Teramachi Street

[1] Present day Teramachi Street corresponds to the Higashi Kyōgoku Ōji of the Heian-kyō.

[1] At the time the Street was about 32 meters wide but later it was destroyed due to the Ōnin War.

[2] In the year 1590 the street was reconstructed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who ordered a large number of Buddhist temples to be moved to the site.

It is said that by lining up the temples, Toyotomi Hideyoshi actually wanted to protect the city from attacks coming from the east, as invaders would run into the sacred buildings first, making it hard for them to proceed with their plans and destroy the city.

[3] During the Edo period, stores selling books, Buddhist rosaries, writing brushes and medicines began to flourish in the area; as well as the shops of paper and shamisen craftsmen, which eventually gave shape to the street of today.