Shinagawa facts for kids

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Shinagawa

品川区

Special ward

Shinagawa City

Meguro River at Ōsaki, Shinagawa

Flag

Seal

Location of Shinagawa in Tokyo Metropolis

Shinagawa

Location in Japan

Country

Japan

Region

Kantō

Prefecture

Tokyo Metropolis

Area

• Total

22.84 km² (8.82 sq mi)

Population

(October 1, 2020)

• Total

422,488

• Density

18,497/km² (47,910/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+09:00 (JST)

City hall address

2-1-36 Hiromachi,
Shinagawa-ku, Tōkyō-to
140-8715


Symbols
Bird	Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Flower	Rhododendron indicum
Tree	Castanopsis Acer

Shinagawa (品川区, Shinagawa-ku) is a special area in the Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. It is called Shinagawa City in English. This area is home to ten different country embassies.

As of October 1, 2020, Shinagawa had about 422,488 people living there. The area is 22.84 square kilometers (about 8.8 square miles). This means it has a lot of people living close together.

It's important to know that the main business area around Shinagawa Station is not actually in Shinagawa Ward. That station is in a different area called Minato Ward, just north of Shinagawa.

Exploring Shinagawa's Landscape

Shinagawa Ward has different types of land. It has natural high areas and low areas. It also has land that was created by filling in parts of the bay. The high areas are at the eastern edge of the Musashino Terrace.

Shinagawa is located on Tokyo Bay. Its neighbors are other special areas of Tokyo. These include Kōtō to the east and Minato to the north. To the west is Meguro, and to the south is Ōta.

What are the Main Areas of Shinagawa?

Shinagawa Ward is divided into five main areas. Each area has many smaller districts and neighborhoods.

Shinagawa District: This area includes the old Shinagawa-juku. This was an important stop on the Tōkaidō road.
Ōsaki (大崎) District: This used to be a town. It stretches from Ōsaki Station to Gotanda and Meguro Stations.
Ebara (荏原) District: This was also a town in the past.
Ōi (大井) District: Another area that was once a town.
Yashio (八潮) District: This area is made of land that was reclaimed from the sea. It includes Higashiyashio on Odaiba.

Shinagawa Area

Higashishinagawa
Hiromachi
Kitashinagawa
Minamishinagawa
Nishishinagawa

Oi Area

Oi
Higashioi
Katsushima
Minamioi
Nishioi

Osaki Area

Ōsaki
Higashigotanda
Kamiōsaki
Nishigotanda

Ebara Area

Ebara
Futaba
Hatanodai
Higashinakanobu
Hiratsuka
Koyama
Koyamadai
Nakanobu
Nishinakanobu
Togoshi
Yutakacho

Yashio Area

Yashio
Higashiyashio

Shinagawa's Past: A Look at History

Shinagawa-juku in the 1830s, as shown by Hiroshige

Much of Tokyo, especially east of the Imperial Palace, is built on land that was created by filling in parts of the bay. A lot of this land was made during the Edo period.

Shinagawa-juku was the very first "post town" on the famous "53 Stations of the Tōkaidō" road. Travelers going from Nihonbashi to Kyoto would stop here first. The old government, called the Tokugawa shogunate, had a special place in Shinagawa called the Suzugamori execution grounds.

After a big change in Japan called the Meiji Restoration, Shinagawa Prefecture was started in 1869. But in 1871, it became part of Tokyo Prefecture. In 1932, a smaller Shinagawa Ward was created. Then, on March 15, 1947, it joined with Ebara Ward to form the Shinagawa Ward we know today.

Because it was an important stop in the past, Shinagawa still has many large hotels near the train station. These hotels offer thousands of rooms for visitors. The Tōkaidō Shinkansen high-speed train line started serving Shinagawa Station in 2003.

How Shinagawa is Governed

Shinagawa is managed by an assembly of 40 members. These members are chosen by the people who live in Shinagawa.

Countries with Embassies in Shinagawa

Shinagawa is home to the embassies of several countries. An embassy is like an official office for one country in another country.

