Do you know about the Ota Ward in Tokyo? It is one of the 23 wards of Tokyo, with various unique neighbourhoods and areas, along with different things to do and sights to see. If you are wondering what is Ota ward, the different areas inside Ota, best things to do, history, accommodation and more, check out this ultimate Ota ward area guide.
What is Ota City Ward?
Ota Ward is located at the southernmost tip of Tokyo’s 23 wards. Ota-ku is home to Haneda Airport, one of the largest airports in Japan and the gateway to the Tokyo skyline, and a stopover point for many visitors to Tokyo.
Needless to say, Ota-ku was named after the two major downtown areas of Omori and Kamata, and the fact that it is served by the sky-blue Keihin-Tohoku Line, which is famous as a line for transporting poor people, is probably not only due to my imagination, but also because of the presence of Akabane in Kita-ku, which is also located at the edge of Tokyo.
On the other side of the Arakawa River is Kawasaki, one of the most heavily industrialised areas in eastern Japan, and on the other side is Kawaguchi, also one of the most concentrated foundry industries in Japan.
Ota-ku, located in front of Kawasaki, is also part of the Keihin Industrial Zone, and along with Kawasaki and Tsurumi, it is an industrial area with a downtown-like townscape centring on small and medium-sized factories, especially those of small and medium-sized companies, spreading out around the waterfront area.
On the other hand, if you take the Tokyu Tamagawa Line from Kamata to the inland area, you will find Denenchofu, one of the most famous and exclusive residential areas in Japan. This disparity is tremendous even though they are in the same Ota Ward.
Furthermore, the mountainside of Omori is also a seriously exclusive area called Sanno. The Magome Bunshi Mura (literary village) was once located in this area, and the streets are filled with the aroma of culture. Kamata’s kuroyu (black hot spring) and winged dumplings, and the Gokai ceremony at Ikegami Honmonji Temple are the pride of Ota Ward residents, and the Jindai procession at the Jingmei Grand Shrine in Kojiya is another hidden speciality.
Living in Ota City Ward
In Ota Ward as a whole, Denenchofu, Sanno on the west side of Omori Station, and Magome, known as Magome Bunshi Mura (literary village), can be cited as seriously high-class residential areas, but the rest of the city is mostly downtown, and the Tokyu Ikegami and Tamagawa lines, not to mention the seaside from the Keihin-Tohoku line, are also well-known as residential areas. The atmosphere of the area where the Tokyu Ikegami Line and Tamagawa Line run is exclusively that of a commoner.
However, if you limit yourself to areas with high commuting convenience, the rougher areas on the ocean side are inevitably the choices. Even if they share the same name of Omori, the world is completely different between the highlands of Sanno, where the real celebrities live, and Heiwajima, a den of boat gambling old men and gangsters.
Just as Yamate-machi, a seriously upscale residential area, and Kotobukicho, a huge dodgy town, are located next to each other around Ishikawamachi Station on Yokohama’s Negishi Line, the contrast between the extremes of Yokohama and Ota Ward is similar in the image.
Like Kawasaki across the Tama River, Ota Ward has grown up between Tokyo and Yokohama, incorporating both urban cultures. The Keikyu Line, which runs to and from Haneda Airport, is divided between trains bound for central Tokyo and Yokohama, and the downtown area on the ocean side belongs to the Keihin industrial zone of Kawasaki and Tsurumi.
History of Ota City Ward
Located at the tip of the Musashino Plateau and surrounded by the sea and rivers, the area has many archaeological sites such as the Omori Shell Mound and the Tamagawadai Tumulus Group, indicating that it is an area with a long and unbroken history from ancient times.
During the Edo period, the area was a busy transportation hub along the Tokaido Highway, and at the same time, as a farming and fishing village, nori (seaweed) cultivation flourished in the Omori and Haneda areas, which are close to the coast.
Since the Taisho Period, small and medium-sized factories have been located in the area, forming part of the Keihin Industrial Zone.
After the Great Kanto Earthquake, residential development progressed rapidly on the plateau, giving rise to new residential areas rich in greenery, such as Denenchofu, Yukigaya, and Kugahara.
In 1932, two wards, Omori and Kamata, were created, and in 1947, these two wards were merged and named Ota Ward, taking one letter from each.
From 1967 to 1992, Ota-ku expanded its area by reclaiming Tokyo Bay, and became the most extensive of the 23 wards, surpassing Setagaya-ku.
