The Kanda area is today noted for its many schools, colleges, bookshops and second-hand bookstores that extend up to Jimbocho, where one can still fond editions long long out of print.

Notwithstanding the tendency of Shinjuku in becoming the central heart of Tokyo, the Marunouchi business section is steadily pushing itself towards Kanda, which is not strange as part of it is the same word.

Notwithstanding the tendency of Shinjuku in becoming the central heart of Tokyo, the Marunouchi business section is steadily pushing itself towards Kanda, which is not strange as part of it is the same word.

Kanda formerly merited the name of a ward itself and in Edo days many merchants concentrated here.  To say that one was born in Kanda was a compliment.  They took pride in its Myojin festival which in conjunction with that of Hie Shrine was the city’s largest and best.

The Kanda Myojin records back to the 8^th century.  It could be much earlier, proving this area being settled long ago.  Its hills helped make the city of Edo by filling up the swamps.  An important source of water supply for Edo passed through Kanda brought in from the lake of today’s Inokashira Park just besides Kichijoji Station.

The area surrounding Kanda railway station was known as Dyer’s Town.  Here long strips of silk, hemp and cotton were printed into Yukata patterns washed in the flowing waters of the canal which also has long since been filled up.