San'ya, Working-class neighborhood in Taito and Arakawa districts, Tokyo, Japan.
San'ya is a residential district in Taitō and Arakawa wards in northeastern Tokyo, home to many budget accommodations and small eateries. The streets follow a grid pattern and pass multi-story buildings housing guesthouses, workshops and grocery shops.
During the Edo period, authorities designated this area for craftsmen and day laborers outside the main city gates. After World War II, the number of simple lodgings grew as people came to the city looking for work.
The buildings here stand close together and many residents live in simple rooms reached through narrow corridors. On street corners you often find vending machines where workers pick up hot tea or cold drinks in the morning.
Minami-Senju metro station is a few minutes' walk away and connects the area with other parts of Tokyo. Those looking to stay here will find mostly small rooms with shared bathrooms and kitchens.
The name Namidabashi, used for one intersection here, means Bridge of Tears. Families once said goodbye at this spot to relatives being led to execution.
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