Azabujuban Shopping Area

Poste date: Friday, January 13, 2023

History of Azabujuban

Azabujuban Shopping Street has prospered as a temple town of the Zenpukuji Temple since the Edo Era for over 300 years. The area also prospered as an important crossing point for traffic centered along the Furukawa River, and was home to horse fairs and riding grounds. Many daimyos built their second homes here. With the residences of their vassals in the area, the surrounding town soon filled with other merchants and normal residents.

Zenpukuji Temple is known as the place where the first Tokyo legation of the United States of America was established in 1859 under Consul-General Townsend Harris. A historical monument of this historical event can be found on the premises of the temple.

If you would like to learn more about the history around this area, please read History of Hiroo and History of Roppongi.

Zenpukuji Temple Monument

Today there are more than 20 embassies around the area as well as many foreign residents living in the area. The name Azabujuban was legally decided upon in 1962 by bringing back the old area name it was commonly known by during the Edo Era which was ‘Juban-kumi (=10^th Group) residence’ or ‘Juban (=10^th) Bridge’.

Along the Azabujuban shopping street, which has the atmosphere of an Edo Era old village, attracts many foreign visitors with its more than 300 new and old shops lined up. There are many long standing shops which were established more than 100 years ago.

‘Naniwaya Souhonten’ is famous for Taiyaki (a Japanese style pancake with sweet bean filling) made with a traditional manufacturing method since the establishment of business in 1909.

‘Tanuki Senbei’, which was established in 1928 and became the exclusive Imperial Household Ministry contractor as a rice cracker shop, has very popular rice crackers baked by the original direct baking method.

‘Mamegen’, which was established in 1865, is pursuing a wholesome taste of bean cake by a manufacturing method that preserves and enhances the characteristic and flavor of the bean.

‘Azabu Nagasaka Sarashina Honten’, which is a traditional Soba noodle shop (buckwheat), is popular with Japanese and foreign actors and artists.

Popular shops and restaurants in Azabujuban Shopping Street

Azabu Nagasaka Sarashina Honten

Soba, Sushi, Traditional Japanese food

A: 1-2-7 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
W: http://www.sarashina-honten.com/

Bakery Mont-Thabor

A: 2-3-3 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
W: http://mont-thabor.jp/

Cafe la Boheme

Italian restaurant

A: 2-3-7 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
W: https://boheme.jp/

FRIJOLES

Burritos & Tacos Restaurant

A: 2-3-5 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
W: https://frijoles.jp/store.html

Hana Ichie

Traditional Japanese broth, soup, and ochazuke

A: 2-1-1 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
W: https://www.hanaichie.com/

Mamegen

Bean confectionery, Rice crackers

A: 1-8-12 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
W: https://www.mamegen.com/?mode=f1

Naniwaya Sohonten

Taiyaki, Yakisoba, Anmitsu

A: 1-8-14 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
W: https://www.azabujuban.or.jp/shop/shop_category/eat/219/

Tanuki Senbei

Rice crackers

A: 1-9-13 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
W: https://www.tanuki10.com/

Azabujuban Noryo-matsuri Festival

Azabujuban Noryo-matsuri Festival held in August. The time will be from 15:00 to 21:00 is the biggest annual event at Azabujuban Shopping Street.

During the festival various events are held, temporary specialty stores are opened with products and foods from various parts of Japan, Street stalls, entertainment by popular comedians, musical accompaniment by Japanese traditional instruments,‘Kodomo Fureai Hiroba (=Children’s communication Square)’where there are many entertainment options for children to play with, and the ‘STAGE 10-BANG’set-up in the Patio Juban.

Many domestic and foreign people visit the festival. There are stalls set-up by well-known restaurants and stores in Azabujuban, and also stalls from various countries in the international bazaar with the cooperation of approximately 30 embassies, making it possible to enjoy a variety of genuine international flavors in one place.