Musashi XX
Magazine
UpdateDecember 7, 2021
ReleaseSeptember 10, 2018
index
Near Tokyo, you can see many names of stations and areas with “musashi” at the beginning, such as “Musashi XX.” Let’s learn some interesting facts and things about Musashi.
The Origin of Musashi
Tokyo, except for the islands, most of Saitama, and part of Kanagawa Prefecture used to be included in Musashi-no-kuni (Musashi Province) according to the administrative boundaries that existed until about 150 years ago. The names of areas and stations, such as Musashi-murayama, Musashi-urawa, and Musashikosugi, all derive from Musashi Province. Incidentally, Edo (now Tokyo) was part of this province.
Station Names with “Musashi”
There are 20 stations in and around Tokyo with “Musashi” in its name. Musashi Province was also sometimes called “Bushu” (“warrior province”). There are also five stations with “bushu” in its name (not including freight stations).Station Names with “Musashi”
Tokyo
Musashi-Sakai (JR Chuo Line, Seibu Tamagawa Line)Musashi-Koganei (JR Chuo Line)
Musashi-Hikida (JR Itsukaichi Line)
Musashi-Masuko (JR Itsukaichi Line)
Musashi-Itsukaichi (JR Itsukaichi Line)
Musashi-Seki (Seibu Shinjuku Line)
Musashi-Yamato (Seibu Tamako Line)
Musashi-Sunagawa (Seibu Haijima Line)
Musahi-koyama (Tokyu Meguro Line)
Musashi-nitta (Tokyu Tamagawa Line)
Kanagawa
Musashi-Kosugi (JR Nambu / Yokosuka / Shonan-Shinjuku Line, Tokyu Toyoko Line)
Musashi-Nakahara (JR Nambu Line)
Musashi-Shinjo (JR Nambu Line)
Musashi-Mizonokuchi (JR Nambu Line)
Musashi-Shiraishi (JR Tsurumi Line)
Kanagawa
Musashi-Kosugi (JR Nambu / Yokosuka / Shonan-Shinjuku Line, Tokyu Toyoko Line)Musashi-Nakahara (JR Nambu Line)
Musashi-Shinjo (JR Nambu Line)
Musashi-Mizonokuchi (JR Nambu Line)
Musashi-Shiraishi (JR Tsurumi Line)
Saitama
Musashi-Urawa (JR Saikyo / Musashino Line)Musashi-Takahagi (JR Kawagoe Line)
Musashi-Fujisawa (Seibu Ikebukuro Line)
Musashi- Yokote (Seibu Chichibu Line)
Musashi-ranzan (Tobu Tojo Line)
Station Names with “Bushu”
Saitama
Bushu-Araki (Chichibu Railway)Bushu-nagase (Tobu Ogose Line)
Bushu-karasawa (Tobu Ogose Line)
Bushu-Nakagawa (Chichibu Railway)
Bushu-Hino (Chichibu Railway)

Details of Selected Musashi XX Stations
Musashi-koyama Station






Musashi-Koganei Station




Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association

Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association
Musashi-Itsukaichi Station







Bits of Knowledge Related to “Musashi”
Ryogoku Bridge
It is said that this bridge is called “Ryogoku,” which means “both countries,” because Ryogoku Bridge on the Sumida River was then connecting two kuni (provinces), Musashi-no-kuni and Shimousa-no-kuni (Shimousa Province)*. Wide streets were created around both sides of the bridge and the area was said to be always crowded with people, as it was once Edo’s most popular entertainment quarter.
Photos courtesy of National Diet Library Digital Collections
*The east side of the Sumida River used to belong to Shimousa Province before becoming part of Musashi Province in the Edo period.
TOKYO SKYTREE℠
The height of TOKYO SKYTREE℠, 634 meters, was decided according to the pronunciation of the characters comprising “musashi” of Musashi Province (mu is 6, sa is 3, and shi is 4). Thus, you can see how the word “musashi” is deeply familiar to Japanese people.
TOKYO SKYTREE℠
*The information herein is as of September 2018.