Deeply verdant and wreathed in stillness, the Todoroki Ravine is a different planet compared to the rest of Tokyo.

Its history dates back to the Kofun Period. Burial mounds dot this area, as well as traces of how people lived, prayed, and mourned their dead.

During the Muromachi Period, this region fell under the jurisdiction of Totoro Castle and Lord Kirashi. He ruled over vast swathes of land, building castles in Setagaya – at modern-day Gōtoku-ji Temple – and Okusawa – at modern-day Kuhonbutsu Jōshin-ji Temple – to defend key positions along the Kamakura Kaidō road network.

During the Edo Period, locals, merchants and people of culture came together in this region. The river provided for the residents here, with waterwheels lining the riverside supporting rice threshers and mills. And lively festivals shaped the rhythm of life and culture in this area.

Then in the Taishō Period, the village headman proposed to develop the land, ushering in a colossal road construction project resulting in gridded, zigzagging agricultural tracks. This put an end to border disputes and its influence can be seen in the townscape today. Afterwards, while postwar urban development advanced, the nature here was preserved – a dream that can be seen along this green road.

The ravine changes dramatically with the seasons; cherry blossoms in spring, the deep greens of summer, blazing autumn leaves, and the crisp stillness of winter. They speak to the people’s prayers and respect for the land across history.

When you walk along this path, try and feel the steps of people who walked here, again and again, over the long years, resulting in the storied valley you’re in now.