Image of A walk enjoying street food in Sunamachi Ginza while passing through parks with a past.

A walk enjoying street food in Sunamachi Ginza while passing through parks with a past.

We’re starting this walk from Minamisunamachi Station (T15) on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line.
It seems like a convenient place to live, but not somewhere you’d normally think to visit.
Since this route includes the Sunamachi Ginza shopping street, it’s a good idea to come hungry.

From the east exit of the station, walk along the open street for about five minutes, and you’ll see Minamisuna Sanchome Park.
From there, the path leads into the backstreets.

Image of MINAMISUNA 3 CHOME PARK
MINAMISUNA 3 CHOME PARK
Just a short walk from Minamisunamachi Station, this park is larger than it looks, with surprising depth. The path through it seems to be a pleasant route for people heading to the station.
  • PUBLIC
Exit from the back of the park and walk for about 5 minutes.
Image of AION STYLE MINAMISUNA
AION STYLE MINAMISUNA
A rather unusual Aeon for central Tokyo. Food trucks sometimes set up in the parking lot, and there’s a Starbucks, so you can grab a quick bite or drink as you walk.
  • SHOPPING
Head out from the side with the Starbucks. It’s about a 5-minute walk.
Image of SENDAIBORI RIVER PARK
SENDAIBORI RIVER PARK
A park built on the filled-in former Sunamachi Canal. Waterways and trees run the length of it, with cherry blossoms and autumn colours to enjoy. Convenience stores dot the route, making it ideal for a stroll. (Tip: to reach Sunamachi Ginza from here, turn at the Ministop.)
  • PUBLIC
Look for the Ministop convenience store as your landmark. From there, leave the park and walk 5 minutes to the shopping street.
Image of SUNAMACHI GINZA SHOPPING STREET
SUNAMACHI GINZA SHOPPING STREET
Even if you know the name, this shopping street is hard to visit unless you live nearby. Sampling oden, yakitori and croquettes as you wander is great fun—you’ll end up full before you know it.
  • SHOPPING
Walk through the shopping street for about 10 minutes. You can also go through the Ario Kitasuna mall if you prefer.
Image of ONAGIGAWA CLOVER BRIDGE
ONAGIGAWA CLOVER BRIDGE
A large bridge where the straight canal dug under Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Onagigawa, meets the north-south Yokojikken River. Because the bridge itself crosses in four directions, it forms a clover shape from above. You can see Tokyo Skytree and catch gorgeous sunsets (and sunrises), so it’s a prime photo spot if you time it right.
  • PUBLIC
Follow the riverside path toward the Tokyo Skytree. It’s about a 5-minute walk.
Image of SARUE ONSHI PARK
SARUE ONSHI PARK
A spacious park created on the site of a former log pond. Cherry trees, lawns and occasional food stalls make it a local oasis. Although a main road cuts through it, there’s a Japanese garden and a stylish café beneath a ward facility on the other side.
  • PUBLIC

The goal is Sarue Onshi Park, just a short walk from Sumiyoshi Station (Hanzomon Line Z12 / Toei Shinjuku Line S13).

This walk might end up being all about snacking your way through Sunamachi Ginza, but there’s more to notice if you look.
There are parks built on the remains of old canals and lumberyards that once supported Edo, and even the shopping street itself dates back to before the war.
It may feel like an ordinary residential area now, but if you tune in to the layers of history beneath your feet, the walk becomes a bit richer.

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UPDATE: