Azabu-Juban: the old shopping street and the red tower
A down-to-earth shotengai, the 1958 tower, and the great temple it rises behind. This is a Claude-drafted route awaiting the editor's walk.

1. Azabu-Juban shotengai
The *shotengai* — covered-feeling shopping street — that money never quite tidied up. Old sweet shops, a *senbei* (rice-cracker) stall, the *taiyaki* counters. Start here and eat something before you climb anything.

2. Azabu-Juban Inari shrine
A small shrine wedged into the street's south end, the *kogarashi monju* frog statue beside it. Worth thirty seconds for the contrast — this is the neighbourhood's own quiet centre, not a destination.

3. Tokyo Tower
Up the hill to the 1958 lattice tower — taller than the Eiffel it copies, painted international orange and white so aircraft can see it. You don't have to go up; the best view of the tower is from the ground looking up through the legs.

4. Zojoji
The great Jodo-sect temple, the *Sangedatsumon* gate from 1622 framing the red tower behind it — the photograph everyone takes. Walk the row of small *Jizo* statues in red bibs and pinwheels along the side; they commemorate lost children, and the pinwheels turn even on a still day.

5. Shiba Park
One of Japan's oldest public parks, wrapped around the temple grounds. A quiet green bench with the tower overhead is the right place to end the walk before the station. Cherry trees if you've timed it for spring.

6. Onarimon
The Toei Mita line at Onarimon sits at the temple's old front gate — *onarimon* means the gate a shogun entered by. One stop, and the walk has a tidy historical bookend.

Azabu-Juban: the old shopping street and the red tower