55. Museum Review: Hatoyama Kaikan (Bunkyo-ku)

The Hatoyama Kaikan was once the residence of the famous Hatoyama family. A Western style residence that was built in 1924, it had fallen into disrepair, but was renovated and is now a memorial hall commemorating the Hatoyama family's contributions to politics and education in Japan.
The Hatoyama's have been active participants in Japanese politics for many years. Most recently, Kazuo Hatoyama (1856 - 1911) was once Vice-Foreign Minister, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tokyo University professor, and the President of Waseda University. Ichiro Hatoyama (1883 - 1959) was once Secretary of the Cabinet, Minister of Education, and a Prime Minister. Iichiro Hatoyama (1918 - 1993) was once the Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Finance, member of the House of Councilors, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Yukio and Kunio Hatoyama are currently members of the House of Representatives.

The home was built by Ichiro Hatoyama, and it was here that he helped form the present Liberal Democratic Party.

There are currently three memorial rooms; one dedicated to Ichiro, another to his wife Kaoru, and another to Iichiro Hatoyama. There are also some lovely sculptures of Kazuo, and his wife, Haruko, in the garden.

Haruko founded what is now Kyoritsu Women's University, and she contributed to women's education for many years. Kaoru Hatoyama became schoolmaster of Kyoritsu Women's University.
The residence has some very beautiful stained glass windows, and a lovely rose garden. I don't think the home is impressive enough to go out of your way to see. But, it is a short distance from Chinzanso, Edogawa Park, and Gokokuji Temple. In combination, they would be a nice sightseeing choice.
Entrance Fees: adults 500 yen, older students 300 yen, elementary and Jr. high students 200 yen. Discounts for the elderly and groups of 20 or more.

Address: Bunkyo-ku, Otowa 1-7-1

It is a 7 minute walk from the 1a exit of Edogawa Station. And, an 8 minute walk from exit #5 of Gokokuji Station.

Hours of Operation: 10:00 - 16:00 (last entry at 15:30). Closed on Mondays.

54. Museum Review: The Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum (Bunkyo-ku)

Located within the premises of the Tokyo Dome, the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is for baseball lovers, especially those with an interest in Japanese baseball. The museum is divided into sections, all dealing specifically with baseball in Japan:

1) Highlights and New Acquisitions
2) Professional Baseball
3) History of Baseball
4) Amateur Baseball
5) Baseball Hall of Fame
6) Special Exhibitions
7) Event Hall - Hands on Baseball Experience
8) Library

Very few of the exhibits are labeled in English, but I was given an extremely thorough pamphlet on my way in.

I don't have much to say about this museum because I do not have any interest in Japanese baseball. It was well put together, exhibits were easy to see,... but I really only recommend this museum to those who like Japanese baseball, otherwise most of the memorabilia has little significance.

Admission: Age 6-15: 200 yen; Adults: 500 yen; Age 65 and up: 300 yen

Hours of Operation:
March - September: 10am - 6pm
October - February: 10am - 5pm

Closed most Mondays and during the New Year's holidays.

Address: 1-3-61 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku 112-0004
*The entrance is located to the right of Gate 21 of the Tokyo Dome.

Phone: 03-3811-3600

They do have an excellent English website: http://english.baseball-museum.or.jp/index.html

53. Amusement Review: Tokyo Dome City (Bunkyo-ku)

A section of Bunkyo Ward, Koraku is an entertainment playground. The centerpiece is the famous Tokyo Dome, but it is surrounded by an area called 'Tokyo Dome City'.

An amusement park takes up a large part of this area. Rides seem to hang over the city streets, and they actually go through buildings and each other! They can all be ridden separately, or an 'all you can ride' pass can be purchased. The amusement park is built into the Tokyo Dome City, so it is free to walk around the rides.
Built halfway around the amusement park is 'La Qua', a building filled with over 70 shops and restaurants. There is also a natural hot springs spa built into the upper floors.

Towering over everything is the 155 meter Tokyo Dome Hotel. I recommend having the buffet lunch at the 'Artist's Cafe' on the 43rd floor. Named after the artists that perform in the Tokyo Dome, make sure you reserve ahead of time to get a table right by the window. The city views are fantastic! If you are in the area at night, stop by the bar for the same great view, often with live music performances.

Also within the Tokyo Dome City is the 'Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum' (see next review). The Tokyo Dome itself hosts over 60 baseball games a year, as well as a number of other sporting events (boxing, American football, monster trucks,...). There are also special exhibitions, the most famous being the yearly 'International Great Quilt Festival' held every January (photo below).

The Tokyo Dome City also contains the largest JRA WINS horse race betting complex in Tokyo. Here you'll see many down-on-their-luck Japanese men hanging out, smoking heavily, trying to win their way out of disfortune. A large game center is beside WINS, in addition to games there are batting cages, bowling, and more.

