Waseda El Dorado

Waseda El Dorado is a building at the corner near Waseda University.
It has very unique exterior appearance with decoration on the wall.

There's a barber shop and an art gallery on the first floor but this is basically an apartments.

There's a face sticking out his tongue on the floor at the entrance.

In the elevator hall, a big hand is coming from the ceiling.
It seems to be fun to live in such unique apartments.

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<The Nearest Station>

Waseda station on Arakawa Line (Street Car)
Waseda station on Tozai Line (T04/Tokyo Metro)

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InterMediaTheque

InterMediaTheque is a museum managed by the University of Tokyo in KITTE, commercial complex near JR Tokyo station. It's on Marunouchi side.

Exhibitions "Chambers of Curiosities" used to be in Koishikawa Annex.
After moving here, taking photos in the museum is prohibited unfortunately.

There're many different kinds of specimen here.
This is a good place to visit when you have spare time at Tokyo station.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Tokyo Station

<Admission>

Free of Charge

11:00-18:00   Closed on Mondays

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Kubomachi Higashi Park

This park is a very long park with a stream and trees along the road.
Unique part of this park is European square with sculptures near the station.
These sculptures are works of the artists who live in Kaiserslautern city in Germany.
Kaiserslautern is the sister city of Bunkyo city.

This park leads you to Senshun-en Garden and the University Museum Koishikawa Annex from the station.

It's nice to walk in the unique park instead of the road to go somewhere.

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<The Nearest Station>

Myogadani station on Marunouchi Line (M23/Tokyo Metro)

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Senshun-en Garden

Senshun-en Garden used to be feudal load Matsudaira's garden.
In Edo era, it's counted as one of three fine gardens in Edo.

Now this garden is managed as a garden for nature study by the elementary school attached to Tsukuba University. It has wild trees and plants as is.

There's a statue of Jigoro Kano who's the founder of Kodokan, the most famous Judo school.

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<The Nearest Station>

Myogadani station on Marunouchi Line (M23/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

Free of Charge

8:00-19:00 (April through September)
8:00-17:00 (November through March)

Open all through the year

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The University Museum, the University of Tokyo Koishikawa Annex

This building is located at the edge of Koishikawa Botanical Garden.
There's an one way gate from Botanical Garden to the Museum.

Permanent exhibition was the Chambers of Curiosities.
But this exhibition was moved to the InterMediaTheque in KITTE in Marunouchi.

At the end of 2013, this Koishikawa Annex was renewed and exhibition was changed to Architectonica. There're many miniature models of famous buildings.

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<The Nearest Station>

Myogadani station on Marunouchi Line (M23/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

Free of Charge

10:00-16:00   Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednsdays

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Koishikawa Botanical Garden

This huge garden is a facility of University of Tokyo to study about plants.
There are more than 1500 kinds of Asian plants here.
Green houses have about 1100 kinds of plants.

This used to be a herb garden of Shogunate Government.
There was a charity hospital managed by government here.
Only reminder is an old well used in the hospital.

Although this place is filled with wild plants, they have well maintained beautiful Japanese gardens, too.

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<The Nearest Station>

Myogadani station on Marunouchi Line (M23/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

400 yen
9:00-16:30   Closed on Mondays

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You can see the University Museum Koishikawa Annex on the other side of the pond.

(S04) Walking in Shirokanedai

Shirokanedai is known as high class residential area.
Even Don Quijote (Discount Store) has different looking in this town.
As it's named Platinum Don Quijote, Shirokane means platinum.

Platinum Street has stylish restaurants and stores.

This walking tour visits some nice gardens and museums.

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(S04) Walking in Shirokanedai

1. Happoen Gardens

2. Matsuoka Museum

3. (Lunch)

4. Institute for Nature Study

5. Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum

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Platinum Don Quijote

Happoen Gardens

Matsuoka Museum

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Museum

Iwabuchi Water Gates

Iwabuchi Water Gates are on Arakawa River controlling the current from Arakawa River to Sumida River.

There'er two water gates.
Old water gate is called "Red water gate" which was built in 1924.
This has not been in operation after New one was built in 1982.

New water gate is called "Blue water gate" which is now in operation.

When we have too much water, this water gate is shut to avoid flood in Sumida River.

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<The Nearest Station>

Akabane Iwabuchi station on Namboku Line (N19/Tokyo Metro)

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There are many cyclists around here.