Bunkyō

Special ward in Kantō, Japan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bunkyō (文京区, Bunkyō-ku) is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. Situated in the middle of the ward area, Bunkyō is a residential and educational center. Beginning in the Meiji period, literati like Natsume Sōseki, as well as scholars and politicians have lived there. Bunkyō is home to the Tokyo Dome, Judo's Kōdōkan, and the University of Tokyo's Hongo Campus.

CountryJapan
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall addressKasuga 1-16-21, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
112-6555
Websitewww.city.bunkyo.lg.jp
Quick facts 文京区, Country ...
Bunkyō
文京区
Special ward
Bunkyō City
Flag of Bunkyō
Flag
Official seal of Bunkyō
Emblem
Location of Bunkyō in Tokyo
Location of Bunkyō in Tokyo
Bunkyō is located in Japan
Bunkyō
Bunkyō
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°43′N 139°45′E
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureTokyo
Government
 • MayorHironobu Narisawa
Area
 • Total
11.29 km2 (4.36 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2020[1])
 • Total
240,069
 • Density21,263/km2 (55,070/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall addressKasuga 1-16-21, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
112-6555
Websitewww.city.bunkyo.lg.jp
Symbols
FlowerAzalea
TreeGinkgo biloba
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It was formed in 1947 as a merger of Hongo and Koishikawa wards following Tokyo City's transformation into Tokyo Metropolis. The modern Bunkyo ward exhibits contrasting Shitamachi and Yamanote geographical and cultural division. The Nezu [ja] and Sendagi [ja] neighborhoods in the ward's eastern corner are attached to the Shitamachi area in Ueno. On the other hand, the remaining areas of the ward typically represent Yamanote districts.[2]

As of 2022, the ward has a population of 240,069 (including about 8,500 foreign residents), and a population density of 21,263 inhabitants per square kilometre (55,070/sq mi). The total area is 11.29 square kilometres (4.36 sq mi).[3]

History

Bunkyo was formed in 1947 as a merger of Hongo and Koishikawa wards following Tokyo City's transformation into Tokyo Metropolis.

Geography

Districts and neighborhoods

There are approximately twenty districts in the area and these are as follows:

Politics and government

Bunkyo is governed by Mayor Hironobu Narisawa, an independent supported by the Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito.[4][needs update?] The city council has 34 elected members.[5]

Economy

The publishing company Kodansha has its headquarters in the ward,[6] and Kodansha International has its headquarters in the Otowa YK Building in the ward.[7] The drugstore chain Tomod's has its headquarters in the ward.[8] Penta-Ocean, the construction firm specializing in marine works and land reclamation also has its headquarters in Bunkyo.[9] The automobile manufacturer Toyota has its Tokyo headquarters in the ward.[10]

Demographics

By 2025, increasing numbers of Chinese immigrant families, of wealthy backgrounds, were moving to the ward to enroll their children in local elementary schools.[11]

Cityscape

In 2025, real estate agency worker Bun Kaito stated that "The ward is also renowned for safety, often ranked as the safest in statistics."[11]

Landmarks

Denzū-in
Aerial view of Bunkyo (southwest)

Education

As of 2025 Bunkyo built up a reputation as having strong educational facilities, and this stems from institutions being established in the Meiji era in former samurai estates.[11]

Universities and colleges

National

Akamon gate at the University of Tokyo

Private

Hosuinomori at Toyo University

Primary and secondary schools

Nationally-operated high schools:

  • Ochanomizu University High School [ja]
  • Junior and Senior High School at Otsuka, University of Tsukuba [ja]

Public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education.

  • Kogei High School [ja][13]
  • Koishikawa High School[14]
  • Mukogaoka High School [ja][15]
  • Takehaya High School [ja][16]

The metropolis operates the Koishikawa Secondary Education School.[17]

The metropolis operates the Bunkyo School for the Blind [ja].[18]

Public elementary and junior high schools are operated by Bunkyo Board of Education.

Municipal junior high schools:[19]

Municipal elementary schools:[20]

Four of those elementary schools (Kubomachi, Seishi, Sendagi, and Showa) are known as "3S1K", as having a very prominent status; by 2025 many Chinese immigrant families, looking for strong educational facilities, moved to the attendance zones of those schools to enroll their children there.[11]

Culture

In 2025 Kaito highlighted that Koishikawa-Kōrakuen made the ward attractive to Chinese families.[11]

Museums

Transportation

Train stations

Toei subway lines

Tokyo Metro subway lines

Highways

Shuto Expressway

  • No.5 Ikebukuro Route (Takebashi JCT—Bijogi JCT)

Sister cities

Bunkyō has a sister-city relationship with Kaiserslautern in the Rhineland-Palatinate of Germany.[21]

Notable people from Bunkyō

See also

References

External links

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