For English information on everything I've mentioned, visit this site: http://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/e/dome/

Access: Tokyo Dome City is located in the southwest corner of Bunkyo Ward. Korakuen Station (on the Marunouchi and Namboku Subway Lines) and Suidobashi Station (Mita Subway Line and JR Chuo Line) puts you right in the center of the 'City'. It is also a very short walk from Kasuga and Iidabashi Stations. Here is a nice map of the area:
http://gmap.jp/shop-11397.html

52. Garden Review: Koishikawa Korakuen (Bunkyo-ku)

Koishikawa Korakuen is one of Tokyo's oldest and most beautiful Japanese landscape gardens. The Tokugawa daimyo (feudal lord) Yorifusa Mito began construction of the park in 1629. It was completed by his successor, the famous Mitsukuni Mito, as part of his daimyo yashiki (feudal lord residence). Mitsukuni Mito was interested in Chinese teachings, so he named the garden 'Korakuen'. Koraku means 'enjoying afterwards', from a Chinese proverb stating 'a governor should worry before his people and enjoy after his people'. The landscape design incorporates a mix of Chinese and Japanese influences.When built, the residence helped guard the approach to Edo Castle from the north. It also protected the Kanda Aqueduct, Edo's main water source. There was an arsenal at this location from 1867, and it was eventually turned into a public park and national historic site in 1952.
This photo shows an area of the garden where rice was planted, raised, and harvested by Mitsukuni Mito's son. Mitsukuni thought it was important for his son to know how difficult it was to grow the precious crop.

I recommend doing some research on Mitsukuni Mito before visiting this garden. Many TV series have been created about this incredible man, the most famous is the fictionalized 'Mito Komon'.

Admission: 300 yen

Open everyday, except during the New Year's holidays
Hours of Operation: 9:00 - 17:00

Address: Koraku 1-6-6, Bunkyo-ku

A short walk from Iidabashi or Korakuen Stations. It is right behind the Tokyo Dome.

Phone: 03-3811-3015

30. Garden Review: Koishikawa Botanical Garden (Bunkyo-ku)

The Koishikawa Botanical Garden was first established in 1684 as the Koishikawa Medicinal Herb Garden by Tsuneyoshi Tokugawa, the 5th Tokugawa Shogun. In 1877, shortly after the Meiji Restoration, it became a garden of the Tokyo Imperial University (now Tokyo University) and has been (and still is) used for botanical research. There are over 4000 plant species here, and the greenhouse still contains medicinal plants dating back to the Edo Period.

The garden is especially famous for its plum and cherry blossoms. It is not a well known garden, so crowds are usually minimal. I found it to be a very lovely park, well worth a visit.Admission: 330 yen

Closed on Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday) and Dec. 29 - Jan. 3.
The greenhouse is only open from 13:00 - 15:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Hours of Operation: 9:00 - 16:30 (last entry at 16:00)

Address: 3-7-1 Hakusan, Bunkyo-ku

Transportation: A short walk from Myogadani Station (Marunouchi Line) or Hakusan Station (Toei Mita Line).

29. Temple Review: Gokoku-ji (Bunkyo-ku)

Gokoku-ji Temple was built in 1681 by the 5th Tokugawa Shogun, Tsunayoshi. It was built at the request of his mother, Keishoin. Spared from earthquakes, fires, and WWII; the main temple (Kannon-do) is designated as important cultural properties of Japan.A large cemetery, Toshimagaoka, surrounds the temple. The Emperor Meiji declared Gokoku-ji the Imperial mausoleum in 1873. Several of his children, and Emperor Meiji himself, are buried there.

Gokoku-ji also oversees the practice of Japanese tea ceremony in all the country's temples. On the day I visited, there were many women visitors in kimono.

The temple was built on the top of a hill and it is said that there was once a nice view of Edo Castle from its grounds. Now the view is of office buildings down Otowa-dori.

This temple is not a famous tourist spot, very few foreigners have even heard of it. I would recommend visiting the temple, then take a walk downhill through Meijirodai and Sekiguchi, until you reach the Four Seasons Hotel and their magnificent garden.

An antique/flea market is held on the grounds of Gokoku-ji on the second saturday of each month, from 7:00 - 16:00

Access: Gokokuji Sta. on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line
5-40-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku
Phone: 03-3941-0764

http://www.kotoku-town.com/special/8/gokokuji (Japanese only)

24. Garden Review: Rikugien (Bunkyo-ku)

Rikugien is now a garden, but in the early 1700's, it was the residence of the feudal lord, Yoshiyasu Yanagisawa, who was famous for his literary accomplishments. The name Rikugien was taken from the six principles of composing Japanese waka poetry, which was derived from an ancient Chinese book, "Mao Chin".

In 1867, after the Meiji Restoration, the gardens were used as a villa by the Iwasaki family, owners of the Mitsubishi Group. It was also used as a temporary residence of the prime minister before being donated to the city and opening as a public park in 1937.




It is not a very large park, but it is a beautiful one. Walking paths surround a pond with an inlet. It was a nice, quiet retreat, especially if you first explore the traditional shopping area of Sugamo.

Hours of Operation: 9:00 - 17:00

Admission: 300 yen, but elementary school children and under, and those over 65 are free.

Address: 6-16-3 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku

The garden is just outside Komagome Station on the Nanboku Line, and is a very short walk from Sugamo Station on the Yamanote Line.