Bunkyō (文京区) 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. 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 and Sendagi neighborhoods in the ward's eastern corner is attached to the Shitamachi area in Ueno. On the other hand, the remaining areas of the ward typically represent Yamanote districts. As of 2022, the ward has a population of 240,069 (including about 8,500 foreign residents), and a population density of 21263 PD/km2. The total area is 11.29 km2.

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. The city council has 34 elected members.

Economy

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

Landmarks

Education

Universities and colleges

National

Private

Primary and secondary schools

Nationally-operated high schools: Public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education. The metropolis operates the Koishikawa Secondary Education School. The metropolis operates the Bunkyo School for the Blind. Public elementary and junior high schools are operated by Bunkyo Board of Education. Municipal junior high schools: Municipal elementary schools:

Culture

Museums

Transportation

Train stations

Toei subway lines

Tokyo Metro subway lines

Highways

Shuto Expressway

Sister cities

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

Notable people from Bunkyō