Shinagawa's Economy: Businesses and Jobs

Japan Airlines headquarters in Tennōzu Isle, Shinagawa

Sega Sammy's main headquarters in Shinagawa

Many important companies have their main offices in Shinagawa Ward. These include:

Isuzu: A company that makes diesel engines and trucks.
JTB Corporation: A big travel agency.
Nippon Light Metal: A company that makes aluminum and chemical products.
MOS Burger: A popular fast-food chain.
Lawson: A chain of convenience stores.
Namco Bandai Holdings and Namco Bandai Games: Companies known for video games.
Rakuten: A large online shopping and services company.
Honda brand Acura: A car brand.
Toyo Seikan: A company that makes packaging.
NSK Ltd.: A company that makes bearings.
Fuji Electric: A company that makes electrical equipment.
Imagica: A company that works on media post-production.
Nippon Chemi-Con: An electronic parts maker.
Topy Industries: A company that makes machinery and car parts.
Gakken: A company that publishes books and offers educational services.
Comsys: A company that builds and engineers telecommunications.
Pola Cosmetics: A cosmetics company.

Marza Animation Planet also has its office in Shinagawa. Since 2018, Sega Sammy, famous for its Sonic the Hedgehog games, has its main office in Shinagawa.

Japan Airlines (JAL) and its related companies have offices in the Tennōzu Isle area. Nikon, a camera company, is building a new headquarters in Shinagawa. It is expected to be finished in 2024.

Other Company Offices in Shinagawa

Some companies have branch offices or research centers in Shinagawa Ward. Sony has its Gotenyama Technology Center and Osaki East Technology Center here. Adobe Systems has its Japan headquarters in Ōsaki. Siemens AG and Philips also have offices in Shinagawa.

Microsoft and ExxonMobil have their Japanese headquarters near Shinagawa, in Minato Ward. Kojima Productions, a video game company, also has offices in Shinagawa.

Interesting Places to Visit in Shinagawa

Honsen-ji Temple

Ebara Shrine

Site of Hamakawa Gun Battery

Shimo-Shimmei Tenso jinjya shrine inari jinja

Shinagawa has many interesting places to see and explore.

Museums:
- O Art Museum
- Kume Museum of Art [ja]
- Shinagawa Historical Museum [ja]
- The Museum of Maritime Science
- Sugino Costume Museum
- ARCHI-DEPOT Museum [ja]
SHINAGAWA AQUARIUM [ja]: A fun place to see sea animals.
Theaters:
- The Shiki Theatre Natsu [ja]
- The CATS Theatre [ja]
- The Galaxy Theatre [ja]
Ohi Racecourse: A place for horse racing.
Site of Suzugamori execution grounds: A historical site.
Site of Hamakawa Gun Battery: Another historical site.
Shopping Areas:
- Togoshi Ginza [ja] Shopping District
- Musashi Koyama [ja] Shopping District "PALM"
Parks:
- Ōmori Shell Mounds Park [ja]
- Rinshi-no-mori Park
- Shinagawa Kumin Park [ja]
- Ikedayama Park [ja]: This park was once the site of a powerful lord's home.
- Togoshi Park [ja]: Also a former site of a lord's home.
Ebara Shichi-Fuku-Jin [ja]: A group of seven lucky gods statues in the Ebara area.
Buddhist Temples:
- Honsen-ji [ja]
- Tōkai-ji
- Hōren-ji [ja]
- Tōkō-ji [ja]
Shintō Shrines:
- Shinagawa Shrine [ja]
- Shimo-Shimmei Tenso Shrine [ja]
- Ebara Shrine [ja]
- Kashima Shrine
Churches:
- Meguro Catholic Church (St. Anselm's Church)
- St. Stephen's Church, Tokyo St. Mary's Church – Anglican churches
- Christ Shinagawa Church – Presbyterian church
- Shinagawa Baptist Church, Oi Baptist Church

Learning in Shinagawa: Schools and Universities

Tokyo Health Care University

Shinagawa has many schools, from elementary to university level.

Universities and Colleges

Hoshi University
Rissho University
Seisen University
Showa University
Tokyo Health Care University
Sugino Fashion College
Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology: A graduate school.
Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology [ja]: A special college for technology.

