Shinagawa facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This article is about Shinagawa (disambiguation). For other uses, see Shinagawa (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids

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 is a vibrant and important area in Tokyo, Japan. It's known as one of Tokyo's special wards, which are like cities within the big city of Tokyo. Shinagawa is also called "Shinagawa City" in English. It's a place where many countries have their embassies, making it a global hub.

As of October 1, 2020, about 422,488 people lived in Shinagawa. It covers an area of 22.84 square kilometers. Sometimes, when people talk about "Shinagawa," they might be thinking of the busy business area around Shinagawa Station. Interestingly, this station is actually in a neighboring ward called Minato, just north of Shinagawa.

Exploring Shinagawa's Landscape

Shinagawa is a fascinating place with different types of land. It has natural hills and lower areas. It also has "reclaimed land," which means land that was once part of the sea but has been filled in to create new areas. The eastern part of Shinagawa has some higher ground, like the Musashino Terrace.

Shinagawa is located right next to Tokyo Bay. It shares its borders with other special wards of Tokyo. To the east, you'll find Kōtō. To the north is Minato, to the west is Meguro, and to the south is Ōta.

Shinagawa's Main Areas

Shinagawa is divided into five main areas. Each area has its own unique districts and neighborhoods:

Shinagawa District: This area includes the historic Shinagawa-juku, which was an important stop on the old Tōkaidō road.
Ōsaki District: This used to be a town called Ōsaki. It stretches from Ōsaki Station to Gotanda and Meguro Stations.
Ebara District: Another area that was once a town.
Ōi District: This area also used to be a town.
Yashio District: This area is mostly made of reclaimed land, including parts of Odaiba.

A Glimpse into Shinagawa's Past

A historical painting of Shinagawa-juku from the 1830s.

Shinagawa has a long and interesting history. A lot of the land in eastern Tokyo, including parts of Shinagawa, was created by filling in parts of the bay. This happened a long time ago, especially during the Edo period (1603-1868).

During the Edo period, Shinagawa was a very important place. It was the first "post town" called Shinagawa-juku on the famous Tōkaidō road. This road connected the capital city of Edo (now Tokyo) with Kyoto. Travelers would stop in Shinagawa-juku to rest and prepare for their journeys. There was also a historical site from that time.

Later, in 1869, Shinagawa became its own prefecture. But just a few years later, in 1871, it became part of Tokyo Prefecture. The Shinagawa Ward we know today was officially formed on March 15, 1947. This happened when a smaller Shinagawa Ward merged with another area called Ebara Ward.

Today, Shinagawa still remembers its past as a travel hub. Many large hotels are located near the train station, offering thousands of rooms for visitors. The Tōkaidō Shinkansen, a super-fast bullet train, started stopping at Shinagawa Station in 2003, making it even easier to travel to and from the area.

How Shinagawa is Governed

Shinagawa is managed by a group of 40 people who are elected by the community. This group is called the assembly, and they make important decisions for the ward.

Countries with Embassies in Shinagawa

Shinagawa is a global place, hosting embassies from several countries. An embassy is like an official office for a country in another nation. It helps with things like travel and international relations.

Shinagawa's Bustling Economy

Shinagawa is a very important business center in Tokyo. Many well-known companies have their main offices here.

Major Company Headquarters

The Japan Airlines headquarters building in Shinagawa.

The main headquarters for Sega Sammy in Shinagawa.

You might recognize some of these companies:

Isuzu: A company that makes diesel engines and trucks.
JTB Corporation: A big travel agency.
MOS Burger: A popular fast-food chain.
Lawson: A well-known convenience store chain.
Namco Bandai Holdings: Famous for video games and toys.
Rakuten: A large e-commerce and internet services company.
Sega Sammy: Known for games like Sonic the Hedgehog. Their headquarters moved here in August 2018.
Japan Airlines (JAL): A major airline, with its main offices in the Tennōzu Isle area.

Nikon, a famous camera and optics company, started building a new headquarters in Shinagawa on July 8, 2022. This new building was completed in 2024.

Other Important Offices

Many other big companies have offices or research centers in Shinagawa.

