, this area, a former site of Edo Castle, became a symbol of Tokyo's modernization during the Meiji era. From the remnants of Edo Castle, transformed into the Imperial Palace, to Tokyo Station opened in 1914, every element of this Kanto journey has revealed a facet of Masakado's forgotten vow. You will take away from this interactive tour a deep understanding of how legend and history intertwine to shape the identity of this global city.