Schools for Younger Students

Public elementary and junior high schools are managed by the Shinagawa Ward Board of Education. Public high schools are managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Metropolitan High Schools:
- Tokyo Metropolitan Koyamadai High School [ja]
- Tokyo Metropolitan Ōsaki High School [ja]
- Tokyo Metropolitan Yashio High School [ja]
Private High Schools:
- The Junior High and Senior High School [ja] (affiliated with Bunkyo University)
- Hoyu-Gakuin High School [ja]
- Kogyokusha Junior High and Senior High School [ja]
- Nihon Ongaku High School [ja] (will become coeducational in 2023, renamed Shinagawa Gakugei High School)
- St. Hilda's School (Kōran Jogakkō Junior High and Senior High School [ja])
- Shinagawa Etoile Girls' High School [ja]
- Shinagawa Joshi Gakuin Junior High and Senior High School [ja]
- Shinagawa Shouei Junior and Senior High School [ja] (formerly Ono Gakuen Girls' Junior High and Senior High School)
- Seiryo Junior High and Senior High School [ja]
International Schools:
- Canadian International School in Tokyo
- KAIS International School
Special Education Schools:
- Tokyo Metropolitan Shinagawa Special Needs Education School (for intellectually disabled children)
- Meisei Gakuen [ja] (a private school for deaf students)

Many schools in Shinagawa combine elementary and junior high levels:

Ebara Hiratsuka Gakuen
Hino Gakuen
Houyou no Mori Gakuen
Ito Gakuen
Shinagawa Gakuen
Yashio Gakuen

There are also many separate municipal junior high and elementary schools throughout the ward.

Getting Around: Transportation in Shinagawa

Exterior of Shinagawa Station in Minato

Ōimachi Station at Ōi, Shinagawa

Shinagawa is a busy place with many ways to travel.

Important Train Stations

Gotanda Station
Meguro Station
Ōsaki Station
Ōimachi Station

Remember, Shinagawa Station itself is in Minato Ward. But it is very close and serves the northern part of Shinagawa. It is also a stop for the fast Tōkaidō Shinkansen train.

Train Lines Serving Shinagawa

Many different train companies and lines run through Shinagawa, connecting it to all parts of Tokyo and beyond.

East Japan Railway Company (JR East):
- Yamanote Line: Ōsaki, Gotanda and Meguro Stations
- Keihin-Tōhoku Line: Ōimachi Station
- Saikyō Line: Ōsaki Station
- Tōkaidō Main Line: Does not stop at stations in Shinagawa.
- Yokosuka Line: Nishi-Ōi Station
- Shōnan-Shinjuku Line: Ōsaki and Nishi-Ōi Stations
Tokyu Corporation (Tōkyū):
- Tōkyū Meguro Line: Meguro, Fudō-mae, Musashi-Koyama and Nishi-Koyama Stations
- Tōkyū Ōimachi Line: Shimo-Shinmei and Togoshi-kōen, Nakanobu, Ebaramachi and Hatanodai Stations
- Tōkyū Ikegami Line: Gotanda, Ōsaki-Hirokōji, Togoshi-Ginza, Ebara-Nakanobu and Hatanodai Stations
Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit (Rinkai Line): Tennōzu Isle, Shinagawa Seaside, Ōimachi and Ōsaki Stations
Tokyo Monorail: Tennōzu Isle and Ōi Keibajō Mae Stations
Keikyu Corporation (Keikyū):
- Keikyū Main Line: Kitashinagawa, Shimbamba, Aomono-yokochō, Samezu, Tachiaigawa and Ōmorikaigan Stations
Tokyo Metro:
- Namboku Line: Meguro Station
Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei):
- Mita Line: Meguro Station
- Asakusa Line: Gotanda, Togoshi and Nakanobu Stations

Roads and Highways

Shinagawa is also connected by major roads and highways.

Shuto Expressway (Shutokō):
- Route 1 "Haneda Sen"
- Route 2 "Meguro Sen"
- Bayshore Route "Wangan Sen"
- Central Circular Route "Chūō Kanjō Sen"
National highways:
- Route 1 "Sakurada Dōri", "Dai-Ni Keihin"
- Route 15 "Dai-Ichi Keihin"
- Route 357 "Tokyo Wangan Dōro"

Shinagawa is also where many cars in central Tokyo get their official registration. Because of this, many license plates in Tokyo say "Shinagawa" on them.