| Bunkyō (Tokyo) | |
.jpg/250px-文京区役所_-_panoramio_(15).jpg) | |
Location  | |
Coat of arms and flag   | |
| State | Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Kantō |
| Website | Official site |
Bunkyo (文 京) is a district of the city of Tokyo.
To know
The name roughly means "Capital of Culture" and, in fact, is best known as the home of the sprawling Tokyo University and a number of aristocratic parks and mansions.
Geographical notes
| Orientation | ||
| Toshima | Kita | Arakawa |
| Shinjuku |  | Taitō |
| Chiyoda | ||
How to orient yourself
Bunkyō: full screen map.Neighborhoods
- 1 Hongo (本 郷)
- 2 Yushima (湯 島)
- 3 Koraku (後 楽)
- 4 Nezu (根 津)
- 5 Kasuga (春日)
- 6 Koishikawa (小 石川)
- 7 Mejirodai (目 白 台)
- 8 Mukogaoka (向 丘)
- 9 Sekiguchi (関口)
- 10 Sendagi (千 駄 木)
How to get
- 1 Iidabashi Station (飯 田 橋 駅 Iidabashi-eki). Administratively it falls within the district of Chiyoda but it is very useful for the south area of Bunkyo. Lines
- 2 Komagome Station (駒 込 駅 Komagome-eki). This station is administratively part of Toshima. Lines
How to get around
- 3 Hakusan Station. Line
- 4 Tōdaimae Station (東 大 前 駅 Tōdaimae-eki?). Line
- 5 Hongo-sanchome station. Lines
- 6 Gokokuji Station (護国寺 駅 Gokokuji-eki). Line
- 7 Kōrakuen Station. Lines
- 8 Ochanomizu Station. Line
What see
Nezu shrine
- 1 Nezu shrine (根 津 神社 Nezu-jinja), 1 Chome-28-9 Nezu (Tōdaimae Station ), ☎ 81 3-3822-0753. Shinto temple.
The Yasuda auditorium
- 2 Tokyo Imperial University (東京 大学 Tōkyō daigaku) (Hongo-sanchome station ). Formally Japan's supremely well-funded Imperial University, Harvard, Yale, and MIT are all gathered on one campus in Bunkyo. About 2,000 foreign students study at the university, but competition for places can be fierce. Tokyo University also attracts many travelers as a place to shop around.
The red door
- Inside you can see the Red Door (赤 門 Akamon) on Hongo Street was built in 1827, when a daughter of the then Shogun, Ienari Tokugawa, married the Daimyo who lived on the premises. Inside the gate are the general library and graduate schools in economics, literature and education. On the left side of the gate is the Communication Center, which is actually a souvenir shop, and on the right hand side is the university museum. The grounds are freely sprinkled with large and majestic gingko trees, the leaf of which is found on the university seal.
The Sanshiro pond
- In the center of the campus is the Japanese garden of Ikutoku-en (育 徳 園) - the Garden of Virtue-Teaching - built around 1630 as the garden of Maeda Toshitsune, one of the richest daimyo of the Tokugawa era. In the center is the Sanshiro pond (三四郎 池 Sanshiro-ike), shaped like kokoro, which means "heart" or "spirit". Unfortunately, both the garden and the pond are rather poorly maintained.
- North of the pond is the auditorium, Yasuda Kōdō (安 田 講堂) which became a symbol of student activism in 1968-69, when the building was occupied by students as a base for university registration modification activities. In the basement there is a large-scale student canteen called Chūō Shokudō (central canteen), which offers cheap but rather mediocre food, and a university cooperative where you can buy T-shirts and ballpoint pens with the university logo.
- East of the auditorium is the main building of the Graduate School of Science, where one of the largest photomultiplier tubes is exhibited, which contributed to the neutrino experiments Kamioka.
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Gokoku-ji
- 3 Gokoku-ji (護国寺) (Gokokuji Station ). A Buddhist temple located inside a cemetery where important Japanese personalities are buried.
Cathedral
- 4 Cathedral of Santa Maria (東京 カ テ ド ラ ル 聖 マ リ ア 大 聖堂 Tōkyō Katedoraru You are Maria Daiseidō), 3 Chome-16-15 Sekiguchi (Gokokuji Station ), ☎ 81 3-3941-3029. Seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tokyo. Designed by the famous architect Kenzō Tange, this ultramodern church was built in the 1960s to replace an old structure destroyed during the war.
- 5 Denzū-in (伝 通 院), 3 Chome-14-6 Koishikawa (Kōrakuen Station ), ☎ 81 3-3814-3701. A Buddhist temple.
