Kagurazaka - 神楽坂

Kagurazaka, identified by the Japanese characters 神楽坂, is one of Tokyo's most atmospheric neighborhoods, a steep cobblestoned slope lined with traditional restaurants, geisha houses, and narrow alleyways that has preserved its Edo-period character into the modern era. Nouet's [oban](/glossary/oban) woodblock print captures the distinctive quality of this hillside district in Shinjuku ward, where the main street climbs sharply from the Sotobori moat toward the Bishamonten temple at its summit. The neighborhood's French connections run deep: it became home to a French community centered on the nearby Institut franco-japonais, making Nouet's depiction of Kagurazaka particularly personal. The winding back streets, called yokocho, branch off the main slope in a labyrinthine pattern that has charmed visitors and residents alike for generations.