Name:
本氷川坂 もとひかわざか
Moto Hikawa-zaka, Old Hikawa Rise

Location:
赤坂6丁目10番、6丁目19番の間
Between Akasaka 6-10 and 6-19

This article is part of the special feature Akasaka on the Rise. Check it out in my Live Maps Collection.

The official description:

坂途中の東側に本氷川明神があって坂の名になった。社は明治十六年四月、氷川神社に合祀された。元氷川坂とも書いた。
Midway up the rise, Old Hikawa Shrine was on the east side, the source of the name. The temple was merged with Hikawa Shrine in April of the 16th year of the Meiji Era. Also written Original Hikawa Rise.

Unofficial explanation:

Moto Hikawa Rise is a wonderful old street. The view here is from the bottom. It starts just south of Akasaka Doori, just beyond a mildly historic storefront. It now houses a pub, which might make a good stop at the beginning or end of your visit. The store was from the Meiji era, while the rise is from the early Edo.

As you continue up the steep, winding, narrow street, Maison Akasaka (メゾン赤坂) is on the right. Maison Akasaka is a 7-floor condo building constructed in 1969. What makes it memorable here is the inclined concrete wall of its parking garage. It looks like it could be the base of a fortress of some sort, especially European. Up on the left is a much more traditional Japanese retaining wall.

Here we are looking back down at the entrance to Maison Akasaka. To the right is the base of Hikawa Shrine, a charming old stone block retaining wall. Some towards the top have come loose, and are now secured with concrete.

From the top of Old Hikawa Rise, a scene of yet another sharp turn in the grade.

The memorial post at the top of the rise. There's an entrance to Hikawa Shrine on your left. You can find (non-Old) Hikawa Rise on the other side of the shrine. By the way, Hikawa means "Frozen River".