Bunkyo Civic Center
The Hijiribashi bridge
- 6 [link not working]Bunkyō Civic Center (文 京 区 役 所, bunkyō-ku yakusho) (Kōrakuen Station ).
free. The luxurious government building for Tokyo's Bunkyo district, once described in the Japan Times as "a colossal Pez candy dispenser". A free observation point on the 25th floor, jutting out from the top like the starship Enterprise, offers a nice view of much of Tokyo.
free. The luxurious government building for Tokyo's Bunkyo district, once described in the Japan Times as "a colossal Pez candy dispenser". A free observation point on the 25th floor, jutting out from the top like the starship Enterprise, offers a nice view of much of Tokyo.- 7 Hijiri-bashi bridge (聖 橋) (Ochanomizu Station ). This bridge over the Kanda River (神 田 川) whose name means "holy bridge", on the border between the districts of Bunkyō and Chiyoda turns out to be interesting especially when it is illuminated at night. It offers one of the best spots in Tokyo to see trains, three lines crossing each other (to the west, best seen in the afternoon).
Yushima Seidō
Toyo bunko
- 8 Yushima Seido (史跡 湯 島 聖堂), 1 Chome-1-4-25 Yushima (Ochanomizu Station ), ☎ 81 3-3251-4606. free.
09:30-17:00. A Confucian temple opened in 1690 at the behest of the Tokugawa Godai Shogun Tsunayoshi. The name literally means "Hall of the Sage of Yushima". - 9 Tōyō Bunko (東洋 文庫), Honkomagome 2-28-21 (10 minutes from Komagome station ). Toyo Bunko is a special library and research institute of oriental studies. The research focuses on Asian history and cultures. The Toyo Bunko collects and saves the historical documents of Asia. The book collection exceeds 950,000 items. People can read the books for free. Library materials cannot leave the building. Photocopiers are available for use at a minimal cost.
09:30-17:00. A Confucian temple opened in 1690 at the behest of the Tokugawa Godai Shogun Tsunayoshi. The name literally means "Hall of the Sage of Yushima".Gardens
The botanical garden
- 10 Koishikawa Kōrakuen Botanical Garden (小 石川 後 楽 園), 1-6-6 Kōraku (close to Tokyo Dome, just minutes from Iidabashi station ). ¥300. 09:00-17:00. Created in the 17th century, this beautiful traditional garden boasts a large collection of flowering trees and plants that provide touches of beauty all year round. Winding paths, wooded hills, ponds full of ducks and fish. The place can get a little crowded at certain times of the year (like during the cherry blossom season in late March-mid-April), but there's plenty of room for everyone.
The Rikugi park
Koishikawa botanical garden
- 11 Rikugi Park (六 義 園), Hon-Magome 6-16-3 (3 minutes from Komagome station ), ☎ 81 3-3941-2222. ¥300. Mon-Sun 09: 00-17: 00. A classic Japanese park with ponds, hills and tea houses, originally built in 1695 by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, a Tokugawa daimyo. It is a popular place for hanami in spring and is lit up at night in that kind of circumstances.
- 12 Koishikawa Botanical Garden (小 石川 植物園), Hakusan 3-7-1 (Hakusan subway station ), ☎ 81 3-3814-0138. Tue-Sun 09: 00-16: 30. Not one of Japan's great and sometimes a bit seedy gardens, but a pleasant stroll with interesting trees, a medicinal herb garden and several ponds. Not to be confused with the Koishikawa Korakuen.
Tokyo Dome City
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Tokyo Dome
The interior of the Tokyo Dome
- 13 Tokyo Dome City, Kōraku, 1 Chome − 3, １ 丁目 -３ (Kōrakuen Station ). An attraction complex with a large indoor stadium, amusement park, bowling alley, off-piste betting center and shoppingmall. Tokyo Dome is one of the many stadiums in Tokyo. It is home to the Yomiuri Giants baseball team and also hosts concerts, trade shows and professional sports. Attached to a walkway is Korakuen Hall, a hub for Japanese martial arts and professional wrestling events held almost every day.
- 14 Tokyo Dome. The covered stadium.
- 15 Museum of Famous Japanese Baseball Players, 1-3-61, Kōraku (Entrance to the right of Tokyo Dome's Gate 21). Adults ¥ 500, seniors ¥ 300, children ¥ 200; discounts for groups of 20 or more.. Tue-Sep: Tue-Sun 10: 00-18: 00, Oct-Feb: Tue-Sun 10: 00-17: 00. A museum that remembers the most important Japanese baseball players.
What to do
- Take a walk along the walking routes. The Bunkyo district is a nice place to walk, but it can be a tough walk as this area is famous for its many paths. There are 433 routes in Tokyo, 173 of them are in this district. Some are named, some are not. There is a plaque written with the story on each slope. Even if you don't know anything about this area, it's fun to know its names. There are many unique names, such as Kaiun-zaka (slope of good luck), Yūrei-zaka (slope of ghosts) or Ijin-zaka (slope of barbarians).
