Feudal Load Clock Museum

This small one room museum exhibits the collection of Feudal Load Clocks by a ceramic artist.

Feudal Load Clocks are made by clock makers hired by Feudal Loads in Edo era.
These clocks have not only complicated mechanism but also sophisticated design.

In Edo era, they used temporal hour system.
So these clocks don't have uniform length hours.

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<The Nearest Station>

Nezu station on Chiyoda Line (C14/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

300 yen

10:00-16:00  Closed on Mondays, July through September,
                  Year end & New Year holidays

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Odai Sazaedo

Sazaedo is double spiral construction pagoda in Buddhism. Sazae means turban shell.
One in Aizu, Fukushima prefecture is famous.

This Odai Sazaedo is on the campus of Taisho University.

If you keep going on the spiral steps, you'll see Odai Kannon defied on the top of the building.
As you keep going, steps start declining and get to the exit on the other side of the building.

Odai Kannondo is the official name of Odai Sazaedo.

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<The Nearest Station>

Nishisugamo station on Mita Line (I16/Toei Subway)

<Admission>

Free of Charge

9:00-17:00

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Shibuya Crossing

The crossing in front of Shibuya station may be the most famous crossing on the earth.
Traffic lights let pedestrians cross in all directions simultaneously.

Shibuya is popular town among young people and station side of this crossing is a popular meeting place.

When we have some events, young people get together here.

There're some large screens on the wall of buildings around the crossing.

Honestly speaking, I don't know why this crossing is so famous.
It's just a crossing.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Shibuya station on Yamanote Line

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Calligraphy Museum

Calligraphy Museum is on the other side of narrow street from Shiki-an.
There's Fusetsu Nakamura Memorial Hall and Main Hall.

Fusetsu Nakamura is the founder of this museum and a famous calligrapher.

Memorial Hall exhibits Fusetsu Nakamura's works and has special exhibitions.

Main Hall exhibits historical items with engraved letters, for example, stones, bronzes, statues, tiles, china etc.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Uguisudani station on Yamanote Line

<Admission>

500 yen

9:30-16:30    Closed on Mondays

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Shiki-an

Shiki-an is the house of Shiki Masaoka who was a famous Haiku poet in Meiji Era.
Haiku is a short poem with 5-7-5 phoneme rhythm with a term to describe seasons.

He passed away due to tuberculosis at the age of 34.

He loved baseball when he was young.
His translation of baseball terminology still remains.

Sponge cucumbers are in front of the house.

Many Haiku which are made by visitors are posted on the wall of the storage house.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Uguisudani station on Yamanote Line

<Admission>

500 yen

10:30-12:00  13:00-16:00    Closed on Mondays

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AKI-OKA Street

AKI-OKA Street is located under railroad track of Yamanote Line between Akihabara station and Okachimachi station.

AKI-OKA Street consists of 4 sections.

* AKI-OKA Marche    : Chabara
* AKI-OKA Caravane : B-1 Grand Prix Restaurants
* AKI-OKA Artisan    : 2k540
* AKI-OKA Goulmet  : Ramen Alley

Chabara has specialty foods from many different part of Japan.
It's like Depachika with unique foods from all over Japan.

B-1 Grand Prix is an annual contest of "Rank B" foods.
There're wagons of award winning foods in the past contests.
You can enjoy different kinds of local soul food in Japan for reasonable prices.
Ticket machines accept SUICA/PASMO (Traffic prepaid cards).
Half size menu is available to enjoy several different foods.

2k540 is a term in railroad business and shows the distance from the starting terminal.
In this case, it's 2 km and 540 m from Tokyo station.
It has many handmade crafts shops.

Ramen Alley has some popular Ramen restaurants.
You can compare variety of the tastes of Ramen.

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<The Nearest Station>

Akihabara station and Okachimachi station on Yamanote Line.

* AKI-OKA Marche    :  11:00-20:00   Vary by store
* AKI-OKA Caravane :   11:00-21:00 (-20:00 on Weekends)
* AKI-OKA Artisan    :   11:00-19:00   Closed on Wednesdays
* AKI-OKA Goulmet  : 　Vary by restaurant

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Kyu Asakura-ke Residence Garden

Kyu Asakura-ke Residence has a nice garden.
Main rooms in South face to the garden and each room has a lot of sun shine.

There's an old style storehouse on the west end of the house.

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<The Nearest Station>

Daikan-yama station on Toyoko Line (From Shibuya)

<Admission>

100 yen

10:00-18:00  (Mar. - Oct.)      Closed on Mondays
10:00-16:30  (Nov. - Feb.)

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Kyu Asakura-ke Residence

This place is not related to Fumio Asakura, sculptor.

This house was built in 1919 for Mr. Torajiro Asakura who was the chairman of the metropolitan assembly. He selected lumbers to be used for the house by himself since he used to be a lumber merchant.

This house keeps original shape even after Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and bombing in World War II.

Since 1964, this house had been used as meeting rooms of Economic Planning Agency of Japan and now it's open to public as Important Cultural Properties.

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<The Nearest Station>

Daikan-yama station on Toyoko Line (From Shibuya)

<Admission>

100 yen

10:00-18:00  (Mar. - Oct.)      Closed on Mondays
10:00-16:30  (Nov. - Feb.)

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Asakura Museum of Sculpture, Taito

This museum used to be Fumio Asakura's studio and residence.
You have to take off your shoes at the entrance.

He is a sculptor and created a lot of masterpieces represented by "Grave keeper".
You cannot take pictures in the museum but I took a picture of "Grave keeper" at the National Modern Museum when Asakura Museum of Sculpture was closed for renewal.

This house is a combination of Japanese style and Western style.
There's a pond surrounded by the house.
Since it's located on the hill side, the view from each room is very nice.

A garden is on the top of the building and you can see some sculptures and Tokyo Skytree.

There's a room filled with sculptures of cats, too.

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<The Nearest Station>

Nippori station on Yamanote Line / Keihin Tohoku Line /Keisei Line

<Admission>

500 yen

9:30-16:30    Closed on Mondays and Thursdays
                  (Open if it's a holiday and closed on the following day)
                   Year end & New Year holidays
               
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Sato Sakura Museum

Sato Sakura Museum has many pictures of cherry blossoms.
The Museum is located by Meguro River which is famous for real cherry blossoms.

Although the best time to visit this museum maybe cherry blossom season, you can enjoy full bloom of cherry blossoms in this museum any time all through the year.

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<The Nearest Station>

Nakameguro station on Toyoko Line (From Shibuya)

<Admission>

500 yen

10:00-18:00      Closed on Mondays

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Yutenji Temple

Yuenji Temple was built about 300 years ago for Yuten who was the 36th chief priest of Zojoji Temple.

This temple is surrounded by wooden walls.
Nioumon gate has big statues of Niou which are guards of the temple.

There're some Jizo statues and some monuments.
There's a belfry and footprint of Buddha on a stone.

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<The Nearest Station>

Yutenji station on Toyoko Line　(From Shibuya)

<Admission>

Free of Charge

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