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Shitamachi 下町 Literally meaning "low town" or "downtown", during the Edo period shitamachi described all districts lower than Edo castle, by opposition to Yamanote (山の手) or "upper town" (note the name of the JR Yamanote line which encircles the Imperial palace or former Edo castle). Shitamachi encompasses the old districts of Tokyo, such as Asakusa, Shitaya (Ueno), Honjo, Kanda, Nihombashi, Kyobashi and Fukagawa. More Historical Terms Samurai Daimyo Shogun Ronin Bushido Seppuku Katana Tsuba Shinsengumi Meiji Restoration Edo Shitamachi Tokugawa Tosa Choshu Satsuma Fundoshi Sumo Rakugo Kabuki