2015年10月31日土曜日

Museum of Science, TUS

Museum of Science is a facility of Tokyo University of Science in Iidabashi.
There's a monument of Bocchan at the corner to go to the Museum.

Bocchan is one of the most popular novel written by Soseki Natsume who is the greatest novelist in modern Japan. Bocchan is a nickname of the main character of the novel. He is a high school teacher who graduated from Tokyo University of Science.

The collection of the museum is very unique.
You can follow the history of calculators, from abacus to mechanical calculator to computer.

Also, there're changes in recording devices.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Iidabashi station on Chuo /Sobu Line
Iidabashi station on Oedo Line (E06/Toei Subway) /
Tozai / Yurakucho / Namboku Line (T06/Y13/N10/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

Free of Charge

10:00-16:00    Closed on Sundays, Mondays and Holidays

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2015年10月30日金曜日

Gokokuji Temple

Gokokuji Temple was established in 1681 by the order of the 5th Shogun Tsunayoshi to accomplish the desire of his mother, Keishoin.

Shogun Tsunayoshi was known as Dog Shogun.
He made a law to protect animals especially dogs.
People could be executed if they abuse animals.

This temple was one of the most popular temples in Edo until Meiji Restoration.

Since this temple was for Shogun family, it lost the sponsor after Meiji Restoration.
So half of the grave yard was used for Imperial family.

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<The Nearest Station>

Gokokuji station on Yurakucho Line (Y11/Tokyo Metro)

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2015年10月29日木曜日

Kuroda Memorial Museum

Although Kuroda Memorial Museum is a facility of Tokyo National Museum, it's located at the out side of the gate of Main Museum. It's on the next block.

You don't have to show the ticket to get into Kuroda Memorial Museum.
Yes, it's free.

Seiki Kuroda was born in 1866. It's just before Meiji Restoration.
He was called as "Father of Japan's modern western oil paintings".

Even though it's free and close from Ueno Park, few people know this place.
There's a cafe attached to the museum. It has more population than museum itself.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Ueno station on Yamanote Line / Keihin Tohoku Line etc.
Keisei Ueno station on Keisei Line

<Admission>

Free of Charge

9:30-17:00     Closed on Mondays

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They have special exhibition with his master pieces three times a year.
Only two weeks each in New Year, Spring and Autumn.








2015年10月28日水曜日

Shitamachi Museum

Shitamachi Museum is at Shinobazu-no-ike Pond in Ueno Park.
"Shitamachi" means down town.
This museum is to learn about the culture of down town in Edo (Old Tokyo).

You can feel the life style in old down town in replicas of old stores, houses, cafe and public bath in the museum.
Also, you can play with old toys on the hands-on corner.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Ueno station on Yamanote Line / Keihin Tohoku Line etc.
Keisei Ueno station on Keisei Line

<Admission>

300 yen
9:30-16:30     Closed on Mondays

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2015年10月27日火曜日

Togenuki Jizo

Jizo is a guardian deity of children.
Togenuki Jizo is a Temple in Sugamo and famous for relief of pain.

Jizo itself is not open to public but you can get papers with a picture of Jizo.
This paper is believed to relief the pain if you put it on the place of pain.

This is from the old story that a woman who swallowed a needle by mistake was saved by this paper. After she swallowed this paper with water by the instruction of a monk, she threw up a needle and recovered.

There's a stone statue of Arai-Kannon in front yard and it has a queue of the people to wait for washing the statue. It is believed that your pain will be relieved when you wash the place of the pain.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Sugamo Station on Yamanote Line
Sugamo station on Mita Line (I15/Toei Subway)

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The shopping street from the station to the temple is popular among senior people.
I feel I become taller when I walk on this street.
It's called "Grandmother's Harajuku". Harajuku is a popular town for teenagers.

At the entrance of the shopping street there's another temple which has one of Edo six Jizos.
Edo six Jizos are sitting statues of Jizo built in early 18th century and 5 of them exists now. All of them are in the same size. It's about 2.7 m high.

1. Shinagawaji Temple in Shinagawa (Tokaido)
2. Touzenji Temple in Asakusa (Oshu Kaido)
3. Taisouji Temple in Shinjuku (Koshu Kaido)
4. Shinshoji Temple in Sugamo (Nakasendo)
5. Reiganji Temple in Kiyosumi Shirakawa (Mito Kaido)
6. Eitaiji Temple (Not Exist now) in Tomioka (Chiba Kaido)






Shinshoji Temple


2015年10月26日月曜日

Museum of Contemporary Sculpture

This open air museum is owned by Chosen-in Temple.
Actually, exhibition spaces of sculptures is next to a temple and graveyards.

