Near Gotanda Station, a district of office workers by day and neon-lit nightlife after dusk, lie the Ikedayama Kita ruins, the oldest known archaeological site in Shinagawa Ward. Dating to the prehistoric Jomon Period, traces of ancient earthen kitchens from roughly 10,000 years ago have been discovered there.
While it may seem unimaginable amid today¡¯s dense urban sprawl and packed commuter stations, much of the southern Tokyo corridor between Hamamatsucho and Oimachi stations ¡ª now the focus of major redevelopment by JR East Group ¡ª was once low-lying marshland or open sea, with human settlements clustered instead on plateaus and higher ground overlooking the coast.
Today, each station neighborhood along what JR East calls the ¡°Greater Shinagawa Area¡± projects a distinct vibe. Around Hamamatsucho Station, office towers and hotels stand alongside the Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden and Zojoji temple beneath the looming presence of Tokyo Tower. Near Tamachi Station, sleek high-rises coexist with student-filled streets surrounding Keio University, interspersed with canals and warehouses.
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