Tokyo Sanpo【Kotake-Mukaihara〜Ekoda】

A quiet school route remaining within the city, a university town, shopping streets, and a slightly deep downtown charm.
The Kotake-Mukaihara to Ekoda area offers a “just right” walking course where you can stroll comfortably without any pressure.

🚶‍♀️Course Overview

🌸 Saburoku Shiki no Michi (Seasonal Path)（さぶろく四季の道）
🥐 Criollo Main Store（クリオロ本店）
🌳 Itabashi City Komone Park（板橋区立小茂根公園）
🎼 Musashino Academia Musicae（武蔵野音楽大学）
⛩️ Asama Shrine（浅間神社）
🚉 Ekoda Station South Exit（江古田駅南口）
🚉 Ekoda Station North Exit（江古田駅北口）
🗿 Ekoda Koshinzuka（江古田庚申塚）
➡️ Shin-Sakuradai Station（新桜台駅）

🌸 Saburoku Shiki no Michi (Seasonal Path)

From Exit 2 of Kotake-Mukaihara Station, heading toward Kan-nana Avenue along Yacho-dori, you’ll find a greenway that runs over a tunnel—shared by pedestrians and cyclists.
It’s a pleasant walking path where you can enjoy seasonal scenery: cherry blossoms in spring, lush shade in summer, and colorful foliage in autumn.

🥐 Criollo Main Store

Just a short walk from Exit 3 of Kotake-Mukaihara Station is a stylish sweets shop.
This is the main store, and they also have branches in Nakameguro and Azabudai Hills.
https://ecolecriollo.com/shop-honten/

🌳 Itabashi City Komone Park

A quiet park with benches and a grassy lawn—perfect for a mid-morning break.
The cheerful voices of neighborhood children echo through the air, creating a warm and relaxing atmosphere.

🎼 Musashino Academia Musicae

As you head toward Ekoda, a grand building comes into view in the quiet residential neighborhood — this is Musashino Academia Musicae.
Walking around the campus, you can almost feel the atmosphere of classical music in the air. It gives the area a slightly cultured vibe, and I found myself enjoying that mood as I walked.

⛩️ Asama Shrine

This shrine is located right in front of the north exit of Ekoda Station.
Highlights include a Zelkova tree, designated as one of Nerima’s notable trees, and a Fujizuka (a miniature Mt. Fuji mound) tucked away in the back right corner.
The Fujizuka is usually closed to the public and only opens three times a year: on July 1st for the official start of the climbing season, during the New Year holidays (January 1st–3rd), and on the second Saturday and Sunday of September.

A **Fujizuka** is an artificial mound or hill built to resemble **Mount Fuji**.

🚉 Ekoda Station South Exit

Arrived at Ekoda Station!
Right outside the south exit, I found a regional specialty shop from Ueda City in Nagano Prefecture!
Time to take a stroll around and explore some interesting-looking shops.

🚉 Ekoda Station North Exit

I headed to the north exit and wandered around this shopping street as well.
There were quite a few interesting shops that caught my eye.

This is said to be the very first **Matsuya** store — a memorable milestone for the chain.

🗿 Ekoda Koshinzuka

Heading toward Shin-Sakuradai Station along the shopping street, I came across a Kōshin-zuka—a small stone monument cherished by the local community.
Even in its modest size, you can feel the deep connection to traditional beliefs and local culture.