小唄塚・小唄作詞塚 at Akihabara, Tokyo

A pair of stone monuments at Kanda Shrine honouring Showa-era kouta composers.

Two carved stone monuments stand within the grounds of Kanda Shrine (Kanda Myojin) in Sotokanda, Chiyoda, dedicated to the composers and lyricists of kouta, the short lyrical songs of Showa-era Japan. The Kouta Mound and Kouta Lyric Mound celebrate figures who shaped this traditional musical form, including the creator of the Kabuki Kouta. They sit along the shrine's rear approach path near the Uogashi Suijinja, a short walk from Akihabara's electric town.

Both monuments are tucked among the shrine's quieter corners, making them easy to pair with a wider stroll around Kanda Myojin and its other commemorative stones. The site is free to enter and open daily, suiting visitors with an interest in Japanese music history, shrine architecture or off-the-beaten-track cultural spots.

Wander the leafy shrine grounds and discover a little-remembered chapter of Tokyo's musical past.
Official: https://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/keidai