Areas of Ota City Ward
JR Keihin Tohoku Line
(1) Kamata 蒲田
Kamata is a major entertainment district in Jonan, representing Ota Ward. The area in front of the station is a sleeping place for homeless people and Internet cafe refugees. Aum Takahashi also hides out here.
The west exit of the station is home to a downtown arcade shopping street and Yuzawaya handicraft store. The Tokyu line, which has a completely different character, is in front of the station. After the black hot spring baths, try out the ever-booming feathered gyoza (dumplings with wings).
(2) Omori 大森
The west and east exits have completely different characteristics. The high-class residential area of Sanno and the drinking district of Jigokudani. The east exit is a downtown like Kamata. It is full of suspicious drinking establishments and izakayas.
Keikyu Main Line and Airport Line
(3) Keikyu Kamata 京急蒲田
Keikyu Kamata is a 10-minute walk from JR Kamata Station. Between Asuto Shopping Street and Yanagidori and the station is a large-scale redevelopment. On the other hand, the forgotten east exit has the Higashi-Kamata Kinema-dori.
(4) Zoshiki 雑色
The Nishi-Rokugō Park along the Keihin-Tohoku line is breathtaking. The shopping street in front of the station is downtown. The Jumbo Sagan Building, which houses the headquarters of OK Store, a supermarket serving the entire Tokyo metropolitan area.
(5) Rokkodote 六郷土手
The southernmost of the 23 wards of Tokyo. Surrounded by the lower reaches of the Tama River. Japan’s largest homeless village is located on the riverbed under Rokugo Bridge on the border with Kawasaki. A simple lodging house quietly remains in front of the station. The retro Rokugo hot springs, with their black water baths, are supreme.
(6) Umeyashiki and Omorimachi 梅屋敷・大森町
The border between Kamata and Omori. If you follow the shopping street to the east, you will find Fukudaya, a Showa-era heritage sweet shop. Morigasaki is at the end of the Ota Ward town factory zone. The site of illegal moorings of homeless people living on boats at the lowest reaches of the Donagawa River.
(7) Heiwajima 平和島
Heiwajima Boat Racecourse, a mecca for gambling enthusiasts, and Big Fun, a hangout for yankees. Before the race, you can get a bite to eat at Shinanoji in front of the station. Omori Miyako Shinchi, a remnant of the red-light district, and the Nori no Furusato Kan. Daisaku Sensei’s birthplace was also a nori fisherman.
Omorikaigan 大森海岸
The area around the station is in Shinagawa Ward.
(8) Kojiya 糀谷
A splendid downtown shopping paradise with Oide Street on the north side in front of the station, Kojiya shopping street on the south side of Kanpachi, and Haginaka Street beyond that.
This is the home of a local new religion, Shinmei Daijingu. The fact that the founder’s family is a factory owner is typical of Ota Ward. The annual Jindai procession is a surprise even for Misuzu Gakuen.
(9) Otorii 大鳥居
The headquarters of Watami and Sega are located here. The radio wave house in Higashi-kohjiya 4-chome was a backstage speciality of the city, but it was demolished in 2011.
(10) Anamori Inari 穴守稲荷
After the war, only the torii gate was left behind when it was confiscated by the U.S. military, and the shrine grounds were moved to this location. As the name Anamori suggests, the shrine was worshipped by prostitutes in the Edo period, but today many of the votive ema (votive picture tablets) are made by stitches and people in the aviation industry living in the neighbourhood.
(11) Tenkubashi 天空橋
Only the red torii gate of the Anamori Inari Shrine, which was confiscated after the war, remains. The Ebitorigawa and Tama Rivers are filled with the vestiges of fishing villages. Hanetaura, is a hidden place for ebb and flow tides. On the airport island, there used to be a town with a population of 3,000 that disappeared when the airport was confiscated.
(12) Haneda Airport 羽田空港
As you know, this is the gateway to the skies of Tokyo.
(13) Hasunuma 蓮沼
Located at the west exit of Kamata Station, the station is just off Suzuran Dori Street and has a minor feel to it. The restaurant district behind the Tokyo Kamata Hospital, which retains a postwar atmosphere, is probably a former Blue Line station.
(14) Ikegami 池上
Ikegami Honmonji Temple, the head temple of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism, is located here. The shopping street in front of the station is like the Sugamo Jizo Street in Jonan. The percentage of elderly people is high. The annual Gokai Ceremony is also famous.
(15) Ontakesan 御嶽山
In front of the station, there is only a simple downtown shopping street, but Ontake Shrine, the first branch shrine of Kiso Ontakesan, the centre of Ontake worship in the Edo period, is located near the station and radiates majesty.
