The Nihonbashi district prospered as Japan's financial and trade center after shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu moved the capital to Edo, the old name for Tokyo, in the early 17th century.
Its geographical advantage contributed to fast-track development. Nihonbashi was the starting point of five major roads at the time, which linked the new capital to outlying regions beyond the Kanto plain, allowing the district to thrive as businesses built footholds in the area.
Now that more than 400 years have passed, Nihonbashi is trying to maintain its relevance by making efforts to transform the old merchant center into a place where tourists can learn about Japanese culture and traditions.