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Shinbashi, in [[Tokyo]], was one of the first train stations in Japan. While the old station buildings have been reconstructed as historical architecture, a new Shinbashi Station located a short distance away remains a major transportation hub today.

Shinbashi, in [[Tokyo]], was one of the first train stations in Japan. While the old station buildings have been reconstructed as historical architecture, a new Shinbashi Station located a short distance away remains a major transportation hub today.

During the [[Edo period]] and into the [[Meiji period]], the area around Shinbashi (lit. "new bridge") was home to a number of [[geisha]] houses, including the famous [[Tamagawaya]].<ref>"[http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/01/20/36-historical-photographs-of-geisha-and-apprentice-geisha-beauties/ 36 historical photographs of geisha and apprentice geisha beauties]," RocketNews24.com, 20 Jan 2014.</ref> A large gate known as [[Shibaguchi Gate|Shibaguchi-gomon]] was constructed there in the 1710s at the urging of shogunal advisor [[Arai Hakuseki]], who felt that it would add to the grandeur of the city and of the shogunate in the eyes of foreign envoys who passed through the gate on their way up to [[Edo castle]].<ref>Watanabe Hiroshi, ''A History of Japanese Political Thought, 1600-1901'', International House of Japan (2012), 148.</ref>

During the [[Edo period]] and into the [[Meiji period]], the area around Shinbashi (lit. "new bridge") was home to a number of [[geisha]] houses, including the famous [[Tamagawaya]].<ref>"[http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/01/20/36-historical-photographs-of-geisha-and-apprentice-geisha-beauties/ 36 historical photographs of geisha and apprentice geisha beauties]," RocketNews24.com, 20 Jan 2014.</ref> The bridge which crossed the Shiodome-gawa (Shiodome River) there was known as "Shinbashi," or "New Bridge." A large gate known as [[Shibaguchi Gate|Shibaguchi-gomon]] was constructed in the 1710s at the northern end of the bridge, at the urging of shogunal advisor [[Arai Hakuseki]], who felt that it would add to the grandeur of the city and of the shogunate in the eyes of foreign envoys who passed through the gate on their way up to [[Edo castle]].<ref>Watanabe Hiroshi, ''A History of Japanese Political Thought, 1600-1901'', International House of Japan (2012), 148.</ref> The bridge was renamed Shibaguchi-bashi ("Bridge at the Entrance to Shiba") for a time, but returned to being called Shinbashi after the gate was lost in a fire and not rebuilt.<ref>Plaque at former site of Shibaguchi Gate.</ref>

Located in the [[Shiodome]] neighborhood, Shinbashi Station served originally as a terminus, and incorporated blast furnaces, foundries, and the like to help in the service and repair of locomotives and train cars. Shiodome was served by the Tamagawa waterworks throughout much of the [[Edo period]], and this availability of water was essential for these industrial purposes.<ref>Gallery labels, "Excavated Shiodome site," Edo-Tokyo Museum, July 2013.</ref>

Located in the [[Shiodome]] neighborhood, Shinbashi Station served originally as a terminus, and incorporated blast furnaces, foundries, and the like to help in the service and repair of locomotives and train cars. Shiodome was served by the Tamagawa waterworks throughout much of the [[Edo period]], and this availability of water was essential for these industrial purposes.<ref>Gallery labels, "Excavated Shiodome site," Edo-Tokyo Museum, July 2013.</ref>