matchlink - discover Shinagawa - app for iPhone and iPad

discover Shinagawa - After SAMURAI -

Purpose: Visiting Historic Spots to appreciate.

Shinagawa enjoyed prosperity as town of tradesman from around 1600, which was the turning point from Samurai culture to modern, civilian culture. After skyscrapers around the stations, you will be gladly surprised to see fusion of old, well-preserved local houses and streets and modern life.

To enjoy this service, use the smart phone application for this program (for free), and choose the spot you are interested in. Bikes are also provided to get to the destination. Around your goal, the application will also tell you if bilingual local people are nearby. Please use the chance to talk to them, and enjoy fully experiencing the attractions of Shinagawa in person.

History o f Shinagawa
Shinagawa in fact has been an important town in turning points in Japanese history. It was Edo period which lead Japan to modern times. The town started to develop four hundred years ago under feudal system in Edo period.
Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of Edo government, visited Shinagawa Shrine to pray for victory. That particular victory in the Battle of Sekigahara actually resulted in the beginning of Edo period. During Edo period, the town developed as the first Shukuba-machi (post station) on the historic Tokai-do. Tokai-do, the main road from Nihonbashi in Edo to Kyoto, was the most important road for traffic, through which both goods and people flowed. Then, two hundred years later, Japan opened itself to the world.　

How to use the application and how to use share cycle
1. Download “matchlink,” a smart phone application and visit some of the sights, not famous but attractive ones, at Shinagawa post station area.

2. At your destination, the application will tell you where you can find helpful local people or stores. You can easily find them as they are in Orange T-shirt. Enjoy talking to them in English. They will tell you the local history, culture and even some interesting anecdotes .

3. Collect stamps from the person you talk to on the smart phone application. When you have certain numbers of them, you may get some special souvenir.

NOTE: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.