(16) Yukigaya-Otsuka/Ishikawadai 雪が谷大塚・石川台
This area is on the eastern edge of Denenchofu, one of the most exclusive residential areas in Japan. The shopping district in front of the station has a downtown flavour. Denenchofu 1-chrome and 2-chome, semi-luxury residential areas, are also close to this station.
(17) Senzokuike/Nagahara 洗足池・長原
Near Senzokuike Station, there is a guard that is too low, the narrowest in Tokyo, and adults must bend over to get under it. The area around Senzokuike Park is an excellent residential area.
Ookayama and Kita-Senzoku
The only areas along the Tokyu Oimachi Line that are covered by Ota Ward. There is nothing in particular to rush into.
Tokyu Tamagawa Line and Tokyu Toyoko Line
(18) Yaguchiwatashi and Musashishinden 矢口渡・武蔵新田
Riverside towns along the Tokyu Tamagawa Line. There are many factories along the river, which is typical of Ota Ward. Across the bridge is Komukai in Kawasaki. There is also a big Toshiba factory. Musashinden also had a red-light district for munitions factory workers.
Shimomaruko/Unoki 下丸子・鵜の木
The town faces the Musashi Kosugi tower blocks across the river. Near the Tama River gas bridge, there is a Canon factory, a cluster of large condominiums, and a large facility of the Soka Gakkai.
(19) Tamagawa/Numabe 多摩川・沼部
Located on the outskirts of Denenchofu. As the station name suggests, the Tama River flows directly in front of the station. The downtown shopping district of Denenchofu 5-chome, which does not look like Denenchofu. Part of the site of the old amusement park, Tamagawaen, is now occupied by the Seisei Korin, a new religious organisation.
(20) Denenchofu 田園調布
Denenchofu is synonymous with a prestigious luxury residential area with outstanding name recognition. The area is a district of large mansions based on the radial road created by Eiichi Shibusawa. The area is home to many prominent figures in the political and business worlds.
What to do in Ota City Ward
Ikegami Honmon-ji 池上本門寺
Ikegami Honmon-ji is the head temple of Nichiren Shoshu, and is known as the site of Nichiren Shonin’s death. Within the temple grounds are many nationally important cultural properties and tangible cultural properties designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, including the five-story pagoda of Ikegamihonmonji Temple and a wooden seated statue of Nichiren Shonin.
The “Okaeshiki Buddhist Service” held annually on October 11, 12, and 13, including the anniversary of Nichiren Shonin’s death, is the largest in Japan, attracting as many as 300,000 visitors on the evening of October 12. The highlight of the festival is the “Manto Neri Kuyo,” a procession of about 3,000 people carrying manto lanterns decorated with cherry blossoms.
Find out more about Ikegami Honmon-ji here on Google maps.
Jonanjima Seaside Park 城南島海浜公園
Jonanjima Seaside Park is located in Jonanjima, Ota-ku, facing Tokyo Bay. The park has a campsite, barbecue area, and skateboarding plaza, and is a popular leisure spot for families and people of all ages. The park is also close to Haneda Airport and the Port of Tokyo, making it a popular spot for fans of ships and aviation, as they can see aeroplanes taking off and landing at the airport and large ships entering and leaving the port from close quarters.
Find out more about Jonanjima Seaside Park here on Google maps.
Ontake Shrine 御嶽神社
This ancient temple is nicknamed “Ontake-san of Mine. It is said to have been built around 1535, when the current Mine-cho area was established. It is the first branch shrine of Kiso Ontake in the Kanto region, and it was said that “if you visit the Ontake Shrine in Mine three times, it is the same as visiting Kiso Ontake once.
It is believed that the present Ontake Shopping Arcade and Ontake Station were developed from stores that were opened for worshippers. The main shrine, located in the centre of the precincts, is a designated cultural property of the ward. The carvings on the walls, which have survived since the end of the Edo period, are a sight to behold. In the back of the shrine, there is a forest named “Reishin-no-mori,” which creates a tranquil space that one would not expect to find in a shopping arcade.
Find out more about Ontake Shrine here on Google maps.
Keihinjima Tsubasa Park 京浜島つばさ公園
Keihin Island is a man-made island with an area of about 100 hectares. Keihinjima Tsubasa Park is a metropolitan park about 1 km long stretches along the eastern shore of the island, which is mainly made up of factories. Haneda Airport is right in front of the park, so visitors can watch aeroplanes taking off and landing.
