Japan City By Prefecture

Nihonbashi is a business district in the Chuo ward of central Tokyo. Nihonbashi, which literally means Japan Bridge, derives its name from the historic bridge which crosses the Nihonbashi River. The first Nihonbashi (bridge) was wooden and completed in 1603. In 1911, the current stone bridge was completed. Nihonbashi (bridge) was referred to as the Japan Bridge as it was the eastern end of the Nakasendo and Tokaido roads which joined Tokyo and Kyoto. Even today all distances for roads are measured from the central point of the bridge. Nihonbashi is the location of the first department store in Japan, Mitsukoshi, which has now been joined by the Takashimaya Department Store. Nihonbashi is the site of the Bank of Japan and the Tokyo Stock Exchange. |