Tokyo’s Todoroki Ravine

Backyard Tourism Vol. 6

Welcome back to another installment on my ongoing Backyard Tourism series. Presently, as I write this, the world is still in the middle of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. While Japan ceased its state of emergency in the latter half of May, our battle with the virus is still far from over. For the time being, the government is asking residents to refrain from traveling outside of the confines of their prefectures. Since we are no longer being requested to remain inside as we had been during the state of emergency, many residents are venturing outside and engaging in what is being called “micro tourism” (close-to-home trips that can be reached either by bike or on foot).

Keeping the government’s precautionary guidelines in mind to avoid crossing Tokyo’s borders, I recently took it upon myself to walk halfway across the city. My destination was the Todoroki Ravine in Setagaya Ward. This scenic landscape is quite the contrast to the regular hustle and bustle of the world’s most populated megalopolis. The location’s alluring walking trails unsurprisingly make it a perennially beloved weekend reprieve for families living in Setagaya Ward. With few other alternatives for escaping the stress of the concrete jungle, is it any surprise that so many Tokyoites flock to the Todoroki Ravine for an all too short siesta?