Varied hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions make this waterfront Tokyo ward a good home base during a visit to the city.

The Shinagawa ward is located near the heart of Tokyo. It has one of the densest concentrations of tourist accommodation in the city, making it easy to find somewhere to stay here. Spend time exploring the streets and you will quickly find it has many attractions beyond its hotels.

Shinagawa has a long history, with written mentions of it going back to the 8th century. Its location provides both river and sea access, giving it importance as a trading post. It expanded rapidly in the 1600s and 1700s. To accommodate the area’s thriving population, land was reclaimed from Tokyo Bay. Look out across the bay and imagine how different the coastline of this hyper-modern place must have looked a few centuries ago.

Discover varied aspects of the ward. Exit the Shinagawa station to the west and you will be well placed for exploring Takanawa, a hilly, hotel-filled district that is ideal for relaxed walks. Head east from the station and make your way into Konan, a futuristic area packed with soaring corporate skyscrapers.

To understand Shinagawa’s history, head to Kyu-Tokaido Street (meaning Former Tokaido Street), where you’ll find old-fashioned shops, cafés and guesthouses.

Follow the street to the Meguro River to admire its lovely red bridges. Here, the Ebara Shrine is the site of the lively Tenno Matsuri Festival every June. The festival features boats covered with hundreds of paper lanterns floating along the river after dark.

Another interesting shrine in the ward is the Shinagawa Shrine. Climb to the top of a hill near Shinbanba station to view this 12th-century wonder.

Visit the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art while you are in Shinagawa. Set within an art deco mansion, the museum’s collections include works by artists from Andy Warhol to Maruyama Okyo.

Get to Shinagawa from anywhere in the city by taking the subway or train. The ward has multiple stops, including the main Shinagawa station, a major transportation hub.