'''Bunky?''' (____) [http://www.city.bunkyo.lg.jp/english/] is in Tokyo, north of the Imperial Palace.
Get in
There are six subway lines running through the district with a total of 20 stations.
Chiyoda: Nezu, Yushima, Sendagi
Marunouchi: Myogadani, Korakuen, Hongo Sanchome, Ochanomizu
Yurakucho: Gokokuji, Edogawabashi
Namboku: Korakuen, Todaimae, Honkomagome
Oedo: Iidabashi, Kasuga, Hongo Sanchome
Mita: Suidobashi, Kasuga, Hakusan, Sengoku
See
'''Bunkyo-ku Civic Center'''. The lavish government building for the Bunkyo ward of Tokyo. The Japan Times says it's "like a colossal Pez candy dispenser." The 25th floor '''free observation deck''', jutting out of the top like the Starship Enterprise, commands a fine view of much of Tokyo. Access: Korakuen station of the Marunouchi line. Free.
Gardens
'''Koishikawa Korakuen''', Koraku 1-6-6. ''Behind Tokyo Dome. A few minutes' walk from Korakuen or Iidabashi stations.'' A large (about 20 acres) fine traditional garden. Ponds, paths, woods, vistas.
'''Rikugien''' is a classical Japanese park with ponds, hills and teahouses. Nearest station is Komagome on the Yamanote/Namboku line.
'''Koishikawa Botanical Garden''' (_______A____) of the University of Tokyo, Hakusan 3-7-1. ''A bit of a walk from Hakusan subway station. Follow the signs.'' Not one of the great gardens of Japan and sometimes a bit shabby, but a pleasant stroll with interesting trees, an medicinal herb garden and several ponds. Not to be confused with Koishikawa Korakuen.
Temples & Shrines
'''Nezu Jinja'''
'''Gokokuji'''
'''Denzuin'''
'''Tokyo Cathedral'''
Do
Bunkyo ward is a nice place to walk, but it can be a tough stroll as this area is famous for a number of slopes. There being 433 slopes in Tokyo, as many as 173 of them are located in this ward. Some are named, and some are not. There stands a plate written its history on each slope. Even if you didn_ft know anything about this area, it is fun to know its names. There are many unique names, such as ''Kaiun-zaka'' (Good luck slope), ''Y?rei-zaka'' (Ghost slope), or ''Ijin-zaka'' (Barbarian slope). You can look at these unique names on books, some of which only focus on the slopes.
'''Tokyo Dome City''' is an attractions complex featuring a large indoor stadium, an amusement park, bowling alley, off-track betting center, and shoppingmall. Tokyo Dome is one of several Tokyo stadiums. It is home to the Yomiuri Giants baseball team and also hosts concerts, trade show events, and professional sports.
Buy
'''La Qua''' (___N_[_A). Connected to Korakuen station (Marunouchi Line). La Qua is a new shopping mall with some attractions attached. It opened in 2003, replacing a section of the amusement park at Tokyo Dome City. In La Qua, there are boutiques, a grocery store, restaurants, a hairdresser, massage salon, and gym. IN addition a roller coaster runs along the roof, and there are other amuement attractions including a water slide and a concert stage. Among all these, the main accommodation is the LaQua spa. We can take bath, sit on a comfortable chair and do whatever you like. Note that it is cheaper to spend a night in here than in any hotel, however, people with tattoos are not allowed to enter.
* '''Seijo Ishii'''. A large grocery store in La Qua, with many imported foods and wines. Many frozen products are sold in restaurant packs.
Eat
'''Nonki''' (___C). 1-20-6 Muk?gaoka, near T?daimae station. Tokyo's longest-running ''oden'' (fish soup) shop, founded in the Meiji era and still going strong. The centerpiece of the small shop is a giant cauldron full of boiling oden goodness. Order with the phrase ''tekit?-ni'' to let the chef decide, and figure on ¥1000 for a serve and a beer to wash it down.
'''Goenmon''' serves tofu dishes in a traditional garden setting. Reservation required. Hon-Komagome 1-1-26. 3811-2015. Nearest station: Hakusan
'''Fire House''' is a popular hamburger restaurant decorated with American memoabilia. Hongo 4-5-10. 3815-6044. Nearest station: Hongo Sanchome
'''Hantei''' serves kushiage (deep fried skewered food) in a rare old wooden building. Nezu 2-12-15. 3828-1440.Nearest station: Nezu
Drink
Sleep
'''Hotel Kizankan''', 4-37-20 Hongo, [http://www4.ocn.ne.jp/~kizanweb/] (''from Hongo-Sanchome subway stations, go down the small street between the koban--police box--and McDonalds''). This basic business hotel is convenient for those visiting Tokyo University. It is minutes from the Hongo-Sanchome stations of the Oedo and Marunouchi subway lines, and close to the many small restaurants in front of the university. Little English is spoken, but foreigners are welcome. Singles from ¥7980, twins from ¥8925.