- A PDF map free and one guide containing several themed excursions are available on the Bunkyo website.
Shopping
- 1 La Qua (ラ ク ー ア), 1 Chome-1-１ Kasuga (Connected to Korakuen station (Marunouchi line)), ☎ 81 3-5800-9999. Mon-Sun 11: 00-09: 00. La Qua is a new shopping mall with some connected attractions. It opened in 2003, replacing a section of Tokyo Dome City's amusement park. There are boutiques, a grocery store, restaurants, a hair salon, massage parlor and gym. Plus a roller coaster runs along the roof, and there are other fun attractions including a water slide and concert stage. Of all these, the main accommodation is the LaQua spa. Here you can take a spa bath, sit in a comfortable chair and do whatever you want. It is cheaper to spend a night here than in any hotel, however, people with tattoos cannot enter.
- Seijo Ishii (成 城 石井 東京 ド ー ム ラ ク ー ア 店). A large grocery store in La Qua, with many imported foods and wines. Many frozen products are sold in restaurant packages.
How to have fun
Where to eat
The university campus has around 20 places to eat, including Starbucks, Subway, and several student cafeterias.
Moderate prices
- 1 Chief Pelican, Hongō, 7 Chome − 3−1 東京 大学 医学 部 教育 研究 棟 13F (it is on the 13th floor of the main (highest) building of the medical school), ☎ 81 3-5841-1527. Lunch menus are for around ¥ 900. An Italian restaurant on the university campus.
- 2 Fire House, Hongo 4-5-10 (from Hongo Sanchome station, Oedo or Marunouchi line, go to the main intersection and look for the roller coaster in the distance. Go in that direction, on the right side of the road; the restaurant is before the next traffic light), ☎ 81 3-3815-6044. A popular burger restaurant decorated with American memorabilia.
- 3 Alpes, 3-2-8 Komagome (1 minute from JR Komagome Station), ☎ 81 3-3917-2627. Mon-Sun 10 am-8pm. It sells many types of sweets. And it has coffee space. The decoration of the cafe is like the classic hotel lobby. And Alpes is famous for its butter cream. The most popular cake is a cream puff.
Average prices
- 4 Hantei (は ん 亭), Nezu 2-12-15 (From Nezu station, exit 2, cross the main road (Rte 437) and turn left. The restaurant is halfway down the block), ☎ 81 3-3828-1440. It serves kushiage (fried spit food) in a rare old wooden building.
Where stay
Average prices
- 1 Kizankan hotels, 4-37-20 Hongo (from the Hongo-Sanchome subway station, go down the small street between the kobans - police boxes - and McDonald's). Singles from ¥ 7980, doubles from ¥ 8925.. This basic business hotel is convenient for those visiting the University of Tokyo. A few minutes from the Hongo-Sanchome stations of the Oedo and Marunouchi metro lines and close to the numerous small restaurants in front of the university. Little English is spoken, but foreigners are welcome.
- 2 Toyoko Inn, 文 京 区 小 石川 ２ 丁目 ２−１１ (The nearest stations: Korakuen on the Namboku and Marunouchi lines; Kyosuke on the lines of Oedo and Mita), ☎ 81 3-3818-1045. ¥ 10.000. Toyoko Inns are budget business hotels and have a good range of amenities. Their access maps are exceptionally clear, with an English version for you and a Japanese version for the taxi driver. This hotel is not close to any tourist destinations but convenient for the main subway lines.
- 3 Tokhouse Vacation House, 3-52-9 Sendagi (5 minutes walk from JR NishiNippori Station, 10 minutes by taxi from Ueno Station), ☎ 81 90 9674 4198, @[email protected]. Long-term rental of at least one month. Free Wi-Fi Internet.
High prices
- 4 Forest Hongo Hotel, 6-16-4 Hongo. Singles from ¥ 10,164, doubles from ¥ 18,480. A little nicer (and more expensive) than the standard business hotel, this is a good choice for visitors to the University of Tokyo, but isn't affordable otherwise. English is spoken and the hotel hosts many foreign guests.
- 5 Tokyo Dome Hotel, 1-3-61 Koraku (Closest stations: Suidobashi on the JR and Mita lines; Korakuen on the Marunouchi Line), ☎ 81 3-5805-2111. Double from ¥ 24,000. This is an international hotel at competitive rates. Several restaurants, ranging from reasonable to very expensive.
- 6 Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, 2-10-8 Sekiguchi (nearest station: Edogawabashi), ☎ 81 3 3943-1111, @[email protected]. Double from ¥ 55,000; the Imperial Suite is ten times as much.. An impeccable luxury hotel with matching prices. The location is a little out of the way; expect to take a taxi.
