Bunkyo, Special ward in central Tokyo, Japan
Bunkyō is an administrative ward in central Tokyo that spreads across hills and flat areas north of the Imperial Palace. This district includes both densely built university quarters and open green spaces with traditional gardens and temple grounds.
The current administrative unit formed in 1947 when the former Hongō and Koishikawa wards merged during the reorganization of the capital's governance. Many streets still follow patterns from the Edo period, when samurai residences and temple complexes shaped the area.
The ward takes its name from Japanese words meaning education and literature, reflecting the concentration of universities and research centers within its boundaries. Many neighborhoods here preserve the quiet character of old residential areas, where bookshops and small cafés sit between campus buildings.
Several railway lines cross the ward and connect the different neighborhoods to the rest of the city, with major junctions sitting at the edges. Visitors moving around here should note that campus grounds are often open to the public and work well for walking through.
In the narrow alleys around the university, tiny bookshops often hold just three or four shelves and specialize in rare academic texts. Some of these shops have existed for decades and serve as informal meeting points for students and researchers.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
