“Bunkyō Ward” (often spelled “Bunkyo”) is one of the 23 special wards in Tokyo, Japan. But, people usually easily Google search as Bunkyo Tokyo. It’s an area that combines historical significance with modern academic and cultural institutions.
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Location:
Bunkyo ward is one of the 23 wards of Tokyo, located in central Tokyo. The neighborhood is known as Bunkyo City. It is also familiar to the foreigner as Bunkyo Tokyo that has numerous tourist spots.
Bunkyo is one of the wards of Tokyo Metropolitan. The most famous University in Japan, Tokyo University, is situated in Bunkyo.
It is a special ward in Tokyo. Bunkyo ward is usually famous as a residential and educational area.
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Background:
The Bunkyo ward borders Kita on the North and Taito on the east. At the same time, Chiyoda and Shinjuku on the south, and Toshima on the west.
However, it is essential to mention that Hongo and Koishikawa, two wards together, became Bunkyo wards on 15 March 1947.
Population: 223,389
Area:11.29 km2
The area is equally famous to University students, tourists, and residents of Tokyo; because of the Universities, many families want to live nearby for their children’s education.
Attractions:
The Bunkyo ward is one of the central wards in Tokyo.
Tokyo Dome and Tokyo Dome City are the most famous tourist spots in the Bunkyo ward because of its recreations.
Even though the ward is famous for the educational and residential area, but it is not that there is nothing to see and do here.
The fact is there are many things to see here, such as Tokyo Dome, Tokyo Dome City, Tokyo University, Nezu Shrine, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Rikugien Gardens, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and Yushima Tenmangu.
Besides, LaQua, Thunder Dolphin, Sky Flower, Splash Garden, and Parachute Zone are good attractions in Tokyo Dome City as well as in Bunkyo Tokyo.
Tokyo Dome City or Tokyo Dome is a recreation park with many exciting rides, restaurants, and game shops.
Similarly, Tokyo Dome City is one of the Tokyo tourist attractions. Tokyo Dome is usually famous for youth and kids. Children enjoy the rides.
There are many restaurants where tourists can take their lunch without going far from the area. It is a good tourist spot in Tokyo.
LaQua:
LaQua is a shopping mall. It has restaurants, video games for children, and some souvenir shops.
Besides, it has a Ferris wheel, Roller coaster, Water Slide, Merry-go-round, Shooting ride, and fountain show.
Most likely, the Roller Coaster is very famous here. Most of the young visitors like to ride on Roller Coaster in the Dome City.
After the Roller Coaster, the second attraction here is the swinging ship, an amusement ride. It is most likely not a modern ship; instead, it is a pirate ship that swings back and forth in the space.
In short, there is no doubt because of its speed; the riders get a thrilling experience. Indeed, riding on such a swing ship is fun.
The third famous ride here is Ferris Wheel. Because of its slow move upward, the rider can take pictures of the whole Dome City compound.
Most of the riders take the Ferris Wheel ride to picture the area and the compound.
Tokyo University:
Bunkyo is mostly famous for the University of Tokyo. Nationally and Internationally, the University of Tokyo attracts hundreds of thousands of students for higher studies.
Tokyo University is a place of good study and became a famous tourist attraction in Tokyo. Thousands of tourists peep Tokyo University every day to see the area.
The University of Tokyo is located in Bunkyo Tokyo. But it is as world-famous as the University of Tokyo.
It is the first Imperial University in Japan, established in 1877.
It is worth mentioning a few interesting points about the University of Tokyo.
Seats for students:
Thirty thousand students can study at the University of Tokyo. But among 30,000 students, more than 2,000 students are International students.
However, every year, tens of thousands of local and international students apply to study. But only talented students get a chance to study here.
The reputation of the University:
As of 2018, the University of Tokyo’s alumni, researchers, and members include seventeen prime ministers, three Pritzker Prize laureates, a Field Medalist, three astronauts, and seventeen Nobel laureates.
Besides, in 2019, according to the Global Universities Rankings Japan became 26th (1st in Asia) among the 500 world best universities. This survey is produced by CEOWORLD magazine.
Not only that, but also the University of Tokyo always keeps a good rank in the world university’s different surveys.
Garden & Park:
There are many gardens and parks in Bunkyo Tokyo.
But among the gardens and Parks, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden and Rikugien Garden are very famous.
Regarding these two beautiful gardens, I am giving a short-cut explanation below:
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden:
This garden is a 17 century garden in Bunkyo Tokyo. Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is one of the surviving daimyo gardens which were created in the Edo Period.
Besides, in Tokyo, two more daimyo gardens are Ham-Rikyu and Rikugi-en gardens. Both parks are also very famous in Tokyo.
According to history, a Chinese scholar named Zhu Zhiyu advice to build the garden.
Park is fantastic.
It has lakes, bridges, and benches to sit on. Park is worth visiting.
Rikugien Gardens:
Rikugien Gardens is one of the three Edo Period gardens like Hama-Rikyu and Koishikawa Korakuen Garden.
The garden has a small pond, a hill, and trees.
According to history, it took 1695-1702 to build the Park. However, the garden is about only one-third of in original size because the garden owner donated to the Tokyo Government the rest of the Park.
Shrine & Church:
The Bunkyo ward has many small and big shrines like other Tokyo ward. But among the shrines, Nezu Shrine, Hakusan Shrine and Komagome shrines are famous.
Similarly, there are Christians in the Bunkyo ward, and they have a magnificent Cathedral, called St. Mary’s Cathedral, that worth mentioning here.
I am giving below a short narration about the Nezu Shrine as well as St. Mary’s Cathedral of Bunkyo.
Nezu shrine is listed as one of the Tokyo Ten Shrines in the Tokyo Shinto shrine list. It is considered the most beautiful Shrine in Tokyo.
Besides, many temples and shrines to see in the area, but the Nezu shrine is the most famous.
Most importantly, the Nezu shrine is famous for the Azalea Festival (Tsutsuji Matsuri). The Azalea Festival is held on its grounds from early April until early May.
Hakusan Shrine:
Hakusan Shrine is a small shrine.
However, it is one of the 10 most famous shrines in Tokyo. During the Edo Period, it was selected as one of the protector shrines of Edo.
The most famous festival of the shrine is Hakusan Shrine Ajisai Matsuri, held in mid-June.
St. Mary’s Cathedral:
The Bunkyo ward has many Christians. There is a big Catholic Church called St. Mary’s Cathedral, designed by Kenzo Tange.
But during World War II, the original wooden structure was destroyed by air raids. The original wooden church was build in 1899 in the Gothic style.
Most impressive is the exterior cladding is stainless steel that will not get rusted. And, the height of the bell-tower is 61.6 m.
Likewise, other tourist spots in Bunkyo ward St. Mary’s Cathedral is worth visiting for all people no matter what religion they believe.