Tennozu Isle

In short

Tennozu Isle is an island of approximately 200,000 square meters surrounded by canals in the waterfront area of Shinagawa City. Part of the island is the site of the Edo-period No. 4 Daiba (battery), which was never completed. Having passed through a phase as a district where distribution warehouses gathered, it is now known as an "art town" dotted with galleries and cafes created by renovating warehouses.

• ​Boardwalk surrounding the island​​: A wooden promenade has been developed around the island, allowing you to walk while viewing the canals up close
• ​Art in a warehouse district​​: Artworks and galleries utilizing warehouses are scattered around, and the mural on the Sanshin Warehouse is eye-catching
• ​Origin of the name​​: It is said that it came to be called "Tennozu" because a mask of Gozu Tenno washed into a fisherman's net

History and Highlights

​Tennozu Isle​ is an island of approximately 200,000 square meters surrounded by canals in the waterfront area of Shinagawa City. Part of the island is the site of the No. 4 Daiba, construction of which began at the end of the Edo period but was abandoned partway through. In the Meiji period, a shipyard was opened on the site, and in recent years it was an area where distribution warehouses gathered.

The origin of the name dates back to the Edo period. It was a sandbank formed by accumulating underwater sediment, and it is said that it came to be called "Tennozu" because a mask of Gozu Tenno washed into a fisherman's net. The mask of Gozu Tenno found off the coast of Shinagawa in 1751, at what is now Tennozu, is enshrined at Ebara-jinja Shrine. When this reclaimed land was redeveloped, its current name was created by adding "Isle," the English word for island, to Tennozu.

Redevelopment began in 1985. Twenty-two landowners on Tennozu established the "Tennozu General Development Council," advancing urban development centered on offices. Today, galleries, cafes, and restaurants renovated from warehouses are scattered throughout, and it is also known as an art town.

Viewing and Experience Highlights

• ​Boardwalk​​: A wooden promenade surrounding the island, which is a signature feature of Tennozu Isle. There are also many cafes with terrace seating along the canal, and from evening into the night, the piers are illuminated.
• ​Art in a warehouse district​​: Artworks are dotted across the island, and the mural on the Sanshin Warehouse catches the eye. "TERRADA ART COMPLEX," which houses multiple galleries, and "WHAT MUSEUM," a collectors' museum of contemporary art, are also located on this island.
• ​The Galaxy Theatre​​: A three-tiered horseshoe-shaped theater with a seating capacity of 746. The maximum distance between the stage and the audience seats is 20 meters; the theater hosts performances such as plays, musicals, music, and dance.

Walking Tips

The nearest station is Tennozu Isle Station, served by the Tokyo Monorail and the Rinkai Line. It is also about a 20-minute walk from Shinagawa Station. A recommended route is to first walk along the boardwalk while gazing at the canal, search for the Sanshin Warehouse mural and artworks on the island, and then proceed toward promenades such as Bond Street. WHAT MUSEUM is located about 300 meters southwest of the map marker. Each building is connected on the second floor by a skywalk, allowing you to move between buildings even on rainy days.