'''Forest Hongo Hotel''', 6-16-4 Hongo, [http://www.forest-hongo.com/English/HotelInformation.htm]. A bit nicer (and more expensive) than the standard business hotel, this is a good choice for visitors to Tokyo University, but not convenient otherwise. Some English is spoken and the hotel hosts many foreign guests. Singles from ¥10,164, twins from ¥18,480.
'''Toyoko Inn Korakuen Bunkyokuyakusho-mae''' [http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/] Toyoko Inns are inexpensive business hotels, but have a good range of amenities. Their access maps are exceptionally clear, with an English version for you and Japanese for the taxi driver. This one is not near any tourist destinations but convenient to major subway lines. Nearest stations: Korakuen (Namboku and Marunouchi Lines); Kasuga (Oedo and Mita Lines). Singles, doubles and twins, all under ¥10,000.
'''Tokyo Dome Hotel''' [http://www.tokyodome-hotels.co.jp/e/] 1-3-61 Koraku, Tel. (03)5805-2111. This is an international hotel at competitive prices. Several restaurants, ranging from reasonable to very expensive. Nearest stations: Suidobashi (JR and Mita Lines); Korakuen (Marunouchi Lines). Doubles from ¥24,000.
'''Four Seasons at Chinzan-so''' [http://www.fourseasons.com/tokyo/] 2-10-8 Sekiguchi. (03)3943-222. A flawless luxury hotel with prices to match. Location is a bit out of the way; expect to take taxis. Nearest station: Edogawabashi. Doubles from ¥55,000; the Imperial Suite is ten times as much.
Learn
Bunkyo is known as a seat of learning, with 15 institutions of higher education.
University of Tokyo
The '''University of Tokyo''' (_______w ''T?ky? daigaku'', [http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/index_e.html]), formerly the Imperial University and still Japan's supremely well-funded Harvard, Yale and MIT all rolled into one, has its main Hong? campus in Bunkyo. Around 2000 foreign students study at the University, but competition for places can be fierce. The University of Tokyo also attracts many travellers as a place to look around and to have some food.
The '''Red Gate''' (____ ''Akamon'') on the Hongo street was built in 1827, when a daughter of the then Shogun, Ienari Tokugawa, married the Daimyo who lived in the premises. Inside the gate are the General Library and the Graduate Schools of Economics, Literature, and Education. To the left side of the gate is the '''Communication Center''' which is actually a souvenir shop, and to the right side, there is the university museum. The grounds are sprinkled liberally with large, stately gingko trees, whose leaf can be found on the seal of the university.
At the center of the campus is the Japanese garden of '''Ikutoku-en''' (______) — the Virtue-Teaching Garden — built around 1630 as the garden of
Maeda Toshitsune, one of the wealthiest ''daimyo'' in the Tokugawa era. At its center is '''Sanshiro Pond''' (_O_l_Y_r ''Sanshiro-ike''), in the shape of the Japanese character ''kokoro'' (_S), meaning "heart" or "spirit". Both garden and pond are, regrettably, rather poorly kept.
To the north of the pond there is the auditorium, '''Yasuda Kodo''' which became a symbol of the student activism in 1968-69, when the building was occupied by students as a base facility for activities to change the University registration. In the basement floor there is a large-scale student canteen called '''Chuo Shokudo''' (central canteen), offering cheap if rather mediocre food, and a University Co-op where you can buy T-shirts and ball-point pens with the university logo.
To the east of the auditorium is the main building of the Graduate School of Science, where one of the largest photomultiplier tubes that contributed to the Kamioka neutrino experiments is exhibited.
The campus has around 20 places to eat, including Starbucks, Subway and several student canteens.
'''Capo Pellicano''' is at the 13rd floor of the main (tallest) building of the Graduate School of Medicine. Lunch menus are for around ¥900. The view of buildings in Shinjuku and Roppongi from the western side of the floor should not be missed.
The university also has the Koishikawa Botanical Garden in Hakusan.
Contact