The remains of the Execution Ground lie in a pleasant suburban area between Shinagawa in Tokyo Prefecture and Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture, which are Stations #1 and 2 respectively (from Nihombashi in Tokyo) on the Old Tokaido Highway. You can read about my visit to Suzugamori in my Logbook.
This is just a little street corner near a highway and Shinagawa Aquarium--but heavy with atmosphere. It commemorates Edo's former execution ground, but all that's left are some statues and grave stones, some of which also came from Daikyouji Temple. My friend and translator Naoko told me that rents in the area tend to be cheaper--to entice people to move here despite their fear of ghosts. The site contains signs of active reverence--live flower offerings, etc. No more words--just pictures.
[Note added 2019: There's a Wikipedia article about it! It says that in 220 years of operation, perhaps 100,000 people were executed on this roughly 4,000-square-foot piece of ground!]
Posted September 23, 2019
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