Sengakuji Temple and the 47 Rōnin
Sengakuji (泉岳寺) is one of the most visited temples in Tokyo among Japanese visitors, yet barely known to international tourists. The temple contains the graves of Ōishi Kuranosuke and the 47 rōnin — the masterless samurai who avenged their lord's death in 1703, were captured, and were ordered to commit ritual suicide. The story (known as the Akō Incident or Chūshingura) remains the most celebrated example of samurai loyalty in Japanese culture and is the subject of countless films, plays, and novels.
The graveyard is small and simple — the 47 stone graves arranged in rows, with the grave of their lord Asano Naganori at the head. Visitors still leave incense and offerings. A small adjacent museum houses armour, weapons, and documents from the incident. The temple is 3 minutes from Sengakuji Station on the Asakusa and Keikyu lines.
The Old Tōkaidō Post Town
The Shinagawa-juku (品川宿) was the first post station on the Tōkaidō highway — the road that connected Edo (Tokyo) with Kyoto during the Edo period. The main street of the old post town, Kita-Shinagawa, retains a surprisingly coherent Edo-period streetscape: narrow lanes, old merchant houses converted into cafes and restaurants, and a sequence of small temples that served travellers on the road.
The street is walkable in about 20 minutes end to end and functions as a genuine, unpretentious neighbourhood rather than a tourist attraction — locals shop here, and the small restaurants serve working-area lunch crowds. Shinagawa Shukuba Festival in October brings the old post-town atmosphere back with traditional costumes and performances.
Shinagawa Aquarium
The Shinagawa Aquarium (しながわ水族館) in Katsushima Park is one of the more underrated aquariums in Tokyo — smaller than Sunshine Aquarium in Ikebukuro or Maxell Aqua Park, but with a good dolphin and sea lion show, an underwater tunnel walk, and substantially fewer crowds. Good for families or visitors who find the larger aquariums overwhelming.
The Waterfront and InterCity Area
East of the station, the Shinagawa InterCity and adjacent Grand Commons development are large office and retail complexes that do not particularly reward exploration, but the walking path continues east towards the Tennozu Isle area — a converted warehouse arts district with galleries, restaurants, and the Haneji Bridge connecting to the waterfront. This is an evolving area with new openings happening regularly.
Practical: Using Shinagawa as a Base
Shinagawa's main advantage for travellers is logistical. Haneda Airport is 18 minutes by Keikyu Line (no transfer required, runs every 10–12 minutes). Shinkansen to Kyoto is 2h15m, to Osaka 2h30m. The major hotels — Shinagawa Prince, Intercontinental, Grand Prince Takanawa — are competitive in price with Shinjuku equivalents and often significantly cheaper during weekdays when business travel drops. The entire Yamanote Loop is accessible directly from Shinagawa Station.
Shinkansen tip: Shinagawa is often faster than Tokyo Station for southbound shinkansen — fewer people board here, and securing a window seat is easier. The station is also better connected to the Yamanote Line than Tokyo Station's shinkansen platforms.
Old post town access: Take the Keikyu Line one stop south to Kita-Shinagawa, or walk 20 minutes south along the water from Shinagawa Station to reach the old merchant street from the north end.
Hotel value: Business-district hotels in Shinagawa are often 20–30% cheaper than equivalent properties in Shinjuku or Shibuya, especially Sunday–Thursday. Access to everywhere is equally fast.
Getting there: Shinagawa Station, Yamanote Line — 3 stops south of Shibuya. Also served by the Tōkaidō, Yokosuka, and Keihin-Tōhoku lines.