A stroll in Tuscany without leaving Tokyo

In preparation for running errands in Tokyo, I often look at Google Maps to see what is in the vicinity of my goal. This month, while scouring Shiodome Station environs where I had appointments, I discovered two spots that intrigued me. Usually, I’m on the hunt for traditional and historic locations, as you may have noticed from my blogs and reviews. But these two spots transported me to an entirely different place.

Less than a five-minute walk southwest of Shiodome Station is a cobbled, winding street that leads to a piazza. All around the piazza are buildings with arches, colonnades, and cornices quite unlike any other place in Tokyo. This is Italy Street, a row of buildings around a square meant to evoke Tuscany. The spot attracts motorsports enthusiasts, and sure enough, a group of young men taking a break from riding their European-made sports bikes stood chatting at the edge of the piazza.

I walked east under the train line to Italy Park. In the late afternoon sun, the white marble statues stood out in stark contrast to the dense plantings. It’s all very symmetric and formal.

Now, I’ve never been to Tuscany, so I can’t say how authentic the park and piazza are but they did make me wistful for travel to Europe. One of these days…

Have you discovered locations in Japan that whisk you away to another country?