Akasaka had a distinctively aristocratic atmosphere, with its large tracts of royal land and the Detached Palace (Hama Rikyū).

Even though Azabu was an area with many old noble estates, it was referred to jokingly as the place of the 'singing insects' throughout the Meiji era. Until the Taisho period, it was a village in the city, with open fields and meandering sand roads. Later, it developed its entertainment district with theaters and department stores, and the most military facilities in Tokyo.

Shiba had been a place of temple complexes in the Edo period, with Zojoji Temple as its main landmark. When the Meiji government sought to strip the Buddhist temples of their wealth and power, the area was utterly transformed. The state confiscated the grounds and turned them into parks.

Shiba also became the ward of the Tokyo-Yokohama railroad. If Ginza had not been reconstructed after being devastated by the fire of 1872, Shiba might have become the main place for purchasing foreign goods. Despite its competition, Shiba did prosper. At its southern fringe, Tokyo Shibaura was founded on reclaimed land in 1875, becoming a leading manufacturer of machinery. Despite this industrialization, the Shiba coast remained a scenic spot. Old seasonal practices like clam gathering remained popular, and new pastimes like swimming came into vogue. Eventually, however, the restaurants made way for warehouses and the beaches for new docks.