This free museum has a museum building and four open air exhibition spaces.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Meguro station on Yamanote Line
Megro station on Mita Line (I01/Toei Subway) /
Namboku Line (N01/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

Free of Charge

10:00-17:00       Closed on Mondays

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You are supposed to sign your name on the note at the entrance of the museum.








2015年10月25日日曜日

Mitsuo Aida Museum

Mitsuo Aida Museum is located on B1 floor of Tokyo International Forum.
He is a popular poet and calligrapher.
Reading his words with a sincere mind in this quiet space gives you calm time.

His poems are very straight and easy to understand but they are philosophical and seem to have deeper meanings.

Cafe in the museum has unique atmosphere.
There's an annex of museum on the same floor, which may exhibit some other artist's works.
You can get into the annex with the same ticket.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Yurakucho station on Yamanote Line / Keihin Tohoku Line
Yurakucho station on Yurakucho Line (Y18/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

800 yen
10:00-17:30    Closed on Mondays

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2015年10月24日土曜日

Tokyo International Forum

National Art Center, Tokyo reminds me of Tokyo International Forum.
Tokyo International Forum is art and convention center in Yurakucho.

This glass wall building has an unique vessel shape roof.

This place used to be feudal load residence and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office was here from late 19th century until transfer to Shinjuku in 1991.

There's a statue of Dokan Ota who built Edo Castle (Current Imperial Palace) in 15th century.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Yurakucho station on Yamanote Line / Keihin Tohoku Line
Yurakucho station on Yurakucho Line (Y18/Tokyo Metro)

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2015年10月23日金曜日

The National Art Center, Tokyo

The National Art Center, Tokyo is a unique impressive glass building in Roppongi.
This has the largest exhibition space in Japan, however, it doesn't own any arts by itself.
So, strictly speaking, this place is not the museum but the art exhibition space.

There's a little hut in front of the building.
This is just for umbrella holders.

Inside of the glass wall, upside down corn shape objects have a restaurant and a cafe on the top.

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<The Nearest Station>

Nogizaka station on Chiyoda Line (C05/Toei Subway)

<Admission>

Depending on Exhibitions

10:00-18:00 (-20:00 on Fridays)  Closed on Tuesdays

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Souvenir store and relaxing chairs are on B1 floor.

This building looks like Tokyo International Forum in Yurakucho.




 

2015年10月22日木曜日

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo

Honestly speaking, I don't understand Contemporary Art but it's fun to see Contemporary Art.
The MOT collection (regular exhibit) changes several times a year.

This huge museum is next to Kiba Park.
You have to walk about 10 minutes from the nearest subway station.
It's better to use buses if you don't want to walk.

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<The Nearest Station>

Kiyosumi Shirakawa station on Oedo Line (E14/Toei Subway) /
Hanzomon Line (Z11/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

MOT Collection (regular exhibition) : 500 yen
Special Exhibition : About 1200 yen

10:00-18:00         Closed on Mondays

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2015年10月21日水曜日

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is Japan's first public art museum opened in 1926.
Current buildings are built in 1968 and renewed in 2012.

Several exhibitions are always held simultaneously.
Some of them may be free of charge.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Ueno station on Yamanote Line / Keihin Tohoku Line / Joban Line etc.
Ueno station on Ginza Line / Hibiya Line (G16/H17/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

Free of Charge to enter
Charge may vary by Exhibition

9:30-17:30

Special Exhibitions :  (-20:00 on Fridays)  Closed on Mondays
Other Exhibitions   :  Closed on the 1st. and 3rd Mondays

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Height of the building is limited in the park by law, the entrance of museum is underground.





2015年10月20日火曜日

Ghibli Museum

If you are Hayao Miyazaki's animation fan, this is a good place to visit.
You'll enjoy the world of Studio Ghibli.

Totoro will welcome you in the ticket booth.
But you need to purchase a reserved ticket in advance to get into this museum.
Ticket specifies appointed date and time of your reservation.
Tickets are available at Lawson convenience stores.

Taking pictures inside of the museum is prohibited in order to feel Ghibli world by yourself not through camera.


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<The Nearest Station>

JR Mitaka on Chuo Line

<Admission>

1000 yen
10:00-18:00  Closed on Tuesday

Entry time 1 : 10:00-10:30
Entry time 2 : 12:00-12:30
Entry time 3 : 14:00-14:30
Entry time 4 : 16:00-16:30

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It's OK to take pictures outside of the building, so you can take pictures of Robot Soldier in Laputa on the roof.