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Hakozaki is located at the crossing point of the Metropolitan Expressway #9 (Fukagawa line) and #6 (Mukojima line). The group of tall buildings surrounding the town reminds you of a futuristic SF fiction movie. The so called "gate to abroad" or Tokyo City Air Terminal in Hakozaki functions as a key transportation point. On the other hand, Ningyo-cho, another town in the vicinity, and Fukagawa, across the river, retains a folksy atmosphere of a small town in Yedo (present day Tokyo). The origin of the name Hakozaki is uncertain. Some say that it was taken after the name of Hakozaki Shrine, and others say that the name was taken from the pond Hako-ike (or Hakozaki-ike) in the vicinity. This area used to be an island surrounded by the Sumida, Nihombashi, and Hakozaki Rivers until 1970. Since water transportation was more popular at the time, there were a number of barges bunched up around here. Along the Nihombashi River from Minato Bridge are a row of warehouses. One of them on the corner, made of bricks in a Gothic style, was designed by a British architect Josiah Conder in 1880. In the Yedo period (1603 - 1867), right after passing Eitai Bridge crossing Shinkawa to Fukagawa, just south of Toyomi Bridge crossing at the mouth of the Nihombashi River, was Tokyo Bay. However, the coastal line has receded since the new city district was built.
Courtesy: Communications Museum & Tokyo Clues Ship Company
