Ningyocho - Doll Town

A district in the northeastern part of Chuo Ward, Tokyo. Its correct name is Nihonbashi Ningyocho. During the Edo Period, it was a prosperous area in the east that rivaled Ginza in the west. Until it moved to Asakusa Saruwakacho in 1842 (Tenpo 13), it was the center of Edo theater, and it was also the location of a doll market, and the area was lined with shops selling souvenir dolls, which is said to be the origin of the name of the district. However, since the Meiji Period, Ningyocho has a deep connection with Suitengu Shrine, which is worshiped as the guardian deity of safe childbirth and drowning, and it developed as a temple town. Today, it is a commercial district lined with financial institutions and company headquarters and branches. As you would expect from a temple town, there are also many long-established restaurants and confectionery shops. The Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and the Toei Subway Asakusa Line intersect at Ningyocho Station.

[Kikuchi Masao]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

東京都中央区北東部にある地区。正しくは日本橋人形町。江戸時代、西の銀座と肩を並べた東の繁栄地。1842年（天保13）に浅草猿若(さるわか)町に移転するまで江戸芝居の中心地で、人形市(いち)も立ち、土産(みやげ)物の人形を売る店が並んでにぎわっていたのが町名の由来という。しかし、明治以降は人形町といえば水難・安産の守護神として信仰される水天宮との縁が深く、その門前町として発展した。現在は金融機関や会社の本・支店の並ぶ商業地区。また、門前町らしく老舗(しにせ)の料理店・菓子店がある。東京地下鉄日比谷(ひびや)線と都営地下鉄浅草線が人形町駅で交差している。

［菊池万雄］

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