K. International School Tokyo is located in a historical area of downtown Tokyo known as Fukagawa, which was at the heart of Tokyo—or Edo, as it was called at the time—from the early 1600s through the mid-1800s, and was considered almost synonymous with “Edo” culture at that time. As a part of the area of Edo made up of the businesses of merchants and artisans (rather than the wealthy samurai upper class), it was said to be characterized by reliable, honest and hardworking people, and was home in particular to many fishermen due to its convenient location near Tokyo Bay. Fukagawa was also the home of a large quantity of granaries for storing rice and grains, and it was one of Tokyo’s largest grain markets up until World War II. The famous Japanese poet, Matsuo Basho, also lived in Fukagawa for some time, and it was here that he wrote arguably his most well-known haiku, “Frog Poem.”
Currently, the area around KIST is known as Shirakawa, a part of Koto ward (Koto-ku), one of the 23 special wards of the Tokyo metropolitan area. While less than thirty minutes away from bustling downtown areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya, Shirakawa retains the same warm, friendly charm as the Fukagawa of old, and is characterized by small streets lined by family businesses mixed in with residential areas, schools and parks. In recent years, Shirakawa has gained recognition as a treasure trove of little-known shops and restaurants with unique themes and products, and has been featured on several Japanese variety shows as a trendy neighborhood where people of all generations enjoy high-quality, handmade food and drinks at stylish coffee shops and cafes. Just by walking along the streets and shopping areas near KIST, you can find a wealth of interesting family-owned shops and restaurants to explore and enjoy.
Koto-ku is also known to be family-friendly, with many residential areas that are home to a number of KIST students and staff. In contrast with the most densely populated downtown areas in Tokyo, Koto-ku is much greener in appearance, and boasts a wide variety of public parks and athletic spaces where families can enjoy time outdoors with their children and pets. Other parts of Tokyo, however, are easily accessible via the many train and subway lines passing through the ward.
Shirakawa, Koto-ku, and the surrounding areas are also home to many tourist destinations and attractions, such as Tokyo Skytree, Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Kiyosumi Garden and numerous others. Many of these locations are within walking distance of KIST, while others are only a short train ride away.
