Legendary haiku poet Matsuo Basho in Fukagawa

Site of Saitoan, Fukagawa, Tokyo’s Koto Ward

Saitoan was the hermitage of Sugiyama Sanpu, a disciple of famous haiku poet Matsuo Basho. It was originally located 140 meters south of this sign at what is now 1-8 Fukagawa. Basho stayed at Saitoan before departing on the journey that led to his masterwork, “Oku no Hosomichi” (translated as “The Narrow Road to the Deep North” and “The Narrow Road to the Interior”).