The grassy area at the northern end of the park is a BBQ area and is crowded with many families, especially on weekends. The entire park is covered with walking trails, so many people enjoy walking and running regardless of the season. Public restrooms and free parking are also available.
Find out more about Keihinjima Tsubasa Park here on Google maps.
Ikegami Plum Garden 池上梅園
Ikegami Umeen is a plum orchard located in Ota Ward, Tokyo. Approximately 370 plum trees, the flower of Ota Ward, are planted here, and in early spring, the red and white flowers bloom in profusion. There are also approximately 800 azalea and other trees planted in the garden, as well as a tea ceremony room and a Japanese-style room. The garden was originally the home and studio (Gassan Sanso) of Japanese-style painter Shinsui Ito, and was transferred to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on the condition that the garden is preserved.
Find out more about Ikegami Plum Garden here on Google maps.
Tamagawa Sengen-jinja Shrine 多摩川浅間神社
This shrine enshrines Kihanasakuyahime no Mikoto, who is said to be the god of family happiness, easy childbirth, and safe childbirth. The shrine was founded more than 800 years ago. It is said that Masako Hojo, wife of Lord Minamoto no Yoritomo, worried about her husband’s safety in battle and took a rest on the way to Mt. Fuji.
The shrine’s history goes back to the time when she joined hands with the “Sengen Shrine” in the direction of Mt. Fuji on a clear day, and one can recall the view that the Hojo clan worshipped at the shrine. The red seal, whose design changes every month, is very popular.
Find out more about Tamagawa Sengen-jinja Shrine here on Google maps.
Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park 東京港野鳥公園
A 15-minute walk from Tokyo Monorail Ryutsu Center Station, this metropolitan wild bird park is surrounded by the Wangan Road and Metropolitan Expressway. The park was established when many wild birds migrated to the grasslands and ponds created during the reclamation of Tokyo Bay.
Every year, around 120 species of waterfowl, including snipes, plovers, ducks, small birds, and goshawks, visit the park, and 227 species of wild birds have been observed since its opening. It is a valuable habitat for wild birds in Tokyo, with its approximately 36 hectares of land teeming with wild birds and waterfront creatures.
Find out more about Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park here on Google maps.
Kamata Onsen 蒲田温泉
This public bathhouse was established in 1937. The water is sodium bicarbonate and chloride mineral spring and is called “kuroyu” (black water) because of its black colour. The bathhouse is well-equipped with hot and cold bathtubs, a jet bath, an electric bath, a water bath, and a sauna.
On the second floor, there is a large hall where you can enjoy karaoke, eating and drinking, and a place where you can forget about everyday life and feel like you are on a hot spring trip.
Find out more about Kamata Onsen here on Google maps.
Hasunuma Onsen はすぬま温泉
A natural hot spring with a Taisho-romantic concept, the interior design is reminiscent of Dogo Onsen in Ehime. The light yellowish-brown clear water is 100% free-flowing. The spring is a sodium chloride-hydrogen carbonate cold mineral spring and is well known as hot water for beautiful skin.
It is effective for cuts, chronic skin diseases, chronic digestive diseases, etc., and leaves the skin smooth and silky after bathing. The free herbal tea served after bathing is also a nice touch. At night, the warm lighting inside the bathhouse makes the stained glass windows on the exterior look even more beautiful.
Find out more about Hasunuma Onsen here on Google maps.
Shōwa Era Lifestyle Museum 昭和のくらし博物館
This museum is designated as a registered tangible cultural property. The director of the museum, Kazuko Koizumi, a life history researcher, has preserved a house built in 1951 in which she and her family lived for 45 years, complete with household goods, and has opened it to the public as a place to learn about the lives of common people in the Showa period.
The museum also holds special exhibits, with each room having a different theme, recreating the changes in daily life according to the four seasons.
Find out more about Shōwa Era Lifestyle Museum here on Google maps.
Hōrai Park 大田区立宝来公園
Hōrai Park park was originally a plaza created in 1925 for the purpose of preserving the old Musashino landscape. In 1944, the park was reopened as the current Hourai Park. About a 6-minute walk from Denenchofu Station, the quiet park is located at the southwestern end of a row of ginkgo trees that radiate out.
The park is full of nature, with 70 varieties of trees, including plum, cherry, camellia, and sasanqua. In May, about 300 kishoubu (a kind of Japanese flowering plant) bloom in profusion, making the park a popular destination for many visitors.
Find out more about Hōrai Park here on Google maps.