Sony: Has technology centers here. Sony's headquarters used to be in Shinagawa before moving to Minato Ward around 2006.
Adobe Systems: The company behind creative software like Photoshop, has its Japan headquarters here.
Siemens Japan: A global technology company.
Philips: Known for electronics and healthcare products.
Kojima Productions: A famous video game development studio.

Fun Places to Visit in Shinagawa

Shinagawa has many interesting places to explore, from museums to parks and historical sites.

Honsen-ji Temple.

Ebara Shrine.

Shin-Hamakawa Park.

Shimo-Shimmei Tenso jinjya shrine.

Museums and Attractions

O Art Museum: A place to see different kinds of art.
Shinagawa Historical Museum: Learn about the history of Shinagawa.
The Museum of Maritime Science: Discover the world of ships and the sea.
Sugino Costume Museum: See historical and modern clothing.
SHINAGAWA AQUARIUM: Explore marine life and enjoy underwater shows.
The Galaxy Theatre: A place to watch plays and performances.
Ohi Racecourse: Where horse races are held.
Togoshi Ginza Shopping District: A long and lively shopping street.
Musashi Koyama Shopping District "PALM": Another popular shopping area.

Parks and Green Spaces

Shinagawa offers beautiful parks where you can relax and enjoy nature.

Ōmori Shell Mounds Park: A historical park with ancient shell mounds.
Rinshi-no-mori Park: A large park with lots of trees and open spaces.
Shinagawa Kumin Park: A community park for everyone to enjoy.
Ikedayama Park: A lovely park that was once the site of a powerful lord's villa.
Togoshi Park: Another park built on the grounds of a former lord's estate.

Temples and Shrines

Shinagawa is home to many traditional Japanese temples and shrines.

Honsen-ji: A historic Buddhist temple.
Tōkai-ji: Another important Buddhist temple.
Shinagawa Shrine: A significant Shinto shrine.
Ebara Shrine: A beautiful Shinto shrine.

Learning in Shinagawa

Shinagawa has many schools and universities, offering great opportunities for education.

Tokyo Health Care University.

Universities and Colleges

Hoshi University
Rissho University
Seisen University
Showa University
Tokyo Health Care University
Sugino Fashion College
Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology
Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology

Schools for Younger Students

Shinagawa has many public and private schools for elementary, junior high, and high school students.

Public High Schools: Tokyo Metropolitan Koyamadai High School, Tokyo Metropolitan Ōsaki High School, Tokyo Metropolitan Yashio High School.
International Schools: Canadian International School in Tokyo and KAIS International School.
Special Education Schools: Tokyo Metropolitan Shinagawa Special Needs Education School and Meisei Gakuen (a private school for deaf children).

Getting Around Shinagawa

Shinagawa is a major transportation hub, making it easy to travel within the ward and to other parts of Tokyo.

Exterior of Shinagawa Station.

Ōimachi Station at Ōi, Shinagawa.

Important Railway Stations

Some of the busiest stations in Shinagawa include:

Gotanda Station
Meguro Station
Ōimachi Station
Ōsaki Station

While Shinagawa Station is very important for the area, it is actually located in the neighboring Minato Ward. It's a key stop for the high-speed Tōkaidō Shinkansen line.

Train Lines Serving Shinagawa

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

JR East Lines: Including the Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Saikyō Line, Yokosuka Line, and Shōnan-Shinjuku Line.
Tokyu Lines: Such as the Tōkyū Meguro Line, Tōkyū Ōimachi Line, and Tōkyū Ikegami Line.
Rinkai Line: Connects to waterfront areas.
Tokyo Monorail: Provides access to Haneda Airport.
Keikyū Main Line: Another important private railway line.
Subway Lines: Including the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line and Toei Mita Line, and Toei Asakusa Line.

Roads and Highways

Shinagawa is also well-connected by major roads and expressways.

Shuto Expressway: Important routes like Route 1, Route 2, Bayshore Route, and Central Circular Route.
National Highways: Including Route 1, Route 15, and Route 357.

You might notice that many license plates in Tokyo say "Shinagawa." This is because the main vehicle registration office for central Tokyo is located here.