When it comes to Hongo, it's the University of Tokyo... the campus has many historical buildings, which harmonize attractively with modern ones. From the ginkgo tree-lined walk to many large trees with over 200 years of history, and including the Sanshiro Pond and green areas, it provides an ideal environment for walks.
Based on the experience of campus tours by hotel staff, we will introduce the charm of Hongo Campus.
Built in 1827 as the Gosouden Gate of the former Kaga Domain lord Maeda family. It was a National Treasure before the war, but is now an Important Cultural Property. By the way, the Gosouden (an honorific title for daughters of the Tokugawa Shogunate who married daimyo of the third rank or higher in the imperial court hierarchy) gates were apparently red in color, not just this Akademon.
Completed in 1912. In the past, when the Emperor came to the University of Tokyo for graduation ceremonies by horse-drawn carriage, the carriages had high wheels, so the entrance gate had to be constructed correspondingly high. For this reason, the main gate became a large structure 4-5 meters in height.
Completed in 1925. The auditorium is named after Zenjiro Yasuda of the Yasuda financial group, who donated the construction funds. It was the scene of the University of Tokyo student protests in 1968. With a capacity of nearly 1000 people, it is primarily used for graduation ceremonies and the May Festival. Incidentally, since it is built on a hill, the first floor is equivalent to the actual height of the third floor, and the total height of the building is equivalent to a 12-story building.
The tree-lined path that continues in front of Yasuda Auditorium. Planted in 1905, the trees are now about 120 years old. The yellow and blue ginkgo on the University of Tokyo logo comes from here. When deciding the type of tree, cherry trees were rejected because the campus wanted a solemn atmosphere and it was felt that cherry trees would be too festive. Instead, following the recommendation of a professor from the Faculty of Agriculture, ginkgo trees were chosen.
Located in the center of Hongo Campus, known from Soseki Natsume's novel "Sanshiro". The official name is Ikutoku-en Shinji-ike (Nurturing Virtue Garden Heart Character Pond). There are two reasons why the character "heart" is included. First, the pond's shape is similar to the Chinese character for "heart". (Though there are also counterarguments to this theory.) The second reason is that the surface of the pond reflects the changes of the human heart. (This is thought to be the true origin.) The pond also has turtles, ducks, carp, and giant salamanders (currently missing), making it a great place to observe animals and a popular attraction for families.
The front entrance exterior was designed to resemble the spine of a book. The fountain in front of the library has a sōrin (the antenna-like decoration at the top) similar to that found on the five-story pagoda in Kyoto. This is called Suien (water smoke), and was made with the wish that a disaster like the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 would never happen again. The library collapsed in that earthquake, but was rebuilt in its current state in 1928 through donations. By the way, the area around the library entrance is paved with stone rather than asphalt. This paving method is the same as the ancient Roman pincoletti style. The street next to the library is known as the place where exam results are announced every March, where many examinees experience joy and disappointment.
The University of Tokyo is not merely a "place of learning," but also a place with a fascinating history as Japan's oldest university. Natural areas like Sanshiro Pond and the Akademon Gate, which remind us of Japan's long history, are also famous tourist attractions that ordinary people visit. Campus tours guided by University of Tokyo students provide valuable experiences where you can hear information not found in brochures and explanations from the students' unique perspectives. Many people with various purposes come to the University of Tokyo. When guiding guests staying at Forest Hongo around the University of Tokyo, we will endeavor to provide information that matches their purposes and interests.