Bunkyō Ward is located in the central area of Tokyo’s 23 special wards, geographically situated just north of the city center. The ward was established in 1947 through the merger of the former Hongō and Koishikawa wards. The name “Bunkyō,” meaning “capital of culture and education,” reflects the ward’s rich academic atmosphere.
Bunkyō is renowned for its abundance of educational and medical resources, making it one of Tokyo’s most prominent academic and cultural districts. The University of Tokyo’s Hongo campus is located here, surrounded by numerous other universities and affiliated hospitals. The concentration of academic and medical institutions has fostered the growth of related industries such as publishing, printing, and medical equipment. The area around Ochanomizu Station is a typical student district and, together with the Kanda area in Chiyoda Ward, forms a key center of higher education in Tokyo.
Although the southern part of the ward, near the JR Chuo Line, has seen the development of commercial facilities like Tokyo Dome City, Bunkyō as a whole remains primarily residential. Areas such as Nishikata, Yamato-chō, Hongō, Koishikawa, Kohinata, and Mejirodai still maintain a traditionally quiet living environment. Moreover, traditional Japanese gardens like Koishikawa Kōrakuen, Rikugien, and the Koishikawa Botanical Garden add a strong sense of history and nature to the ward.
Bunkyō also draws attention for its cultural industries. Major publishing houses like Kodansha and Kobunsha are based in the Otowa area, giving rise to world-renowned manga and anime such as Astro Boy, AKIRA, Sailor Moon, and The Kindaichi Case Files, helping Japanese pop culture spread across the globe.
As for the origin of the name, “Bunkyō” is both simple and memorable, aptly reflecting the ward’s dedication to education and culture. Other name candidates at the time included “Keihoku Ward,” “Yushima Ward,” and “Otowa Ward,” but “Bunkyō” was unanimously chosen by the ward council.
