Toshima-Baba Archaeological Park combines an archaeological focus with a scenic perspective: it is located near the Sumida River and offers a good view. Finds, the place name, and a shrine tradition offer different ways to explore Toshima’s history. This variety can help you assess the destination based on your specific interests.
Archaeology and Landscape
More than 100 square tombs surrounded by ditches dating from the early Kofun period have been identified in the park. Casting molds for glass beads, described as the oldest in Japan, were found in some of the tombs. The two types of finds draw attention to different details: the tombs show a particular form of burial structure, while the molds point to the production of glass beads. The number of tombs and the craft-related evidence of the glass-bead molds thus emerge as distinct aspects.
The park’s location near the Sumida River adds another dimension to its archaeological history. Its good view provides a scenic accent distinct from the finds: the archaeological features lead back to the early Kofun period, while the riverside location and view describe the site. For trip planning, these are two separate points of interest that place cultural interest and an appreciation of the landscape side by side.
Place Name and Clan History
The place name Toshima comes from the Toshima clan, which ruled the area from the Kamakura through the Muromachi period. The name itself therefore provides a historical point of reference: it connects the area with a clan and a long span of time. This distinguishes it from the tombs of the early Kofun period. Those interested in local history can view both topics as different historical layers: the archaeological finds on the one hand, and the history of the clan and the name on the other.
A Tradition About Itsutaro Shrine
A tradition adds a specific event to this history. According to the account, toward the end of the Kamakura period, Suzuki Shigeno from Kumano in Kishū and the Toshima clan arranged for Itsutaro Shrine to be transferred to the village of Ōji. The Toshima clan appears again here, this time in the story about the shrine. The history of the name connects the clan with the area, while the shrine tradition recounts a transfer. Together, they offer several historical perspectives without forming a single sequence of events.
The time periods can be clearly distinguished: the tombs date to the early Kofun period, the clan’s history spans the Kamakura through Muromachi period, and the tradition places the shrine transfer toward the end of the Kamakura period.
Assessing Toshima as a Destination
When considering Toshima as a destination, ask yourself which of these perspectives appeals to you most: early archaeological finds, the origin of the place name, or the shrine tradition. The park’s proximity to the Sumida River and its view also give the cultural theme a scenic dimension. Toshima is particularly worth considering if you would like to take both local history and the landscape into account when choosing a destination.
Discover more destinations: TaitĹŤ, Hamura, Hino, Nerima, Meguro, Shinagawa, Nozawa, ĹŚta
See the full travel overview: Tokyo.