Events in Ota City Ward
- Mizoremai Sashiki 水止舞
- Hachimangu Autumn Festival洗足八幡宮秋季大祭
Accommodation in Ota City Ward
The Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda (4*)
Shinagawa Station is a 11-minute ride away by the Airport Rapid Limited Express train, and Hamamatsucho is a 13-minute ride away by the Tokyo Monorail Haneda Express. Shibuya can be accessed by taking the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa, then transferring to the JR Line. Guests can also enjoy a free coffee take out service if they are scheduled for an international flight after check-out.
Hotel Oriental Express Tokyo Kamata (3*)
Conveniently set in the Ota Ward district of Tokyo, Hotel Oriental Express Tokyo Kamata is located 1.8 km from Omori Hachiman Shrine, 1.9 km from Uramori Inari Shrine and 2 km from Miwa Itsukushima Shrine. Gonsho-ji Temple is 2.3 km from Hotel Oriental Express Tokyo Kamata, while Tokujo-ji Temple is 2.4 km away. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 13 km from the hotel.
Kario Kamata (3*)
Situated 2 km from Omori Hachiman Shrine and 2.2 km from Miwa Itsukushima Shrine, Kario Kamata in Tokyo features air-conditioned accommodation with views of the city and free WiFi. Uramori Inari Shrine is 2.3 km from the apartment, while Gonsho-ji Temple is 2.4 km from the property. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 13 km from Kario Kamata.
Hotel JAL City Haneda Tokyo West Wing (4*)
Conveniently located 10-minutes from Haneda Airport by train on the Keikyu Airport Line, Hotel JAL City Haneda Tokyo West Wing is a 4-minute walk from Anamori-inari Station. Tenkubashi Station on the Tokyo Monorail Line is a 12-minute stroll from this hotel. Ooedo Onsen Monogatari is a 50-minute train ride away on the Keikyu-Kuko Line and Yurikakome Line. Fuji TV Odaiba, a popular area for shopping and dining, is 50-minutes away on the Keikyu Line.
Art Apartment AOCA Sanno OLIVE (3*)
Located in Tokyo, 700 m from Atre Omori and 800 m from Shopping Mall Omori Rara, and its popular points of interest near the apartment include Omori Sanno Hie Shrine, Enno-ji Temple and Omori Shell Mounds.
Red Roof Inn Kamata / Haneda Tokyo (3*)
Red Roof Inn Kamata / Haneda Tokyo is located in Tokyo, 7 km from Tokyo International Airport Terminal No2 Observation Deck. Every room comes with a flat-screen TV. Oedo Onsen Monogatari is 8 km from Red Roof Inn Kamata / Haneda Tokyo, while Ebisu Garden Place is 9 km from the property. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 5 km from Red Roof Inn Kamata / Haneda Tokyo.
KEIKYU EX INN Kamata (3*)
In a prime location in the Ota Ward district of Tokyo, KEIKYU EX INN Kamata is located 1.2 km from Omori Hachiman Shrine, 1.6 km from Miwa Itsukushima Shrine and 1.8 km from Tokujo-ji Temple. The property is around 2.4 km from Omori Furusato-no-Hamabe Park, 2.4 km from Morigasaki Kotsu Park and 2.7 km from Omori Nori Museum. Heiwa no Mori Park is 2.9 km from the hotel. Popular points of interest near KEIKYU EX INN Kamata include Gonsho-ji Temple, Kifune Shrine and Uramori Inari Shrine.
IKIDANE Cosy Hotel Haneda Airport
Located in Tokyo, 2.6 km from Morigasaki Kotsu Park. The property is situated 2.6 km from Uramori Inari Shrine, 3.1 km from Miwa Itsukushima Shrine and 3.4 km from Omori Hachiman Shrine. The property is 4.4 km from Tokyo International Airport Terminal No2 Observation Deck and 5 km from Tokujo-ji Temple. Kifune Shrine is 3.8 km from IKIDANE Cozy Hotel Haneda, while Gonsho-ji Temple is 3.9 km away. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 10 km from the accommodation.
HIROKI Building (3*)
Located in Tokyo, HIROKI Building provides city views and free WiFi, 2.8 km from Omori Hachiman Shrine and 3 km from Miwa Itsukushima Shrine. Uramori Inari Shrine is 3.1 km from the apartment, while Gonsho-ji Temple is 3.3 km away. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 15 km from HIROKI Building.
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What do you think about Ota Ward in Tokyo? Do you like finding out about the history and culture of this interesting area of Tokyo? There is so much history and unique things to do in this local neighbourhood of Tokyo, if you’re interested in coming for yourself, make sure to refer back to this blog.
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